A stone-cold masterpiece.

Rating: 10/10 (23 February 2017)

Polarizing. Profound. ‪"Arrival" is a sardonic satire of humanity and our inability to comprehend the language of symbols and art, or more aptly put, what is unknown...
This world is sadly not yet ready for the almighty "Arrival," though it couldn't come at a more relevant time than right now. It's undoubtedly one of the most meticulously crafted and well-directed films I've seen in my entire life. Not a single frame is gone to waste. I felt callbacks of the world-renowned Kubrick upon watching the genius unfold before me. Everything connects so wonderfully together that I am truly floored at what I just had the pleasure of experiencing. This movie has the potential to completely change the outlook of humanity and all the limitations inherent in our thinking. I can understand people being confused by it, however, as I was a little foggy as well initially (fog is utilized in this film for a reason). After subsequent meditation and analysis of the film's core themes and symbolism, I thought I had a pretty firm grasp on what the movie was trying to say, and I declared it as my number two of 2016. Clearly I was wrong, as watching this movie a second time clearly solidified in my mind that this movie is nothing but pure, unadulterated genius. My head is still spinning from how well the narrative illustrates the message of the film in and of itself: utilizing symbols (a universal language) to communicate ideas and unify humanity in working as a collective whole to make legitimate progress and live up to our species' highest potential. This reflects the need to piece this movie's narrative together and communicate with others about what it's saying in order to attain enlightenment. The film is seemingly too alien and complicated for some to fully comprehend on their own terms.
We follow a professional linguist, named Louise, who is an incredibly intuitive and open-minded thinker, unlike her peers. The ones in charge (gov't, newspeople, etc.) are so cleverly subverted, illustrating how little they actually know in working with the unknown and how to approach foreign life, as a result of being trapped within the confines of their own restrictive bubbles. I feel like this is indicative of not understanding the movie (or any great works of art, really) and dismissing it on impulse, rather than thinking it out thoroughly. Essentially, at its core, this movie is trying to say to live in the moment, work together, and have an open-mind on what is unknown. It's the only way to make genuine progress, as collectivism is key in trying to decipher meaning, both in art and in the real world. If you can't appreciate the sheer brilliance of this movie, then perhaps another viewing is what will do it. I knew the first time it was insanely deep, but not to the extent I do now having seen it again. Do not be bound by time, watch this movie over and over until it fully clicks. It's unquestionably worth it in the long run, as I can feel the influence of this movie glistening within the corridors my soul. It is, without a doubt in mind, a modern day masterpiece. I'm calling it now, this film is destined to go down in the books and will be praised for the remainder of our existence. Watch it and study.
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