Borrows themes, but stands on its own in the end.

Rating: 10/10 (15 March 2017)

Arrival shares a lot of themes with Contact, one of my favorite films in its genre. I spent much of the film waiting for it to find a way to set itself apart, and boy did it ever. The pacing is intentionally slow, which I believe serves to put the viewer in the same anxious state the characters are living in.
The process of decryption and communication is handled believably - it seems a number of 1-star reviewers don't understand basic tenets of linguistics (not that I can blame them). Using building blocks to establish understanding is crucial, and takes time - time that the viewer feels in a very real way.
The film's conclusion is poignant, satisfying, and well set up without being obvious. I feel sorry for those reviewers who said they left early - they missed a stunning conclusion to a wonderfully told story. I might suggest that they grab a copy of Battle: Los Angeles from their local thrift shop (or garbage dump)...it's probably more their speed.