The Arrival (1996)

Director:

David Twohy

Writer (WGA):

David Twohy (written by)

Release Date:

31 May 1996 (USA)

Genre:

Sci-Fi | Thriller | Mystery | Action

Tagline:

The greatest danger facing our world has been the planet's best kept secret...until now.

Plot:

Zane, an astronomer discovers intelligent alien life. But the aliens are keeping a deadly secret, and will do anything to stop Zane from learning it.

Plot Keywords:

Volkswagen Beetle | Scorpion | Scientist | Environmental | Global Warming

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Charlie Sheen	...	Zane Zaminski
Lindsay Crouse	...	Ilana Green
Richard Schiff	...	Calvin
Shane	...	JPL Guard #1
Ron Silver	...	Phil Gordian / Mexican Guard
Teri Polo	...	Char
Phyllis Applegate	...	Mrs. Roosevelt
Alan Coates	...	Terraformer
Leon Rippy	...	DOD #1
Buddy Joe Hooker	...	DOD #2
Javier Morga	...	Co-worker
Tony T. Johnson	...	Kiki
Catalina Botello	...	N.C.A.R. Woman
Georg Lillitsch	...	Computer Tech
David Villalpando	...	Cabbie

Also Known As:

Shockwave

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for some sci-fi violence and terror, and for brief language.

Runtime:

115 min

Country:

USA | Mexico

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Canada:PG (Ontario) | Philippines:PG-13 | South Korea:15 | Australia:M | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:PG | Spain:7 | UK:15 (video premiere) | USA:PG-13 (certificate #34593) | Iceland:12

Filming Locations:

Grove Street, Bishop, California, USA

Company:

Live Entertainment

Goofs:

Miscellaneous: The large black scorpion above the light switch in Llana’s room has no stinger.

Quotes:

Phil Gordian: Searching for ETs in this political environment is a tough sell.

Movie Connections:

References "Star Trek: The Next Generation" (1987)

Bad haircut, bad goatee, bad glasses, bad lines...

Title: The Arrival; Genre: Sci-Fi; Certificate: 15; Year: 1996; Director: David N Twohy

Starring: Charlie Sheen, Teri Polo, Ron Silver

With the renaissance of science fiction, (similar to the brief rebirth of westerns recently), there are many frustrated script writers only too eager to share their visions of alien invasions and futuristic apocalypse. This has lead to recent movies like "Strange Days", "Independence Day" and "The Arrival".

Charlie Sheen, who has slipped into freefall since the heady days of "Platoon", is Zane Ziminski, a radio telescope operator who searches the airwaves for alien contact from outer space. When he encounters a radio signal he is sure is of alien origin, he submits it to his boss, Gordian (Silver), who then fires him. When his equipment is confiscated and his partner is found dead in suspicious circumstances, he becomes fully aware that a cover-up of sorts is in operation.

He tracks the signals to an isolated Mexican village where he meets another scientist (Lindsay Crouse) who has similar suspicions. They are of the opinion that aliens are transmitting messages to aliens already on earth and he makes a startling discovery underneath the village...an underground alien lair who are speeding up the Greenhouse Effect in order to colonise the earth.

Bad haircut, bad goatee, bad glasses, bad lines. That is Charlie Sheen for the most part of this science fiction thriller; the same part that crawls along rather uneventfully making you wish you had chosen to watch "Braveheart" again. However, suddenly the heat is on when the aliens become aware that their plan is under threat and Ziminski loses the specs and becomes a bit of a (unlikely) hero.

For all its problems, "The Arrival" manages to create a small amount of tension as you start to wonder just who is on Ziminski's side and who is an alien. When you think things are looking up, the film fizzles out to an uninspiring end though and it's another missed opportunity for Sheen. The special effects are impressive yet subtle but they are not enough to warrant this movie a must see. Better luck next time Mr Sheen; if there is a next time.

Rating **