"Dream bigger? Yes darling!"
Mike | 10/18/2010
(5 out of 5 stars)
"All I can say after viewing this film is thank god someone in 2010 got it right. Christopher Nolan's magnum opus Inception knocks it out of the park and onto the moon with this one. For a film that took over a decade to pen it certainly shows in the easy to watch 2.5 epic film that bends the mind, tugs at the heart and breathes style. Those who have not seen it I will not give anything away, but be warned you will want to watch it again once it's over. DiCaprio leads an all star cast into what is the 'world of the dream', Hans Zimmer's haunting and superb orchestral's really add to the overall mood of the film and completely make the film an experience then a typical night at the movies. I personally thought that there was nothing cheesy at all about the movie, the dialogue is spot on and the plot completely pulls you in immediately. Despite everything so far this year either being mind-numbing supernatural vampires, superheroes and what-not, do yourself a a favor and see this film. Blu-ray is guaranteed to look amazing in HD as well, so that's an incentive as well. For those of you who read this review *SPOILER* Edward Cullen gets with Bella in the last film (shocker) there now you can stop waiting on that and have time to appreciate this film."
Best Movie of the Year!
amerdale876 | MD | 10/16/2010
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I know a movie critic isn't supposed to summarize at the beginning of his review, but I'll come right out and say it right now: "Inception" is the best film of the year! Now, I know there are at least another five months left in the year, but I've viewed the upcoming releases and, besides Ben Affleck's "The Town" and/or David Fincher's "The Social Network" having the only chance of disproving my statement, trust me, there aren't any more contenders. So I'm safe in calling this right now. With its movie trailers that recall shades of The Matrix and Dark City (Director's Cut), "Inception" is brought to us by one of the best filmmakers today, Christopher Nolan (the man behind the successful - finally! - reboot of the Batman franchise). And while "Inception" does have a mind-altering plot like "The Matrix" and "Dark City," that's where the similarities end. The only description I will give besides stating that it's a cool heist noir film that balances drama, action and science fiction with one master stroke, is that the film revolves around a group of dream extractors lead by Dominic "Dom" Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio) who rather than extract information from a target's mind, are hired to implant an idea in a new corporate leader's (Cillian Murphy) head, hence the title "Inception."
Besides DiCaprio and Murphy, the rest of the cast are also spectacular: Joseph Gordon-Levitt (one of my favorite actors), Marion Cotillard, Ken Watanabe, Ellen Page, Tom Hardy, Tom Berenger, Dileep Rao, and brief appearances by Michael Caine, Lukas Haas, and Pete Postlethwaite. Nolan has always been blessed with great actors in all of his films (Memento (Widescreen Two-Disc Limited Edition), Insomnia, The Prestige, and the aforementioned Batman movies), so it's really no surprise that he gets the best performances. It also helps that Nolan is one of the best contemporary screenwriters and it is evidenced in all of his works. I heard that he is shepherding the next Superman film and, after first reading up on it, I was a little nervous because I've heard reports of him and screenwriter David Goyer handling it like it's never been done before. However, after viewing Inception, I am completely comfortable with his handling a character for which I have such a strong affection.
It's surprising to hear that for many of the film's spellbinding (and mindbending) sequences, rather than using CGI, Nolan insisted on placing the actors on actual rotating sets, making the action look real. And I'm grateful he did; it shows in the film's overall production value. In a day when films are bogged down with CGI and little - or recycled - plot (ahem, "Avatar"), it's something really special when a film not only makes you think on an intellectual level, but also delivers a fresh story with emotional depth. As I said in my review for Toy Story 3 (Four-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo + Digital Copy), James Cameron's "Avatar" is visually and technically stunning but its story is extremely predictable just from watching the trailer, it's uninspiring and trite (the story being a recycled product of several films, most notably Dances with Wolves, Pocahontas, and even Cameron's own earlier, better release The Abyss, which focused more on emotion rather than special effects). And that's where most films are headed nowadays. That's why when films like Inception come along, it's important to embrace them ... especially when it's well written and well acted such as this. I know the technical aspects of a film are important as well, but, above all, CGI and special effects should never take precedence or drown out a film's story. Fortunately, Inception perfectly balances the mindblowing special effects and story.
Yes, there are plenty of special effects in this film, but the real standout aspect to this film is its story - it's original and captivating with a plot that keeps you biting your nails right until the end. I've heard some reviews and reactions from people saying that this film is confusing and difficult to follow; I couldn't disagree more. The film is involved and you do need to actually think and pay attention to the story, but if you do, there is no confusion. My only advice would be that if you have to use the restroom during this two-and-a-half hour masterpiece, make sure you're either with someone or sitting near someone who can explain to you what you missed because you'll need to know. There are more than two different realities in this film so you'll definitely need to pay attention; this isn't some film you go to with friends and talk to during the entire film and yet still can follow what's happening.
Nolan's original work proves that he should be doing more original projects (aside from his debut, "Following," all of his films have either been a remake of a film or based on a novel or comic), and I can only hope that there are more in store in the near future. As I stated earlier, the action is paced very well without overloading the senses and it keeps you on the edge of your seat all the way through the journey with DiCaprio and company until the end. The concept of time in a dream state as well as other aspects of dreaming are intriguingly explored without dumbing down dialogue and explanations to insult the audience's intelligence, but, at the same time, is not so much complex that you need an encyclopedia to view the film.
"Inception" provides lush visuals, a uniquely stylish story and a range of emotions that should make every great film. After viewing this film, a friend wrote me, telling me to drop anything I was doing and go see "Inception" because there was nothing more important. Well, that's a bit extreme (no offense to him!). However, "Inception" is a must-see and if anyone were to ask me, I'd say without hesitation that it's the best film of 2010."