Customer Ratings & Reviews

The supporting cast for this science fiction movie was outstanding. Amy Adams was her usual outstanding self. She received an Oscar nomination for the role, so it seems there was some agreement as far as she was concerned. Nevertheless, I could not rate this movie higher because there were a number of either borrowing from other past science fiction movies or the story was a little difficult to follow. Such as Amy Adams past at the beginning and where she and Jeremy Renner's characters were going at the end. But I had the most trouble with the use of themes or objects from past films, such as the octopus-like character from outer space. Was this creature not in Tom Cruise's War of the Worlds? There was a giant creature with dragging tentacles, if I am not mistaken. For a supposedly new movie, it really borrowed from the past.

Great movie!!! Full of suspense and thrills!!! Must have for your collection!!!

Arrival has no ties to "The Arrival" from the 90s–let's get that out of the way. This is still a movie about aliens, but it puts an original spin on the genre that makes it stand out. As mysterious ships arrive on the Earth, the protagonists have to figure out what they want and how to communicate with them. Ultimately, this movie is a drama that just happens to have aliens in it...don't expect much action or violence (there's even some supernatural elements pertaining to psychic abilities). Rather, Arrival is a commentary about humanity's nature and how we might react if faced with a benevolent extraterrestrial presence. In that regard, Arrival is a lot like the original "The Day The Earth Stood Still." If you don't mind a more cerebral spin on the typical sci-fi flick, give this one a look.

Denis Villeneuve has quickly become one of the greatest working film directors today, with his recent sci-fi output, including this film, being genuine masterpieces. This is a smart film that takes both a scientific and emotional approach to its story about language, humanity and how we view/treat each other, and yes, aliens. The performances, writing and effects are as masterful as Villeneuve's approach to the material. However, it should be noted that the Blu-ray, not the UHD, is currently the best way to watch this instant classic. The HDR on the UHD release was not done properly and for many people the film may look terrible - or even borderline unwatchable. The sound and picture on the Blu-ray are no slouch, though, so don't feel you are compromising. If you haven't seen the film and consider yourself a fan of science fiction and dramas, this should be high on your list - even a blind buy is warranted.

I missed Arrival in theaters, so I was eagerly anticipating it's release on Blu Ray. While I was NOT disappointed, it wasn't what I was expecting. I went in with the expectation that it would be a more straightforward piece like a favorite of mine, Contact (starring Jodie Foster). Instead I found it was much more cerebral in nature. The main character is a linguistics expert who is brought in to translate the recently arriving alien's language. The story unfolds somewhat non-linearly, with the passage of time being a strong focal point. Some might consider the film a little dry, or slow paced, but I still found myself captivated and wondering what would happen next. In all I would recommend this film to friends, just knowing that it is more of a "think piece" than popcorn entertainment.

Great movie will keep you guessing until the end. The cast was great.

The original story offered a bit more of the process behind language acquisition and interpretation, which was intriguing, and the details of the ... most important plot point ... were a little different, but overall, the emotional impact of this movie hewed pretty close to the book. I would have appreciate at least a token nod to the theories of mathematical complexity and therefore explorations of motivations and explanation of actions of certain characters, but ... books are different from movies inherently. It's difficult and probably fruitless to compare them in most cases. The visuals are fantastic, the acting superb. The tension of the situation, the heartache involved, it's all so palpable. This movie is so much more than just "aliens invade!" like the trailers presented it to be. I'd recommend going in blind for maximum impact, but do know that if you're looking for a typical alien invasion movie, this is not that.

Such a great movie that we had to buy it for our home movie library!

I love science fiction movies. Love the different twists in the movie

Excellent storyline with excellent actors. It is worth watching.

This is a great movie, but only bought it because of black friday.

Slower, thoughtful, as well and fun and beautiful. Watch this!!!

This is an excellent movie. I watched it the night it got here.

I am not going to put on my film critic hat for too long...other than to say there are moments in the moving that will remind you of X-Files here, a little Close Encounters there, and even The Day the Earth Stood Still. Oh, and the Luddite conservatives/terrorists from Contact. And, you know, it has to be hard to come up with new alien plots...so that is all the criticism I'll offer. But there are some nice differences that occur in the film on the level of DESIGN. Love the Minimalist shape of the ship. Love the different solution RE entry and gravity. And I really liked the visual design for the alien mode of communication. Beautiful, haunting, and very Zen. Makes me want to put on my Daruma robe and go paint a few circles with a brush and ink. Anyway, my whole family loved this flick. And we are fans of both Adams and Renner.

I needed two viewings to appreciate this film. On the first viewing, I simply was trying to understand the film's major events, such as how humans could learn an alien language that has no commonality with human languages (there isn't a universal translator to make it easy). The film also jumps around in time, which is not always obvious on a first viewing. By my second viewing, having absorbed the major plot points, I was able to understand the film much better and to appreciate it. The film is extremely well-made with likeable characters (not that common in many films today) and is as believable as most films in the science fiction genre. Stars Amy Adams and Jeremy Renner with Forest Whitaker in a supporting role.

Arrival is an experience to behold. It's well crafted, written and executed. Using a very good source book, the story is expanded upon in ways that work best when devoting your full attention to its engaging and engrossing story. Amy Adams is a wonderful actress. She makes you believe this linguist is capable of the things she does in the movie. We need more films with smart and capable actresses who are not just eye candy but drive the stories forward with empathy and confidence like she does in this movie. It deserves all the academy award nominations it received and probably deserved more than it won. I have recommended this film to many and will continue to do so for many years to come. The bluray is exceptional as well. The video and audio transfer is superb. The special features are a highlight giving you more of how the entire film came about.

Excellent movie. Basically, just a good si-fi, but good.

One my favorite syfy movies great movie effect need part 2

Arrival is a movie with high ideas that asks the questions of: How would we greet and communicate with Aliens? Why are they here? Amy Adams masterfully plays a linguist that is enlisted by USA to overcome the obstacles of communication. The secret to communication is complicated by fear and the movie's theme of "time". A science fiction movie that is driven by story, dialogue, and oscar caliber acting from the lead and supporting cast: especially Forest Whitaker and Jeremy Renner. Science Fiction actions are set aside for this movie; however, the dramatic tension and surprises peak toward the movies climax. You will be thinking and discussing this movie long after the credit run.

This is one of those movies that seems to divide the audience, and I am firmly in the positive camp! The austere and moody vibe is great. Visually, it reminds me of other striking sci-fi films like 2001 and Oblivion. And while the movie starts out very grounded, the viewer knows quickly they are in the capable hands of the talented storyteller, Denis Villeneuve. If you just go along for the ride, trust that all questions are addressed by the end of the film. And while not technically a "twist" ending, I was very satisfied with the way the resolution is presented... Lots of great sci-fi concepts are put forward, and like the classic movie Contact, I find myself thinking about the themes long after the first viewing. I highly recommend this film to sci-fi fans who like to reflect and discuss.