Yeah I'd say either Everybody Wants Some or Moonlight. Probably EWS. Ha, I love the near consensus. Two Texas movies and an alien movie sounds about right for this board.
*** ARRIVAL *** (Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner, dir. Denis Villeneuve)
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Last: 2 mo ago by MW03
Not to take this thread political, but I guess I'm taking it political (in case anyone even cares to respond to this).
The movie was great and I'm still thinking about it 2 days later. I did not read the short-story yet, although I plan to do so, so perhaps some of this was in the short story.
Did the soldiers who decided to take matters into their own hands really need to be shown listening to right-wing, or alt-right talk radio, in order to further clarify their motives? Was the right-wing talk radio stuff in the original short story? Couldn't they have just shown that one soldier have 3 or 4 phone conversations with his wife in order to justify his motives? They showed the one call, and then they showed he and the others listening/watching the talk radio guy on their beds.
And very early in the movie there is a clear shot at Fox News that Louise makes when speaking on the phone with her mom.
I realize this film was shot way before the election, but it just seems very pertinent to what has gone on in the past week. The "left" thinks the right is a bunch of knuckle-draggers.
I guess my overall point is why did the phone call to the mom, and the right-wing talk radio guy even need to be included? It's almost like the director, who is obviously brilliant based on this and his prior films, needs to give a wink and a nod to the rest of hollywood and say "yeah watch me make fun of those unscientific dumbasses".
Again, loved the movie and this was not my first, second, or even third takeway, but it is in there and I wondered if anyone else cared/noticed.
TL;DR
The movie was great and I'm still thinking about it 2 days later. I did not read the short-story yet, although I plan to do so, so perhaps some of this was in the short story.
Did the soldiers who decided to take matters into their own hands really need to be shown listening to right-wing, or alt-right talk radio, in order to further clarify their motives? Was the right-wing talk radio stuff in the original short story? Couldn't they have just shown that one soldier have 3 or 4 phone conversations with his wife in order to justify his motives? They showed the one call, and then they showed he and the others listening/watching the talk radio guy on their beds.
And very early in the movie there is a clear shot at Fox News that Louise makes when speaking on the phone with her mom.
I realize this film was shot way before the election, but it just seems very pertinent to what has gone on in the past week. The "left" thinks the right is a bunch of knuckle-draggers.
I guess my overall point is why did the phone call to the mom, and the right-wing talk radio guy even need to be included? It's almost like the director, who is obviously brilliant based on this and his prior films, needs to give a wink and a nod to the rest of hollywood and say "yeah watch me make fun of those unscientific dumbasses".
Again, loved the movie and this was not my first, second, or even third takeway, but it is in there and I wondered if anyone else cared/noticed.
TL;DR
Noticed, didn't care.
And just FYI, as a semi-conservative from Texas who lives in Hollywood, the left out here doesn't think the right - in general - is a bunch of knuckle-draggers. But anyone who spits rhetoric like the supposed alt-right guy portrayed in the movie deserves a jab. Seems to be a weird complaint: "Why are they making fun of the guy who is objectively wrong in his reasoning?" Do you really think the U.S. should have sent a pre-emptive shot "across the bow" as some sort of show of power or assertiveness?
And just FYI, as a semi-conservative from Texas who lives in Hollywood, the left out here doesn't think the right - in general - is a bunch of knuckle-draggers. But anyone who spits rhetoric like the supposed alt-right guy portrayed in the movie deserves a jab. Seems to be a weird complaint: "Why are they making fun of the guy who is objectively wrong in his reasoning?" Do you really think the U.S. should have sent a pre-emptive shot "across the bow" as some sort of show of power or assertiveness?
Trying to start a discussion and not an argument, and that's why I asked the question about whether or not the conservative talk show guy wanting to take a "shot across the bow" was part of the original work?
Obviously that was an incredibly stupid stance to take, but again was that added in after the fact? And if so, why? It seems like they could have established the soldiers' motives by having him take 3 or 4 short, but terrified calls from the wife.
Again, it just seemed like that was added in so that they could point and laugh at the stupid conservatives.
And again, again, again, this was not my main takeaway at all. Discussion on this thread has been awesome and I loved the movie.
That just seemed a little out of place and misguided. That's all and thanks for your response.
Obviously that was an incredibly stupid stance to take, but again was that added in after the fact? And if so, why? It seems like they could have established the soldiers' motives by having him take 3 or 4 short, but terrified calls from the wife.
Again, it just seemed like that was added in so that they could point and laugh at the stupid conservatives.
And again, again, again, this was not my main takeaway at all. Discussion on this thread has been awesome and I loved the movie.
That just seemed a little out of place and misguided. That's all and thanks for your response.
I think it makes sense to show that there are concerns in the world at large, not just amongst the soldiers themselves or in their immediate families, to show why they'd be motivated to violate orders
I do remember something in the script about agitators, but it was from the mob of onlookers just outside the barriers of the camp. I can't remember all the details, but that crowd they briefly showed as the camera sweeps over the country-side to reveal our first view of the ship played a bigger part. Like a few of them - or a lot of them - managed to break into the camp, or the military couldn't keep them at bay, or something. I can't remember the details, but I kept waiting for that to happen from the script, and I'm not sure if the script had the military guys doing what they did. That said, there did need to be some kind of additional on-site threat, so maybe they switched out the mob/onlookers aspect for the soldier aspect to save money.
Exactly. Well said.
I think I remember the script having some Glenn Beck-like conspiracy theorists and soldiers listening to them. Still haven't seen the movie, but in the script those tv/radio agitators motivated the soldiers to detonate a bomb in the ship, killing one of the aliens.
I don't think the point in the script was that the tv / radio guy's were alt-right, but rather that they were just distrustful of the aliens and the government and made the soldiers question their orders.
I don't think the point in the script was that the tv / radio guy's were alt-right, but rather that they were just distrustful of the aliens and the government and made the soldiers question their orders.
Good to know. Was hoping you'd come through since I remember you reading the script more recently than I did.
Seattle sure doesTCTTS said:
Noticed, didn't care.
And just FYI, as a semi-conservative from Texas who lives in Hollywood, the left out here doesn't think the right - in general - is a bunch of knuckle-draggers. But anyone who spits rhetoric like the supposed alt-right guy portrayed in the movie deserves a jab. Seems to be a weird complaint: "Why are they making fun of the guy who is objectively wrong in his reasoning?" Do you really think the U.S. should have sent a pre-emptive shot "across the bow" as some sort of show of power or assertiveness?
Looking at the main theme of the movie as Communication - yes, they absolutely had to show that.Quote:
Did the soldiers who decided to take matters into their own hands really need to be shown listening to right-wing, or alt-right talk radio, in order to further clarify their motives? [...] Couldn't they have just shown that one soldier have 3 or 4 phone conversations with his wife in order to justify his motives?
You can't just portray the importance of communication and consequences of the lack thereof, but you need to show the dangers that communication itself can have. And yes, to go political, it is very poignant and important to highlight the dangers that such rhetoric can have in shaping the minds of people. If the film hadn't made it clear: Communication is itself a weapon - and you can use a language that doesn't let you perceive time non-linearly to cause damage.
God, I love this film.
VERY well said.
I noticed what Giggy Smalls noticed too, and it struck me as typical Hollywood leftism.
On the other hand, the "worst" offenders in the movie in terms of threats to the world are the Chinese and the Russians. I guess the Left is giving us permission to demonize them Rooskis and Red Commies again.
On the other hand, the "worst" offenders in the movie in terms of threats to the world are the Chinese and the Russians. I guess the Left is giving us permission to demonize them Rooskis and Red Commies again.
None of the soldier or media reactions are part of the short story in any way. The reaction of the world at large is just not addressed at all. (After all, it's not a short story about the consequences of first contact.) Was this naivete on the part of the author? I think that's a valid criticism for long-form formats, like a novel or even novella. For a movie, yes, the reactions of other nations and the populace at large had to be written into the screenplay. IMO, this was done rather clumsily. It's a remnant from the earlier script where Abbott's death was a more important plot point.
Ah yes, the classic cliche of a writer who has written mostly horror movies and Canadian director who doesn't even live in California pushing their leftist agenda through a first contact movie about inclusiveness and overcoming communication barriers.
And why is it so important that we see those tropes for the hundredth time in a movie like this? This was about Amy Adam's character first and foremost and her very personal journey. Everything else was just dressing, and designed as so.
Exactly! It's annoying that the screenwriter didn't trust the source material more.
Great info thanks.
I just got out of the movie and all I can say is, Wow!
I haven't felt like that after a movie since interstellar... in the since that I leave asking myself questions that only make we want to watch it again... but this was different. It was more relatable and easier to comprehend, yet still inflicts the same continuous revaluation of the events of the story wound. I am still wrapping my mind around all of it but I am extremely pleased with the entire movie.
I'm probably going to see it again.
I haven't felt like that after a movie since interstellar... in the since that I leave asking myself questions that only make we want to watch it again... but this was different. It was more relatable and easier to comprehend, yet still inflicts the same continuous revaluation of the events of the story wound. I am still wrapping my mind around all of it but I am extremely pleased with the entire movie.
I'm probably going to see it again.
I'm still thinking about it today after. Such a great flick.
Wow. That's a great point, IsraeliAg
RENNER is also a palindrome
I saw it this past weekend and absolutely loved it! I tried to get my wife to go, knowing it would be her kind of flick, but all she heard was "aliens" and said no way.
Tell her my wife feels the same way, but she enjoyed this one very much. The only thing she knew ahead of time was that there would be aliens.DB Coach said:
I saw it this past weekend and absolutely loved it! I tried to get my wife to go, knowing it would be her kind of flick, but all she heard was "aliens" and said no way.
I saw this last night, mostly based off of nothing more than the first post in this thread. I intentionally read nothing about it and just trusted that the RT scored meant it was good.
Man, this was incredible. Knocked me off my feet. There were a couple little things that I would nitpick if the overall movie weren't so great, but I just didn't even care about the minor problems. The whole story was so good and so gripping and then so emotional, I can't say enough good things about it.
Kinda wish I hadn't read this thread today actually, because there are all these little things being debated and I think it takes away from what was, overall, one of the best movies I think I've ever seen. It stayed away from a lot of cliches that most movies can't avoid, and it was so understated yet completely powerful. Never hits you over the head with what it wants you to feel or ponder, it just happens in a way that feels very natural.
Man, this was incredible. Knocked me off my feet. There were a couple little things that I would nitpick if the overall movie weren't so great, but I just didn't even care about the minor problems. The whole story was so good and so gripping and then so emotional, I can't say enough good things about it.
Kinda wish I hadn't read this thread today actually, because there are all these little things being debated and I think it takes away from what was, overall, one of the best movies I think I've ever seen. It stayed away from a lot of cliches that most movies can't avoid, and it was so understated yet completely powerful. Never hits you over the head with what it wants you to feel or ponder, it just happens in a way that feels very natural.
Absolutely. Thanks!G Martin 87 said:Tell her my wife feels the same way, but she enjoyed this one very much. The only thing she knew ahead of time was that there would be aliens.DB Coach said:
I saw it this past weekend and absolutely loved it! I tried to get my wife to go, knowing it would be her kind of flick, but all she heard was "aliens" and said no way.
Just to agree with almost everybody on this thread. I thought it was phenomenal. I watched the trailers but intentionally stayed away from everything else. My wife was out of town, so I went by myself on a lazy Sunday. Maybe I'll convince her to go in the next few weeks and I'll watch it a second time just to see if I can catch a few things I might have missed.
Walking out of the movie, I wasn't happy, and I wasn't crying, but I was emotional. I don't know if that makes any sense, or if there is any other way to describe it, but I had to sit in my car for 2-3 minutes before driving to collect myself.
Walking out of the movie, I wasn't happy, and I wasn't crying, but I was emotional. I don't know if that makes any sense, or if there is any other way to describe it, but I had to sit in my car for 2-3 minutes before driving to collect myself.
Similar experience. The movie was awesome and I felt the need to cry at the end. It really moved me. Not many movies do that.
Definitely a movie that should be at least seen with awesome sound setup. We saw it in RDX and it was worth every extra penny.
Definitely a movie that should be at least seen with awesome sound setup. We saw it in RDX and it was worth every extra penny.
7nine
I've been thinking about this movie since I saw it a couple days ago and I can't shake the feeling that there's some meta-movie themes in there somewhere. Maybe it's just my stupid liberal arts training, but sci-fi movies include themes about movies all the time (Inception, 2001, etc) and it makes sense, because that's what the people making them know best.
The thing that stuck in my mind the most was how the room inside the shell looks way too much like a movie theater to be an accident.
Other things: actors know the whole script of a movie while they're making it, people rewatch movies they like even though they know the ending, a movie exists as a whole once it's done (you experience it linearly but the beginning and end exist at the same time), film reels are round like the heptapod language, etc.
I'm probably totally off base, but seems like there's something in there. Anyway, this post is part of what my scribbled notepad would look like if I had to write a thematic review of the film.
The thing that stuck in my mind the most was how the room inside the shell looks way too much like a movie theater to be an accident.
Other things: actors know the whole script of a movie while they're making it, people rewatch movies they like even though they know the ending, a movie exists as a whole once it's done (you experience it linearly but the beginning and end exist at the same time), film reels are round like the heptapod language, etc.
I'm probably totally off base, but seems like there's something in there. Anyway, this post is part of what my scribbled notepad would look like if I had to write a thematic review of the film.
You just blew my mind
I watched it tonight. Great movie just for the fact it has me thinking more than usual after leaving a theater. One thing I don't understand...the very beginning of the movie, I took that as a preface of what has happened previously in her life with the birth, good/bad times, and death of her daughter...which leads to her being a single, alone college professor. Then we learn she keeps seeing her daughter during the movie after she made contact with the aliens. So what was all that suppose to be at the beginning?
her future.Silvertaps said:
I watched it tonight. Great movie just for the fact it has me thinking more than usual after leaving a theater. One thing I don't understand...the very beginning of the movie, I took that as a preface of what has happened previously in her life with the birth, good/bad times, and death of her daughter...which leads to her being a single, alone college professor. Then we learn she keeps seeing her daughter during the movie after she made contact with the aliens. So what was all that suppose to be at the beginning?
7nine
When she went back to the shell in the small shell transport and was face to face with the alien, she got flashes of her daughter and either said or asked about not knowing who the child was. The alien told her she could see time the same way they see it.Silvertaps said:
I watched it tonight. Great movie just for the fact it has me thinking more than usual after leaving a theater. One thing I don't understand...the very beginning of the movie, I took that as a preface of what has happened previously in her life with the birth, good/bad times, and death of her daughter...which leads to her being a single, alone college professor. Then we learn she keeps seeing her daughter during the movie after she made contact with the aliens. So what was all that suppose to be at the beginning?
Ha, yeah. The whole point was to trick you into thinking they were flashbacks when they were really flash forwards the entire time. Honestly surprised you liked it so much not knowing that.
I do have to admit, at first when she asked who the girl in her visions was I thought that was her future daughter and the daughter we saw at the beginning was her past daughter. Basically that she was going to have another daughter.
7nine
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