I don't consider myself much of a film critic. I'm more of an appreciator of film and all things related. So this article is a bit of a stretch for me, but please allow the indulgence.

I've reviewed films in the past when I was writing for the Washburn Review (that sure makes me feel like a crotchety old man). None of them were as well thought out as this article, and the film I'll delve into.

"Arrival" has, well, arrived in theaters nationwide, and its promotional materials make it seem like an alien invasion movie with aspects of a psychological thriller.

More bluntly, it's a cerebral indie flick with gorgeous cinematography, next-level acting, and the appearance that it had lots and lots of money to work with. It had quite a bit of cash at its disposal -- $50 million to be exact -- but, by comparison, any blockbuster Marvel movie has at least $300 million to spend.

All $50 million was used, by gosh, and with excellent effect. I'm a sucker for pretty camera work, and from the opening shot we're given a taste of what kind of film we're about to be presented -- sorrowful, deep, a thinking person's sci-fi but with human emotions the main concern.

And concerning it quickly becomes. Not many movies can make me rigid in my seat, un-moving throughout. "Arrival" immediately caught my attention, not grabbing it but rather quietly and darkly suggesting I watch closely.

Then you're hit with reality, like a punch in the gut. From there the gut-wrenching continues, slowly, and you feel panic rising in your blood. The panic steadily builds until you eventually "arrive" along with the characters in the film. It's a subtle effect, like a person gently massaging your brain for two hours, and I can honestly say you don't notice it. Your soul collapses a bit from the weight of the idea that maybe we're not alone, and we all know humans would react badly to the "aliens are knocking on our door" situation. More on that later.

Brilliant audio work compliments the film, giving you a totally immersive experience with a character who's emotionally-troubled mind is being blown by an alien encounter, while she's given the seemingly impossible task of trying to decipher the visitors' communications. Coupled with a haunting yet hopeful soundtrack, and you're in for a fresh mental treat. The built-in mythology of language, interpretation and communication (given an alien zest of course) lends the film a fascinating detail as well. I've never wanted to learn a fictional language more, and it has an effect on how you speak and listen to people after viewing it.

What "Arrival" does best, though, is allow you to arrive with the characters to the root of their emotions. Let's be honest, humans aren't rational beings naturally. Our emotions rise to the surface despite our best efforts to keep them buried or concealed. "Arrival" brings up an important point -- reacting emotionally to our environment is both our blessing and our curse. That notion being played out over the course of the movie both expands your brain while putting a dent in your soul, knowing that, no matter how advanced we get, we're still going to freak out and try to destroy anything… unknown… that rings our doorbell.

Now, I'll admit to being a sci-fi fan and somewhat of a believer in alien lore. I'm personally hopeful that life exists elsewhere across time and dimension. As my friend and I left the theater, I finally said out loud that I would want something like "Arrival" to happen. I want aliens to visit Earth, because I want to experience the answer to a legendary question -- are we alone?

It seems like a lot to process, but it isn't. It's not as big a chunk to chew on as "Interstellar," one of my all-time favorites and a film I'd consider to be great space adventure. This film feels like something new, something undiscovered and original. That subtle brain-massaging I mentioned earlier alternates, some moments harder than others, but you're unaware it's happening until the film's over. It made my friend gasp when the end credits began rolling, while I simply sat there and smiled at how easily I had been transfixed. It's an experience that, once it's over, you want to immediately re-start and watch again.

"Arrival" is a refreshingly new take on an old genre, one with a message that couldn't have arrived any sooner. It definitely warrants a second viewing for me, and I encourage you to give it a try as well.

"Arrival": starring Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner, Forest Whitaker. Directed by Denis Villanueve. Rated PG-13.