An amazing and original film!

Rating: 9/10 (31 August 2018)

I just caught this movie on Hulu. I must admit I don't recall this movie's theatrical release. But when I saw the high rating on IMDB and Rotten tomatoes I thought I would give it a try.
While I do agree with other users that the pace was slow for a movie about aliens, I learned the pace was intentional in order to deliver a poignant, original and thought-provoking film. Like others, I shook my head in disbelief when Amy Adams pulled out a white board, wrote her name and tapped on her chest to make first contact with the Aliens. I thought, "oh no" please don't tell me your doing the "me Tarzan, you Jane" thing. I also read reviews about plot holes. Now, I don't approach movies with the emotion of a wooden stump and methodically dissect their logic. If you do, then maybe heed the warnings of others in your camp. For me, that's where the faults of this movie ends, and the rewards of experiencing this film are far greater.
I like films that surprise me, that make me care about the characters and provide a journey. And that doesn't happen that often. Many movies today are so unoriginal. But "Arrival" aims to be different. Based on a short story "Story of Your Life" by American writer Ted Chiang, director Denis Villeneuve and the rest of the filmmaking team managed to present a poignant, original film unlike any other that I have seen in the science fiction genre.
In the end, this isn't a movie about an alien invasion. You'll be disappointed if you expect Will Smith to pop out of an aircraft and knockout an alien with his fist. It's a movie about the human experience and explores such themes as interpersonal communication, life, loss and unconditional love.
I had to give this movie it's high score because it deserved it. But also because it definitely does not deserve an extremely low score of 1, 2 or 3. Armageddon, Pearl Harbor and Green Lantern deserve low scores of 1, 2 or 3. This is a much watch for anyone who likes films that make you scratch your head and wonder in utter amazement.