Inception

[noahpictures]

Anyone seen "Inception"? Any thoughts?
Here are mine: I thought it was OK; the wife loved it and accused me of not understanding it. Which is NOT TRUE! I understood it pretty, pretty, pretty well, just didn't care for all the layers of dreams and the long action sequences. Just like Nolan's last Batman movie, I felt bored during the long action sequences. Without Marion Cotillard "Inception" would have been very dull. Last night I watched a Japanese, black and white, samurai film with English subtitles called "Harakiri" by Masaki Kobayashi and it was over two hours long like "Inception" but far more entertaining and interesting with a greater payoff at the end. Other than great sound and Marion Cotillard, "Inception" was a disappointment.

 

[BladeRunner001]

I really, really liked it...for some reason, the planets must have been aligned for me, because this movie resonated with me...maybe it's because I think about dreams and dreaming a lot (more like daydreaming perhaps ). My wife liked it too but was a bit confused.

This reminded me of Matrix...special effects were great, but it has something to do with outside the box thinking for me.

Cheers,
Robert

 

[Mr. Imperial]

I think I like it more the more I think about it.

 

[KarthVader]

It's already in my Top 10 movies of all time.

 

[Defend Tacoma]

Haven't seen it but I plan to soon. Heard good things so far!

 

[Uncle Erik]

I saw it yesterday and didn't like it at all.

All of Nolan's movies have the flat affect and dialog of a soap opera. The script was uninspired, full of exposition and there was zero character development. What does the audience know about a character like the "chemist"? He has a few lines and then spends the rest of the movie being shot at while driving. In the absence of character development, it doesn't give you any insight into life or the human condition. If you're telling a story, that means a complete failure. It reminded me very much of Mark Twain's essay on the literary crimes of James Fenimore Cooper - almost every one of Twain's criticisms applies to "Inception."

On the plus side, it had a cast of good actors. Unfortunately, they were given very little to work with. Production values and editing were good and the imagery was striking.

But those values make for a good video game, not a movie. The only thing with emotional resonance was the dead wife subplot, but even that was confusing. Also, it ticked off almost every cliché for action movies and dream sequences. I knew the ending about 30 minutes in - it's a well-worn cliché for dream sequences.

If anyone wants a good exposition of a psychological thriller, watch the original "Manchurian Candidate." It has fully-formed characters, an involving script, great acting, and no unnecessary action sequences taking the place of an intelligent plot and character development.

 

[Stubblefield]

It was excellent. The storyline was entirely character driven, the effects never overpowered the story and the twists kept it fresh. Did not care so much for the supporting side story of the wife, tho it was necessary to explain the motivation(s) of the main character.

Best of all, my date liked it.

 

[One Fierce Beer Coaster]

Take Dreamscape, Dark City, Matrix and blend it until you get Inception. I enjoyed it, as a great popcorn movie. Will be a buy on bluray.

Enjoy it for what it is...a movie. It is not a remake of a remake or a reboot of a reboot, or a 3D being stuffed down your gullet. Hollywood is trash now, I have not looked foward to a movie in a while. Think its safe to say...nuking it from orbit is the only way to be sure.

You'll enjoy it, just pay attention and stuff your face with popcorn and you'll have a blast.

 

[Walker]

Going to see it this weekend and really looking forward to it!!

 

[mmadha]

The film was excellent maybe the best of Christopher Nolan's career, which says a lot for a person who has directed Momento, Dark Night, and Insomnia. This visuals were spectacular and the plot mind-blowing. In addition, did anyone notice the amazing fashion sense each character had? Must of been a lot of Brylcreem used on set.

 

[thanks]

I saw it yesterday and didn't like it at all.

All of Nolan's movies have the flat affect and dialog of a soap opera. The script was uninspired, full of exposition and there was zero character development. What does the audience know about a character like the "chemist"? He has a few lines and then spends the rest of the movie being shot at while driving. In the absence of character development, it doesn't give you any insight into life or the human condition. If you're telling a story, that means a complete failure. It reminded me very much of Mark Twain's essay on the literary crimes of James Fenimore Cooper - almost every one of Twain's criticisms applies to "Inception."

On the plus side, it had a cast of good actors. Unfortunately, they were given very little to work with. Production values and editing were good and the imagery was striking.

But those values make for a good video game, not a movie. The only thing with emotional resonance was the dead wife subplot, but even that was confusing. Also, it ticked off almost every cliché for action movies and dream sequences. I knew the ending about 30 minutes in - it's a well-worn cliché for dream sequences.

If anyone wants a good exposition of a psychological thriller, watch the original "Manchurian Candidate." It has fully-formed characters, an involving script, great acting, and no unnecessary action sequences taking the place of an intelligent plot and character development.

I'm not familiar with any rule that says if a story does not pertain to the human condition or life in general then it is a failure. I think it's a little unfair to criticize this movie for what it is not. Assuming this was anything other than a SciFi summer movie is probably a mistake. I'm definitely not one of those guys who say, "Oh yeah, there were explosions so it was great!", but on the other hand, when I go to see a movie like this I expected everything that was delivered. It did not disappoint for it's genre.

Yes there were many problems with the writing, the dialog, etc., but I don't go to see a movie like this expecting a moving story involving the human condition. If I wanted to see something like that, I'd watch a Bergman film, or a play-like film such as Closer. This movie is about entertainment, and for me, it definitely entertains. Also, the ending was a bit more open-ended than what you're giving it credit for, and I hardly think it's all that cliché. Blade Runner did something similar in theatre's, and it was probably better to have that scene for good conversation after the movie sharing a drink or two.

A Single Man, it was not. Entertaining and fun, it was.

 

[lightnin]

My wife and I saw it. Neither of us liked it and normally we like this kind of movie. I fell asleep 3 times during the slow parts of the movie. We felt like it had to much crap going on and the story line was weak. Much ado to get one small insignificant item.

Decaprio's politics suck, but he knows how to wear a suit.

Enjoyed The Sorcerer's Apprentice much much more.

 

[Sueto]

I enjoyed the movie. The idea was fun to see play out. I give it even more kudos for not being another '80s reboot film. It was a fun movie to follow and throw popcorn at my face while watching. Given all the other movies that have come out this summer or even year, I just wanted to see one good one and I felt like I got it. For me it was a refreshing film.

Salt on the other hand... well thats another thread but it could have been better. A 2 hour trailer for Salt II.

 

[noahpictures]

There has been a movie that has divided audiences so much as Inception has, at least not in a long time. During the movie I noticed that DiCaprio is not aging very well; with each year he looks more and more like Chuckie.
The movie has great fashion, camera movement, good acting and sound. Unfortunately the movie suffers from too much exposition: "So wait where are we...?", no character development, no surprises or real twists/turns, boring long winded action sequences and an interesting plot gone awry. Again there is a lot of division, wife loved it and thought it was brilliant and I thought it was a OK, kind of boring, a great opportunity lost. I predict Chris Nolan will be bowling with M. Night Shyamalan soon.

 

[Kouros]

The movie was a pretentious three hour lovefest.

 

[KarthVader]

I predict Chris Nolan will be bowling with M. Night Shyamalan soon.

Apparently you didn't see Memento, The Prestige, Batman Begins or The Dark Knight.

 

[noahpictures]

Apparently you didn't see Memento, The Prestige, Batman Begins or The Dark Knight.

Have seen all of them. Memento was awesome, the rest meh.

 

[KarthVader]

FYI:

http://wegotthiscovered.com/2010/07/20/dream-a-little-bigger-a-guide-to-understanding-inception/

And a bit more abstract, like the movie:

And for a bit of fun:

 

[matt_imedeen]

Thanks for that vader!

I'm very much liking the abstract representation of what was going on as the film went on... It's making me want to watch it again!

Matt

 

[richmondesi]

I watched this on a plane ride yesterday, and I was very entertained. I couldn't tell if it was because I haven't seen a decent movie in a long while, or if it was legitimately good.

Thanks, Karth. Got to love Calvin and Hobbes