2d ago

I watched Arrival (2016), there was a lot more to it than I was expecting

I was expecting a generic alien invasion movie, and I was pleasantly surprised

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- I think you explained it quite well. I just read the story and was a bit confused by the ending but this clarified it for me.
  Major spoilers ahead! (struggling with the spoiler tag!)
  !spoiler The story reads like she's in the present and you assume her memories of her daughter are in the past. Then looking back at the language used, she's describing memories of her daughter with language that indicates it's in the future, not the past. So it stands to reason that the encounters with the heptapods are in the present and learning their language gives her the ability to 'see' the future I assume Gary is her daughter's father. Just like she mentions of the readers of the Book of Ages, she won't do anything to change the future even if she knows what's coming, even if it means a future where her daughter dies young.
  
  !spoiler Ah? I didn't catch that, I thought they divorced when the daughter was still alive given the parts about dating someone else? Where in the story did you catch that bit?
  
  I had a quick re-read I think you might be right! I'm wondering if I picked it up from the movie instead.
- As someone with differing opinions from the zeitgeist on a variety of topics, I appreciate your sincere and well-reasoned dissention
- Same, tbh. I can't say I felt ripped off, but it was definitely a disappointment.
  
  Me when I realize that they're just glossing over the fucking symbols and rug pulling the plot while blowing "time travel glitter" into you're eyes and whispering "you're welcome" at you:
  (╯°□°）╯︵ ┻━┻)
- I get into Sci Fi, time travel and obscure concepts, and I have to agree with you mainly. It ended and I kinda felt like, "yeah OK". Another person here has said that it should be watched again. Like what, did I miss something ? Anyway, it's entertainment and each to their own. Maybe I should watch it again one day, but it will be a while.
  
  It depends. What were you expecting and what was your takeaway after watching? Because to me, it didn’t have anything to do with the time travel or scifi aspects at all.
  The main point of the film is summed up with the line “If you could see your whole life from start to finish, would you change things?”. It was about free will and the main character’s decision to let things play out knowing her daughter will die at an early age, because if she didn’t have her, she wouldn’t have experienced the life she had with her daughter at all. It’s a philosophical story wrapped in a scifi film.
  
  It’s a philosophical story wrapped in a scifi ~~film~~ skin-suit.
  FTFY
  
  I think the impact, if any, that it has on the viewer depends on their answer to that question. I enjoyed the movie, but thought the characters acted like emotionally rife teenagers, and that the decisions they made were wrong. I've never felt like rewatching it. I'd make a bet that all of the others in the comments who absolutely loved the movie agreed with the characters' ultimate decisions.
- I'm in the same boat. I enjoyed the short story more, but mostly because it didn't feel as over the top. The wacky alien mechanic works better in print IMO.
- That part of the story was heavily hollywoodized. I highly recommend reading the original story.

116 comments