In this intense sci-fi thriller now on 4K for the first time, radio astronomer Zane Zaminsky (Charlie Sheen) believes he’s detected cosmic noise that signals extraterrestrial intelligence. But when he presents his discovery, he’s abruptly fired and his girlfriend (Teri Polo) gets transferred — pulling him into a deadly conspiracy. Zane’s desperate search for answers leads him to Mexico and a mysterious power plant. Arrested for the murder of a scientist (Lindsay Crouse) investigating an impending ecological disaster, Zane escapes custody carrying proof that Earth is already under alien invasion.
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Video Quality
Lionsgate presents The Arrival with a fairly strong 2160p/Dolby Vision transfer derived from a 4K restoration. This release is a Lionsgate Limited exclusive presented under the Vestron Collector’s Series imprint, continuing the new, welcome trend of 4K UHD releases coming from this series. This film was previously released on Blu-Ray by Lionsgate in 2009, which we have never personally seen but understand is extremely underwhelming. The included Blu-Ray, derived from the same new master as the 4K UHD, should also probably be on the radar of those who haven’t upgraded to 4K UHD but still want a quality presentation.
This upgrade provides a pleasant viewing experience, even if certain aspects might not be optimized to their full potential. All potential print damage has been eradicated with nary a speck remaining. Detail and clarity appear to be greatly enhanced compared to the previous Blu-Ray release. That being said, there seems to be a small amount of processing applied that reduces the amount of natural film grain. There is still some grain preserved, but some sections look a bit too pristine and somewhat unnatural. This works in tandem with an encode that isn’t quite as flawless as desired. You do not spot much in the way of banding, but some of the highlights get a bit squirrely. Eagle-eyed viewers may be more aggrieved by some of the mushy compression and light processing, but less discerning viewers may not notice much of an issue.
A major benefit of this viewing experience is the implementation of Dolby Vision/HDR. This process brings out the intricacies of the photography, harnessing a complexity that we are grateful to observe. The color saturation on this disc is terrific. The interplay between the light and the dark is balanced impeccably. Skin tones look natural with stubble, age lines, and other facets displayed. While there are some issues that could be fine-tuned, the viewing experience is quite enjoyable.
Audio Quality
The 4K UHD Blu-Ray disc comes with an all-new, immersive Dolby Atmos track, along with a lossless LPCM 2.0 stereo track. These tracks need to be turned up a bit more than normal to reach ideal listening levels, but these tracks have proper delineation and dimensionality. The Atmos track deploys sounds in the overhead channels when it makes narrative sense, adding some true thrills to multiple sequences. The low-end response delivers pivotal texture to kinetic moments in the surround sound channels. The score fills the room with agreeable fidelity that complements the tone of the journey.
The film runs with a complex sound design which feels authentic to each development in the story. Nothing gets overshadowed or buried in the chaos of certain moments. Dialogue is the element struggling for prominence the most in this mix, but everything is audible once you get to your desired levels. The environmental sounds are rendered properly alongside everything else. The track avoids any signs of the age-related anomalies such as hissing, popping, or crackling. While this mix could be a bit more considerately balanced, this holds up well enough for fans. Optional English, English SDH, and Spanish subtitles are provided.
Special Features
- Convergence – Director David Twohy on The Arrival: A new 18-minute interview with the filmmaker in which he reflects on the production of The Arrival, how he brought his background expertise to the story, collaborating with the cast, the shooting locations, the special effects, the legacy of the feature, and much more.
- Prescience – Actress Lindsay Crouse: A nearly seven-minute new interview with the actress in which she discusses her passion for environmentalism, the importance of clothing and makeup to tap into her character, memorable moments in the film, and more.
- Into the Vortex – Visual Effects: A new 13-minute overview of the special effects in the film through interviews with David Twohy and various members of the visual effects team.
- Technosignatures – Remastering Picture + Sound: A nearly nine-minute look into the restoration process for the film, specifically looking at the supervision of the color grade for high dynamic range, the Atmos track, and more.
- Legacy Special Features
- Audio Commentary: Director David Twohy reflects on the production of the film with great insights into how everything came together.
- New Horizons: A 27-minute archival featurette that focuses more on the science of the film and the larger ideas about extraterrestrials.
- The Making of The Arrival: A broader 22-minute exploration of the creation of the film with plenty of on-set interviews with the cast and creative team.
- Alternate Ending: A three-minute alternate conclusion for the film is provided in rough standard definition.
- EPK B-Roll: A five-minute fly-on-the-wall look at the filming of a scene.
- EPK Interviews with Cast & Crew (6:09)
- EPK Featurette (7:17)
- Promo Reel (3:45)
- Theatrical Trailer (2:11)
- Home Video Trailer (2:04)
- TV Spot (0:33)
Final Thoughts
The Arrival is an engaging sci-film that finds director David Twohy playing around in the genre he so clearly loves. There are a few stretches where the pacing could have been tightened up slightly, but the film stays pretty consistently entertaining with a strong payoff. Charlie Sheen is perfectly solid in the lead role, and the ensemble supports him with a fair amount of charisma. We do not hear this one spoken of as much as other movies from the era, but it is a fun one worthy of recognition. Lionsgate has released a 4K UHD Blu-Ray with a noble A/V presentation and a favorable array of supplements. Recommended
The Arrival is currently available to purchase on 4K UHD Blu-Ray exclusively from Lionsgate Limited.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Lionsgate Home Entertainment has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.
