Inception - Thumbs Up or Down?

[NewJeffCT]

No, not functionally brain dead. If the rest of the discussion doesn't answer this for you, and you'd like to know more, just ask. This isn't necessarily a real clue--it could just be his memory/dream not being 100% accurate.

Spoiler

Actually, he was very clear that you should use something completely unique to yourself as your totem . . . in which case the wedding band doesn't work, because multiple people have touched it.

My thoughts.

Spoiler

Actually, the wedding band would be completely unique to Cobb and fits with his obsessive personality. It's unique because it was associated with his marriage to Mal and once he took his wedding vow, it became unique to him.

For what it's worth.

 

[Seonaid]

My thoughts.

Spoiler

Actually, the wedding band would be completely unique to Cobb and fits with his obsessive personality. It's unique because it was associated with his marriage to Mal and once he took his wedding vow, it became unique to him.

For what it's worth.

Spoiler

Nope. Ariadne wouldn't let him *touch* hers, and he approved of that. Theoretically, his wife and the craftsman both had touched his wedding band (not to mention any ring bearer or officiant at the wedding). If touching it is all it takes, then I don't buy it. However, I'm not sure I buy that merely touching is all it takes.

 

[renau1g]

See that's what I like about the movie, even this has a lot of debate. I like movies that have a bit more thinking involved than say The Expendables (which I will also go see, but it's a different experience)

 

[Merkuri]

Secondly, the ring and the top

Spoiler

Cobb was very clear that you should never use another person's totem as your own, and the little top was Mal's totem. So, it was not his. The ring was Cobb's own totem.

Spoiler

But the reason you should never use another person's totem is because that person knows how it works and can simulate it in a dream, making the token useless at showing whether you're dreaming. It's okay for him to use Mal's totem because Mal's dead, therefore no one living knows how his totem works.

I accept that the ring could be a dreamsign, but I doubt it's a conscious one. Cobb can't check to see the presence of the ring to tell whether he's dreaming or not because it would be easy for someone to just remove the ring in their sculptured dream.

 

[TarionzCousin]

So far, one person has voted against seeing this movie, and he/she hasn't posted in here.

Coincidence?

 

[Jhaelen]

I'm a bit surprised I'm only the third person who didn't think the film was all that great.

After reading in this thread about it, I was quite hyped, because it's exactly the kind of story I tend to enjoy: Mixing reality and illusion/dream/hallucinations. I'm also a big fan of Philip K. Dick for that reason.

However, imho, the movie fell flat. I felt it was a missed opportunity, given how the premise seemed so intriguing.

The story at it's core is actually quite simple. It's artifically complicated by stuff that doesn't really add much to it.

I was also disappointed about the lack of 'proper' dream logic in the movie. To me the dream sequences weren't dream-like at all, it was just a bunch of different sets. Take the inception mission: What are the dream layers really about?
We get city blocks, a factory hall, a hotel, a fortress, and the 'dream-world' city. But the only thing that is different is the locations. They could be replaced with anything else without affecting the plot/story in the least.

The special effects were okay, but the action scenes mostly seemed kind of pointless. I also felt that I didn't really care about the protagonists. The explanations why it was supposed to be dangerous to be wounded/killed in the dreams also seemed wobbly and unconvincing to me.

It was too obviously intended to just serve as a device to convince the viewer that there's actual danger involved in getting into other people's dreams.

Imho, Matrix and 13th Floor did a way better job at telling a very similar story. Inception didn't really add anything exciting or new to this particular sub-(sub)genre.

There, now go ahead and rip me apart for not seeing the brilliancy of this movie

 

[jonesy]

I was also disappointed about the lack of 'proper' dream logic in the movie. To me the dream sequences weren't dream-like at all, it was just a bunch of different sets..

That was the whole point of why they needed an architect. So it wouldn't be a dream logic mess.

 

[Joker]

The story at it's core is actually quite simple. It's artifically complicated by stuff that doesn't really add much to it.

While I don't consider it a brilliant movie, I thought it was more thoughtful than a great deal of movies coming out of Hollywood.

Your criticism that it's a simple story seems unfounded though. Every story is simple at its core. It's the way it's told and all the stuff that's added to it that makes it interesting.

It wasn't good for you and that's perfectly fine. Differing tastes and all that. A lot of people like the Pirates of the Caribbean movies while I think they're about as entertaining as having your genitals waxed with super glue while listening to a Jonas Brothers' rendition of the best Nickleback hits just as some old hobo farts in your face.

Toodles,

-Tymon

 

[John Crichton]

Imho, Matrix and 13th Floor did a way better job at telling a very similar story. Inception didn't really add anything exciting or new to this particular sub-(sub)genre.

Something tells me that you came into the flick with expectations that weren't met and that weren't the fault of the movie.

As for The Matrix comparison? They haven next to nothing in common except for both being in the fantasy/science fiction genre. Inception is a love story disguised a caper film and The Matrix was about one big twist coupled with lots of eye candy actions scenes that in the end meant nothing.

 

[RangerWickett]

Something tells me that you came into the flick with expectations that weren't met and that weren't the fault of the movie.

As for The Matrix comparison? They haven next to nothing in common except for both being in the fantasy/science fiction genre. Inception is a love story disguised a caper film and The Matrix was about one big twist coupled with lots of eye candy actions scenes that in the end meant nothing.

But you gotta admit, The Matrix had some pretty good action. They really ought to make some sequels.