I am literally worse off for seeing this

Rating: 1/10 (19 February 2017)

This was literally the weakest film I have ever seen, and I joined IMDb just to write this review.
Arrival is an insult to any smart moviegoer, and a good example of the results and high ratings you will get by simply throwing a ton of money at a thin plot and disgusting script. So, this is business and movies make money - well done then.
But I'd rather see something memorable.
Arrival is basically a terrible remake of the brilliant Contact (1997).
This is not even in the realm of sci-fi, as the science is never attempted to be explained (thanks in part to the useless "theoretical physicist" character played by Renner) - Arrival becomes just another fantasy flick.
The cliché 'narrow minded grunt army corporal' (Whitaker) picks Adams as the foremost expert on language to communicate with the aliens, berates her when she doesn't understand the aliens - then almost immediately questions her tactics. Whitaker, y u do dis movie?
There is even the bit when a rogue attacks the peaceful aliens - a la 'Contact'. After which, the operation is called off and the area evacuated - though Adams is able to thwart the high security by running across a field to access the craft again.
Booming "alien" noises (War of the Worlds, 2005) for nothing more than jump-scare value and play no part whatsoever in communication.
On arrival to the forward base, Renner and Adams are told they will be heading up their respective emergency departments, then are immediately taken into the craft for the first 'session' - with not so much as a quick briefing on the situation!
Adams: "What do the aliens look like?" Whitaker: "You'll see."
Really?
Along with a multitude of sensors, they literally take a canary into the craft visits (once used in coal mines as an early warning system - ceased in 1986).
Renner's character is goofy and boring (he's supposed to be a top theoretical physicist). I was excited when he was introduced to the movie - But disappointingly, is used solely as Adams' love interest - but not until right at he end - and nothing else at all.
There are friendly ships and aliens that defy all known physics and that is the best the movie can do.
The only thing I found OK was that they did not use the cliché movie alien form.
Cheers.