Report Card---"Arrival"

"Arrival" is certainly a high quality alien movie.
If you like alien movies, you'll like "Arrival".
The problem with alien movies is that to be fair, you have to compare them to the best of them all:
"Close Encounters of the Third Kind".
It's not that good.
The major difference is that "Arrival" has no sense of humor.
"Close Encounters" does.
And a much better cast.
But "Arrival" is certainly a very fine movie.

On to the scoring:   

Is it interesting?

Consistently.
A.

Compelling even?

Often
A.

Is it controversial?

Not particularly.
B.

Is it a story worth telling?

If you like your alien movies this should be right up your alley.
A.

Is it good storytelling?

Very.
A.

Is it well written?

It's much more visual than verbal.
B.

Is it well cast? Well played?

It's Amy Adams again.  She's fine.  Otherwise, nothing exceptional.
A-.

Well shot?

Breathtaking, but still not "Close Encounters".
A..

Did the director put such a personal stamp on it so that no one else could have made it?

He's no Spielberg.
B-.

How long does it take to establish the film's locale and time period?

Immediately.
A.

Is it too long? Too short?

Just right.
A.

Is it believable? Do you care about the characters?

It's totally involving.
A+.

Is it predictable? Does it surprise you?

I was never ahead of it.
A.

Do you think about it after you've seen it?

Only "a pretty good flick".
A-.

Is it funny?

Asked and answered.
F.

Would it have been worth the thirteen bucks it would have cost to see it in the movies?

If I was in an expansive mood.
A.

Is it impressive?

Very.  Particularly technically.
A.

Overall grade: A..

It certainly deserves it's nomination..
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My books, "Show Runner" and it's sequel, "Show Runner Two", can be found at the Amazon Kindle Store.
Along with the newer ones, "The Man Is Dead", and "Report Cards".
They are all compilations of blog entries that have since been removed from the blog.
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I have many readings and signings lined up for those, and the thing about Kindle is you can't sign one.
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