Saw Arrival over the weekend, and the thing that pulled me out of the story is the idea that there is good enough internet in Sierra Leone to do video streaming! We can barely do audio streaming with my coworkers there.

I did enjoy (politically) the fact that Jeremy Renner's character had no purpose other than being a love interest for Amy Adams.

I did enjoy (politically) the fact that Jeremy Renner's character had no purpose other than being a love interest for Amy Adams.

Ha! I assumed that secret government agencies have ways of making the internet happen.

Fair enough! (also you copied the wrong sentence from my post)

also you copied the wrong sentence from my post

Or did she?

Hee.

THAT'S JUST WHAT THEY WANT YOU TO THINK.

Just saw Arrival. Clearly I need to get in the habit of coming here before I see a movie to ask if it involves a child dying. Because it was a really beautiful movie and very well done, but Jesus H. Christ, I was not really prepared for that, and it was a little embarrassing to be (as far as I could tell) the only one sobbing at the end. And the beginning. And I was holding it in as much as I could.

Now back to read what everyone else said about it.

More Arrival:

Vonnie said, "I also feel like they didn't spend near enough time shedding light on the analysis of Heptapod B (the written language) and how not only deciphering it but the ACT of writing it and immersing oneself in it, is essential in understanding their worldview. Tl;dr I wanted the movie to be nerdier but understand why they short-charged that element from the story, etc."

I actually felt like that worked pretty well (not having read the story yet). I'm interested to dig deeper into that idea, but I thought that came through well enough in the movie that I got what I think you're getting at, in particular with the scene where she writes the language herself with her hands. It was clear, at least, that writing it opened up a whole new level of understanding to her.

Totally agree with y'all that Amy Adams was fabulous, and Jeremy Renner gave good eye-candy.

I was somewhat surprised to read that the whole international conflict/cooperation part of the story was added for the movie, not part of the story. I can see how the story would work without it, though I'd think it would significantly change one of the themes of the movie, i.e. the importance of communication (with other humans, not just with the aliens).

A couple of you have said that the movie is really addressing the question of how you make choices when you already know the future, or about predestination vs. free will, but that element of the story seemed a little anemic to me. I would have liked to dig deeper into that question, although I also figure it would have wrecked me even more than I already was. I had a lot of questions about whether Louise's choice to have Hannah was really a choice at all, and if so, how she could have done it. It's a huge burden for her to carry that choice, and that knowledge of what's going to happen; I would have liked to know a little more about how she made that decision, if indeed she had any choice in the matter.

I think what I'm getting is that I should read the story. Which I wanted to do before seeing the movie, although when I came out of the movie I thought, "Jesus, I can never read that story." But maybe it would help me process some of what I'm feeling.

You guys, why haven't I been watching Magic Mike XXL for the last three weeks?? It is good for what ails you.

Moana was fantastic, for anyone who needs a dose of Lin Manuel but can't get Hamiltickets. The story is a very well-done Disney princess movie (think reverse Little Mermaid sans love interest), the animation is gorgeous, and the music is terrific.

The music really isn't similar in style or tone to Hamilton, but there are clearly musical intervals and beats that LMM really likes because they show up everywhere. (The karaoke version of You're Welcome makes it really obvious, because you can sing the lyrics to Washington On Your Side instead of the actual words and it works better than it should. And I keep wanting to add "and it would be enough" to the end of How Far I'll Go.)