The story of “Arrival” begins when 12 monolithic extraterrestrial ships land in different locations around the world. Linguist Louise Banks (Amy Adams) is tasked by United States Colonel Weber (Forest Whitaker) to interpret the aliens’ cryptic written language. As political tensions rise, she works alongside theoretical physicist Ian Donnelly (Jeremy Renner) to understand their purpose here before their presence ignites another world war.

“Arrival” is an intelligent, well-done sci-fi movie that seems to follow the trend of “smart” sci-fi blockbusters that have started coming out more often in recent years. The movie focuses on the actual process that would occur at first contact, a part that most alien movies skip over, and makes it interesting. It shows the many ways language can be misinterpreted. The film also shows the political tensions that would arise if aliens were to ever land in any country, creating a very fitting allegory for today’s geopolitical landscape. However, the main focus of “Arrival” is the aliens and how they affect the characters’ lives. As Louise continues to learn the aliens’ language, the film delves more into her personal life. The plot slowly pieces together until it reaches a sudden revelation, leaving your mind blown.

This is what high-quality science fiction looks like. I thought the film was very Bradbury-esque, and was not surprised when I found out that it is actually based on Ted Chiang’s award-winning science fiction novella “Story of Your Life.” The film chooses not to follow typical alien movie storylines and instead creates a beautifully haunting story. Louise’s emotional journey throughout the film amplifies the human aspect of it. The film’s ending avoids giving a full sense of closure, maintaining a sense of wonder that leaves your head reeling as the credits roll.

“Arrival” would not have been as chilling had it not been for the fantastic visuals and score. The effects in the movie are superb — the shot of the first time Louise sees the alien monolith rising above the rolling clouds over the fields of Montana simply left me in awe. The score works very well with the visuals to keep you engaged. Heavy bass and drums give you the chills at the right moments. The tone of the film radiates a sense of wonder and gives the viewer the fear of the unknown.

“Arrival” did so many things right when there were so many things that could’ve gone wrong, but no movie is perfect. The plot feels a little dragged out, and there are many pieces that could’ve been fleshed out a bit more. It might not be obvious, but the story of “Arrival” is actually based in real science and a slightly more in-depth explanation of certain concepts would help clear up some confusions.

Flaws notwithstanding, “Arrival” is thoughtful, original and very well-executed. It stands out from countless predictable alien movies and presents a fantastic, emotional story that will keep you engaged. If you consider yourself at all a fan of science fiction, I absolutely recommend seeing this film, as it may be one of the best sci-fi films in years. I give this film an “A.”