This particular blog post isn’t an analysis, or a description, so much as it is a confession: I found myself more or less entirely baffled Read the full post.
Jul 20
2010
01:28 PM ET
'Inception': Am I the only one who didn't get it?
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That linked diagram Ian put up answered my only question after the film – how Cobb got back to reality… Understood the rest while watching, although you did have to pay strict attention…By the way, “obtuse” means an uncaring, cavalier attitude about something. It doesn’t mean “obscure.” (Sorry, I’m an editor.)
Except that Cobb never got back to reality..if the “reality” you are seeing the whole movie is even reality to begin with..
Frank, you are half right. Obtuse does not mean obscure, but neither does it mean uncaring or cavalier. The fact that you’re an editor makes your certainty troubling.
Wow..I dont even know what to say other than for movies like this it is simply necessary to go to sites like AICN to get a “real” reviewers opinion..this isnt some sappy foreign film or Pixar product, its a thinking mans Science Fiction.
Its like reviewing The Matrix (the movie this most closely resembles) and saying “wow I loved that lobby fight scene, it was the most important part of the movie” when in reality, it was only the window dressing so that reviewers (and viewers) who believe like this will be entertained. Missing the Forest from the Trees…
I could sit here and explain all your questions (and I only saw the movie once) but Im not sure there is room..but will try..
I’m assuming you are single. Relax.
Why does he or she have to be single because he or she compared it to watching the Matrix film and only obsessing over the lobby fight scene? I’ve seen a lot of irate people and irrational posts. AUStarWars wasn’t one of them. The post wasn’t all in caps, there were no explanation points, he/she wasn’t yelling at the top of their lungs. I don’t what there is for them to relax about in their post. It seemed pretty straightforward to me.
Its a He, and since I went to see the movie with my gf, im gonna have to disagree, Luis, with your assessment of the situation, but hey, trolling is as trolling does. I wasnt dissing on anyone or saying anyone was “dumb”, but in all honesty as an avid movie goer who would love to do reviews for a living, its a bit disappointing to see the reviewer for a large magazine/review setting, “not get” a movie that really wasnt that hard to get
now if you want to debate the ending, thats one thing, but to not get the rest of it..
Fair. The ending, though, which is suppose to tie everything together only muddles things further, resulting in a frustrating and ambiguous conclusion. I felt that the ending was just as incoherent and incomprehensible as the rest of the movie.
The ending wasn’t meant to “tie everything together.” The ending was to plant inception in the minds of the viewers that maybe it wasn’t all real. That’s not inchoerence nor incomprehensibility, it’s art, and clearly it’s doing what it’s meant to do, because there is quite a debate still going on.
“Wow..I dont even know what to say other than for movies like this it is simply necessary to go to sites like AICN to get a “real” reviewers opinion” It just seems like an overreaction to an opinion.
I guess I can see it as being harsh, but it just seems difficult for a mainstream “Pixar movies are all great, Wall-e is the movie of the year!” (and I love Pixar)or “Amile and Spirited Away are greatest things ever filmed”, typed reviewers to bring the passion to the movie and analysis that it deserves
Its not a matter of being insulting, its just a fact that a movie like this needs to be disected more and its just not within Owen’s realm to do so, since im sure each day he is dragged out to see the new popcorn film of the week, or the next Twilight movie…
Yeah no one is here to insult you. You just had a different viewing experience than some other people. There are answers to some of the questions you asked but I doubt if that’s going to make the whole movie hold together for you. They clearly showed what was happening at each level (the chemist Yusef was driving the van at one level while the other participants slept, thus protecting them, Arthur was guarding them at the hotel level, etc., etc.) Each level was a dream within a dream. With regard to the larger movie I was riveted from the start. I found it a compelling narrative that made me question not only dreams but larger issues of guilt, letting go and how much of what we perceive as reality is actually real. One can make a case that Cobb does not actually wake up and is still stuck in a dream with Saito at the end, that the whole movie is essentially Cobb’s dream, the other characters are people he made up and that Mal was right or even that the “Inception” the movie is talking about is not being worked on Saito, but rather Ariande, Arthur and certainly Cobb’s father are working an Inception on Cobb to make him forgive himself for Mal’s death and let the whole thing go. As a critic I would think the fact that Nolan is also making a pretty overt statement about the nature of films being like dreams and directors attempting to run an inception on the audience would have resonated with you, but to each their own. All I know is in the few film classes I took and the critics’ take on classic film, this argument was used repeatedly to defend any even vaguely voyeuristic gaze any character in a Hitchcock or Kubrick film ever flashed. I think that’s why some people are comparing Nolan in particular to these two directors. If you do go back and see this movie again I’d suggest, oddly, that you not try to figure everything out, understand that it’s open to interpretation and just see if you’d maybe enjoy it a little more that way.
I’m glad to hear that I am not the only one. At first I hated this movie because I felt totally stupid. Why didn’t I get it. Admittedly I dosed off for two moments, but…I just do that in a dark comfortable room, no matter. I got the concept, but it was the projections that confused me-especially the conspiracy ones and the shoot ‘em bang bang and blowing up of buildings in the snow. But…I will give it another chance. I am going to watch it one more time. The effects and sound was awesome in Imax!
I think of that movie as the cinematic equivalent of the children’s book The Emperor Has No Clothes. Everyone is supposed to believe that there is a reasonable and comprehend-able story line and there is not. I agree that the IMAX experience was fabulous as were the special effects but the story…..not so much.
I was also confused by the movie but understood the basic premise to find it entertaining. By the way, Owen, I appreciate your honesty; it’s so much better than calling it “overrated” because you didn’t “get it.”
I love it that some people are comparing LOST and Inception, even if some people are still whining and moaning about the series finale of LOST. Seriously, you all need to move on. If LOST disappointed you, if you didn’t get your “ending” and your “answers”, it’s ok. LOST was just a show, like Inception is just a movie. You either like the show/ movie, or you just don’t, as simple as that.
I don’t want this to sound mean, but Inception isn’t a complicated movie or hard to understand. One of the nice parts of it is how the director made it easy to follow. I keep seeing people say you need to see it more than once to get it, but that’s simply not true. Considering all that was going on the plot is pretty straightforward. Its a great movie, but its really not that complicated. All you need to do pay attention.
I agree with you, Josh. I saw it once and understood what was going on. The ‘rules’ were explained very well in the movie without dragging down the plot with too much exposition. They explained it clearly, then they showed how it works.
In your experience the movie wasn’t hard to understand or complicated. But not everyone picks up on the same things at the same pace and some will need to see it again to fully understand. It doesn’t make those people stupid. Also, that Inception requires you to pay attention is not a bad thing. People who say they were confused are not doing it to bad mouth the movie.
Saying theyre confused is one thing, but when they claim they are confused because it was incomprehensable is sad.
It’s a fun movie, but its biggest problem may be that it invites deeper scrutiny that, ultimately, it doesn’t hold up under. The only instructions I give people seeing it for the first time are to pay close attention to all the rules laboriously set out in the first half to understand the mission in the second. But don’t peel the onion too far, or you’ll find you’re left with nothing.
Hilarious! And very true
I’m sorry but the movie was not hard to follow at all. Owen there’s a reason why I only read Roger Eberts reviews and you are a prime example of that.
COULDNT TELL ENOUGH WHAT WAS HAPPENING TO DISCUSS IT WITH MY HUSBAND, WHO ALSO COULDNT EXPLAIN WHAT WE SAW.
I agree, the movie was great, but I have spent a few hours this morning just trying to figure some things out that I have come to realize are not meant to be known. The plot of dreams within dreams sounds cool but it did feel that the plot was just unfolding itself rather than planned. Much like LOST is to me, or Muholland Ranch this movie has that like WTF is going on…. feel. Yes it is explained but its like crap what do we do now, lets jump into another dream, wait we cant do that because if we die in that dream then we will never get out, well lets just go deeper and deeper in dreamland… I think my pain came from trying to guess what was going to happen next and not even having a chance to be right…
Plot gets sticky — lets just jump into another dream. And then another… Why not another
Yeah, didn’t Ellen Page’s character ask at one point “Who’s subconscious are we in now?”
Its called “Dreamscape” starring Dennis Quaid. That’s the freakin answer. A blatant ripoff, fumbling around replacing confusion with plot to cover their plagiarism. Weak.
Yeah, no. Not even remotely.
Weak story line, the movie would have been impossible to watch if it wasn’t for the special effects and the action sequence. I felt dizzy and almost threw-up during the movie. I am really sorry for those individuals who do not understand what the movie was about or think that there is something magical or special about the plot. Pickup a philosophy book and you will be overwhelmed by the same stories. This is the movie for the masses, for the plebeians and obviously take a look at the rave reviews. Go enjoy your picture show you sheep!
I think Owen is onto something. I’m not sure if it’s a matter of not getting it–Owen seems to get it fine–it’s a matter of whether it really works, and more to the point whether it really rewards the effort of following it. Memento was utterly brilliant–it managed to create in the viewer the same state experienced by its protagonist. But Inception? When all was done and dusted I pretty much shrugged, (Plus, there are plenty of holes to discuss.)
I love how people keep mentioning these “plot holes,” yet rarely mention them. And when they are mentioned, they’re easily answered.
You didn’t get it because you aren’t smart enough