Odd but Fascinating Circularity

Rating: 6/10 (11 February 2017)

I believe "Arrival" attracts a very specific portion of public; the group I have in mind comprehends sci-fi fans, of course, but also includes "skeptical" viewers. By that I mean those who are vaguely interested in the indefinite flavor of Curiosity which derives from mysterious or catastrophic movies.
The movie, being meant for these two categories, presents a bipartite content : partially, it portrays the classic elements of science fiction (meeting with the Unknown, interaction with it, subsequent change in the protagonist's life). Furthermore, "Arrival" presents wider themes: Love, Destiny, Acceptance.
This hybrid nature catches the attention of both kinds of typical viewers, but for different reasons; sci-fi fans might be on the search for intergalactic conflicts, time travel, display of alien technology. The neutral viewers, instead, are presumably interested in witnessing hypothetical apocalyptic scenarios and the personal development of the characters. Well, they both get a taste of what they seek. "Arrival" is in fact a rich plate which satiates every kind of appetite and leaves no complaints behind.
The true question however is : is this fictional hunger fully and completely satisfied? The answer is a matter of opinions; mine is negative. The picturesque alien race isn't clearly and exhaustively described or disclosed, as well as their final inscrutable purposes; I believe others in the audience share my same desire to know more of these mighty "heptapods". But I guess that was the goal of the authors; if so, mission accomplished.