Poll: Inception Ending- Obviously Spoilers

[blindthrall]

Actually, I can prove beyond a shadow of a doubt the entire thing most certainly is NOT a dream:

Spoiler

as I understand it, it is explicitly mentioned that the maximum number of dream layers that can exist simultaneously is limited by the quality of the sedative used. The very best sedative in the world can produce three layers+ limbo. Assuming this is true, since all three layers+ limbo are seen towards the end of the movie it almost completely rules out the possibily of Cobb still being in a dream world. For example, if Cobb had been if the dream world since he was in limbo with his wife, then it would require at least 5 layers+ limbo, well beyond the capabilities of any sedative.( of course he could of just dreamed that the sedative has any impact on the maximum number of dream layers, however, there is no evidence that the dream world can trick someone into believing something that he would know to be a blatant falsification )
If Cobb had been dreaming since the scene where he meets the chemist, then it would still require at least 4 layers+ limbo, still beyond the capabilities of the sedative.
Also, the top is clearly seen loosing momentum at the very end.

The sedative would only get you three layers deeper. If the sedative is used when already in a dream state, then you could go four levels down, although the person using the sedative would only think they were three deep. The sound of the top falling over, which is pretty much accepted as canon, is all the proof I need. Although for all the diehard 'Mol is right' theorists out there, since there's no image, we don't know Cobb didn't knock it over himself. At that point, wouldn't you?

Now that I think about it, this interpretation of the ending is actually very similar to Shutter Island's ending.

Off-Topic, Ken Watanabe is the man.

 

[bob-2000]

I suppose I should post this video before someone else does: http://www.collegehumor.com/video:1939234
That's what actually happens.

 

[Taco of flames]

In both Shutter Island and Inception, Leonardo DiCaprio plays a man who is haunted by the death of his wife, and has a tenuous or nonexistent grasp on reality. This was one thing that I noticed pretty much right away, and added an extra element to consider: At the end of Shutter Island, DiCaprio returns to his fantasy as a detective rather than facing up to reality. Just that made me wonder whether he was doing the same thing because he may have failed. It's a completely unreliable argument since the two are really completely different movies, but it's a point of interest to me. Still, though, the top was obviously wobbling, which it never did at any other point in the movie. It was gonna fall, and apparently you hear it fall after the credits. That seals it in reality for me.

 

[The_Echo]

The top never really told Cobb whether he was in a dream or not. The top was Mal's totem, and when Cobb touched it, it no longer worked. (As explained when Ariadne is introduced to the concept of totems.) Cobb only believes that Mal's top works as his totem.

Cobb's real totem is his wedding ring. It only appears when he's in a dream.

Mal's top is a red herring the entire time.

 

[Saxm13]

I suppose I should post this video before someone else does: http://www.collegehumor.com/video:1939234
That's what actually happens.

ROFL!! THAT WAS HILARIOUS! xD

 

[Funkiest Monkey]

Yes, you hear the totem drop at the end of the credits. The ending was real, he got home and saw his children.

EDIT: Amazing film... It was just very, very good.

 

[Tucker154]

I stayed until the credits were over... and I heard the top falling over. Yeah, they play that right over the end of the credits.

I KNEW IT! ME and my friend actualy got in a huge debate at the end of the movie about wether it was a dream or reality. I thought it was reality,he thought it was a dream. After 15 mins I was able to convince him though.

 

[Glamorgan]

At the end of the credits, you can hear the spinning top drop. So it was actually reality.

I stayed until the credits were over... and I heard the top falling over. Yeah, they play that right over the end of the credits.

Are you guys serious, or just playing. Cause man, I thought this was a controversial thing.

Nope, we're serious. And I quote Wikipedia:
Cobb spins his totem to test reality but is distracted by the reunion. The top wobbles as the screen cuts to black, leaving the audience to wonder if Cobb is still dreaming. However, after the credits, the sound of the top dropping can be heard.

Ahh thx. Haha, I guess I was just really surprised because I thought Nolan wanted to leave it 'open'

It would have made the ending a lot better if they had in my opinion

 

[Squirrel1328]

Was there anything after the credits? don't tell me what, just if there was anything

 

[Squirrel1328]

they should have just hired this guy

hahaha thats good

 

[akiata]

I stayed until the credits were over... and I heard the top falling over. Yeah, they play that right over the end of the credits.

And the lesson I learned from this is don't go see smart movies with impatient friends. Thank you.

 

[Sylocat]

snip

Nope, we're serious. And I quote Wikipedia:
Cobb spins his totem to test reality but is distracted by the reunion. The top wobbles as the screen cuts to black, leaving the audience to wonder if Cobb is still dreaming. However, after the credits, the sound of the top dropping can be heard.

Ahh thx. Haha, I guess I was just really surprised because I thought Nolan wanted to leave it 'open'

My pet theory is that Nolan held that off because he didn't want the pre-credits ending to be too happy. Christopher Nolan, as you may have noticed from his other films, doesn't specialize in "happily ever after." So, he just used that to give his fans what they've come to expect from him (so pretentious douchebags like us wouldn't whine that the ending was too "happy" for Nolan and/or was "thematically inconsistent," which is the fancy term for "not dark and edgy enough"), while leaving a sweet little Easter egg for people who respect the production crew enough to stay for the credits.