ian959

After watching the film finally, the immediate reactions are what a visually stunning film this is. This is a visual delight from start to finish and that alone would be enough to get me to watch it again and again. Certainly worthy of watching in $K.

As far as the acting goes, well that was not so impressive. Once again the choice of male lead was the biggest problem, with Dane DeHaan totally unconvincing as both an action lead and as a romantic lead. He just doesn't have the chops for the role and falls flat most of the time. He certainly is upstaged mostly by Cara Delavingne, who whilst doing a decent enough job just seemed to leave you wanting more. The supporting cast does its job.

The whole story is nothing that we have not seen many times before, borrowing bits and pieces from various films in the past such as various Star Wars films. It is not doing anything new but and seems to have been written knowing that the visuals were the important part. I guess there is nothing wrong with that if that was fully intended, and I presume it was.

Overall, not the best sci-fi ever but it has its moments and the visuals really carry the film.

I decided to purchase the disc of Arrival on a whim bask in the early days of 4K Ultra HD. It took me a few years to get round to watching the film and I now regret that immensely. Okay, if your film watching pleasure extends to such films as Independence Day and its ilk, and I enjoy that film as lightweight entertainment, then Arrival is unlikely to be a film that you will sit through. However, if you give it the chance, this is one of the best films you will ever see. Thought provoking is an understatement. Superbly casted, with Amy Adams utterly amazing in the lead, There is barely a foot wrong in the direction or cinematography, it is a fine achievement that demonstrates what film can do as medium without resorting to endless cliched repeats of the same storyline. A stunning achievement in every way if you invest the time in the film.