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Should you watch Arrival?

Who it’s good for, who it isn’t, and what’s in it. No ratings, no scores.

Arrival

Film · 2016

Taking place after alien crafts land around the world, an expert linguist is recruited by the military to determine whether they come in peace or are a threat.

The sides of Arrival

  • The grief underneath the sci-fi
  • Aliens that are truly alien
  • Understanding as the plot
  • Time that doesn't run straight

Arrival is good for you if…

  • you like a film that quietly breaks you at the end.
  • you like patient scenes where people try to understand each other.
  • you like aliens treated as a real problem of language and science.

Arrival is bad for you if…

  • you want an alien invasion with battles. There are none.
  • you'd rather not work to follow a story. Louise's memories only fall into place in the last act.

About: language · grief · time · choice

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