Topic: [SPOILER] Inception - Discussion

[Dragonfire]

That is what made me glad I saw it in IMAX. I was at least as impressed as Cobb was  

It did look like Cobb was impressed didn't it?  I think he was shocked she could do something like that so fast.

My jaw dropped this scene and only lifted again when it was over. That was the awesomest thing I have seen since, since,... Well, at least since the flipping truck in The Dark Knight, although that compares better with the train ramming it's way through the city. So, yes, I thought it was quite good.

Oh yes..the train was good too.  That spinning hallway and the weightless fight is probably the best fight scene I've seen in ages.  And definitely awesome.  Now that I think about it, the last time I had a reaction like that to something in a movie was probably the flipping truck in The Dark Knight - I still think that is cool.  I also liked how Arthur moved the team.

Probably what impresses me the most about the visuals is that Nolan did so much of it without CG.  I think it was in the article in Entertainment Weekly where it says he said to only use CGI as a last resort.  For that hallway, they built a 100 foot long set that rotated.   

[Najemikon]

So, would anyone also complain, that despite all the brain-tickling and engaging story, it sadly lacks in emotional investment...? While I was engaged enough as it is, I heard this a few times and must agree, I did not particularly care (in a stronger sense) about any of those people. This is probably based on the fact that only Cobb's character is somewhat 3D and the others fall a little flat.

Aha! I wondered where Matthias had seen that comment. 

At the end of the day, Nolan works in genre film-making not dramas, so the adherence to set-pieces -regardless of how well done- will always compromise the characters. That said, I feel I was involved and I would strongly suggest waiting until you see it again before passing judgement. I think it has a lot of heart and that will become more obvious. Cobb's relationship with Mal with take more shape and colour.

Especially with the phenomenal Marion Cotillard. She was the best thing in Public Enemies and I think she is amazing.

Actually, back to Nolan, I just watched P for Prestige again. I'll admit concern that Matthias had found it so empty. It was my second or third viewing and I thought is it going to sink like a soufflé this time? But no. It's stunning. Once you understand all the secrets, it allows the doomed relationships to become illuminated and I found it hauntingly powerful.

You can't underestimate his skill at presenting this story as "ta-da!" entertainment, but give it such soul as well. I get the same effect from Memento and Insomnia.

All that said, Cobb's team are less developed, but... means to an end this occasion, I think. They say this is "Matrix meets Bond", but it's precisely because of the characters that I hold it in much higher regard than The Matrix at least. Who would say you are more connected with? Neo or Cobb?

[Dragonfire]

Aha! I wondered where Matthias had seen that comment. 

At the end of the day, Nolan works in genre film-making not dramas, so the adherence to set-pieces -regardless of how well done- will always compromise the characters. That said, I feel I was involved and I would strongly suggest waiting until you see it again before passing judgement. I think it has a lot of heart and that will become more obvious. Cobb's relationship with Mal with take more shape and colour.

Especially with the phenomenal Marion Cotillard. She was the best thing in Public Enemies and I think she is amazing.

Actually, back to Nolan, I just watched P for Prestige again. I'll admit concern that Matthias had found it so empty. It was my second or third viewing and I thought is it going to sink like a soufflé this time? But no. It's stunning. Once you understand all the secrets, it allows the doomed relationships to become illuminated and I found it hauntingly powerful.

You can't underestimate his skill at presenting this story as "ta-da!" entertainment, but give it such soul as well. I get the same effect from Memento and Insomnia.

I did feel involved with Cobb and everything he was going though.  I was anxious to see if the job was going to work..if the kicks in the different levels worked and if the inception on Fisher seemed to work.  I do think I felt the most for Cobb, though he and his situation are a huge focus, so that makes sense.  That said, I didn't want anything to happen to the others in the team either...even Saito.  Though with Saito, it may have been more because I didn't want his fixing stuff so Cobb could go home to get screwed up.  Things between Cobb and Mal are complex and powerful. 

I think Nolan is very good at creating powerful movies.  I think all of his movies, at least the ones I've seen, have had some very powerful moments in them and some emotional ones as well.  I've really enjoyed all his movies - though I did have to do a lot of thinking after Memento to figure out what the hell had been going on.  Writing that review was an experience and I got myself completely confused at least once.  lol  Anyway, I've enjoyed his movies and think they have all been very well done.  Nolan doesn't treat the audience like we are all idiots.  He makes movies that require you to pay attention to and even think about.  I love that he does this, and that the studio has let him do it.  I don't mind a mindless action movie or mindless comedy....but it does seem like the vast majority of movies are dumbed way down.  Nolan doesn't do that and it is refreshing.  I may get confused at times or may not know what certain things mean, but I've enjoyed his movies tremendously. 

All that said, Cobb's team are less developed, but... means to an end this occasion, I think. They say this is "Matrix meets Bond", but it's precisely because of the characters that I hold it in much higher regard than The Matrix at least. Who would say you are more connected with? Neo or Cobb?

Cobb hands down.  Heck, I'd say I was more connected with Arthur and Ariadne than Neo for that matter.

[Achim]

Who would say you are more connected with? Neo or Cobb?

Well, there is no doubt about that answer...

I didn't mean to come across as thinking that I feel the character are cardboard cutouts. far form it. All I was saying is, that the emotional investment was less than it may have been. Maybe one or two flashbacks with mal would have helped. Also Fischer may have gotten a tad more introduction as to make the impact of his resolution larger. I understand that it's Cobb's and to some part Fischer's story. I also understand what type of movie this is and what sacrfices come with it.

Hmmmm, maybe the question I should have asked myself is: Was I more invested with Batman or Cobb? Was I?

[Critter]

I saw this for a second time a couple of days ago, and I just have a question.
Not sure if it has been covered in this thread yet or not, it's so much text to go through.

If Cobb and Mal stayed in limbo until they grew old together, as was shown in that brief flashback, then why were they still both young when they laid down on the train tracks to die?

[Dragonfire]

I'm not sure..maybe the memory was faulty.  If I remember right, later in the movie when Cobb is talking about it, he and Mal do look older.  Maybe that was when he confronted her near the end.  I can't remember for sure when they are shown to be older, but I remember they were.

Did you notice any new things when you saw it this time?

[Najemikon]

You're taking things too literal, that was simply film-making sleight-of-hand. They did grow old and they were old when they laid down. Remember, they repeat the scene briefly and you see two wrinkled hands across the track.

[Achim]

I haqve listened to the (Cool) Shite on the Tube review of Inception on Saturday and then the end this morning on my way to work. Two things that touch on our discussion came up:

The weaker of the two, the wedding ring issue: Someone pointed out that they noticed that Cobb did not wear his wedding ring during the final scene. however, someone else pointed out they also did not see him wear it in the reality bits earlier on. Kind of a tie then, I guess.

Then this: Q-Dog picked up on the problem of the kid's age at the end. However, he had noticed something that I hadn't which is, that there is a pho0ne call conversation with the kids early in the film and he found that the kids (especially the daughter) sounded older than as you see them at the end. Now there is something to pay attention to next time.

[Dragonfire]

I remember the call.  I didn't think they sounded that old..though..hmm...not sure.  You're right, definitely something to pay attention to when watching next time.

[Critter]

You're taking things too literal, that was simply film-making sleight-of-hand. They did grow old and they were old when they laid down. Remember, they repeat the scene briefly and you see two wrinkled hands across the track.

I remember the flashback of two eldery people walking in limbo, and also of the hand-holding, but I didn't catch that the hand holding scene was on the train tracks.

[Dragonfire]

I think with the holding hands, if I remember right, their hands are laying on the tracks.

[Najemikon]

Well now, this is interesting. Empire have done a neat breakdown of for and against the dream idea, so I've scanned it (don't tell anyone!). The comment on the kids is pretty conclusive, I think:  



Sorry about the blue line. It's a new scanner and I need to work out why it's doing that. 

[Dragonfire]

I remember seeing 2 sets of names or the children at different ages, when I was double checking cast information for my review. 

I had forgotten that the goons in Mombasa said that to Cobb about him not being in a dream now.

[Dragonfire]

I was looking for something else at Entertainment Weekly and just found this.  Thought it was interesting.

[Dragonfire]

I found a few things about Inception on the Entertainment Weekly website.  Stuff that was in the article in the magazine, though not the full story.

http://popwatch.ew.com/2010/07/22/this-weeks-cover-inception-di-caprio/

http://popwatch.ew.com/2010/07/24/behind-the-scenes-of-inception-a-movie-about-movies%E2%80%94and-the-mind-of-its-maker/