Arrival (2016).
- Thread starter Malevolence
- Start date
I thought it was quite clever...
Or something 
All the flashbacks with the child hadn't actually happened yet - they were in the future and took place after the aliens had landed. She could only remember them because in the future she had unlocked the secret of the alien language that had made time non-linear to her.
This is why the book was made out to Hannah - who had just been born. Her name was a palindrome after the circular language. It was also why Hannah made the plastercine figurine of the alien... because when she had made that figurine the alien landing had already happened. It's also why her tv show cartoon was her mum and dad talking to animals.... because they were already well known for talking to the aliens.
When the dad said at the end 'I'd forgot how good it felt to hold you' it's because he also understood the alien language (just) and was starting to get memories of the future... although he was not as advanced as her and could never foresee their child would have a terminal illness... which the mum knew all along (hence why he got mad at her for having the child but not telling him their daughter would die a child).
This is why the book was made out to Hannah - who had just been born. Her name was a palindrome after the circular language. It was also why Hannah made the plastercine figurine of the alien... because when she had made that figurine the alien landing had already happened. It's also why her tv show cartoon was her mum and dad talking to animals.... because they were already well known for talking to the aliens.
When the dad said at the end 'I'd forgot how good it felt to hold you' it's because he also understood the alien language (just) and was starting to get memories of the future... although he was not as advanced as her and could never foresee their child would have a terminal illness... which the mum knew all along (hence why he got mad at her for having the child but not telling him their daughter would die a child).
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But at the core of it, you've got the message:
If you could live your life again, would you change anything? So OK, there is a twist on it - but effectively she knows that having her daughter will result in her losing her husband after she tells him that their daughter is going to have cancer, a very rare form of, and then die really young. That it will be painful. Their final conversation "Shall we make a baby?" and the answer "yes" means that no, she wouldn't change a thing.
Yep - all this. Thought it was well paced, and the sound was brilliant. Thoroughly enjoyed it, it felt ambitious but well executed.
Soldato
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Brilliant. 9/10. Get yourselves down to the cinema and see it. I wish there were more like this at the cinema!
So much to discuss but spoiler tags galore. MASSIVE SPOILERS and PLOT DISCUSSION
So the septapods? Aliens, they came to earth with the intentions of making us all work together to unite the 12 parts of the puzzle. Ok no problem.
But as in these cause and effect type paradoxes are we to think that all the major player characters, except Jeremy Renner, seem to grasp this when main woman grasps and understands the language.
I mean, if she in the "future" will learn the language properly, we see flash forwards-sidewards-backwards its not linear after all, she her current by human standards self will already have done everything and taught others the language that will also become "unlocked" from current human perceptions of time and space... lol
She only learns from General chang? what to tell him to stop attacking the aliens by asking general chang what to say lol or am i remembering that part wrong it was very intense!
ALSO
Why don't the aliens who ultimately tell us we are "needed" in 3000 years to help or some kind of event in the future/past/now(lol) Why on earth don't they much easily just write English to us from the start and save an awful lot of potential problems, but of course the outcome of all this they would already know, so really everything they do is just nannying Us to learn. It ourselves... Poor Abbot and Costello, spending months watching the dumb humans work it out the hard way.....
SO many questions ! Does the book elaborate ?
But as in these cause and effect type paradoxes are we to think that all the major player characters, except Jeremy Renner, seem to grasp this when main woman grasps and understands the language.
I mean, if she in the "future" will learn the language properly, we see flash forwards-sidewards-backwards its not linear after all, she her current by human standards self will already have done everything and taught others the language that will also become "unlocked" from current human perceptions of time and space... lol
She only learns from General chang? what to tell him to stop attacking the aliens by asking general chang what to say
lol or am i remembering that part wrong it was very intense! ALSO
Why don't the aliens who ultimately tell us we are "needed" in 3000 years to help or some kind of event in the future/past/now(lol) Why on earth don't they much easily just write English to us from the start and save an awful lot of potential problems, but of course the outcome of all this they would already know, so really everything they do is just nannying Us to learn. It ourselves... Poor Abbot and Costello, spending months watching the dumb humans work it out the hard way.....
SO many questions !
Does the book elaborate ?
Soldato
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So much to discuss but spoiler tags galore. MASSIVE SPOILERS and PLOT DISCUSSION
So the septapods? Aliens, they came to earth with the intentions of making us all work together to unite the 12 parts of the puzzle. Ok no problem.
But as in these cause and effect type paradoxes are we to think that all the major player characters, except Jeremy Renner, seem to grasp this when main woman grasps and understands the language.
I mean, if she in the "future" will learn the language properly, we see flash forwards-sidewards-backwards its not linear after all, she her current by human standards self will already have done everything and taught others the language that will also become "unlocked" from current human perceptions of time and space... lol
She only learns from General chang? what to tell him to stop attacking the aliens by asking general chang what to say
ALSO
Why don't the aliens who ultimately tell us we are "needed" in 3000 years to help or some kind of event in the future/past/now(lol) Why on earth don't they much easily just write English to us from the start and save an awful lot of potential problems, but of course the outcome of all this they would already know, so really everything they do is just nannying Us to learn. It ourselves... Poor Abbot and Costello, spending months watching the dumb humans work it out the hard way.....
SO many questions !
She only ever has flash-forwards...she's always had that ability but during the time of the aliens landing is when she really start to unlock her ability/understanding. So yeah, she can 'see' forward and use that to speak to the general to find out what was said..and repeat it in the 'present' (so to speak) because time is no longer linear for her. At that point in the story she has the ability to 'see' time non-linearly, like past, present and future isn't separate entities where only the present exists.
Time is non-linear to the aliens, linear to humans..which is the tool they share via the learning of their language..and done in a way to bring the earth together and not hand that ability to one nation etc.
Plus the aliens can't comprehend linearity (A to B) in time (hence them not being able to grasps simple maths such a algebra) which is, they say, what they need help with in 3000 years. It's an exchange of knowledge and understanding. Both benefit.
It also explains how their spheres appear and disappear..they aren't travelling to earth, just appearing at that point in time.
I think!!
Time is non-linear to the aliens, linear to humans..which is the tool they share via the learning of their language..and done in a way to bring the earth together and not hand that ability to one nation etc.
Plus the aliens can't comprehend linearity (A to B) in time (hence them not being able to grasps simple maths such a algebra) which is, they say, what they need help with in 3000 years. It's an exchange of knowledge and understanding. Both benefit.
It also explains how their spheres appear and disappear..they aren't travelling to earth, just appearing at that point in time.
I think!!
I have to say whilst I agree I couldnt roll my eyes hard enough at the military in the film - so ****ing annoying herpy derp derp lets bomb it hurrrrrrr gotta use our guns joopy jupey joob. **** off!!!!
I hate this in films - it's annoying enough in low brow action films and it did taint the whole experience for me... although I'm aware it's something I get more disgruntled at than others.
I hate this in films - it's annoying enough in low brow action films and it did taint the whole experience for me... although I'm aware it's something I get more disgruntled at than others.
Trouble is that's how it'd be if it actually happened as they'd be the ones in charge.
Do you think? Maybe... I dunno... setting up some tanks around a spaceship full of aliens that have superior technology does seem like one of the most brain-dead ideas of all time.
In reference to this film, they were so quick to put down the advances made by the scientists and rush them... it's like they didn't even want to listen.... a nuisance getting in the way of their herp derp joopy jube. I'd hope in reality they'd be more cooperative.
In reference to this film, they were so quick to put down the advances made by the scientists and rush them... it's like they didn't even want to listen.... a nuisance getting in the way of their herp derp joopy jube. I'd hope in reality they'd be more cooperative.
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I do though if it does happen in my lifetime I'll be very happy to be proven wrong. Could you imagine Trump letting scientists take charge? I don't even think Obama would have. Let's look at the recent history of American military action fighting enemies in ways that just don't work as conventional warfare is a thing if the past. They'd screen Independence Day to the military as instruction videos.
Soldato
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Nobody mentioning how bloody awesome Amy Adams is in this? Shame on you all...
I was thinking the same. Amy Adams is my favourite actress by a country mile.
Soldato
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Nobody mentioning how bloody awesome Amy Adams is in this? Shame on you all...
first time i watched a film with here in it and thought she was rightly cast, well maybe second as catch me if you can was also ok with her as her character.
excellent film. would watch again. so glad i don't watch trailers as i had no idea the direction of this movie.
I just happened to have read the short story the movie is based on a few months ago, and there's nothing in it about some impending war. The project is run by the military, but it's the scientists taking the lead on communicating with the aliens. The whole "we've got to solve this before world tensions cause a nuclear war" is a hollywood thing to make the story appear more exciting. In the original story, there's nothing like that.
I would guess the reason why that part of the film is bad is because it's been added by Hollywood, instead of sticking to the source material. I guess it's difficult to make it exciting when the story is about how different conceptual languages change your thinking and your perception of time/the universe.
I would guess the reason why that part of the film is bad is because it's been added by Hollywood, instead of sticking to the source material. I guess it's difficult to make it exciting when the story is about how different conceptual languages change your thinking and your perception of time/the universe.