Arrival

Locations
Call Number: DVD Science-Fiction Arrival
On Shelf At: Downtown Library, Malletts Creek Branch, Pittsfield Branch, Traverwood Branch, Westgate Branch

Location & Checkout Length	Call Number	Checkout Length	Item Status
Downtown 1st Floor 1-week checkout	DVD Science-Fiction Arrival	1-week checkout	On Shelf
Malletts Adult A/V 1-week checkout	DVD Science-Fiction Arrival	1-week checkout	On Shelf
Pittsfield Adult A/V 1-week checkout	DVD Science-Fiction Arrival	1-week checkout	On Shelf
Traverwood Adult A/V 1-week checkout	DVD Science-Fiction Arrival	1-week checkout	On Shelf
Westgate Adult A/V 1-week checkout	DVD Science-Fiction Arrival	1-week checkout	On Shelf

Title from sell sheet.
Widescreen.
Originally released as a motion picture in 2016.
Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner, Michael Stuhlbarg, Forest Whitaker, Mark O'Brien.
When mysterious spacecraft touch down around the world, a team ,including linguist Louise Banks, is brought together to investigate. As mankind teeters on the verge of global war, Banks and the team race against time for answers, and to find them, she will take a chance that could threaten her life, and quite possibly humanity.
DVD, widescreen; 5.1 Dolby digital.

COMMUNITY REVIEWS

Decent adaptation submitted by SurfGrape on June 16, 2017, 6:33pm This is a very decent adaptation of a novella by Ted Chiang called "Story of Your Life." Chiang's Novella relies on linguistic tricks (namely verb tenses) to control the shifting time streams in the narrative. That gets a bit lost in the movie, but it's still worth watching.

But if you get a chance, read the novella first.

Better the second time submitted by Xris on July 8, 2017, 11:21pm It's hard to know what's really going on when you watch it the first time, so it bears a second viewing to really get what is going on. Gives me hope for the future.

Brilliant submitted by MH17 on August 8, 2017, 3:10pm Best film of 2017--should have won the Oscar. Not your average sci-fi movie, but instead one with real, compelling philosophical questions at its core, questions related to grief, loss, the choices we make and ultimately about the way we experience time. Very well done--superb directing, masterful soundtrack, excellent performances by Amy Adams, Forrest Whittaker and Jeremy Renner. Worth watching and re-watching.

Superlative Science Fiction Filmmaking submitted by Meginator on June 22, 2018, 6:09pm What a film! Being familiar with the (amazing) short story, I was curious as to how well a film could capture the same themes, and the filmmakers did a great job of translating the fundamental bits and pieces into a different medium. The story is heartbreaking and powerful even when you (ironically?) know the twist ahead of time and Amy Adams absolutely knocks it out of the park with her raw, honest, award-worthy performance. Science fiction can be such a powerful vehicle for examining what it is to be human, and this production really takes that to heart, making us rethink in the meantime many of the fundamental tropes of first contact narratives. Arrival is one of the best films I’ve seen in a while, in any genre.

I second SurfGrape: If this sounds intriguing, definitely read the short story!

The Best SciFi Movie in YEARS submitted by timdufresne on August 10, 2018, 4:45pm Really do check this one out. It's fascinating and thought-provoking.

Interpretations of communication submitted by lstorc on August 27, 2018, 5:16pm An interesting exploration into communication and misunderstanding.

Arrival submitted by SBNB on June 24, 2019, 8:06pm I enjoyed this movie a lot. It tells a captivating story. I'll have to check out the novella it is based off of.

you think it is a typical military movie with aliens submitted by thomasrode on July 11, 2019, 10:50pm but it is not.
It is a more mystical, slow movie. A calm, deeply thoughful and peaceful movie actually although all the millitary is humming around doing their stupid thing. Nice ending which you will understand if you have the "time" (hehe).
Watched it the 3rd time now. Twice in the cinema. You need a good speakers for it. Music is awesome.

Good adaptation submitted by caburr47 on July 27, 2019, 9:58pm The film gave depth to the short story. It is not what you might expect in a good way.

Arrival submitted by Varshini on August 21, 2019, 9:52pm I would have appreciated a bit more context before watching Arrival. It was pretty confusing at times. Nonetheless, still a great sci-fi movie. 4/5

Great director and acting submitted by severian on July 23, 2021, 2:13pm The sounds and visuals are often stunning, and the plot is by Ted Chiang, one of the greatest speculative fiction writers working today. A thoughtful film about communication and time. Highly recommended!

Arrival submitted by downing on August 7, 2022, 12:47pm Arrival was fine

Say what? submitted by tarascon on September 18, 2023, 11:35am One of the smartest science fiction movies one is likely to see; in my personal top ten. Does anyone remember when Picard communicated via mythic metaphor? Well, this isn’t that.
Based on a short story by Ted Chiang (who has been likened to classic PKD). The acting and music are great. It’s good to see Forest Whitaker still working.

PS we could seriously use a Louise to help us understand the cetaceans & primates.