Thoughtful, unlike other Alien-Human Contact Films

Rating: 10/10 (12 February 2019)

I have been watching a number of similar films recently, from 'Contact' to 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind.' This movie is different. It is not a white person's fantasy as much as the others but is more of a movie about how the aliens think, about language, about the change of time (past, present, and future). I remember being blown away when I first saw it back in 2016 and I still feel that affect. Amy Adams leads the movie as the protagonist while Ryan Reynolds is a good supporting character. The aliens are not like those in Close Encounters or those in War of the Worlds, but rather they have a mission to unite humanity together, something which the character played by Amy Adams (Louise) helps to push along. The movie is still strong and a good piece of science fiction...that really makes you think.
I do have one question however: if Louise can see in the future can she not see her own death? If so, that would be deeply disturbing. Perhaps the movie purposely did not go to that place.
Sure humanity is together at the end but at what cost? There is martial law in the streets of the U$ and constant looting, mass suicide by a religious cult, and unrest across the world. Yet this somehow barely affects them in Montana (or anywhere in the world)...why? Do we really need a group of elites to save humanity? Can't humans save themselves? That is what is concerning aboit this movie. Additionally the military is handling this operation and has somehow not engaged in a use of force yet? Come on. Why would the alien land in the U$? That is the last place they would want to go.
Still, I would definitely watch this movie again as it clearly has powerful themes without a doubt. That is all.