this post was submitted on 09 Feb 2025
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I was expecting a generic alien invasion movie, and I was pleasantly surprised

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[–] danc4498 1 points 10 hours ago

I’ve only watched it once, and I really didn’t like it. I feel like I need to give it another shot though.

[–] [email protected] 15 points 3 days ago

I didn’t know how it was going to end, at any point during the movie.

That’s a good thing

[–] [email protected] 185 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago) (9 children)

It's based on a short story called "Story of Your Life" by Ted Chiang. He's published only eighteen stories in his career (starting in 1990), nothing longer than a novella and mostly short stories. Despite that they've won him four Hugos, four Nebulas, and six Locus Awards. He's worth reading, is what I'm trying to say.

[–] [email protected] 32 points 5 days ago (2 children)

I put him up there with Asimov, Clarke, and Heinlein, easily.

[–] [email protected] 17 points 5 days ago

Well that's got me interested then

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[–] lordnikon 22 points 5 days ago (3 children)

I will say I read the short story and it made me love the movie even more. It rare for me to say the movie was better than they book and the books was great as well.

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[–] [email protected] 14 points 4 days ago

The short story was OK but this is one of the few cases where the movie did it better, added flavor to it that wasn’t in the book but carries the emotional hit farther.

The short stories in that book felt very “woah dude” to me, in the end I finished it but didn’t like it all that much. I’ve been downvoted for this opinion before, but oh well.

[–] [email protected] 17 points 4 days ago (2 children)

If you haven't read The Merchant and the Alchemists Gate by Ted Chiang I can't recommend it enough. Here's a PDF Link

It's lesser known than his big hits like Exhalation, but I think it's phenomenal.

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[–] CuddlyCassowary 18 points 5 days ago

I couldn’t agree more. I read them quite some time ago, and still find myself having philosophical discussions about them somewhat often today. Most are really thought provoking in a non-judgmental way.

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[–] [email protected] 18 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Yeah, genuinely one of my favourite original sci-fi movies I've watched in the last decade. I did a linguistics course in high school so just really loved that side of it. It also really felt like they did a great job building the tension and making it feel like there were high stakes to her work.

[–] keimevo 5 points 3 days ago (1 children)

It's not original, though it expands on Ted Chiang's short story "Story of Your Life".

[–] freddydunningkruger 5 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (2 children)

I suppose you are going to tell everyone that Dune was based on a book the next time someone compliments the pacing and direction of that movie?

The poster art for Arrival says it's based on a story by Ted Chiang, it isn't some secret nobody knows but you.

What does being original or not have anything to do with what the original commenter wrote? MOST movies are based on previously existing stories. They were focusing on the movie. If you read the book and want to show everyone how much more you know than they do, it would be more impressive if you had said "i read the story the movie was based on, and comparatively, ". It might have even made for an interesting and productive comment.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 days ago

genuinely one of my favourite original sci-fi movies I've watched in the last decade

🙄

[–] keimevo 1 points 2 days ago

Usually when the word "original" is used in the context of media, it means it's a new idea/concept/story, in opposition to an "'adaptation" from another media (like a movie to a videogame, or a book to a movie). This movie is an adaptation.

I'm not criticizing your opinion, as I really like the movie too (including pacing and direction). Only the terminology.

[–] Bamboodpanda 17 points 4 days ago

I had no idea what I was watching when I sat down in the theater. My friend had bought the ticket and I just showed up. I didn't know ANYTHING.

One of the best experiences of my life and it turned me into a Denis Villeneuve super fan.

[–] frog_brawler 6 points 3 days ago (1 children)

I know that I enjoyed this movie but I don't remember it at all. Yay, I get to watch it again like it's new.

[–] LovableSidekick 3 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

Me rewatching a movie:

"Oh yeah, I remember this part..."

"Oh yeah, I remember this part..."

[–] [email protected] 61 points 4 days ago (1 children)

This movie absolutely destroyed me emotionally for like a week. I was wholly unprepared for what this movie was really about. I was expecting an alien invasion movie and got a brickload of emotions dumped on my heart.

[–] mombutt_long_and_low 16 points 4 days ago

Same. Saw it a few months before my first child was born and it opened up something in me that I didn’t know was there. I’ve never watched a movie that made me weep until this one. Full on sobbing. Watched it again a week later, wasn’t a fluke - sobbed again.

[–] boaratio 66 points 5 days ago (1 children)

One of favorite movies of all time. I watch it at least once a year.

[–] toynbee 20 points 5 days ago (2 children)

What are you talking about, it only came out last year ... Uh, right?

[–] [email protected] 31 points 5 days ago

Well according to the movie what you're saying can make perfect sense.

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[–] [email protected] 56 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago) (2 children)

For anyone wondering, the music that just destroys you in the movie is by the amazing Max Richter. The song is On The Nature of Daylight.

PS: He recently released a piano arrangement of the song.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jPkbJWAQss

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[–] FreakinSteve 3 points 3 days ago

The rule is simple: if uts by Denis Villeneuve, YOU WATCH IT

[–] [email protected] 20 points 4 days ago

I watched it for the first time last year without knowing anything about it and, as someone who loves to nerd out about anything linguistics related (am translator, for context), I cannot describe how gleeful I was that such subjects had center focus in a big blockbuster like that. Obviously the other aspects of the movie were amazing as well and the story got me very emotional by the end, but I will never shut up about how interesting and important that translation/communication aspect of the movie was.

[–] [email protected] 29 points 4 days ago (4 children)

I'd like to watch this and Annihilation again. I've only seen each of them once, both around the same time, and my memories of them are pretty fuzzy at this stage.

[–] [email protected] 16 points 4 days ago (1 children)
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[–] [email protected] 24 points 4 days ago

Still one of my favourite movies ever

[–] [email protected] 10 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Loved the movie! Such a great concept and so elegantly made. But the tagged on love story kind of took me out of it. Could almost hear the producers pushing that love story for wider audience appeal.

[–] tan00k 8 points 3 days ago (1 children)

It happens in the short story too.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (2 children)

The producers got to the book too!?

No okay did not know that. So maybe my problem is with the general need to put love stories into stories. Or maybe it was written better in the book? Might have to read the book now

[–] tan00k 5 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

I'm not sure how to spoiler tag so I'll be vague, but I think it was necessary to have her opt into that romance even though she knew there was a tragic ending to it.

Oh and the short story is very good, as is Ted Chiang's entire collection. I would definitely recommend reading them to any scifi fan.

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[–] [email protected] 10 points 4 days ago

The best sound design team. I also love the ability of the visual design team to give a true feeling of scale and weight to things.

[–] [email protected] 19 points 4 days ago (1 children)

The world is shocked to discover that Terry’s Chocolate Oranges are actually seed pods for intelligent extra terrestrial life.

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[–] [email protected] 7 points 4 days ago

Same. I'm skeptical of most newer movies given all the rehashes and sequels. The presentation of the aliens had me shaking a little bit!

[–] [email protected] 16 points 4 days ago

Amy Adams wrecked me with two movies back-to-back. Nocturnal Animals and Arrivals really did a number on me.

[–] MedicPigBabySaver 2 points 3 days ago

Really is a good view.

[–] [email protected] 20 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Now you have to watch it again. Seriously

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[–] alekwithak 8 points 4 days ago (5 children)

The aliens reminded me of the Tralfamadorians from Vonnegut's Slaughterhouse Five.

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[–] mlg 7 points 4 days ago (4 children)

The thing I remember about this movie was that India got mad one of the fictional aliens from this movie decided to land in Pakistan instead of India.

The other thing I remember was that they for some reason decided to show the location on the map as "Punjab, Pakistan" which is even more generic because it's a province not a city.

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