The Arrival (1996) is a cult classic science fiction about a radio astronomer Zane Zaminsky (Charlie Sheen) who discovers evidence of intelligent alien life and quickly gets thrown into the middle of a conspiracy that turns his life upside down. It was written and directed by David Twohy who also written and directed Riddick trilogy with Vin Diesel (Pitch Black, The Chronicles of Riddick & Riddick) who I wasn't fan off and I never cared about but Pitch Black was an okay film. The Arrival is my favorite David Twohy film and the best of Charlie Sheen movie ever. It come out the same year as Independence Day (1996)and The X-Files Season 3 was completed. It is a brilliant science fiction thriller film about a extraterrestrial intelligence and a global conspiracy. The acting in this film from Charlie Sheen and Ron Silver is brilliant I love this movie to death I love it! to me this this movie is an easy 8 and it is a prototypical "good" science fiction thriller movie -- intense, perfectly executed, original plot no copycat, shown to the tune of a forgettable and occasionally insulting story.Plot: Radio astronomer Zane Zaminsky (Charlie Sheen) believes he's picked up a cosmic noise that signals extraterrestrial intelligence. But after turning over the tape to his boss Phil Gordian (Ron Silver), Zane's fired, his girlfriend (Teri Polo) get's transferred and his partner is found dead from a supposed suicide. Zane's desperate search for answers leads him to Mexico and a mysterious power plant that is generating more than electricity and is run by people who are not what to appear to be. Arrested for the murder of a scientist (Lindsay Crouse) investigating and impending ecological disaster, Zane's escape custody carrying proof of a world-shattering alien invasion in this intense sci-fi thriller.I first saw this movie on a cable when I was in high school. I did not recognize Charlie Sheen with a beard watching this movie it quickly become my favorite Alien film. To me Independence Day, Alien and Aliens alongside The Arrival are my top 4 favorite extraterrestrial intelligence films. The story is solid and acting is solid.Also to me this movie is disturbing and terrifying on the end when Zane try to expose Aliens secret with the satellite dish Zane and Char are trapped in that station and first I thought Char betrayed Zane but it turned out it was Kiki (Tony T. Johnson) who betrayed Zane. Charlie Sheen makes such a terrifying face when Char asks him what will they do. The scene was terrifying when Ron Silver was preparing to kill them both so they hit with the van in the station and Zane froze them all.The aliens are raising temperatures so that the weathers are hot they are feeding with our energy. I also watched the sequel Arrival II (1998) with Patrick Muldoon in which Zane character is dead in which to me is pretty stupid! I love this movie to death I can't give this movie a 10 it is not a perfect movie the greatest or the best one but it is a good movie my favorite Charlie Sheen movie I got today on Blu-ray and I just finished watching it and i was blown away I love it. 8/10.The Arrival is a 1996 science fiction horror film directed by David Twohy and starring Charlie Sheen, and co-starring Lindsay Crouse, Ron Silver, Teri Polo, and Richard Schiff.8/10 Grade: B+ Studio: Orion Pictures Starring: Charlie Sheen, Lindsay Crouse, Teri Polo, Ron Silver, Leon Rippy, Richard Schiff Director: David Twohy Producers: Robert W. Cort, Ted Field Writer: David Twohy Rated: PG-13 Running Time: 1Hr. 55 Mins. Budget: $25.000.000 Box Office: $14,012,411

While the monumental and most expensive alien invasion picture of 1996 was declaring our independence, a small budget sci-fi thriller overachieves with an intriguing storyline and a well-written script. David Twohy, a screenwriter ("Waterworld," "The Fugitive") makes his feature debut as both a writer and director with "The Arrival." It's a lean piece of writing that moves quickly, and has some unexpected twists along the way. Those who crave conspiracy theories and cover ups, your time will not go to waste.Radio astronomer Zane Ziminsky (Charlie Sheen) believes he's picked up a cosmic noise that signals extraterrestrial intelligence. But after turning over the tape to his boss, Zane loses his job, his girlfriend gets transferred, and his once partner is found dead. Zane's desperate search for answers leads him to a mysterious power plant in Mexico generating much more than just electricity, and run by people who are not what they appear to be. The film's main strength arises from Twohy's writing, which manages to maintain decent dialogue, even when the plot mechanics take over. The movie never sinks into the realm of straight-to-video disaster. Sheen isn't ideally cast in the role of a scientist, but he is respectable and maintains a high level of intensity. The responsibility for the movie lies fully on Sheen's shoulders, and he carries the burden admirably. A overachieving low-budget sci-fi film with an interesting premise that is hampered by only a weak ending.

Radio astronomer Zane Zaminsky believes he has picked up a cosmic noise that signals extraterrestrial intelligence. But after turning over the tape to his boss Phil Gordian, Zane's fired, his girlfriend is transferred and his partner is found dead from a supposed suicide. Zane's desperate search for answers leads him to Mexico and a mysterious power-plant, generating more than electricity and ran by people who are not what they appear to be. Arrested for a murder that he did not commit, investigating an impeding ecological disaster, Zane escapes custody carrying proof of a world-shattering alien invasion, however he must now show it to the world and protect it from the aliens that are already here on Earth.This film starred: Charlie Sheen, Teri Polo & Richard Schiff.The Arrival is an OK film but it is not a film I could watch over and over again, like some others. It has interesting ideas and a strong plot however some aspects of the movie were executed badly. I recommend this film to people who are fans of Alien invasion movies and sci-fi movies but not if you like Science-fiction horror about people getting tore in half and the blood and guts spilling because it is not in this film.***/***** Could be worse

This Little Movie has Big things on its Mind. Unlike Independence Day (1996) that was a Mindless Big Movie. Climate Change and Alien Invasion are two of those Things. David Twohy, a Talented Writer/Director is one Filmmaker that is consistently interesting, making Movies that almost always are a Notch Above.In this Film there is an Abundance of Paranoia and Government Cover-Ups that lend an Unsettling Feel and the SFX and Makeup are Creepy and suck every Low-Budget Dollar into a Visually Impressive, pervasive Trickery, that is Original and Clever.This is an Underrated Sleeper that never got the Attention or Acclaim that it deserves. It does have some Limitations, due to Budget, that are Visible but are nothing Less than Cool. Charlie Sheen is a Dynamo of a Geek and comes close to Over Acting but is always Engaging and Likable.The rest of the Cast does a Good Job of surrounding this Radio Astronomer with Threatening Characters and Friendly Confidants. There is so much here that is Remarkable and is one of the least known of its Era, being Eclipsed by other Movies and TV Shows that take on the same Subject. However, this is an Eerie Entry in the Field and is a Fine Find for those wanting a bit of Intelligence in the "Is there other Intelligent Life in the Universe?" Question. There is a rush to the Ending and it is a bit Flat and Unsatisfying but the last few Minutes cannot keep this from being an Entertaining Movie that has Aspirations of Enlightenment.