8.2 | / 10 |
Users | 3.7 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 3.7 |
Taking place after alien crafts land around the world, an expert linguist is recruited by the military to determine whether they come in peace or are a threat.
Starring: Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner, Forest Whitaker, Michael Stuhlbarg, Mark O'BrienSci-Fi | 100% |
Drama | 59% |
Mystery | 40% |
Thriller | 20% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.39:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
French (Canada): Dolby Digital 5.1
Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1
English, English SDH, French, Spanish
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
UV digital copy
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A (locked)
Movie | 5.0 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 3.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Steven Spielberg may have already made the definitive alien contact movie with Close Encounters of the Third Kind, but Director Denis Villeneuve's (Sicario) Arrival does its best to challenge for that title. Arrival depicts first contact with the usual support structure bits and pieces -- like breathless gatherings around frenzied newscasts -- but it's quick to move beyond the media sensationalism surrounding the aliens' arrival and focus on the core story of a linguist whose discovery -- and the audience's discovery -- may be more substantial than merely cracking alien code or finding a way to communicate with a newly arrived intelligent species. The film further explores man's individual and collective reaction to change, uncertainty, doubt, and fear, but it's a core human story of awareness, understanding, choice, consequences, and coming to understand the real meaning of life and love. Without spoiling the film, its greatest impact comes in the form of self-reflection, acceptance, an understanding of fate, and, really, what it means to live and be alive.
Arrival isn't a showcase movie in terms of visual prowess. Paramount's 1080p Blu-ray appears to replicate the filmmaker-intended visual style well, though it's certainly not much of a looker. The movie is rather drab, predominantly cold, dreary, with contrast dialed down and colors largely reserved. In fact, beyond the orange hazard suits and some natural greenery, there's not a wealth of bold, colorful primaries, anyway. Detailing is fine, though certainly not anything eye-catching. The movie was digitally sourced, and its inherent flatness is evident throughout. Leaves appear clumpy and a little smooth; clothes and faces rarely find any impactful, intimate definition; and even some of the tangibly rough alien ship textures don't exactly beg to be touched. It's all very sterile and dull, though again the Blu-ray appears to accurately reflect the source. Black levels are a little pale and skin tones a touch pasty. Minor noise, banding, and macroblocking are introduced in some of the darkest shots of the alien ship interior. Otherwise the image is free of any unwanted eyesores. It'll be interesting to see how the UHD release stacks up in comparison. This looks like it's going to be a case where the change will be marginal at best.
Arrival is curiously absent a Dolby Atmos soundtrack, which, with the movie's sound structure and priorities, would have seemed only fitting and likely to enhance the experience. Nevertheless, Paramount's DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 lossless presentation never struggles to do the movie's sonic needs justice. The opening minutes deliver a healthy, panicked, war-footing type of audio barrage. Alarms blare in the background, car horns and confusion litter the stage, and fighter jets zoom through. A helicopter powers towards the listener a few minutes later. Rotors are heavy and the sound from both outside inside are strikingly immersive. Deep, penetrating lows signal key moments that are equal parts exhilaration and fear. Bass does get a bit rattly at the very bottom, but some of the more pronounced powerings are wonderfully realized and deeply penetrating with amazing full-stage immersion. More traditionally sourced music enjoys positive spread and balanced surround detail. Dialogue is clear and well prioritized. It enjoys natural center positioning for the duration.
Arrival contains five featurettes. A UV/iTunes digital copy code is included with purchase.
Arrival is a terrific film. It's smart. It doesn't engage in needless characterization, it doesn't bank on the sensation, it doesn't expend energy not required of it. It's sophisticated but accessible, a deep thinking man's film that opens itself up to a variety of interpretations, challenges, and has the potential to resonate with audiences who give it serious thought. It's more stable than Interstellar, more grounded than Contact. It certainly approaches Close Encounters, and perhaps considering its greater focus and sense of purpose, maybe it is the better film. There's no right or wrong answer, but the movie certainly makes for a terrific watch and represents a breath of fresh air in a stuffy landscape of repurposed and largely mindless cinema. Paramount's Blu-ray features good video reflective of a fairly drab source, excellent audio that doesn't quite reach its potential thanks to its technical limitations, and a decent array of bonus content. Very highly recommended.
1997
2018
Special Edition
1951
40th Anniversary Edition
1977
2008
2001
2019
2008-2013
2016
Includes "The Invisible Boy" on SD
1956
The George Lucas Director's Cut
1971
2008
2017
1971
2009-2010
1984
2007
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2015-2022
2014