Inception
Because of the hype, I could not help but think - whilst skipping through the advertisements to the DVD Menu, and waiting for my Mum to come back from the bathroom - that this will be incredibly disappointing, and I will come storming back to my computer and rant for ten paragraphs about how overrated it is.
And yet, this movie did something very few movies do - it defied my most synclinal expectations. But its still not the perfect movie everyone hypes it to be.
Is it the best movie of 2010? No. It has hardly any second Act - and jumps straight into the third which lasts around half of the movie. Also, we only get characterisation from Leonardo DiCaprio (who does a good performance throughout - although*), whilst the rest are ignored. I understand there is no room for it, but I never felt sympathy or tension for anyone other than him.
Also, one minor thing I had a problem with was - surely if the van is spinning in the dream (Level 1), causing the dream within a dream to rotate (Level 2), surely the dream within a dream within a dream (Level 3) would also rotate? Its too confusing to elaborate, but I dont see why that wouldn't happen. You can see them clearly rotating and spinning around in Level 2 whilst dreaming - which in Level 1 is what's causing the world to spin and loose gravity in Level 2 (read it again slowly).
*
Spoiler (click to read)
His wife's death scene was crap. "NOOOO!! JESUS CHRIST!!!". Maybe I've been watching campy movies for too long, but isn't yelling "Jesus Christ!" something you do if you've lost your wallet? Just say "NOOOOO!!!" to emphasise the legitimate pain rather than yelling something no-one has ever said when their wife has jumped off a building. Although...not many people have been there....
People who rave about this movie seem to be under the impression that its the most complex movie ever. No. Its not. 'Memento' is far more intelligent in its narrative and concept. The plot outline is really simple: Asian man wants something, man who can enter dreams goes to get it so he can see his children again, man gets it and makes up with wife (Well...sort of....just watch it to understand).
The only complex thing here is all the different dreams they need to go into - which if you pause half-way through and have a drink (which I did), makes perfect sense and is easy to understand. Whilst watching it unfold on-screen, it seems confusing, but once the movie was over I got it immediately. Seriously, I'm not trying to look clever - I get it. Please dont reply to my nitpicks saying "Oh, you clearly do not understand the complexity of Nolan!".
Although, my parents fell asleep around 30mins in, and woke up just as they entered Level 2 - so they are clueless. All you have to do is just pay attention.
Its not particularly original either. Its basically like 'The Matrix' but with dreams rather than a computer program. The ending is a rip-off of 'Total Recall', the dead-wife psychology has been done thousands of times before, and apparently it also rips-off 'Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind' - but I haven't seen that movie so this argument is already invalid.
Overall: Its not as complex as everyone makes out, but I welcome any Blockbuster that actually treats its audience with respect. It is incredibly refreshing to have something with both incredible special effects and set pieces (the corridor sequence is an outstanding achievement in visual technology) and a well written if not slightly awkwardly paced and characterisation-lacking screenplay behind it. But its still 100 times better than anything else Hollywood farts out. As much as I nitpick, I really enjoyed this and I highly recommend it if you haven't watched it already.
I mean zombies with guns? Really? No... I mean REALLY? Nothing special yet it still can be enjoyed if you're a Z-Movie fan LOL
