I was expecting a generic alien invasion movie, and I was pleasantly surprised

  • DJKJuicy@sh.itjust.works
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    2 years ago

    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@lemmy.world
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      2 years 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.

    • Worx@lemmynsfw.com
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      2 years ago

      Almost

      Spoiler

      Memories are what get wacky. The main character (as well as the aliens who “arrive”) can remember the future as well as the past due to learning the alien language. It’s based on the possibly-not-linguistically-sound Sapir-Wharf hypothesis that says the language you speak influences the way you think. The aliens use a circular rather than linear writing system so they think of time in a non-linear way

    • modus@lemmy.world
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      2 years ago

      Read the short story before re-watching. Definitely gives you a better perspective.

  • NigelFrobisher@aussie.zone
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    2 years ago

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

    • Yaky@slrpnk.net
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      2 years ago

      FYI Annihilation novel has the same premise and setup as the movie, but is quite different plot-wise. It’s more emotional, introspective, and has very vivid imagery. Much different from what I usually read, but I loved it.

    • QuantumSparkles@sh.itjust.works
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      2 years ago

      Two of my absolute favorite movies. They are both amazing examinations of contact with life that functions completely differently than us, albeit in very different ways

  • chuymatt@startrek.website
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    2 years 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.

  • Norah (pup/it/she)@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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    2 years ago

    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@lemmy.world
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      2 years ago

      It’s not original, though it expands on Ted Chiang’s short story “Story of Your Life”.

      • freddydunningkruger@lemmy.world
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        2 years ago

        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, <your opinion here>”. It might have even made for an interesting and productive comment.

          • freddydunningkruger@lemmy.world
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            2 years ago

            Then I guess NO movie can be called original, because at a minimum they begin with a written screenplay, so that screenplay is the ORIGINAL work in pedanticland.

            And here I thought the grammar police were bad.

        • keimevo@lemmy.world
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          2 years 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.

  • FormallyKnown@feddit.dk
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    2 years ago

    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.

      • FormallyKnown@feddit.dk
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        2 years ago

        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@lemmy.world
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          2 years 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.