I very rarely go to see movies in the theatre anymore as I find them all to be too formulaic. The last time I tried was for District 9 and I absolutely hated it.

I rather like Leonardo DiCaprio and the concept for Inception seemed like an advanced version of The Matrix.

I just got back from seeing it this afternoon and was THOROUGHLY disappointed. There were a total of four of us that went, and on a scale of one to ten, the average grade between the four of us was a 2.5.

Don't want to give too much away just wanted to see who else on the Org has seen it and get their thoughts.

Damn damn damn and it looked so good in the previews.

I can never get excited about movies where everything is, was or might be a dream.

i just watched a movie called Insertion. does that count?

i didnt like the ending! but i enjoyed the movie it was kinda mindfuck-ish.

noimageatall said:

Damn damn damn and it looked so good in the previews.

one person's bad review should never stop you from seeing a movie tho

.

[Edited 7/17/10 18:45pm]

Christopher said:

i didnt like the ending! but i enjoyed the movie it was kinda mindfuck-ish.

Neither did I. But I also thought the movie was a full hour too long. And I'm not one of those impatient people who just wants something to get to the end so I can know what happened.

But it just dragged on way too long. There were so many action sequences pushed together, that it actually got boring.

If you're curious about it, I'd say wait for the rental.

whistle said:

i just watched a movie called Insertion. does that count?

Something tells me that wasn't something I could watch at my local AMC.....

noimageatall said:

Damn damn damn and it looked so good in the previews.

100% Agreed, which is why I went. I probably go to about 2 movies a year tops now in the theatre.

While this one wasn't a total bust, it most definitely was a let down.

This review sums up my feeling about the movie:

So is everything they’re saying about Inception true? Is it the mind-bending game-changer that they claim it is? Well, pretty much yes; it is as The Matrix and Blade Runner were. Of course, one could argue that, with so much lack of originality these days coming out from Hollywood, anything that looks even remotely fresh and new is cause for celebration. But Inception is the real deal.

It’s a very complex, dense, thought-provoking film that, as my friend said as we were leaving the screening, is “definitely not for dumb people”. It’s sure to cause much heated discussion and debate, and a film that’s going to get repeat viewings just to take it all in and understand what’s going on. Is it “Kubrickian’ as some are calling it? Well, not exactly; except that Christopher Nolan does borrow some ideas and images from 2001, in particular, one scene that is blatantly stolen from the final scene in 2001. But it borrows from a lot of films, like the final third of the film, which takes place in a fortress in snow covered mountains, that could have been taken straight from the 1969 James Bond film, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service; and if you listen closely the music by Hans Zimmer, it sounds exactly like a John Barry score from a 60’s Bond film (Not surprising, since Nolan said last week he wants to direct a Bond movie).

But I can’t give away any plot details or twists for fear of spoiling the film for you; suffice it to say that, basically, it’s a grand, epic, existentialist heist thriller. The set up is very much like a traditional heist film. Leonardo DiCaprio travels the world to put together a team of experts to help him pull off an elaborate, very difficult, huge heist for a very powerful businessman. Of course things go so very wrong from the outset, as DiCaprio and his team have to out-think and scramble their way out of the mess. Except what they’re after is not a real concrete object like jewels or money, but information locked away inside someone’s subconscious.

The film is not simplistic by any means, instead layering on complexities and dazzling images with dreams within dreams within dreams yet within another dream. What is reality and what is a dream? How can we tell the difference? And if the dream is better than the cold, harsh reality that we live, why can’t we live inside the dream for eternity? Those are just some of the questions that Nolan poses in the film. But he makes it (almost) logical, and despite its 150 minutes running time, it is never boring or tedious for one second.

Obviously reacting to the criticism that he can be a “cold” director, Nolan overindulges himself with DiCaprio’s obsession and burning love for his wife, played by Marion Cotillard, and it impedes somewhat the forward momentum of the film, but not seriously in any way. And in a sly in-joke, uses as a plot point, Edith Piaf’s classic trademark song Non Je Ne Regrette Rien on the soundtrack in several scenes and the final credits, invoking Cotillard’s Oscar win for best actress playing Piaf in La Vie En Rose.

But as a result, Nolan also brings up the question of how we see movies. Too many see films as reflecting reality, when in fact they’re nothing but pure concocted fantasy. As Jean-Luc Goddard once so wrongly said that “cinema is truth 24 frames per second”. In fact they’re fantasy at 24 frames per second.

So yes Inception is all that and more. I’m sure there are going to be other really terrific films (like The Coen brothers remake of the western True Grit which I cannot wait to see) coming out between now and the end of the year (at least I hope so); but Inception so far is on the top of the list.

Christopher said:

but i enjoyed the movie it was kinda mindfuck-ish.

Absloutly LOOOOOOOVE the mindfuckery!

I don't know why, but something about the movie reminded me of Robert Altman's 3 Women.

Rotten Tomatoes gives it a 84% so that's pretty good... Ebert gave it 4 stars...

sounds kinda great to me... i will definitely be seeing it!

Christopher said:

noimageatall said:

Damn damn damn and it looked so good in the previews.

one person's bad review should never stop you from seeing a movie tho

.

[Edited 7/17/10 18:45pm]

Of course not. I'm going anyway. Plus my girlfriend from Madison just told me it was "amazingly awesome!" So it will probably be somewhere in the middle for me. But I will see it.

Harlepolis said:

This review sums up my feeling about the movie:

So is everything they’re saying about Inception true? Is it the mind-bending game-changer that they claim it is? Well, pretty much yes; it is as The Matrix and Blade Runner were. Of course, one could argue that, with so much lack of originality these days coming out from Hollywood, anything that looks even remotely fresh and new is cause for celebration. But Inception is the real deal.

It’s a very complex, dense, thought-provoking film that, as my friend said as we were leaving the screening, is “definitely not for dumb people”. It’s sure to cause much heated discussion and debate, and a film that’s going to get repeat viewings just to take it all in and understand what’s going on. Is it “Kubrickian’ as some are calling it? Well, not exactly; except that Christopher Nolan does borrow some ideas and images from 2001, in particular, one scene that is blatantly stolen from the final scene in 2001. But it borrows from a lot of films, like the final third of the film, which takes place in a fortress in snow covered mountains, that could have been taken straight from the 1969 James Bond film, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service; and if you listen closely the music by Hans Zimmer, it sounds exactly like a John Barry score from a 60’s Bond film (Not surprising, since Nolan said last week he wants to direct a Bond movie).

But I can’t give away any plot details or twists for fear of spoiling the film for you; suffice it to say that, basically, it’s a grand, epic, existentialist heist thriller. The set up is very much like a traditional heist film. Leonardo DiCaprio travels the world to put together a team of experts to help him pull off an elaborate, very difficult, huge heist for a very powerful businessman. Of course things go so very wrong from the outset, as DiCaprio and his team have to out-think and scramble their way out of the mess. Except what they’re after is not a real concrete object like jewels or money, but information locked away inside someone’s subconscious.

The film is not simplistic by any means, instead layering on complexities and dazzling images with dreams within dreams within dreams yet within another dream. What is reality and what is a dream? How can we tell the difference? And if the dream is better than the cold, harsh reality that we live, why can’t we live inside the dream for eternity? Those are just some of the questions that Nolan poses in the film. But he makes it (almost) logical, and despite its 150 minutes running time, it is never boring or tedious for one second.

Obviously reacting to the criticism that he can be a “cold” director, Nolan overindulges himself with DiCaprio’s obsession and burning love for his wife, played by Marion Cotillard, and it impedes somewhat the forward momentum of the film, but not seriously in any way. And in a sly in-joke, uses as a plot point, Edith Piaf’s classic trademark song Non Je Ne Regrette Rien on the soundtrack in several scenes and the final credits, invoking Cotillard’s Oscar win for best actress playing Piaf in La Vie En Rose.

But as a result, Nolan also brings up the question of how we see movies. Too many see films as reflecting reality, when in fact they’re nothing but pure concocted fantasy. As Jean-Luc Goddard once so wrongly said that “cinema is truth 24 frames per second”. In fact they’re fantasy at 24 frames per second.

So yes Inception is all that and more. I’m sure there are going to be other really terrific films (like The Coen brothers remake of the western True Grit which I cannot wait to see) coming out between now and the end of the year (at least I hope so); but Inception so far is on the top of the list.

Wow - Harlepolis we usually agree on quite a lot. But I could not disagree with this review more.

I view "Mindfuckery" as something where you get lost in the details and can't figure out what's going on, who's good, who's bad what's real - what's not etc etc....AFTER I've been introduced to the characters to form some sort of opinion on them.

This movie didn't lose me with twists and turns, it lost me with the non-stop action that was all so perfectly timed down to the gnat's ass that it left me/us shaking our heads in disbelief. The focus on his wife and kids was totally vacant to me because I didn't get a chance to know them ahead of time. These are the exact same gripes I have about a movie like District 9 Why do I care what happens to the characters if I don't care about them personally. Just like watching contestants on a reality TV program. Sell the drama and make them think they care even if they don't know you from a whole in the wall. That's how I felt about this movie. BY the end I just didn't care anymore because I had just watched two hours of battle sequences over and over and over and over.....

I will say if movie's like the Matrix had never been made before, this movie probably would have been that much more impressive to me from a conceptual standpoint. As it was, it was an interesting premise that was executed by a Hollywood director.

I guess I can understand how some would give it high praise. It just didn't resonate with me at all.

Just my opinion...

Just for kicks I went out and screened some user reviews. This movie is getting VERY high marks across the board.

I will post a review from someone on a Yahoo message board that restates exactly how I feel about this movie (except that it's worth going to the theatre to see):

We've gotten to the point where a film that wanders remotely off the reservation stuns and wows us and leads us to believe it is great. "Inception" isn't a terrible movie. It is certainly better than anything else Hollywood has to offer this year. Neither, however, is it great.

Chris Nolan has shown us the future of big budget movies for adults-- A slightly intellectual idea is stretched and padded with explosions and intense chase scenes, put together at a pace so quick we don't notice that there is just barely more substance than the average movie carries. I don't mean to bash "Inception" too much. It is an enjoyable movie that will sweep anyone with half a brain into its narrative. Once the viewer has given in to "the ride," he or she will be transfixed for the duration of the film. "Dark Knight" demonstrated this a couple of years ago. Nolan takes that nearly impossible-to-beat formula and pushes it to the maximum in this film.

Don't be fooled, however, into thinking there are original ideas at work here. Just as "The Matrix" was a clever mish-mash of a dozen great, but old, ideas, so too is "Inception." The ideas present here have been a part of science fiction for sixty years. The kind you read, not watch.

All that said, it is indeed refreshing to watch a movie not based on a comic book, not based on an old television show, and not a remake that never needed to be made in the first place. This is it, folks, the one blockbuster this summer that will be worth the money you set down for it.

Enjoy every minute of it. Who knows how long the next desert of garbage from hollywood will be before they offer us something mediocre once more that we can gaze at, like the zombies in Romero's "Day of the Dead" and say, "Wow! It's not a total piece of crap! Congratulations hollywood!"

All I know is my man Cillian Murphy is in there and I'm going to see it.

I work in the industry so was lucky enough to see it before its release. I agree with Harlepolis' posted review. I thought it was fantastic, engaging and like a breath of fresh air through a stale industry of remakes and sequels.

It may not be to everybodys tastes, but nobody can call it formulaic, because it's anything but.

KidaDynamite said:

All I know is my man Cillian Murphy is in there and I'm going to see it.

Did not know he was in it. They can keep Dicaprio. Give me Cillian any day.

noimageatall said:

KidaDynamite said:

All I know is my man Cillian Murphy is in there and I'm going to see it.

Did not know he was in it. They can keep Dicaprio. Give me Cillian any day.

OMG MORE LOVE FOR KILLIANG! THATS MY BLUE EYED TWIN BROTHER MAN!

i'll probably see it today. i think the plot looks intriguing.

noimageatall said:

KidaDynamite said:

All I know is my man Cillian Murphy is in there and I'm going to see it.

Did not know he was in it. They can keep Dicaprio. Give me Cillian any day.

OMG...YES!!!

KidaDynamite said:

noimageatall said:

KidaDynamite said:

All I know is my man Cillian Murphy is in there and I'm going to see it.

Did not know he was in it. They can keep Dicaprio. Give me Cillian any day.

OMG...YES!!!

Did you ever see him in Breakfast on Pluto??? Amazing!!! I adore him.

RodeoSchro said:

I can never get excited about movies where everything is, was or might be a dream.

A friend of mine constantly says the same. He says it allows for anything and means the writers can basically be lazy and do whatever the hell they want and not have to explain it, because "Hey it's a dream..."

I'm inclined to agree, but I did find the preview for this interesting.

noimageatall said:

Did you ever see him in Breakfast on Pluto??? Amazing!!! I adore him.

SUCH a fantastic film, love it!

noimageatall said:

KidaDynamite said:

OMG...YES!!!

Did you ever see him in Breakfast on Pluto??? Amazing!!! I adore him.

NO. I've been trying to get my hands on that movie but failed terribly.

I've seen Disco Pigs and Watching The Detectives, though. He's such a spectacular actor.

Just got back. I actually dug it. I like movies that make you think.

KidaDynamite said:

noimageatall said:

Did you ever see him in Breakfast on Pluto??? Amazing!!! I adore him.

NO. I've been trying to get my hands on that movie but failed terribly.

I've seen Disco Pigs and Watching The Detectives, though. He's such a spectacular actor.

http://www.free-tv-video-...pluto.html

grrrr link edit

[Edited 7/18/10 18:41pm]

Vendetta1 said:

Just got back. I actually dug it. I like movies that make you think.

oooh me too!!

Like this one time...

I saw this move called Under The Cherry Moon and to this day I found myself thinking WTF?!?!

RenHoek said:

Vendetta1 said:

Just got back. I actually dug it. I like movies that make you think.

oooh me too!!

Like this one time...

I saw this move called Under The Cherry Moon and to this day I found myself thinking WTF?!?!

is it Jacob's Ladder level of mindfuckery, or Vanilla Sky?