I watched the premiere of arrival in a small theater in Philadelphia. After watching it, I was deeply impressed. I realized that this is not just a movie about humans trying to understand alien languages, but a movie about humans trying to understand each other. After I learned about the results of the US presidential election early in the morning yesterday, I feel that this seemingly sci-fi story is actually very related to reality and this moment. In fact, after another thought, movies and stories come from life, so after in-depth analysis of human nature, sometimes they can predict the future. This is a movie about time, about whether time can exist in a non-linear way. So in November, when the mood of the general election is permeated, this movie is especially precious. But for myself, I am an outsider, and I can understand the difficulty of finding a common purpose in different languages and cultures. It can also be seen that in many cases, the essential reason for not understanding is not because of inability to communicate, but because of unwillingness to communicate. I watched the film “arrival” in a small theatre in Philly tonight. After watching it, I realized that this is not just a story about us understanding the aliens, but also a story about us understanding each other on the planet. I found it especially relevant at this moment, after what happened during the US presidential election. After a second thought, I do realize that film and stories take inspiration from real life events. Thus after a deep dive into humanity, it can sometimes even predict the future. This is a film about time,
The film made a short film about cross-cultural communication for publicity. The short film asks a question: What do you do when you try to find common ground with people who do not understand the language? Throughout the film are questions that the director or original author consistently asks, can language really change our way of thinking? When I am dreaming, do I think in the language of "them"? In the process of writing this article, I may also gradually realize that as a Chinese student studying in the United States, I am a little rusty with my mother tongue and not completely use English without extra effort. I am familiar with both languages, and perhaps they are both very strange. I am thinking in two languages. Will there be two languages in my dream? I don't know the answer. But I think the important thing is whether the two opposites can coexist, whether everything must be consistent, and there must be black and white. What if the two are actually the best balance? For promotional purposes, Paramount made a shot about intercultural communication. The whole video asks one question: "What would you do if you have to discover what you have in common, with someone who speaks a different language?" Throughout the film, the director and the writer constantly ask the question: will language truly change how we think? When I'm in my dream state, will I think using "their" (as the other's) language? When I am writing this article,
I want to admit that I am not a big fan of science fiction, and I have never had a strong interest in science fiction, because I think those stories are too far away from my life to resonate with me. But arrival does not belong to the type of science fiction I imagined. Its story is much more complicated. I have to admit, I'm not a huge fan of sci-fi stories and has been constantly holding reservations to the genre. I just simply thought those stories are too far away from my life and cannot evoke my sympathy. But Arrival is not the typical sci-fi story that I would have expected and is a much more complicated story.
I watched the trailer early, but in the afternoon I listened to a small lecture given by one of the producers at school, and after reading the script required in the film class, I slightly changed my expectations for the film. But arrival completely surpassed or subverted my expectations. The scripts and novels tell very true stories, but I find it difficult to show them with pictures or videos. The whole movie is about how difficult it is to translate and understand each other, not only between races on earth, but also with other races. True communication and understanding requires courage, hard work, sacrifice and a lot of love. I've watched the trailer a long time ago. But after listening to the lecture by one of the co-producers of the film and reading the scripts for a screenwriting class, I've adjusted my expectations. But arrival totally contradicted and surpassed my expectations. The scripts are amazing, but it is so hard to translate the words of the scripts onto the screen, and the director did an amazing job. This whole movie is about the difficulty of translation and understanding each other, not only our species, but also the other. And it takes courage, great effort, sacrifice and lots of love to accomplish the mission of communication and understanding.
However, the director did it, just like translating languages that would never be understood on the big screen. My first reaction after watching it was that the film was very slow, and there was no gimmick of sci-fi special effects. It is an art film in the name of a science fiction movie. Looking back on it carefully, I feel that the director is actually telling this dual story very carefully, one is about "her" and the other is about "humanity". No wonder the score of imdb8.5. Thank you for watching a lot of good movies recently. But the filmmaker accomplishes this mission, of translating the impossible language onto the screen. My first reaction after watching the film is that the pace is really slow and it did not follow the stereotypical track of an action-driven sci-fi film. It is an artistic film with a scientific fiction vibe. After careful reflection, I appreciate that the director is sincerely telling the double-storyline, one story about her life, the other story about "humanity". It deserves the IMDB rating of 8.5. I' m really grateful that I've watched so many great films lately.
Movies are actually a platform, a medium that tries to translate different languages but tells human stories. Thanks to the director for telling stories about your and our future. This is a story about humans. After reading it, I didn't cry, but after thinking about it, I think it actually explained some very confusing problems in my current life very well. Some questions seem to be about fate and choice. We have our destiny, but at the same time we can choose whether to change the established track if given a choice. Film is a medium, a medium that tries to translate different language into one unified human story. I'm grateful that there are filmmakers who are telling the story of your life and our lives. THIS IS A HUMAN STORY. I didn't cry after watching the film, as I would have expected. But after reflection, I think it illuminates and answers some of the questions that I've been confused about, questions about my own life at the moment. These questions seemly related to destiny and choice . We have our destiny, but at the same time, we could choose whether to change the existing trajectory if we are given the choice.
Quoting a sentence from the line, I no longer believe in the beginning and the end. Because some days define stories that transcend your life. The film has been trying to answer a question: if you know what will happen in the future, will you change? Or will you live the way life should be? For Louis, her answer is so firm. Towards the end, I will quote one of my favorite lines in the movie: You choose to continue living, even though you know what will happen. I'll cite a quote from the scripts: "But now I'm not so sure I believe in beginnings and endings. There are days that define your story beyond your life." This whole film is trying to answer this one fundamental question: "If you know what your life is going to be like in the future, will you change it? Or will you live it as it is, as it is supposed to be? For Louise, her answer is a sure yes. I hope to end by quoting my favorite line from the movie: "You choose life. Even knowing what is to come."
My evaluation of this movie is very positive. Indeed, there are some imperfect things in this movie. However, I am not a professional film critic, nor do I need to analyze its lens angle, characterization, and loyalty to the original from the perspective of a professional film critic. What I want to write is just a lot of things that this movie makes me think. Most of them are about myself who is typing at this moment, and some trivial thoughts about myself in the future. I just like movies, and I like the ability of it to make me think. Like it gives me a lot of courage. I gave an overwhelmingly positive review of this film. Indeed, there're so many parts of this film that is less than perfect. But I'm not a professional film reviewer, nor do I have to analyze the camera angle, character depth and whether it is faithful to the novel. I only want to write about the many things that the film has made me to reflect upon, most of them are about me, the "me" that is typing at this moment. I just love films, love that a single film can make me think so much. Film gives me courage. The original novel was originally called story of your life, I think this may be the true meaning of arrival. This is your story, and also our story. I think I maybe able to understand the true essence of "Arrival",
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