$2.50 Reviews: Inception (2010)

Marter

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Oct 27, 2009
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$2.50 Reviews:
Inception
<img height=400>http://img33.imageshack.us/img33/6185/inceptionposter0.jpg

I think a film is a success when you begin watching it, stand up after what seems like a short time, only to find out that it is actually 2.5 hours later. Inception is one of those films. Its running time is over two hours long, but it doesn't feel like that at all. It doesn't drag at all, and juggles its drama, characters and action incredibly well.

[Img_Inline width="275" Caption="There's also a cool anti-gravity fight scene!" Align="left"]http://img827.imageshack.us/img827/2460/inceptionmoviereviewleo.jpg[/Img_Inline]

It's like someone managed to go into your head, implant the entire story of Inception, and then wake you up right afterwards. You don't feel like you've just watched a movie, you feel like you've just had a great experience that lasted about as long as when your favorite song plays on the radio. Great for a moment, and then taken away from you, making you want to hear, (or in this case, see), it again.

Implanting something in someone's head is the task given to Dominic Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his team of dream thieves. Normally, the team goes into the minds of people in order to steal something, a secret, formula, you name it. While attempting to steal something from the mind of a Japanese businessman named Saito (Ken Watanabe), Cobb is caught. The heist was an audition of sorts for Cobb and his team. Saito wants their help. He wants them to go into someone's head and implant, rather than steal, an idea.

Cobb is unable to enter the United States and see his children. Cobb has a criminal record that needs clearing up. Saito claims that if Cobb manages to implant the idea inside the head of his main business competitor, Robert Fisher Jr. (Cillian Murphy), he will fix Cobb's criminal record. Cobb accepts this offer.

He must assemble a bigger team for the job though, and will require them to go down a few dream levels in order to get the idea implanted. He hires a dream architect (Ellen Page), an impersonator (Tom Hardy), and keeps his partner from before (Joseph Gordon-Levitt). The team needs to go down many levels into the head of this person, as the only way that implanting the idea works is if the person believes that it has grown from their own subconscious.

[Img_Inline width="275" height="170" Caption="DiCaprio is using his patented squinty-eyed stare at the top." Align="right"]http://img534.imageshack.us/img534/9008/0715inceptionmovierevie.jpg[/Img_Inline]

The rest of the film takes place inside the dreams of different characters, ranging from a normal looking city to a snowy mountain fortress. The environments inside the dreams are all varied and interesting to look at, meaning that, at least visually, you will always have something to look at.

This holds true for pretty much everything else in the film as well. Something important is always going on. While the film does have a long runtime, it doesn't feel long, because there is always something to capture the audience's attention. From the breathtaking visuals, to the interesting characters, to the wonderful story, there is always something to pay attention to.

The story is actually nowhere near as confusing as a lot of people claimed it was. At least, it wasn't all that confusing for me. As long as you pay enough attention to how the dream machines work, and listen to the dialogue the characters have when interacting with each other early on, I think everyone will have an easy enough time understanding the plot. There aren't even many twists, apart from things not going right after the team is inside Fisher's mind.

Things do go wrong, of course, and it is up to the team to fix them. Inside a normal dream, if you die, you just wake up. In order to get many levels down, the team had to be heavily sedated. If you die while under this sedation, you don't wake up. Instead, you go to a place called "limbo". Cobb has apparently been there before, and he escaped, but it wore him down mentally. Limbo is a place the group wants to avoid at all costs, and makes the entire adventure far more exciting.

[Img_Inline width="275" Caption="Inception is visually breathtaking!" Align="left"]http://img545.imageshack.us/img545/7844/0728inceptionstillboxof.jpg[/Img_Inline]

It is exciting, because of this tension, as you care for the characters. There is a great deal of build-up before the team even begins entering Fisher's mind, and this is used in order to get us used to the characters. Cobb isn't exactly the most stable person when it comes to his emotions, and he is the character that we spend the most time with. He is the most interesting character as well, so this is a good thing. He was married, at one point, and he has children he desperately wants to get back to. He has a clear reason doing what he does, and this becomes very apparent. We want him to succeed, we really do.

The other characters are also interesting, but they get less focus. They get development, yes, but they act more like an ensemble cast rather than ever acting as individuals. We get a small amount of time with each one before entering the dream world, but not much focus on them afterwards. They are almost always with at least one other character, and they are completely focused on the task at hand. After all, there is no room for error.

Inception had a great cast, filled with good actors playing interesting roles. The acting is all quite good, and despite the fact that emotions don't play that large a part in the film, when they do show up, the actors show that they have the range to work emotionally. DiCaprio carries the film, and does an admirable job in his leading role. Tom Hardy is hilarious in the comic relief role, yet still can act seriously when the situation calls for it.

[Img_Inline width="275" Caption="Be prepared for an incredibly frustrating ending shot involving this." Align="right"]http://img651.imageshack.us/img651/3594/inception05.jpg[/Img_Inline]

Serious situations occur during one of the many action sequences. These moments are thrilling, given the fact that we care for the characters, and also exhilarating, because they are incredibly action-packed. They are also properly placed, breaking up the tense drama moments when appropriate. Nothing seems out of placed or forced, and the transitions from one scene to the next are flawless.

There are many things that warrant further discussion when talking about Inception. If the technology to enter people's minds existed, how ethical would it be? The film declares the practice as "not strictly speaking legal", but ethics are a different thing. Would this be a realistic threat, or something that would be much harder to pull off?

It is questions like these that make Inception one of my favorite movies. It is thought-provoking, action-packed and visually engaging. The world, or worlds, that are created are dynamic and a beautiful thing to look at. The acting is solid, the characters are interesting, and the story is solid. While not nearly as confusing as some say, the plot stays engaging to the audience. Inception hits emotional highs, is visually outstanding and never boring.

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Stranger of Sorts

Individual #472
Aug 23, 2009
1,227
0
0
As the first reader of your review, I thought I should comment.

I have to say that I disagree with you with this movie a bit. For me the plot holes and the ending
in my mind it's made just to cause discussion, there is no right answer to it
stopped it form being a true classic. That being said, gravity mind-fuck bits were damn good.

For the record, I watched the film twice. First time I thought it was awesome, the second time allowed me to be more critical as I wasn't in so much of a trance.
 

JourneyThroughHell

New member
Sep 21, 2009
5,010
0
0
I'm glad you enjoyed it as much as you did.

I found it to be an ultimately dissapointing movie myself, one that went over fast and, while was entertaining, did not catch my attention all that much.

I can barely remember the movie now which leads me to believe it was mediocre. Hell, I remember Afterlife better because of how hilariously bad it was.

I thought the whole "dream" idea was useless and not as interestingly implemented as it could've been, only there to show off pretty pictures. I thought the "limbo" rule was pure, concentrated bullshit. I thought there was no reason to really sympathize with Cobb - the only thing I remember about him is that he apparently had kids.

Last but not least, I just didn't find it that smart. Really, The Dark Knight was far more meanignful... just far more good really.

Still, glad you like it. Nice review...

EDIT: Those are some surprising comments above me. In contrary I want to say that I liked the third act best of all, because it was action-packed, fun and now reminds me of Black Ops.
 

Ekonk

New member
Apr 21, 2009
3,120
0
0
Marter DON'T SAY ANYTHING. You're at 9999 posts now, don't ruin this beautiful moment!

OP: Good review, and I agree. The end was totally frustrating. My dad even suggested that the entire movie may be a dream, and I'm beginning to believe that.
 

Daegor42

New member
Oct 2, 2009
15
0
0
"He wants them to go into someone's head and implant, rather than steal, and idea."

Typo. Should be "an idea."
 

voetballeeuw

New member
May 3, 2010
1,359
0
0
Good review. I really enjoyed the film, thought the story and the action were fantastic. I was just upset with the ending
I think that Cobb was still in a dream state since his kids had not changed, and they were shown in the same scene shown throughout the movie, with the same clothes, and lighting
 

NeedAUserName

New member
Aug 7, 2008
3,803
0
0
A good review, but then generally you're reviews are always pretty good. But my main confusion has arisen not from the text, but the title. Where did you get Inception for $2.50? I can't help but feel, regardless of quality, you got your self a bargain, hell its basically 2 cent a minute, thats good value for money.

Oh and I feel the need to give you a preemptive congratulations on reaching 10 000 posts. I remember when people used to make threads specifically to ask for celebrations (not to be confused with the people that make a special post for there nth post).
 

Redlin5_v1legacy

Better Red than Dead
Aug 5, 2009
48,836
0
0
Congratulations on picking a fantastic film for your 100th review :D

I'm glad you too see that it isn't that difficult to grasp if you pay attention. I personally like the visuals in Inception better than Avatar and I really enjoyed the characters as well as the whole concept of layers within dreams. Finally another good excuse to use slow motion XD

The gravity effects, the dialogue... I'm sorry but since the second time I watched it I've firmly placed Inception on the top of my favorite movies list. Hans Zimmer's soundtrack also kicks ass, merging seamlessly with the action!

I want to see more films like this. Not necessarily even the same style, story or actors but I want to see more films that are as interesting, visually engaging and with soundtracks as awesome.

Thanks for reminding me, I need to buy the DVD of this.