Pretentious and Nonsensical. SKIP
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Archived from the IMDb Discussion Forums — Arrival
Kray2013 — 9 years ago(January 30, 2017 01:41 PM)
I pride myself for tolerating all manner of goofy sci fi. The dumbed-down ones with badass aliens equipped with death rays - and also the hyper altruistic ones indistinguishable from a benevolent God. But to sit through the two hours of Arrival was like rating a new Guinness Record for idiocy.
Amy Adams and Renner do their best to appear scientific and show off a succession of eureka moments but the much awaited Answer is a frustrating let down. It's so intellectually nonsensical that for once I'm devoid of finding words to articulate just how vaporous the plot is.
The only idea the movie conveyed is that Big, Powerful, Gravity-defying, Spacetime-continuum-type Aliens are out there to help as a dating service for lonely people.
I recommend skipping this one. -
Ambianwinediet — 9 years ago(February 04, 2017 09:24 PM)
"science fiction" isnt an excuse for ramming exposition down the audiences throat half way through in place of any actual plot, story, discovery or creative thinking from the scriptwriters in general
please grow up you idiot
tom clancy once said "the difference between fiction and reality is fiction has to make sense"
rather than making sense, we got clunky exposition half way through of renner explaining how adams character jsut simply "figured it out" because she was
way ahead of everyone"
soooo pathetic -
MrsFuzzy — 9 years ago(February 04, 2017 08:02 PM)
I was so entranced I fell asleep for big slabs of this one. My question is - What was the motivation for the aliens' visit? My husband didn't fall asleep but was unable to offer any answer. Usually they come for body parts, to drink our blood, steal our water etc
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Exies — 9 years ago(February 04, 2017 08:14 PM)
I didn't see it as a movie about aliens or
time trave
.
I saw it as a movie that deals with aspects of guilt, grief, determinism and free choice, as well as reflecting on human nature in small portions.
But it's fine you didn't like it. Not everyone has to like every movie but I personally thrive on scifi that handles itself with some subtly and reflection. However, sometimes we connect in ways that others do not.
@exaffect
Favorite DC/Marvel Characters: Flash, Martian Manhunter, Deadpool, Daredevil -
Ambianwinediet — 9 years ago(February 04, 2017 09:25 PM)
the probelm is the themes in the first half are totally different than those in the second.. the exposition was clunky and awkward, and story wise made the most interesting thing (learning about the language) insignificant and simply exposition.
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Exies — 9 years ago(February 04, 2017 09:38 PM)
The movie starts with her child's death and reflections about time. It ends in the same way. We just got the story in reverse. Usually people die at the end of the movie. Instead, the happy ending was simply her cherishing her experiences.
See, I never felt like the aliens were driving the themes. I felt like they were simply a catalyst to explore more esoteric concepts about human life, time, love, and loss.
The only thing that felt clunky was the sudden switch to the end circumstances. Knowing what the language was, etc. I feel like they could have used 15 more minutes to simply get there.
How do you feel it was clunky and awkward?
@exaffect
Favorite DC/Marvel Characters: Flash, Martian Manhunter, Deadpool, Daredevil -
Ambianwinediet — 9 years ago(February 12, 2017 09:48 AM)
The movie starts with her child's death and reflections about time. It ends in the same way. We just got the story in reverse. Usually people die at the end of the movie. Instead, the happy ending was simply her cherishing her experiences.
death and cherishing life were certainly themes.. but again they are only small flashbacks in the begining and throughout not an overarching one throughout..
See, I never felt like the aliens were driving the themes. I felt like they were simply a catalyst to explore more esoteric concepts about human life, time, love, and loss.
the first half was all about the aliens, or more specifically, communication, how we communicate, etc.
The only thing that felt clunky was the sudden switch to the end circumstances. Knowing what the language was, etc. I feel like they could have used 15 more minutes to simply get there.
thats literally what i said was clunky and awkward.. the mid point where we get that exposition -
Exies — 9 years ago(February 12, 2017 10:58 AM)
"death and cherishing life were certainly themes.. but again they are only small flashbacks in the begining and throughout not an overarching one throughout.."
I interpreted the same themes throughout. Whatever you got from it is on you. Almost every movie uses circumstances and situations that reflect overarching themes.
Maybe it's just not your kind of movie.
@exaffect
Favorite DC/Marvel Characters: Flash, Martian Manhunter, Deadpool, Daredevil