"Arrival" directed by Denis Villeneuve
- Thread starter cultcross
- Start date
I'll just use spoilers for a few points
I don't think I figured out he was the father or her child stuff hadn't happened yet, think I just went along with it.
Anyway, so I do get that what the film was *really* about was how even with loss it was all still worth it in the end and even though she knew what would happen it was still worth going though etc etc, the sci-fi stuff was kinda secondary. I get that, but gonna ask a question about it anyway-
So the aliens just give us all the key to their technology, and in return we have to help them in 3000 years (which to them I gather is nothing as they don't live in linear time)
But it never explained what they wanted in 3000 years? Now yeah ok, 3000 years is a frickin long time! So who cares right now. But I mean what if they were like the aliens in Torchwood: Children of Earth, and they come back and are like "yeah we want to eat all your children, thanks." Or like "hey we need you all as our slaves now, sorry guys!" It just seemed odd that if they were so technologically advanced what they wanted from us? Or did they think we could do more with the technology than they could maybe? I don't know, left me wondering. Unless maybe I missed something?
Also I know this isn't Star Trek but kinda thought how they were breaking the Prime Directive there! I'd rather we a species would be able to develop that technology on our own rather than simply being handed it by someone else.
And did anyone else think of the Prophets from DS9 with all the non-linear time stuff?Namely the pilot Emissary. Just thought it helped make sense to me, whereas say someone watching the movie fairly unfamiliar with sci-fi concepts might not have understood it as much.
Oh and yet another Star Trek point, the Chinese guy was called General Chang. Haha, I kept expecting him to say "prick us do we not bleed, tickle us do we not laugh. Wrong us... shall we not revenge!"
1) Regarding why the aliens were doing this and what they were getting out of it, I never really put much thought into it, I just automatically assumed it was the typical "humanity is a special species" trope that is pretty much the bog standard for alien contact stories.
2) Yeah, the aliens totally reminded me of the Prophets with the non-linear time stuff.
2) Yeah, the aliens totally reminded me of the Prophets with the non-linear time stuff.
I just got back from seeing the movie, had been looking forward to it for awhile. I felt that the plot was reasonably intelligent....I'm not really sure how to post spoiler code so I can't really discuss it further....I'll say overall I liked the movie and am glad I saw it, there were some aspects that felt a bit like a letdown, I guess I was expecting this profound, mind altering experience, but didn't quite get it.
In regards to the two aliens, Abbott and Costello (LOL those names are awesome) I wonder which one was the Captain/leader, or if they were of equal rank or authority? Costello struck me as having traits that, in human terms, could hint at him being older, wiser or more experienced, whereas Abbott seemed more eager to communicate which hinted at him being younger. Since they said Abbott was dying after the explosion, I assume Costello took command even if he wasn't in charge before. What do you guys think?
Watching the movie I was thinking about Fight or Flight and Hoshi having to communicate with a new alien race.
There isn't much talk about the sound awards when it comes to the oscars, but I think this movie should sweep the sound awards. This was a masterclass in how sound is used to create atmosphere and the eerie feel of the alien ship. Great movie.
Who's on First.
Wow, excellent movie, with a really interesting story and a beautiful performance by Amy Adams. And the revelation at the end (as well as how she utilizes it to their advantage) was absolutely inspired.
Eh, I guess one could read that into it, but to me the journey the character went on was far too rich and emotionally complicated to be boiled down to just one simple idea or political message. And the movie was just as much about communication and trust and loss and a dozen other things.
Eh, I guess one could read that into it, but to me the journey the character went on was far too rich and emotionally complicated to be boiled down to just one simple idea or political message. And the movie was just as much about communication and trust and loss and a dozen other things.
Last edited:
I agree. Boiling it down to just one idea does both the movie and the audience a disservice. I liked it a lot.
Yeah, it's not just the Sapir–Whorf hypothesis meets the calculus of variations or whether one can express free will in a deterministic Universe.
I never really considered either of them to be in charge. Presumably there were two of them in each ship that landed around the world, I saw nothing to indicate the one that landed in the US was somehow the "flagship" or anything of that nature. I just assumed there was a mothership nearby that couldn't be detected and whatever command authority they answered to was there.
I absolutely loved this film. Not only is it an astounding science-fiction film, it's an extraordinary film period. I was fascinated by how the film explored language, science, lack of unity, and the unearthly in ways that transcends its genre.
The way this film was written and directed, especially the first half, is exactly the kind of development that's needed for Rendezvous with Rama. While I doubt Villeneuve would be interested in directing that novel because of certain similarities, I would love to see him take a crack at it. That novel seriously needs to be filmed.
While I doubt this was intentional, the opening sequence at Louise's college starkly reminded me how the world reacted to 9/11, at least from my perspective. I was a senior in high school when the attacks occurred and my classroom was one of the few that a TV connected to any channels. A teacher came into our room and told us to turn on the news. Within a few minutes, people flooded into the room to watch. Of course, this was before social media and smart phones (hell, cell phones weren't that mainstream yet).
On a side note, I've often pondered if Christopher Nolan is a modern Kubrick, but now I wonder if Denis Villeneuve is a better fit with his use of cinematography, music, and patience with the camera, as well as giving the feeling that you need to see the film again to understand it even better.
The way this film was written and directed, especially the first half, is exactly the kind of development that's needed for Rendezvous with Rama. While I doubt Villeneuve would be interested in directing that novel because of certain similarities, I would love to see him take a crack at it. That novel seriously needs to be filmed.
While I doubt this was intentional, the opening sequence at Louise's college starkly reminded me how the world reacted to 9/11, at least from my perspective. I was a senior in high school when the attacks occurred and my classroom was one of the few that a TV connected to any channels. A teacher came into our room and told us to turn on the news. Within a few minutes, people flooded into the room to watch. Of course, this was before social media and smart phones (hell, cell phones weren't that mainstream yet).
On a side note, I've often pondered if Christopher Nolan is a modern Kubrick, but now I wonder if Denis Villeneuve is a better fit with his use of cinematography, music, and patience with the camera, as well as giving the feeling that you need to see the film again to understand it even better.
I apologize, I didn't mean to imply that either of them were in charge of the whole fleet. Look at it this way: Captain Picard is the commanding officer of the Enterprise-D, but he answers to Starfleet Command. Speaking only of the ship that landed in the US, which of the crew of two was the leader, and which was the right-hand man? Which was the Picard, and which was the Riker?
I agree with previous posters: GREAT music, very good movie. Can't wait to see it again so I can figure it out! 
Yeah I love Nolan's style, but it's definitely a lot more showy and flashy than Kubrick's. Villeneuve seems to be a bit closer with his quieter and more reserved storytelling approach.
And that style actually reminded me a bit of Blade Runner as well, which just makes me even more excited to see his sequel now.
Some of the ideas behind the movie:
https://backchannel.com/i-had-one-night-to-invent-interstellar-travel-b2466882ef5c#.q1m5byier
http://www.centauri-dreams.org/?p=36616
As close as we could come to the design?
http://markmccandlish.com/Unusual-Craft/Aurora-Concept/Aurora-Pulser
More
http://www.space.com/34722-alien-arrival-humanity-not-ready.html
http://www.space.com/34705-arrival-and-the-raw-power-of-smart-sci-fi.html
https://backchannel.com/i-had-one-night-to-invent-interstellar-travel-b2466882ef5c#.q1m5byier
http://www.centauri-dreams.org/?p=36616
As close as we could come to the design?
http://markmccandlish.com/Unusual-Craft/Aurora-Concept/Aurora-Pulser
More
http://www.space.com/34722-alien-arrival-humanity-not-ready.html
http://www.space.com/34705-arrival-and-the-raw-power-of-smart-sci-fi.html
My favourite SF film of the year and on par with Ex Machina for best SF film since 2010 (the year not the movie). Villeneuve is exactly the right choice for Blade Runner 2049, I just hope that Michael Green brings his A-game (like Heisserer did here) rather than his Green Lantern game.
And that quiet, reserved nature is much more attune to Kubrick.
Same here. I wasn't thrilled by the prospect of a Blade Runner sequel, but ever since he was hired to direct (as oppose to Ridley Scott) , I've become more interested. After seeing this film, while at the same time reading Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? for the first time, I've become genuinely excited about Blade Runner 2049.
Thank you for the links! I've only read the Stephen Wolfram article so far, but it was a fascinating read, especially for someone who studied physics in college.
As a student of physics, I'm sorry those lines were cut (particularly "The whole ship goes through space like one giant quantum particle"), but as a cinephile, I understand that the average film viewer's eyes would glaze over at such lines.
So they were ships. I had this thought that these weren't so much ships as stages--using in situ materials.
The ships look hewn from stone. I got the feeling I was simply watching two "hands" typing in front of a "screen"
What I want to know is what will happen in 6,000 years or so...
The ships look hewn from stone. I got the feeling I was simply watching two "hands" typing in front of a "screen"
What I want to know is what will happen in 6,000 years or so...
