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How sad is this?

It's easily one of the freshest, sharpest and most enjoyable films of this year.

It's a good bad... and worth a popcorn matinée. While it's easy to lament what could have been...

An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

Great storyline and special effects for a 1996 movie. It might not be super entertaining to today's youth who are used to super special effects and seeing the "bad dudes" immediately in the movie, but the storyline and plot speed make up for that. One Of Charlie Sheen's best Movies in my opinion.

An astronomer discovers a radio signal that may well be extra- terrestrial. When he discloses the discovery to his superiors he is discredited and the evidence destroyed, which leads him to start an investigation on his own, using neighbors' satellite dishes, a trip to Mexico where he discovers an operating ET base and back to the US to a SETI' laboratory from where he divulges to the world the plan of the aliens. What saves this movie from a total fiasco is some good humor and the first half that raises some interesting questions; now the second half passes from thriller to action that does not convince, as well as the acting that really goes downhill.

THE ARRIVAL is one of the earliest Hollywood films made to cash in on the success of THE X-FILES on TV, telling of astronomer Charlie Sheen who becomes convinced that he and he alone has detected an alien signal from deepest space. After a slightly slow introduction, the film picks up pace in its depiction of a large-scale conspiracy, an alien invasion done in a different style to most.I remember seeing and enjoying this film soon after release, even though it's only mid budget and features early CGI effects work which hasn't really stood the test of time. Something about it is endearing despite the faults; Sheen's heartfelt performance, perhaps, or the film's sense of paranoia which in some ways rivals the best this genre has to offer. The backwards legs effects still look great two decades on, and the reliable character actor Ron Silver gets to deliver a wonderfully sinister villainous performance. Don't bother with THE SECOND ARRIVAL, though, it just isn't of the same calibre.

This was not one of my favorite science fiction movies of the 90's, mainly due to the fact that it relied on too much humor, rather then focusing in on being a fast paced action flick, which is what I was expecting. Charlie Sheen was perfect for the casting, his goofy persona works quite well for this type of material, so that worked out well. For its genre, its not a bad movie, I just felt it was slow in a few places, but picks up within no time. I remember a funny elevator scene, when one of the aliens tries to communicate with what he thinks is another alien, but its not, and the alien gets attacked...laugh out loud funny! The 90's was filled with many other fantastic sci fi/ horror gems such as Species, Alien Resurrection, and The Relic, so maybe a humorous look at aliens was just what we needed at the time of this release. As I said, there are many funny scenes, it plays more of a comedy rather then a scary science fiction movie, and there's not a lot of profanity, so kids should be okay for this one. So ready or not, here comes The Arrival!