Inception

[Paladin]

Saw Inception today. Excellent movie.

[Creole Ned]

That is a concise review!

[Paladin]

I didn't want to spoil anything.

[Creole Ned]

Good point.

I saw it on Friday with a friend and we both enjoyed it and debated many parts of the movie later over dinner (including the ending, of course).

He thought it was a little too heavy on exposition and while I didn't think it was as overdone I agreed Nolan could have trimmed it back a little and still been fine.

Really liked it overall. Joseph Gordon-Levitt was the standout for me among the cast, though everyone was at least decent.

One of the things I like about the movie is how many of the criticisms can be met with "But maybe he meant it to be like that". Nice to have a 'brainy' science fiction movie out there for a change.

[Paladin]

I agree. This was, by far, the most intelligent science fiction movie I've seen in a while. I thought the whole cast was excellent was well, but Eames was my favorite character with Yusuf a close second (although it was much the same character as he played in "Drag Me to Hell"). Ken Watanabe was terrific, as usual, although I would have like to see him get more to do one the action got going.

As an FYI, Tom Hardy (Eames) takes over the role of Max in the upcoming Mad Max sequel/reboot. I'm actually looking forward to it now instead of dreading it. I was not convinced of him after his stint in Star Trek: Nemesis.

[Kermit]

I found the ending very predictable but overall the movie was visually excellent, the cast was superb and the overall experience was very satisfying, even at $8.50 a head.

On a somewhat related note, I only get out to the movie theater (indoor) about 4-5 times a year. I haven't been in an honest-to-God packed house since StarWars III on the Ultra Screen. Typically I see flicks with about 12-20 other people in the theater and even Revenge of the Blue Alien American Indians in 3D was only half full. It's sucks trying to find seats in the dark at the last minute, but there is something a bit cozy about seeing a flick with every seat taken. Mind you, the movie was showing on 2 screens at our local UberPlex and it's been out for a month. That's amazing.

[armerius]

The plot holes throughout this film seriously bother myself, lisa, and my best friend... but it DID make us talk and discuss after the movie, so it still succeeded in being intriguing.

[Kermit]

The only two real "unexplainable" plot holes are not that big of a deal to me.

#1 Why is "limbo" so dangerous if all you have to do is kill yourself to get out?
Answer... Meh, who cares, it's a story device, not a critical plot point.

#2 Why doesn't the mark, a major player in the energy market recognize his largest rival in the world is riding first class with him?
Answer... I don't care. And if you subscribe to the popular theory of the movie, then it's easy to explain away.

[Creole Ned]

Regarding #1:

The danger of limbo is that you don't realize you're there, so you never think to try to escape, hence turning your brain to scrambled eggs.

#2:

Good catch! I don't recall the seating plan but maybe you could fudge it a bit by saying they weren't close enough to see each other, one was seated first, etc.

[Kermit]

I agree with your explanation on #1. My point was that even if people argue with your explanation, it's not a big deal to me. Short version? You're totally right and even if you're wrong, I don't care.

But Arm, I would like to hear what you considered to be plot holes. Perhaps I missed something else?

[Kermit]

I had a dream last night that I started reading God Emperor of Dune (which is where I have left the series, being generally irritated that the best idea he could come up with for an assassination plot was radio controlled "laser tigers") and the series started to get better.... then better yet... followed by Brian Herbert's Dune books which were the best novels I had ever read.

I woke up.

[Creole Ned]

More of a nightmare than a dream, then.

[armerius]

oh come on.. what's wrong with laser tigers.. it's a huge improvement over sharks with lasers on their heads!