Arrival — Examining an Adaptation

Examining how Arrival was adapted from the short story it was based on, how clever editing kept the focus on the protagonist, and why good science fiction is really a study of humanity.

Thanks to Diego Rojas for composing original music for this video and this channel! Here are the tracks composed for this video:

[LessonsfromtheScreenplay]

Many of you have been asking for Arrival for awhile (it's a favorite of mine as well), so here it is! Hope you enjoy! What movies should I do in future videos? Let me know!

[AgentACE]

One of the best small moments of the movie is when they just arrived and doing their medical checks.The medical officer asks typical questions then ends with "Pregnant?". And then there's a beat before Louise says "No".In the audience's perspective, we perceived it as if she was a little surprised at the question due to the trauma of losing her daughter.In reality, it was just her taking a moment, processing the question, before giving a simple no.

[jholmes]

Giving Louise the choice to have her daughter even though she knew the outcome is probably the most brilliant source material change I've ever heard of. That scene broke me down in a way that nothing else could due to that simple alteration, because I've been there, and I'd do the same thing.

[wiffy]

For anyone who just doesn’t speak mandarin, the “final words” of his dying wife, was “there are no winners in war, only widows”

[opedromagico]

To think that they took a short story, made some changes, and created an amazing film, whereas some producers take best selling books, make almost no changes and yet manage to create a bad film. I bet you can name a few!

[LucasSeimandi]

"Pure and thoughtful science fiction is never about aliens, other worlds, or exciting visions of the future. At its core, science fiction lasts on humanity, our dreams and fears, principles and behaviors."
Is that yours?
I want to use it and need to quote it

[SotonskaTamburica]

"They are afraid of the aliens because they know what humanity is capable of."

Well said. That was my thought exactly.
I didn't expect much from this film, or rather I expected the usual, but it ended up being such a pleasant surprise. I also didn't see the twist coming at all, and I am so happy about that because it rarely happens these days.

[mattofalltrades]

This film has one of the greatest "oh crap" reveals in years because it lets the audience learn along with the protagonist, and so when the protagonist finally makes the "oh crap" discovery, it feels like we, the audience, have the same emotional weight invested into it as the protagonist, as though the twist is happening to us. I wasn't completely sold on the film as I was watching it until, "oh crap" and I began thinking and reliving what I had witnessed, the movie actively projecting me into the film as though I was the protagonist. So basically what I'm saying is this is one of those few films that makes the audience think about their experience, and I think the screenplay is what deserves the most praise in this regard.

Ok I'll shut up now. I just really like this movie.

[mvpuz]

Another cool detail from Eric Heisserer: In an interview, he was asked since the alien ships came from so far away, why did they not just land on the ground? Why are they hovering? And I think he says that this was Denis' idea - that the aliens were extending an olive branch, but humanity had to 'meet them halfway' as it were and make the effort of traversing that final gap to enter the ship.

[opedromagico]

I've had a very sad recent breakup and trusting love again was hard due to my fear of breaking up again with someone else. After watching this movie it just clicked in for me that we can already see the future, and the future is that everyone goes away eventually, one way or another, so if I was to stop engaging with people that may go away, I would end up alone. Accepting loss before the beginning.

[justttoby]

Damn. This one just blew me a way, Michael. I loved Arrival the first time I saw it, but when you said the hectopods showed no aggression and all of the conflict comes from the humans. Wow. Just wow. I never really thought about it before. Just shows how much you can learn from a film like this. Awesome video, mate. Always great to see your deeper analysis on awesome films.

[kingofwakanda]

YES finally you did Arrival! One of my favorite screenplays ever tbh. This movie floored me when I first saw it. To me it's a perfect film. I think it might be in my top 50 of all time. Love it!

[ArtemisScribe]

I think there's something really important to remember. Louise isn't choosing to have Hannah, she's choosing to get Hannah back. Now that Louise's mind is non-linear and she's already experienced Hannah's life and death imagine how much more powerful it is to have that baby after seeing her die. Imagine having lost a loved one and being told that you can have them back. Wouldn't you jump at that chance? Yes you're going to lose them again, but you're going to get to have all that time all over again. What person wouldn't want more time with a lost loved one?

[imakemusique]

The directing and screenplay is sublime. What really brings this movie home for me is the depth of the music that fits the scenery like a glove. Unfortunately we won`t hear more from this incredible composer. Rest In Peace Johann<3

[MajorKeys]

For anyone who has learned a language, they'll recall what a process of discovery it was. Not only did you learn more about how your language worked but you realized that it was a tool that enabled you to interpret the world in ways different from that of another language. That language is just not words but a conveyor of layers of meaning connected to place, people, education, status, etc. This is why I really loved Arrival and why I think it frustrated many who just wanted a good extraterrestrial science fiction film.

Apart from that, it says a lot about the power of editing.

[DA-bmmj]

(SPOILER!)
I wonder if the two heptapods knew that one of them (Costello?) was going to die due to the explosion, but still chose to come to Earth, sacrificing himself.
it's very sad...

[dremndishot]

This video is way more important than my final

[yusufalsanad]

Having recently seen "Arrival", not knowing anything prior to watching it, I was absolutely blown by how the story was beautifully told, certainly in the way it explores the themes of motherhood, loss, sadness, purpose of living, and what it means to be "Human". Without question, one of the most breathtaking, amazing films I've seen in sometime. :D

[the.saunter.experiment]

i saw this movie in the theater, and before halfway through i knew it was a great movie. and after the ending im absolutely swept off my feet. it's now one of my favorite movies. thanks for making this video i've always liked your content you made my day champ

[Fire-in-the-sky]

"Louise would just stop her from rock climbing"

Thats what happened in the story. She is overly cautious about Hannah getting hurt (because she traumatized of what's gonna eventually happen) that it causes Hannah to rebel and go rock climbing.

She literally cannot stop from being over cautious because of what she knows is gonna happen. The same way you can't just get over a trauma.