Arrival is one of those films that isn't just about science fiction and peace but rather makes you think about much deeper things. The story tells of strange spacecraft landing on Earth and all nations trying to understand why these beings arrived and what their purpose is. Here comes our heroine Louise a linguist, who is asked to decode the alien language so she can communicate with them.
What makes the film special isn't just the idea of aliens but the way it deals with language and time. The film plays on the idea that language can affect the way we think and even our perception of time and that's what happens to Louise when she begins to understand the alien language her entire life changes so surprises in the story make you rethink everything you saw from the beginning as if the film is playing with your mind in a brilliant way.
Other than that, the music and cinematography in Arrival add a strange feeling a blend of mystery and serenity making you feel like you're truly immersed in the film. There's no bad action or explosion scenes but there's psychological tension and clever science fiction. If you like movies that make you think after you've finished, Arrival will surely captivate you and stay with you for a long time.
One of the things that distinguishes Arrival is that the aliens aren't here to invade Earth or destroy humanity. On the contrary they're peaceful and their goal is greater than just a passing encounter. The film reflects the idea that an inability to communicate can lead to fear and misunderstanding and this is precisely what happens between humans and aliens and even between countries that each have a different interpretation of these beings' intentions. The conflict here isn't fought with weapons but with reason and logic and this is what sets the film apart from traditional science fiction films.
Also, the concept of time in the film is brilliantly implemented, as the story doesn't proceed linearly like regular films, which makes you at a certain point understand everything in a completely different way. By the time you reach the end, you find yourself wanting to rewatch the film from the beginning to catch the details you missed. Arrival isn't just a film it's a mental and emotional experience that makes you think about things bigger than just an alien encounter.
