If you're looking for an action and "turn brain off now" film, just don't watch it and spare us the 6-7 hearts review.

I for one, am very tired from 500$m crap like Indi Day and Marvel's poop. So I was very excited to watch this one.

This one is more like Spielberg's Encounters from the Third Kind. It's more about the characters in the film and the amazing journey they go through. It's mostly about the human behavior that will make you think.

While it's not an End of the World aliens movie like Battle: Los Angeles, it still offers great amount of military presence and plenty of stuff that's going on.

So if you actually want to care about an intelligent movie and use your head - go. Otherwise, go watch an X men.

Highly recommended for some audience 10/10.

2-feb-2017 edit: Just came out on Bluray and I saw it again. Definitely keeping my rating.

Villeneuve follows up "Sicario" with a gem. A deep, twisty and emotional sci-fi piece. Aspects of time, how we view life experiences, communication and and if we would still choose paths even knowing the outcome are a few theme that are touched upon. Jóhannsson again composes a masterpiece score instilling the needed wonderment and fear first contact would dictate. And of course a great cast including Adams, Renner and Whitaker. Just awesome, gotta see it again!

Subtle, imaginative, and well-told story that doesn't rely on big-budget effects or a body count. Original, unique concepts weaved together for an enjoyable movie. If you're looking for high-tech space battles, fast-paced action and death -- this isn't that kind of SciFi -- move along... ;-)

Excellent sci-fi movie that requires an active brain to enjoy it... But I still wanted to know more about Portuguese! D:

So the free choice does not exist? I'm not buying it.
Also, why the less advanced species are supposed to learn the more advanced language? This would be like expecting that people wait till dogs start to communicate in English.

Prisoners, Sicario and now Arrival - Denis Villeneuve proves once again that he is one of Hollywood's finest directors. This movie is one of the best movies of 2016 and one of the best sci-fi movies I've seen lately. It was very thought provoking, and everything about it was nothing but amazing - the acting (especially Amy Adams, who was brilliant as usual), the cinematography, the suspense & the atmosphere. Definitely an Oscar deserving movie.

Discovering this plot as it unfolds is such a joy. The themes may be hammered home a little hard towards the end, but I don't care because it's powerful and important.

Heavy on the fiction, weak on the science. This makes the human race look incredibly stupid. They are completely guessing at what the aliens are saying. They have no proof at all. Seems to me, beings would be able to decipher our simple symbols before we could make any progress with theirs, duh! They mastered space travel didn't they?

Also, in order to communicate in a first contact situation would be to use symbols that we both have in common, and the only thing that we could have in common would be the elements of the periodic table. Quantum physics would be the only way to communicate initially.

Last point, and this goes along with the first point. They mastered space travel, obviously superior. Wouldn't they have first contact protocols ready, before they actually land. Why come and just sit there looking stupid? Awaiting a primitive species to figure you out. Wouldn't they at least take the lead, not let some dumb college teacher to bumble things up.

I'm sorry but this movie is just plain dumb. At least the science portion of it is.

Disappointed.....while basis of the movie is intriguing the execution was extremely poor. I love sci-fi's that are more than visual effects and action so I appreciate the depth of this film. This isn't your typical alien invasion storyline it really had the potential to be a great movie. There was also such a lack of emotion it seemed like the entire cast as on xanex!!! The ending was also very weak and left too many questions unanswered.

If you're looking to kill some time or veg on a Sunday afternoon give it a watch but this is NOT a main attraction movie night film.

Wow, I did not expect this film. The hook alone is more than worth the experience - I gasped out loud when I realized what it was. Beautiful and emotional story.

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