Arrival reviewed by Mark Kermode

Mark Kermode reviews Arrival. A number of large alien ships arrive around the globe. With international forces panicking as they wonder what the aliens want and how they should respond to them, the American government enlist Dr. Louise Banks, a linguistics expert, to try and figure out a way to communicate.
Please tell us what you think of the film -- or Mark’s review of the film - below. We love to include your views on the show every Friday.
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[@ralph32a]

5 years and another two masterpieces later, I think Villeneuve has established himself as one of the best Science Fiction Directors of all time. I'm really just so damn happy about that and I'm thankful that I am able to experience his movies in the Cinema.

[@garydougill7478]

I just watched Dune last night. Imagine the genius required to make Dune, Blade Runner and Arrival. Just incredible.

[@KnarfStein]

He's one of the best directors, period. While of course I'm sure a lot of work went behind the scenes, the way he's able to deliver exciting and intellectually rigorous films across multiple genres and make it look easy are quite brilliant.

[@sleepyazathoth5238]

Dennis Velleneuve is one of the best directors working today.

[@japsniper1980]

He's clearly on a roll atm. Prisoners, Sicario and now Arrival. Fingers crossed the Blade Runner sequel follows that good form.

[@vvvictoriav5958]

Balde Runner? Well, Harrison Ford is getting on now i suppose. edit: I'm in full agreement by the way. I've loved his work since I saw Incendies. And you missed out Enemy!

[@therightsofthereader6094]

yes, Enemy was so beautiful!

[@SuperWillHatch]

Sicario imo is one of the best movies of the 2000s so far.

[@katesiobhanmercer]

didn't that come out in 2015? And also be not-that-good?

[@GiantSandles]

It felt kind of like what Interstellar was going for without some of the more over-the-top laughable elements. Maybe the best film I've seen this year so far

[@GiantSandles]

Michael Otis I mean as far as the emotional stuff, not the plot generally

[@PauLtus_B]

I'll take the liberty to give !SPOILERS! here in the case someone hasn't seen the movie: t think there's a good comparison between the two (Arrival and Interstellar), but also think that they can exist side by side very well. I'd say Interstellar is more flawed but still wins in terms of visual spectacle (although I think on THE cheesiest line I'd give it to Arrival). I think they are very different but they're both somewhat down to earth sci-fi movies dealing with rather complicated subject matter which they are trying to communicate in a very accessible way. Time is more prominent in Interstellar but I think on how it might affect your life Arrival has something to say that's just as important, although the way it works is pretty much incomparable (it's time shifting vs non-linear experience of time (I love the circular way of writing btw)). I think in most ways they're very different and will attract somewhat different audiences but at the same time I think they compliment each other rather well.

[@imasepan]

Learned English Dog so how about that blade runner sequel

[@notabot835]

Saw this last night. A masterpiece, left me gobsmacked

[@zoobee]

just got back from watching this. Was the best movie of the year for me. Emotionally powerful. When you understand what is happening with the flashbacks it all makes sense and becomes immensely profound and poignant and cathartic. i loved this film so much.

[@chuckyboy6977]

Flashback, they were flash forwards.

[@glenndouglas8822]

What a spot on review 🙌✌️

[@davidmcquaid2557]

It's an amazing film, but Max Richter's haunt piece made it a masterpiece.

[@DAOSullivan]

Completely agree with you on that last point. For all the talk recently on how politics has divided nations, the release of this film was so timely considering the message is put across of humanity learning to work together.

[@ZPSBestProfileName]

Yeah and the Muricans want to blow them up...because drama

[@ThisisDaniel]

I'm very late to the party, having watched Denis' films somewhat out of order, starting with Blade Runner: 2049, Dune and now Arrival. I can honestly say he is my favourite modern director, at least in the science fiction genre. I watched knowing it would be good, I was just awestruck by how good it was conceptually. I was profoundly moved by the end of the film and even welled up a little. Great analysis too Mark, I'm loving your work.

[@stam7250]

Villeneuve made me care about movies In a different way. Prisoners did it for me.

[@NickHunter]

Please watch Sicario if you haven't already. An absolute masterclass of tension and paranoia

[@letoffsomesteambennett3446]

High praise from the Kermster, it's been a while.

[@DorianCairne]

It's been a slow year for good cinema. This film was a much-needed bit of quality.

[@YourLoyalDeserter]

I teared up at the end of this review, not gonna lie.

[@junkhausen]

yup, me too. glad im not the only one

[@affalaffaa]

Denisa Simple Kermode and Mayo are starting to get noticed more I guess. Sort of makes you tear up a bit...

[@AgentOccam]

@tg72211 > "...to be multicultural is to be in favor with culture that see the woman equal to man (in opportunities) and at the same time, with culture that kills woman becouse she beein taking to a man." I don't agree. I can't remember which philosopher I'm paraphrasing, but being in favour of tolerance doesn't mean we must tolerate other peoples' intolerance.

[@YourLoyalDeserter]

Stephen and Ofer, when did I say I supported such injustice?

[@AgentOccam]

tg72211 I don't think you did. I was disagreeing with Ofer (who I quoted). I guess I just clicked on the wrong reply button.

[@ClamBuster4]

saw it today... intellectually and emotionally blew me away. i mean, it's just a piece of cinema of staggering quality

[@huamulan9279]

That bit at the end about the timing of this movie's release - _perfect._

[@michaelmuldowney8]

A masterpiece = that benefits from repeated viewings.

[@rohanrr31]

I saw this film 3 years back and together with Sicario, Enemy and Prisoners, I was convinced that whatever the next project he is taking up will be a grand intellectually moving cinematic spectacle. Turned out Blade Runner 2049 is my favourite film forever! I found this review as a flashback of my journey into the Villeneuve fandom.

[@Enzaio]

I'm so looking forward to Dune. If anyone can do it, it's Villeneuve.

[@rounakmahato67866]

now Dune might gonna be your favourite film

[@deannab7224]

Don’t forget to watch Incendies.

[@saifurrehmaan2637]

Incredible film, perhaps our generation answer to 2001. Profound and beautiful break down of the human experience- never pretentious, modern masterpiece imo.

[@ian9outof10]

Actually, this is probably about right although, I don't think the sci-fi element of this movie is especially well done. Clarke wouldn't have written this story because, scientifically, it makes no sense on any level. 2001 is, at least, sort of based in fact until the end. And then, like Interstellar it sort of gets a pass because it hinges around things we don't have much science about. The problem for me, with Arrival was that the concept was just too far removed from reality. But as a film, and a piece of art, it was excellent. Direction and casting were both perfect and I liked the pace and tone. Kermode makes a good point about this being like Monsters, and that movie isn't Sci-fi at all - it's a tale about humans.

[@technosworld2]

Agreed, the movie fell flat in a few key areas, such as the seemingly random part where the soldiers rebelled and ***spoiler alert*** put the bomb on-board, then they breezed past that as if nothing had happened. Also, the pivotal point of the movie, about 3,000 years in the future, was completely ignored after it was mentioned.

[@ethanvilla4418]

Arrival is a modern classic.

[@faherty87]

I lost my brother just before Christmas, It was definitely a film I needed to see right now, I felt less alone with without going into spoilers.

[@theolamp5312]

I read the short story. However, I thought that the movie expanded it in a much more excitable and accessible way. Rarely do I think that the movie is better than the book. In this case it is. We have been lucky to have some great intelligent Sci-Fi movies in the last few years. I think of Ex-Machina & A Quiet Place.

[@Michaelonyoutub]

Watching this 5 years after it was first uploaded and wondering what he meant by "this week" and then I realized it was uploaded early November 2016, when Trump won the US election in a huge upset

[@frankmessely2156]

The most mature SF-movie in recent years.

[@GaryALucas]

'Arrival' seemed a good comment on how countries can communicate and the difficulties, an increasingly vital quality.

[@bobbystevens90]

Saw this last night, it was excellent! Villeneuve is a modern master!

[@wesleylang172]

Watched this again last night. I think it's so much better knowing what's going on, which is very rare in a film. I think.

[@toma6068]

Agreed. Something like inception works as effectively, if not better the second time round too when you understand what's happening

[@MLElf]

Man, what a film - walked out of the cinema with a blown mind, it was so powerful that it's put me in a trance!! Loved it :)

[@kadiummusic]

Boy, you need help.

[@oscarmike1131]

can't wait to see it again

[@ChrisCoombes]

Enjoyed the articulation of alien-ness.

[@122josh]

this film made me feel how I felt the first time I watched 2001 a space odyssey just a real sense of awe and wonderment.utterly jaw dropping stuff heartfelt and gorgeous to look at I honestly highly recommend it for lovers of thought provoking sci fi.i think blade runner 2 is in good hands with Denis.

[@evry1sfriend619]

The Dennis the Menace joke caused me to spit out my coffee. So good.

[@mehcol]

Watched it again yesterday - superb.

[@ElliotCoen]

Denis the Menis - a classic Kermodian quip. I adored Arrival for its intelligent approach to sci-fi, much like Moon and Ex Machina. I've done a full spoiler-free review on my channel for anyone interested out there!

[@imasepan]

Elliot Coen the third Coen brother.

[@cjwright79]

The pebble-shaped spacecraft turned out to look more like a coffee bean when viewed from the side. I think the movie is trying to tell us that we need coffee to get to the root of our personal and emotional problems, which is of course completely correct.

[@AimeeRose1997]

Chris Wright Now the line about coffee in the helicopter scene makes sense.

[@crackspotting]

You were correct two years ago and you are correct now.

[@cosmojames7710]

I’m upset that the answer to life, the universe and everything has been available on KZbin for 4 years, and I only just found it.

[@mrpinkchink]

I have read all the Kermode books that I could lay my hands on. I am a big fan of his reviews, and am absolutely awed by how each and every reference that he draws from other movies are so spot on and refreshing.

[@cmasseylynch]

It was so good to see a genuine, positive,force on the screen. Arrival has arrived at the time of dark times.

[@actanner]

Great review of a superb, intelligent, emotional and thought provoking work.

[@spectatorsoflife]

Is there an underlying reason for Mark Kermode's complete inability to finish a...

[@Oceanmachine27]

Sandwich?

[@filedepoveste]

Love this commentary, Mark is really great at pointing out the essentials.... Such a great movie and so much more than what one expects of a scifi production. And yes, timing of this movie's airing could not have been better!

[@nicodav]

Dennis the Menace / Denis la malice

[@tomryan6461]

Great review, Mark. Just saw the movie a few days ago and, like you, felt it was just what I needed to see right now. A beautiful story with challenging ideas. In the midst of all the global sabre rattling it struck just the right note for me.

[@grahamclarke6170]

Another masterful review by the great MK

[@xgonne]

Been wary of this movie since I heard the "weapon/tool" element of the trailer, but now I'm looking forward to seeing it. Thx.

[@ravissary79]

xgonne it's a VERY weak plot device.

[@SpudIllusionPictures]

Very glad I wasn't the only one who felt echoes of Monsters in this.

[@timfellows2]

I posted straightaway that Arrival was the polar opposite of Independence Day. It's very good indeed - the best sci-fi film I've seen for years.

[@TheStarBlack]

What I can't comprehend is how Eric Heisserer pulled this screenplay out of the bag. The entire rest of his career has been z list films. How does that happen?!

[@donna25871]

The best film of 2016.

[@RedHowlin]

What was going on in the week of its cinema release? Is he talking about a personal upheaval, or a global event?

[@michaellynch8625]

Unbelievable movie just seen on c4 and took a while to sink in but a brilliant brilliant film however did I miss this first time round.

[@zzipp2006]

Couldn't agree more with everything just said!

[@AlexBloggFilm]

Anyone looking for another 'slow sci-fi' try Midnight Special, from earlier this year.

[@carolineh1845]

This was a great film. Bit slow at times, but very very clever and original.

[@TheSt1092]

Absolutely fab . I was gripped from start to finish.

[@rickewilde]

I watched this in a full cinema and you could hear a pin drop such was it captivating quality.

[@jamesbuckingham77]

What is Mark referring to when he says the week he's had and the right movie at the right time? Looking forward to seeing this. even if recent babyings have rendered me & the Mrs 'NCG's'

[@RichardStrong86]

What does he mean? Likely something to do with the current trend of divisiveness in global politics.

[@glyph2011]

Saw this today. Jaw droppingly good. Amazing.

[@haraldperryrhoden1986]

Look for «Nidar Lakrisbåter» then you will understand where the design of the space ships is coming from.

[@asia911]

Mark totally nail this one. Best movie of the year for me.

[@tanler7953]

Made me think of The Day the Earth Stood Still, the old Michael Rennie version, which was simpler and more direct than the recent remake with Keanu Reeves.

[@kundaigotore992]

Just finished watching it

[@remsan03]

The alien pod looked like as if it was designed by Apple.

[@stefanchristopher6303]

remsan03 the bezels weren't big enough

[@cmndante6698]

iCome in peace

[@Romanplaystation]

:) Google 'Motorola Pebl'. That's ya huckleberry.

[@damodavies9273]

Loved it :)

[@waltersoprano7907]

My words exactly! The perfect movie for the week it was released. You're the best film critic Mark.

[@c_abend7852]

What an alien, strange and wonderful film. It worked on all the different concepts and ideas it brings up beautifully. Amy Adams makes carrying the lead role look so easy it is mind blowing. I can't wait seeing her in new movies. Go Girl!

[@nicholasdickens2801]

As my good friend said 'The thinking man's Independence Day' - Nothing wrong with that. It shows you the sheer scale of Science Fiction if you don't go for that 'vulgar' in your face 'Wham Bam' popcorn multiplex fodder. Perhaps we'll get more films like this.

[@chrishiggins7166]

The film’s terrifically acted, stylish, well directed, well written & stylish alien thriller comparable to The X Files (1993-2002 & 2016-2018). (89%) (4.5/5 stars) (positive)

[@MrDigimal]

Anyone know the context of Marks comments about needing a film like this at this time. What had Happened ?

[@rurounix86]

US Election 2016 and Brexit.

[@JTCGiantz56]

He made so many references I've never heard of lol

[@WAAAAAAAAAAAY]

Saw this earlier today. Loved it...loved pretty much everything about it :)

[@alexdowney5316]

beautiful movie, on point review.

[@TheSt1092]

If Denis Villeneuve was to make a Star Wars oil just think what a masterpiece it would be.

[@waltersoprano7907]

Stephen Taylor He's on a higher level than those films even though I do enjoy Star Wars.

[@TheSt1092]

typo

[@taila1976]

I don't think that would be DV's genre. I understand it would be totally different though.

[@duderama6750]

Leia would be a giant lobster and Luke would be a droid with an evil twin.

[@Raymint]

Interstellar done right. A review done right, even. I've heard so many others give too much away.

[@kadiummusic]

Absolutely no comparison, Interstellar has an incredible story, never stops moving from beginning to end and is genuinely awe inspiring. In Arrival NOTHING HAPPENS! It's all hype and no substance.

[@ramakrishnamitta7024]

@@kadiummusic lol...Arrival is for patient and intelligent audience. Interstellar is for ADHD audiences who only seek fast paced visual spectacle with unintelligent story and screenplay. Post Inception, Nolan made below average movies except Dunkirk.

[@bplusstudios9031]

Good to know I only need the first two seconds!

[@ninasmith4145]

I wanted to know more about the aliens.

[@DJAA1978]

As far as I am aware a Science Fiction film has never won the best picture Oscar. However Return Of The King did win but it's fantasy. Surely Arrival is the genre's best chance, however if La La Land (oscars love musicals) does not win I hear Moonlight is outstanding.

[@relinquis]

am I the only one who was underwhelmed by the quality of the image? not the compositions or lighting, rather the quality. it looked too digitally degraded. It's odd though, considering that his previous film, Sicario, was shot digitally, but didn't suffer from this at all.

[@MisterKS7643]

Trivia: the screenwriter wrote above average horror films like "Lights Out" and "Final Destination 5"

[@lw3646]

Also reminded me of Gravity and The Day the Earth Stood Still.

[@whatshisname3304]

the , only thing about that film is the exposition ( by jeremy renner), when , the linguist is working , it some how felt out of place , ALL good apart from that.

[@hewyihherng]

What makes them so real is they way they 'hang'. It's brilliant. Sometimes you don't need explosions, laser cannons and nuclear bombs to make a good movie. Thought-provoking, riveting and brilliant sci-fi masterpiece.

[@mako4874]

props to both studio and storyteller. it takes a european filmmaker, true- to make a film with this much restraint and elegance but with the hollywood system to enable this much scale. beautiful film = had me contemplating life for days afterwards.

[@JONNOG88]

This is the movie. "Prometheus" *should* have been!

[@brennenspice6098]

Marks best review in a while, awesome

[@stevenheath3524]

Talking about right place, right time: Her came out the week after I broke up with my girlfriend a couple years back. That was a devastatingly apt movie to watch at that time.

[@giddygrub7176]

Beautiful film.

[@mackin26]

Just watched it. Gonna have to give it a few more spins. Had to rewind so many times to figure out the dialogue. So annoying.

[@geofthompson3844]

This is a great movie. That's not something I say much but in this case it is justified. Interesting, different, challenging and with a fantastic final act. It's a near perfect movie. I'm not sure Jeremy Renner was the best choice, he has almost no chemistry with Amy and seems to be not much more than a plot point really, but he's not in it so much that it becomes a problem. Amy herself is fantastic as always, but the best part is the concept. It's just so rare these days to find originality in movies. Everything is a rehashing or updating of something already done but this was truly original.

[@mhcIncubus]

its no prisoners, but still amazing

[@halloweenfriday]

Arrival might be the greatest movie I've seen this year!

[@FilterHQ]

Denis Le Menis lmao

[@nodrama490]

Great movie

[@positiveenergy9134]

Better Than Contact?

[@beren_bear4255]

Positive Energy yeah

[@aburg10s]

Yes it is. Another question, is it better than The Arrival (1996) with Charlie Sheen?

[@PauLtus_B]

I would say so I think.

[@beren_bear4255]

aburg10s I actually preferred The Arrival with Charlie Sheen

[@aburg10s]

The Arrival is a highly underrated movie. It was a flop when it first came out the same weekend as Independence Day, but remains a cult classic.

[@Epiousios18]

Who's on first?

[@joecantdance494]

Arrival is a masterpiece and far better than Dune. DV is such a great director

[@1gnore_me.]

I need to see this movie

[@jpcastledark]

ok. Kermode nails it here. But I will see the movie only because Denis Villenueve has directed it.

[@SK-yn1fn]

Was good

[@finbar21]

Great review. Super movie.

[@mikeleeson7098]

Best film of the year.

[@Nophotofound]

Dennis is amazing but here I have to say its the script that leads away.

[@zacmurray6728]

Absolutely LOVE this film.

[@GSmyth85]

This will be his film of the year.

[@MisterKauffman]

Denis the Menis