ARRIVAL (2017)

Genre: Science Fiction
Running Length: 1:56
Cast: Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner, Forest Whitaker
Director: Denis Villeneuve
Screenplay: Eric Heisserer, based on the short story “Story of Your Life” by Ted Chiang

ARRIVAL is a not for the mainstream audience. If you're expecting an Independence Day type of blockbuster, you'll be bored to death. The college students sitting at the back of me were impatient throughout the film; kicking the seats in front of them and shifting in their seats. When the ending credits rolled, one of them went, "Damn boring wei! No action also?! The Great Wall is better man..."

Arrival is an intelligent and cerebral movie experience. It explores the situation we're all familiar with - the arrival of the aliens in their big ships, "Are they friend or foe?" But what stands out from the other movies with similar approach is the focus on our protagonist, played convincingly by Amy Adams.

Thanks to the clever edits, camera work and good use of sound and amazing score, audience would be immersed in the shoes of Amy Adams' Dr Louise Banks. We see what she sees and we feel what she feels. So much so, when the big reveal came, I was caught off guard emotionally (eventhough I managed to guess it earlier). I genuinely felt the "painful hope" of our heroine.

As I was reflecting on Adam's character, this film reminded me Jesus' mom, Mary - what she had to go through as she cared and loved Jesus from the cradle to the cross.

In summary, Arrival is a believable film because it doesn't dumb down its story to appease the mass audience. For the thinking and patient viewers, they will find this film both intellectually and emotionally satisfying.

Rating: 9/10