Inception SPOILERS

[la_belle_laide]

...was nifty! I liked it in the same way I liked The Matrix when that first came out. I really love these mind / belief / reality themes. Of course I was totally into the idea that reality is timeless in dreams, because you believe it to be so.

In some aspects it reminded me also of Waking Life, especially the way both movies went into the universals of "how to know you're dreaming." I must admit that it was creepier in Waking Life. (Try turning the light on or off in your dream; you never can.)

Of course, I really dig the cool-looking reality-bending scenes, like the weightless fight in the dream-hotel. Yeah, that was pretty cool. (However, I do remember one reviewer saying of Inception, "WOW! I mean this movie has a ZERO GRAVITY FIGHT, where and when have you ever seen anything like that?!" Well, I saw it in The Matrix. It was pretty awesome in Inception too, though. Maybe even my favorite part.)

You know what I noticed about this, what was unexpected? The fact that it wasn't cynical. I went into it knowing that it was going to be one of those reality-challengers, and those often turn out to have some sort of irony which, while turning expectations of plot upside-down also have a tendency to turn expectations of character on their heads, too. You expect someone to really be a bitch, or a character that the story has asked you to sympathize with or enjoy, to flip a switch. I guess I expected some sort of surprising poisonous characterization. But really it was just sort of a romp through dreams, and the romantic aspects of the film were presented sincerely.

I really liked the cast. I don't think there was anyone in there I didn't enjoy. I know it's in vogue to hate on Cillian Murphy (I think?) but he appeals to me, and not just 'cause he went full frontal in 28 Days Later (that film scared the christ out of me.) I think he's cute and sympathetic. I kinda felt sorry for him, getting mindraped like that.

I really enjoyed Joseph Gordon-Levitt, with his little sly smile that never seemed to waver through the whole film. Thomas Hardy was lots of fun and he looked like he had lots of fun, and I love that. I liked Dileep Rao too, and through the film I kept wondering where I'd seen him before. (Drag Me To Hell.) I really just liked everyone; they all did a great job.

Now for the questions.



SPOILERS!





At the end, did the top stop spinning? That's up to you. I think it stopped; that they all woke up. I usually don't go in for the peachy ending, but going back to the film not being cynical, it kinda worked for me. Also, even if it ended up that it was a dream, he would eventually see it the spinning top. He could and probably would choose to wake himself up. Why? Because he already gave up the dream of his lost wife to live in reality, many times. He was determined to return to his real children no matter what. The Inception was a success – he would return in order to return to his kids in reality. I think they made that clear. And the top, it did wobble at the end.


However, when the screen went black, I totally went "OH COME ON."

And I do so love stories where the beginning is the end. Lord of Light is like that, too.


Another question: What did Mal bury (keep in the vault) that she didn't want anyone to know? If I knew it last night during or after the movie, I've already forgotten it. Or, was it SPOILER







the inception that she buried? I can't remember.

Here's one irritating thing having nothing to do with the film. This dillhole was sitting behind us, with his girlfriend or whatever, and he obviously wasn't getting even the simplest aspects of the film. I know this because whenever something did occur to him, he would turn to her under the pretense of whispering, and in a stage voice tell everyone else what he thought was going on. "AHA! THAT'S THE SAME GUY AS IN THE BEGINNING. I KNEW THAT." "YOU KNOW WHY HE KEEPS COUGHING, RIGHT?" "OH! DON'T YOU GET IT? THE REASON THE VAN IS FALLING REALLY SLOW IS BECAUSE IT'S THE FIRST DREAM."

I turned back a few times and shot him a look that I hope said, "THE REASON YOU ARE STILL TALKING IS BECAUSE IT'S ILLEGAL FOR ME TO PUNCH YOU IN THE FACE."

This guy honestly thought he was one step ahead of the rest of the audience, and was so proud of himself whenever he figured out the most obvious thing.

I do like movies that flip a switch in the viewer and leave you wondering, and I love movies that can outwit me. (The Usual Suspects, Shallow Grave, Fight Club, The Prestige. I'm not going to mention Sixth Sense because M Night Shyamalan has become irredeemable since then, and that takes away from any of his former glory. Seriously, I loathe a writer who thinks that they're outclassing their audience with their cleverness and originality, when really they're just being a chump.)

I'm not sure if Inception really outwitted anyone (aside from the guy behind me) but it was a really fun ride with lots of cool ideas and good effects which weren't overdone or anything like that. I'd probably see it again because a second viewing would be like a second layer. It was nifty. I'd sure recommend it.

Comments

What did Mal bury?

[shadydays.livejournal.com]

I'm pretty sure the thing Mal buried was her totem--the spinning top thing. She left it lying down, symbolizing either a) Limbo is reality or b) She doesn't want to know if limbo is reality or not.

When Cobb breaks into her safe, he spins the top and then closes the safe again--thus instilling the belief in her that her world isn't real. That one simple action is probably what caused so many problems later.

Re: What did Mal bury?

[shonagonchan.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah! I forgot about that part. So if she were to open the safe, she'd see the spinning top and, yeah. So she buried her totem, he found it, spun it, and planted the inception.

Ahhh, thanks for reminding me of that. :)

[ilanlerman.wordpress.com (from livejournal.com)]

I really enjoyed Inception. And you're right, it is a fairly straightforward film, which I don't think is trying to outwit anyone. Instead it's got some fabulous ideas and doesn't treat its audience like idiots. I thought the characters were great and was actually quite emotional at the end. I completely bought into the whole desperate to see his kids bit.

The zero-G fight scene is particularly awesome, because they actually did it. No special effects - all filmed in a freefalling plane as far as I know. But I have heard it's real, and it looks real - it has that visceral, jerky nature to it that makes it all the more thrilling. I think it tops the Matrix in that sense, as when I go back and watch the Matrix now, it's still great, but it's the ideas that entertain me more than the effects-heavy fight scenes which are all camera-trickery and CGI. The effects in Inception are mostly quite subtle and underused, and I loved that look to it.

More of that sort of thing please.

[shonagonchan.livejournal.com]

Yeah, this movie didn't try to jerk me around, and I appreciate that.

Oh wow, that's so cool about how the scene was filmed. I had no idea! That must have been MAD fun to shoot. It did look really sort of natural, too, or as natural as one can expect. *nod nod* Very entertaining.

[thesharedself.livejournal.com]

My question is - if he'd waken up, wouldn't his kids have been older when he finally got to see their faces again? I got the impression he'd been away awhile, and the kids were perpetually the same age in his dreams, because that's how he remembered them...

Either way though, whether he woke up or didn't, it was such a kickass movie. Loved it.

[shonagonchan.livejournal.com]

Hmm, good point. Yet, I'm not sure if the movie was clear on how long he'd been away. It could have been a year, or even just a few months. In a practical sense, they probably just didn't want to get new actors to play older children - especially if the difference is only a year or so.

On the other hand, it is a little strange that the children were in the same exact position as when he remembered leaving them. O_O

Looking forward to make a contribution

[(Anonymous)]

Hi - I am certainly happy to find this. cool job!