Inception

[Sad Max]

Don't knock being a member of the 'dumbed down public.' Everyone panders to you. Everyone wants your vote, your money, your Neilsen time, your loyalty as their customer. The news is tailored to your comfort and the products of the entertainment business are predominantly tailored to your tastes. You're the majority. And all you have to do in return, is let a relatively small proportion of the population (who may or may not actually be more intelligent, but certainly have different tastes) feel superior to you.

Really not a bad deal, at all.

 

[adamrahn]

I agree with some of the writing parts - particularly Leo's character telling Paige his life story with only knowing her for a few days. And it bothers the piss out of me when you can see the boom mic op in a window reflection like 15 minutes into the movie, and the camera crew 5 minutes later in the reflection on the side of a car - but overall I thought this was a great film to watch. Lots to think about when watching it, very engaging and I definitely want/need to see it again to try and catch all the more subtle things I think might be lurking around in this movie.

 

[Sad Max]

And it bothers the piss out of me when you can see the boom mic op in a window reflection like 15 minutes into the movie, and the camera crew 5 minutes later in the reflection on the side of a car -

Those were projections created by Ariadne's and Cobb's subconscious-es. Projections that just happened to look rather like a film crew.

 

[diego1235467]

For those who think the kids are wearing the same clothes at the end, pay attention, especially to the shoes

 

[Rick Burnett]

I just saw it last night at the IMAX and I enjoyed it, but I can definitely agree with some of the comments on the film.

1) There was WAY too much dialog explaining things. After I thought about it for a bit, I understood the need to explain to the audience what they were doing (I was thinking about how complex Primer gets and how easy it is to get lost in what is happening). I was getting restless.

2) I am not a fan of his action style filming. Lots of SUPER ZOOM in so you really can't see anything going on. I enjoyed that the Matrix battles seemed more exciting to watch as there was a bit more to grasp on. I know this is a style more people are using, but for me, I like a lot of awesome excitement. How about the intro scene to Casino Royale? That was AMAZING and really added to the film. The chases in this were just REALLY loud and anti-climatic to me.

It was still some great Sci-Fi though and I enjoyed that. I don't think Nolan is shallow, especially not with the complexity of Momento which I found to be brilliant. I think he just has a hard time selling emotion. The Dark Night monotone batman was horrible for me (although I like the movie because ledger was awesome). I just think he needs to work on his emotional hooks in his writing.

 

[LoganMackay]

Fahad, I guess I would have to agree with you. But even his directing is suspect here. I thought Dicaprio, and Wantanabe were weak links here.

I'm beginning to think Nolan and Michael Bay are indeed the same person, with Nolan just being the "dark", emo version.

No one can really argue with his record of success. It must be great to be Nolan right now, but at the same time, the thing I hate most is wasted potential.

By the way, I love how the dumbed down movie going public pats themselves on the back for sitting through such a "smart" film.

How on earth can you even say Dicaprio and Watanabe are weak links? They were both amazing and believable.

Your comment about the dumb movie going public is pretty moot when you consider just how terribly written most big films are, give the guy a break.

 

[agcohn]

How on earth can you even say Dicaprio and Watanabe are weak links? They were both amazing and believable.

Your comment about the dumb movie going public is pretty moot when you consider just how terribly written most big films are, give the guy a break.

I didn't really have a problem with Watanabe's performance, but his character Saito was a very weak link in the story, in my opinion.

He did almost nothing throughout the whole of the dream sequences, and then we're expected to care about whether he dies or his mind goes to limbo. The only reason anybody cared about his character was that he was needed to stop Cobb from being arrested.

Saito just ended up being one giant pushover, which made the whole dangerous mission they were undertaking on his behalf seem pointless.

 

[Rick Burnett]

I didn't really have a problem with Watanabe's performance, but his character Saito was a very weak link in the story, in my opinion.

He did almost nothing throughout the whole of the dream sequences, and then we're expected to care about whether he dies or his mind goes to limbo. The only reason anybody cared about his character was that he was needed to stop Cobb from being arrested.

Saito just ended up being one giant pushover, which made the whole dangerous mission they were undertaking on his behalf seem pointless.

But but but, Watanabe's smile after the failed extraction was the clue that he planned to get DiCaprio's help all along

But yeah, his translation into a good character felt forced. If they'd have reinforced the 'global domination of power providers' a little more convincing about the purpose of inception, it would have been a much better sell on that point.

 

[Kholi]

Yeah I watched it a third time this morning. Catch you all at number four, then blu Ray.

I guess were all critics at some point! Get your armchair quarterback or cheerlead on. Either way, Nolan is a successful filmmaker. He will continue to better and be paid for it.

I will continue to consume the fruits of his labors.

And I am definitely more inspired than ever to get a move on.

 

[TheMacB]

the ellen page character really bothered me. it seemed like she was only there so that someone could keep warning us that marion cotillard was gonna show up at the end and screw everything up.
also, if she's so dang good at being an architect, why is she still a student? and why would they want a student in the first place for such a dangerous serious mission where people could die?
that's like if i was about to make a huge big-budget studio blockbuster movie where the stakes are so high that if we don't do it right i will actually be executed. Dead.
but for my DP, i put an ad on craigslist and hire some film student who will do it for $100 a day. for what so many people are describing as a "smart" movie, that doesn't seem very smart.

 

[Everts]

this is going to premiere here tomorrow ....but I might not make ....so will see it saturday.
Hope this is real good !

 

[Kholi]

the ellen page character really bothered me. it seemed like she was only there so that someone could keep warning us that marion cotillard was gonna show up at the end and screw everything up.
also, if she's so dang good at being an architect, why is she still a student? and why would they want a student in the first place for such a dangerous serious mission where people could die?
that's like if i was about to make a huge big-budget studio blockbuster movie where the stakes are so high that if we don't do it right i will actually be executed. Dead.
but for my DP, i put an ad on craigslist and hire some film student who will do it for $100 a day. for what so many people are describing as a "smart" movie, that doesn't seem very smart.

The same reason why antagonist characters in a movie would leave tupperwares of cash and weed in plain sight in a back seat to be conveniently discovered by protagonists.

Sometimes you just have to make it interesting. It's a MOVIE, not real life.

=P Wouldn't you agree?

A successful producer (with a household trilogy under his belt that most people in this thread have seen) once told me, over lunch: Young filmmakers just don't realize that perfect is the enemy of good.

What he meant by that was simply that everything cannot be perfect for everyone. At the end of the day, be as creative as you can and bring in money, or you can kiss your career goodbye.

 

[filmguy123]

**SPOILERS**

(isn't that assumed in this thread, though?)

I really liked the film for the sub-commentary. The actual action was wonderful, if for no other reason that it was so creative. I loved seeing a three-layered "Oceans 11" style operation with each level's action affecting the other. Very entertaining to watch and follow.

But the meat is below the surface. I think many people here are missing the film's core and nitpicking little things.

Mal: I'll tell you a riddle. You're waiting for a train, a train that will take you far away. You know where you hope this train will take you, but you don't know for sure. But it doesn't matter. How can it not matter to you where the train will take you?

Cobb: Because you'll be together.

THAT is the point of the ending and the spinning top that we don't see whether it falls or not. The entire premise of the movie questions reality. The philosophy of skepticism, the collective unconscious that Jung theorized, the idea of our own perception creating reality. While I don't subscribe to any of these philosophies, it is certainly some great food for thought and Nolan did a spectacular job demonstrating this.

What I mean is, he crafted a movie that can spark a GREAT deal of debate: Was he in reality, or a dream? Did any of the movie take place in reality? Does it matter?

The totem? It was Mal's. It only tells you if you are in someone else's dream. Cobb (Leo's character) made it up himself. Even his one link to reality is questionable and could be debated as trustworthy. The audience also has no "totem" - what one scene do we really know for sure was reality? The movie starts at the end, in Limbo, with Saito as an old man. Then jumps to a dream, then another level up on a dream, then to a train (interesting choice by Nolan... tie in to the movie's central 'riddle' no doubt)... then Yusuf's cellar under ground where we never see Cobb actually get to spin his totem (Saito interrupts)... did he go under for good?

Mombase and the dream like chase and rescue by Saito, running through the streets with an overhead shot through something that looks maze like, such as the labrynth's the architects create.

There is enough to make a compelling argument for him being within a dream the entire time (his own dream? a shared dream? Was the inception done on Cobb? Was Mal right?). There is enough evidence to make a compelling argument the other way. And enough to spark heated debate. Brilliant...

Because it parallels life. No matter how much information and debate we gather in life, religious or scientific, we can never gather quite enough to PROVE reality, meaning, or our origins. We can make compelling arguments... but so can the other side... at the end of the day, you chose to believe based on what you FEEL, not what you KNOW (Mal, at the ending scene, has this conversation with Cobb, saying "you keep talking about reality and what you KNOW, but what do you FEEL? What do you believe?")

The movie uses the line "Leap of Faith" in 3 key spots, and emphases the phrase "An old man, filled with regret, waiting to die alone."

At the end of the day, we have to believe in something, or we will believe in nothing. We can't ever really know what's true or real for sure, but what do we feel? We must take a leap of faith, or end up old and alone, filled with regret. We know where we HOPE our train of thought/belief will take us... but it doesn't really matter, because we'll be together (with those we love).

Hence Cobb walks away from the spinning top. He is happy and has faced his demons, so does it matter if he is in a dream or not? That's the point.

Depending on where you subscribe, this makes all the trivial dialogue issues or plot issues irrelevant... it's intentional to painting the picture... Saito making one call to get Cobb back in the country? Ariadne, the oddly named girl who is a natural? Seems dream-like... or is it? I think that's the point.

 

[TheMacB]

The same reason why antagonist characters in a movie would leave tupperwares of cash and weed in plain sight in a back seat to be conveniently discovered by protagonists.

ouch. that felt kinda mean. but i do think there's a big difference. Leo's character throughout the whole movie is a very smart guy. the characters to which you're referring are obviously not too bright.

perfect is the enemy of good.

this is a great quote.

 

[Kholi]

ouch. that felt kinda mean. but i do think there's a big difference. Leo's character throughout the whole movie is a very smart guy. the characters to which you're referring are obviously not too bright.

this is a great quote.

Definitely not being mean, but If we're only being honest here, and we're talking about another filmmakers work, we should also be able to look at our own in the same light. Could I not assume that since they were smart enough to remember what was told to them, time a heist, pull it off that they're smart enough to know that leaving the stolen bounty in plain sight is a bit convenient?

But, I didn't. That's the way the world was setup and obviously choice made to move the story to the end. So be it.

Sometimes things are because they have to be for the sake of story. Or sometimes that's budget, or oversight. This is just another nuance of the so called craft.

It's very easy to be hypercritical of "Hollywood" movies and forget just how hard it is to make these things for an audience. Sometimes you just need to get beyond it to deliver an entire product.

 

[dcloud]

**SPOILERS**

Hence Cobb walks away from the spinning top. He is happy and has faced his demons, so does it matter if he is in a dream or not? That's the point.

Depending on where you subscribe, this makes all the trivial dialogue issues or plot issues irrelevant... it's intentional to painting the picture... Saito making one call to get Cobb back in the country? Ariadne, the oddly named girl who is a natural? Seems dream-like... or is it? I think that's the point.

nailed it on the head I wish i figured that out myself!

 

[Everts]

The same reason why antagonist characters in a movie would leave tupperwares of cash and weed in plain sight in a back seat to be conveniently discovered by protagonists.

Sometimes you just have to make it interesting. It's a MOVIE, not real life.

=P Wouldn't you agree?

Believe me there are dumber & worst thing that happen in real ...maybe not a billion dollars....but when you do bad you are bound to make avery silly mistake.
Not speaking out of experience...but sometimes the news comes with the most hilarious stories it's almost unbelievable.
Peoples believe they are untouchable !

 

[dust'n the callipygous]

i 've gotta agree with everything filmguy said. that's exactly how i feel about the whole thing. you can argue all you want one way or the other, but in the end, it doesn't matter

 

[Digigenic]

....you can argue all you want one way or the other, but in the end, it doesn't matter

I still find value to the argument, one way AND the other. In the end, it does matter.
If it didn't matter, then what's the point of telling this story at all?

Depending on where you subscribe, this makes all the trivial dialogue issues or plot issues irrelevant...

I can't agree with your assertion that the elements of this story would be irrelevant.
You wouldn't have even arrived to your conclusion of the story being irrelevant without those elements of the story having guided you there.
So, the question I have for you is, how can you derive a message of faith from a story that you have no faith in?

 

[dust'n the callipygous]

I still find value to the argument, one way AND the other. In the end, it does matter.
If it didn't matter, then what's the point of telling this story at all?

It's not that the result doesn't matter to us. The film was obviously left open-ended so that it could be interpreted differently and people would have this debate--otherwise it would have been clear-cut what happened with the spinning top. The part that doesn't matter is directed at Cobb. He found closure, so no-matter whether he is still in a dream or back in reality, it doesn't matter to him. I guess I should have worded that differently earlier