Watch The Arrival

The Arrival is a 1996 science fiction film that pairs the fears over global warming with the possibilities of an alien invasion. The movie asks and answers the age-old question, are we alone in the universe? Charlie Sheen stars as brilliant yet paranoid radio astronomer Zane Zaminsky. Zane’s driving force is to prove that other intelligent life exists somewhere out there. His efforts lead to late nights and long work hours, which makes him unpopular with his beautiful girlfriend Char, played by Teri Polo. While Zane and Char fight through much of the film, Zane must also fight off those who don’t want him to make a big discovery. Actor Ron Silver stars as Zane’s boss, who turns out to be his nemesis. He portrays the NASA administrator who fires Zane and thwart’s his research mission. Zane gets a replacement job as a satellite technician and begins rigging everyone’s dishes to benefit his scientific mission. Aided by the neighbor boy Kiki, a street smart youngster visiting his grandma, Zane confirms that someone or something is out there, and they are trying to communicate. Zane’s findings lead him to Central Mexico where he encounters a climate scientist, Dr. Green, played by Lindsay Crouse. The climatologist tries to hit on Zane but he can’t stop thinking about Shar. Dr. Green can’t stop thinking about a troubling increase in global temperatures. It turns out Zane’s extraterrestrial discovery and the rising temperatures are related. The aliens, who can disguise themselves by taking on human form, want to disrupt our climate and conquer the planet. First they will have to conquer Zane. While on the run from the aliens near the end of the film, Zane and Shar are reunited and their fighting continues. But they do manage to fight off the aliens as well. In the sci-fi film’s climactic scene Zane is betrayed by one character he thought was an ally.