Totally Unique and DEEP! A Masterpiece.

Rating: 10/10 (26 December 2019)

This is one of the coolest movies I've ever seen, and I'm old enough to have seen most of them. I feel sorry for those who call it boring because, if you truly were bored, you either didn't understand it, you have a short attention span and can only focus long enough to see movement and shiny things, or you have no feelings. Either way, you are disadvantaged and the poorer for missing out on appreciating one of the most profound films ever produced. Why is it such a good film? First, there are no films that defy being categorized like this one. Sure, it's called a science fiction but, honestly, its way more than that. In terms of a genre, it's actually a combination of a science fiction with squid monsters, an intellectual study on communication and how it might affect your thoughts and actions, an exploration into the nature of time and its perception, a commentary on human behavior and the state of mankind such as man's tendency to jump to conclusions and make rash decisions, a mystery to be solved, a romance, a story of great grief and loss and, finally and most importantly, a bitter sweet statement on the value and beauty of life, all life, even life that doesn't last that, in the end, includes everyone's life. Secondly, Arrival does all of these things very well and weaves each element together seamlessly into something beautiful and thought provoking. It makes a statement like a philosopher. Like a great poem or piece of art, it forces one to think, to wonder, to feel, to understand love, to feel grief and loss, to ponder what is and what is important. I'm richer for having seen it and I give credit to those who achieved it. I can't believe they were able to do it and to do it so well.