Arrival [Blu-ray]

A science fiction movie which is an adaptation of a short story called 'Time of Your Life' by writer Ted Chiang.As with most films of short storie, this one takes the central idea of that and develops a story around it.The human race is rocked to it's core when mysterious spaceships suddenly appear at points all over the globe. People can get inside. But nobody can communicate with the very strange aliens.Linguist Louise Banks [Amy Adams] a brilliant person in her field and a lady haunted by tragedy, is brought in by the military [Forest Whitaker] to find out how to communicate with the aliens. In a world where people are starting to panic and fingers are hovering above the nuclear button, that's not an easy job. She finds support from scientist Ian Donnelly [Jeremy Renner] and the two pursue leads in the hope of making a breakthrough.But what will happen when she finds the answer she is looking for?This is science fiction not as space opera and spaceships with explosions and laser battles, but science fiction as the literary kind often is. Something of ideas. Something that takes the form and uses it to ask the big questions and make you think. Which it certainly does. It starts off as a portrayal of how humanity would react in this situation that feels very realistic. Amy Adams carries the film superbly. With able support from Jeremy Renner and Forest Whitaker. Her performance carries you along hooked, and all the time you're awaiting the answer to the big question it does set you thinking about communication. Because it's not just humans and aliens who are having trouble with that here. There's plenty of problems human to human wise. It's engrossing and thought provoking stuff.The answer to the main question of the film, when it comes, is an interesting one. Which will work for some but possibly not for others. But either way it will get a reaction. And it offers you another question that is very interesting food for thought.Which was the central point of the short story, after all.Everything is resolved in the end, but that will stay with you for a while afterwards.This is intelligent film making with excellent acting, and it's a movie which sets out to make you think and does just that. It is well worth five stars and all the accolades.The disc has the following language and subtitle options:Languages: English.Subtitles: English.It begins with several trailers, but you can skip these by pressing the next button on the dvd remote. The menu button won't do anything, but next will.There are four extras:Xenolingustics: understanding Arrival.Acoustic signatures: the sound design.The editorial process.Principles of time, memory and language.For once, dvd owners are not shortchanged by these, because they aren't just quick featurettes. These are proper documentaries of the kind we used to get. They run twenty eight, fourteen, ten, and fourteen minutes respectively. The first is an in depth look at the genesis and making of the film. The second and third are about the sound and the editing respectively, and are really interesting looks at how these are done, with fascinating in depth intervews with the technical people.The fourth looks at the ideas and science and theories the film deals with. And is pretty mind blowing and fascinating stuff. You will learn a lot from it. All of these four extras are superb watches.A great intelligent movie and great interesting extras to go with it. Great film. Excellent package.Ignore the unhelpful votes on this review as they are the subject of trolling activity. Thank you.

A brilliant and intelligent film and so refreshing as it breaks away from the usual sensationalistic formulaic cliché of the “alien invasion”.For those expecting more of an “Independence Day” type romp where you turn the brain off, crack open some bags of nibbles and sit back and enjoy whilst America saves the day, yet again - you’ll be disappointed.Don’t misunderstand me - I enjoy those movies too - and the nibbles - but this is something else; it requires you to pay attention and open your mind.I do, however, believe that’s why it collected a bunch of one star reviews from people who either didn’t understand it, or wanted instant thrills and stuff going BANG, or just didn’t have the patience or the attention-span to engage with it.All the lead roles are good and Amy Adams continues to enthral as a super competent, versatile and watchable actress.An impressive and thought provoking work. I was reminded, if only a little bit, of the “wormhole aliens” in “Deep space 9”: the “Prophets” as the Bajorans called them. As humans, we appear to live our lives in a “linear” way: we go from one thing to the next and there’s no going back, but, what if time itself is a fiction, then the way we seem constrained to live it is simply in order to experience a “human” lifetime. In “mind” there are no such limits. All is in the “now”.If you like your thoughts to be provoked, your grey cells stimulated, get this movie; if you’ve got a short attention span, like easy answers and just want thrills, look elsewhere.

This was a surprise to me, and a real change from the films I have seen recently.I had no expectations, hadn't seen any clips, or read any reviews.It was a film I bought on a whim, because Passengers wasn't released yet, to get me in the mood.Surprisingly the premise is good, the acting is also good, although the initial plot is somewhat ordinary- aliens with an agenda place themselves across the globe- it has an interesting twist.I thought some of it was a bit rushed through, so their ability to suddenly be able to decipher parts of the alien language was a bit at odds with the pace.I popped out for a beer, came back in, and Amy Adams and her seven legged friend were chatting away like a couple of old dears in a launderette- I guess that's what non- linear time perception does for you.The suspense is maintained and the plot twists came at a rate to keep your interest up, whilst not overpowering you. The CGI was there, of course, the aliens were well done, in a Close Encounters sort of way, the gravity anomalies etc well dealt with, but all very much part of the film.A film that relies more on plot and acting skills than CGI- whatever next?It was very enjoyable, right up until Jeremy Renner delivers the line ' Wanna make a baby?' AAARRRGGGHHHHH!At that point, my fight or flight reactions kick in, and I don't know whether to reach for the off switch, or throw a bottle through the screen- I just need to make it stop....Lazy script writing like that should be dealt with severely, perhaps a lifetime of community service in a 14- 16 English class, or time in the stocks being pelted with your own scripts, should be mandatory.Luckily it was a line that came and went quickly, and once I had picked the broken beer bottles up off the floor, and wiped the vomit from my face and tee shirt, I was able to carry on and watch the rest of the film.Apart from that anomaly, it's a little gem, thought provoking, moving and entertaining all at the same time