Arrival: A New First Contact?
My one problem with Star Trek is that the aliens have human ideals. The Vulcans claim to be above emotion (but they’re not), the Kazon think men are better than women. Pretty much every alien species has two arms and two legs and the only real difference being a funny shaped forehead. There is a reason for that, Star Trek took our modern ideals (at least from the time it was made) and placed them far into the future. Arrival isn’t like this at all.
You could also argue that the forehead of the week thing came about because Star Trek being a TV show needed to be made quickly and they didn’t have the budget or the special effects that a movie would. There was also that episode of TNG that explained why all the different alien species looked similar but lets not talk about that cop-out right now.
Just like a person is who they are because of where they live and who they grew up around you could argue that is the same for a species as a whole. We are the way we are because we evolved on this planet. And you could assume that another alien species would be totally different from us because they evolved on a different planet under wildly different circumstances.
MY THOUGHTS ON ARRIVAL
I think that is why I enjoyed Arrival so much. Because the whole story was about two totally different species learning to understand each other. And you have to remember the English language is a very difficult thing to understand. You may not think so because some of you probably grew up speaking English. But it’s basically three different languages mashed together.
The only problem with this movie was the person who decided that two species learning to talk wasn’t enough for a movie. This was apparently based on a book so I imagine some of the fault lies with the author. But the moment you find out this movie is about Amy Adams learning an alien language. That is the point where I want to ask the filmmakers what the heck they were thinking. Like who decided that was a good idea. Why wasn’t them learning to talk enough. Why did the movie have to turn into this weird time travel thing.
Because literally the only reason this movie had a happy ending is because Adams saw into the future. And was told by a person in the future what happened in the present. But like, how can that happen in the future if it didn’t happen in the present. The problem with time travel is it’s confusing and is therefore very hard to do right. The rest of the movie was good, but a language that allows you to see through time? Yeah… no.
15 Comments
Lynn Love
Tried not to read this because I really want to see the film. Worth seeing do you think?
bluchickenninja
Yeah it was good. Worth the money.
Lynn Love
Thanks will check it out. It had a good review on Film 2016, so I was hoping 🙂
Norbert Haupt
I do reviews without spoilers. Maybe it helps: https://norberthaupt.com/2016/11/12/movie-review-arrival/
Lynn Love
Thanks 🙂
Jeroen Admiraal
I’d recommend to read the original story. It’s only 40 pages long.
Norbert Haupt
I am a time travel nut, so that part actually appealed to me. I had a different ax to grind, though: https://norberthaupt.com/2016/11/12/movie-review-arrival/
disappearingwoman
I never mind spoilers–I have tickets for tomorrow and will give it a chance!
bluchickenninja
Hope you like it!
ageiger4
I have often thought these things. What is a movie you recommend that doesnt follow this and has an astounding attention to detail?
bluchickenninja
I haven’t seen many other movies like this. I think Contact is similar but I’m not certain.
Curiosity
I like the way you think! Once a friend asked me why scientists look for life only in places with Earth-like conditions. I said I don’t know why but I’m sure they have their reasons!
bluchickenninja
I suppose because they already know life can prosper in those conditions. We are proof of that!
lexborgia
Okay, Emma, I watched it last night. Nothing to shout about but worth a watch.
Felt like ‘Contact’, yes. Pedicures and size 15 shoes. Walking condoms. Squids.
Aliens in language course being threatened with death for any grade below a C+.
The First Directive
Dear, I totally agree with you. Your analysis is clear and logical. The problem is that producers have to make money so they create a story desirable for a wide audience as possible.
If in the future we will experience the First Contact with aliens, I imagine it will be more similar to that descibed in the movie “Contact” (1997 with Jodie Foster), and in fact the story is less spectacular ….except the final part when it happens the contact. (And guys “Contact” is very well conceived from a scientific point of view).
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