Gatsby's Occasional Movie Contemplations
 

Pretty simple, while I'm not going to be active as other members (like Swan, who's on fire lately :cool:) check in once in a while to see my thoughts on recent as well as classic films.

Arrival is unlike any other film I’ve seen in the cinema over the past few years. It talks about topics such as the language, humanity reaction to extraterrestrial beings, our perception of time and space, in that order. It’s as if frequent discussions that take in the modern era have been rolled into one incredible experience. This is filmmaking at it’s finest, inspired by the most important part of philosophy, which is to ask, instead of forcefully trying to find an answer.

The beginning is slow. Amy Adams plays a linguist professor named Louis Banks, who seems to live a life of solitude after losing her daughter. During one of her lectures, the aliens arrive, and panic ensues. Her eyes look out into the blurry sky, and the news broadcasts are hardly bright enough to even wash away a tiny portion of the fog. Eventually, she is recruited into a team that is working on interpreting the alien’s speech. Up to this point, not much happens. A lot chewing and slurping could be heard, and I understand why.

Then she enters one of the twelve alien ships that have landed on Earth, with a new companion named Ian Donnelly, a theoretical physicist (played by Jeremy Renner), and everything changes. Banks and co. enter a small opening on a lift. The lift stops at a point where there is no longer a way to distinguish up from down, and where gravity is irrelevant. From here on it’s a constant path up, to moments so ambitious and yet so resonant. So different from us, and yet so human.

Unlike other science fiction films, Arrival is celebrates the importance of language. Thankfully (because I loathe math), there is absolutely no pseudo scientific mumbo-jumbo, and the objective is clear: expand the aliens’ vocabulary of the English language so that the characters can ask why they have come to Earth. To my surprise, Donnelly the physicist and Banks the linguist get along well in the film. Their chemistry is great, and works out for the surprise reveal that takes place later on, when things start to get mind-blowing.

The B-story, consisting of skeptical worldwide leaders and high-ranking officials, is equally clear in why they decide to go on with certain action. I felt like these are decisions that are reasonable from men of such position, and provide good turning points and conflicts that meet with the main story, giving the film a pace and preventing in from falling into the giant pit where Interstellar got sucked into, much like the black hole McConaughey’s crew was trying to avoid. This is Arrival’s main tour de force - the ability to hook cinephiles with Tarkovsky and Bergman-like imagery while maintaining a compelling mainstream plot.

However, the linear storyline is abandoned during the third act, and Arrival becomes the masterpiece I’ve been looking for. Without spoilers, all I can say that it is thought-provoking, heart-breaking, and phenomenal montages of life as we know and don’t know it. I predict a lot of people to have been thrown off by this sudden change, but what I see is brilliancy. Arrival shifts momentum so fluidly that is reminds me of skilled chess players, who begin an attack on the opposite side during the mid to late game, where the opponent’s pieces are the most vulnerable. We the vulnerable audience are attacked with an immense blow of sound and imagery. Denis Villeneuve is no doubt the Bobby Fischer of filmmaking. Speaking of Mr. Villeneuve, he definitely wins the ‘rising’ director award for 2016, surpassing Chazelle’s La La Land in my opinion. I’ve yet to see Moonlight or Manchester, but this is my pick for the best of film of the year.

After having finished the movie, I rode the bus back home, heart still pounding, and wrote this review in a flash. I haven’t written a full-length review in a long time, and boy was it a lot of fun. Thanks to Raul for having indirectly introduced me to Arrival through his movie long thread.

Re: Gatsby's Occasional Movie Contemplations
 

Awwwwwww here we go!

This will be a great thread to look at occasionally.

Arrival arrives for me in two weeks!

Seconded!!
(but substitute about a year or so for two weeks lol)

Nice, I wanted to watch Arrival sooner but theaters didn't seem too keen on showing it until now. La La Land is huge in Korea though. Represents the Oscar trend.

I wait for everything on video

Re: Gatsby's Occasional Movie Contemplations
 

Great review Gatsby. I liked Arrival quite a bit. I will say I expected it to stick with me more than it has. I think that's a testament to me liking the visuals more than the story. I am certainly going to give it another go.

Re: Gatsby's Occasional Movie Contemplations
 

Very nice review Gatsby. :up: Unfortunately I didn't love Arrival as much as I was hoping I would. I did like it but it just didn't thrill me like I was hoping and almost expecting it to.

Re: Gatsby's Occasional Movie Contemplations
 

Whoa, the king of reviews himself in my thread. What an honor!

I think Arrival appealed to me because it was a breath of fresh air. Also, IMAX. :D

Well it's nice of you to say but I don't think I can really accept the title of 'king of reviews' anymore; been out of the game really the last 2 or 3 years. That said I still have loads and loads of reviews kicking about that I need to get organised and posted.

I admired Arrival for its intelligent and probably quite accurate depiction of an alien visitation, and thought Amy Adams was great, but it just didn't really do it for me on a personal level. Would definitely like to see it again though

Re: Gatsby's Occasional Movie Contemplations
 

Well then how about the Archduke of reviews?

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Glad you liked the film. Most sic/fi films that deal with such things like to incorporate math a lot and you brought up how you enjoyed Arrival's take on it with language instead. I agree!!!

I agree. I also thought certain things in the film were handled rather well and liked them a lot. For example, the concept of language was very intriguing. However, the film as a whole wasn't as great as I anticipated, especially with all the raving reviews. It's not bad, in fact I liked it. It's just that something about it seemed lacking. Perhaps it was its character development, in the way the story unfolded. It felt almost vapid compared to the rest of the film.

Re: Gatsby's Occasional Movie Contemplations
 

Glad you liked Arrival Gatsby. When I first saw it, Arrival was my favorite of the year. It's since been surpassed by La La Land and Manchester by the Aea, but it still sits firmly in third.

Re: Gatsby's Occasional Movie Contemplations
 

Great review of a great film

Don't have much to say other than this is a cynical, calculated film that is suited for kids or immature adults with the attention of a lone fruit fly. Just shows that Illumination is the barrel's bottom when it comes to these type of films. Wrapped in a flurry of cuteness and mainstream topics, The Secret Life of Pets says nothing new, teaches nothing to kids, and is absurd even for animated film standards. There's a scene where a bunny, voiced by Kevin Hart drives a truck across the Brooklyn bridge. At least in Finding Dory, the octopus was developed as a highly dexterous and clever character, so that we would at least have some suspension of disbelief when he performed similar feats. Pets doesn't even try; this bunny is invincible. Bullsh*t.

lone fruit fly...and cat aficionados such as Miss Vicky, There, problem solved. ;)

I mean, don't get me wrong, it wasn't great, but I actually liked it more than Finding Dory (and was far too generous in my rating of the latter). I felt like it knew what it was and wasn't pretending to be something else, so I bought its absurdities much more easily than the similar parts of Dory.

Um....*raises hand*....I liked it as well. :bashful: Can you add another exception in there? :D

Like MV I'm not going to argue for it being a great film, or having the depth and intelligence of the best stuff from Pixar, Disney, Dreamworks etc. But just as a purely fun film I really enjoyed it. Also more than Finding Dory which I found to be a big disappointment; just rather lazy and phoned in

Re: Gatsby's Occasional Movie Contemplations
 

Yeah, I think my standards were too high when I was watching it, as the film is by no means unentertaining. Funny how viewing experiences work, some films just rub you the wrong way. But it is shallow fodder for kids (compared to other films), and in the golden age of animation, it's a waste of effort on behalf of Illumination and waste of time if you're the audience.

Meh, at least I like Wreck-it Ralph. :D

Can't believe how entertaining this movie was. It proved to me that Wes Anderson is just as masterful in delivering quixotic delights that can be enjoyed without irritation. But I did dismiss Moonlight Kingdom as an average film too obsessed with quirks. I think The Royal Tenenbaums is different because of the dynamic interactions that can only come from an ensemble of flamboyant characters. This film didn't feel limited because Anderson did a great job of creating character-driven situations, resembling classic Hollywood films. Not just dialogue, but the way characters or objects would enter/exit a frame, and how things were positioned made a huge difference. These acted as a way for him to tell the story by describing and not by simply explaining. There was a typical narrated introduction, but at the end of the film I was ready to let it pass. I look forward to Rushmore, which is Wes Anderson's crown jewel in his filmography.

Just noticed this thread. I didn't like The Secret Life of Pets either. At first i hated Tenenbaums then i gave it another chance and liked it, it's still one of my least favourite Wes films tho.

Are you a Wes fan Camo? I wouldn't call myself one yet, but he's on my 'rising' list. And how do you rate his films.

Thanks for finding this thread bro, took you a lot longer than I expected. :p

Yah, big Wes fan. The only one of his films i'm not sure that i like is The Darjeeling Limited, i at least don't dislike it tho. What have you seen from him? Not sure how i'd rate them i'd have to rewatch some, i'd rank them like this:

01.Fantastic Mr. Fox
02.Rushmore
03.Moonrise Kingdom
04.Bottle Rocket
05.The Grand Budapest Hoteel
06.The Royal Tenenbaums
07.The Life Aquatic WIth Steve Zissou
08.The Darjeeling Limited

Haven't been on much lately so i pretty much needed you to bump it haha.

As I've said before, The Royal Tenenbaums was one of the first movies I ever really loved as a teenager, it really jumpstarted my love of film in general. I can't get enough of it, glad you liked it.

I didn't care for The Secret Life of Pets much either, but woah, that's a harsh score! I can understand, though. It's pretty obnoxious.

Re: Gatsby's Occasional Movie Contemplations
 

Fox is my number one too. Great visual aesthetic and humor. I had fond memories of reading the original book as a kid so that helped my viewing experience. I've also seen The Grand Budapest Hotel and Moonrise Kingdom. Both were solid but had parts in the film that were stagnant. Need to see Rushmore and his other minor films. :)

Obnoxious indeed. Kevin Hart bunny took away 'bout one and a half popcorn.

I think down the road somewhere Illumination Entertainment forgot the likability of their Looney Tunes esque sensibilities after Despicable Me in favor of something more ungodly when those damn Minions became a household name. I still cannot get myself to watch Minions, despite enjoying the first two.

I like Kevin Hart well enough in terms of delivery, and energy, maybe not so much his material. It's a shame I'm never interested in any of his movies.

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Minions is my most hated film this decade, avoid it. I didn't love Despicable Me either though so maybe you'd like it more.

I probably will someday if I happen to get in the mood for something like that. Although the Minions were my least favorite part of both movies, so I can't imagine I'd like it too well.

Re: Gatsby's Occasional Movie Contemplations
 

Camo do you have a ranked 2015 list anywhere?

Despicable Me is better than Pets. But it's one of those films that you watch and don't feel anything afterwards.

Only saw 25 2015 films, the only year this decade with less is 2014 with 20.

01.Anomalisa
02.Going Clear
03.Carol
04.Ex Machina
05.Inside Out
06.Mad Max: Fury Road
07.Beasts of No Nation
08.The Hateful Eight
09.Room
10.Best of Enemies
11.The Martian
12.Tangerine
13.The Force Awakens
14.Embrace of the Serpent
15.Spotlight
16.Listen To Me Marlon
17.Sicario
18.The Good Dinosaur
19.Trumbo
20.Brooklyn
21.Love
22.Creed
23.Kung Fury
24.The Gift
25.Minions

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Yeah I just looked and I only saw 13 in 2015. Strange.

That'll be the next Wes Anderson movie I watch so help me God!

You haven't seen The Revenant yet?

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Nah, i know i'm pretty much the only one. Fury Road was the first film i saw this year as well :laugh:

Just for future reference, you should be watching my top ten every year. They are the ten best of any given year. Your welcome.

Re: Gatsby's Occasional Movie Contemplations
 

We'll talk when you've seen The Exorcist ;)

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I also haven't seen The Revenant. I do own it though. So it will be soon.

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I remember when I watched The Revenant in theaters everyone else hated it except me.

"Really, Gatsby? You liked that slow-paced drag?" :D