Checked out the sci-fi masterpiece that is Inception?

[CMoon]

Yes. But when you said voting, did you just mean for top movies?

Sorry man, I don't get the question/joke?

Old argument about why true democracies don't work.

[Skykid]

Old argument about why true democracies don't work.

Everyone know there's no such thing as a true democracy.

[UnscathedFlyingObject]

I went with my friends to see the film and only because I was dragged into it. It has some original elements, but falls prey to the usual shortcomings of Hollywood fare. Things like trained killers with horrible aim, love interests, and shitty endings you can predict halfway through the movie.

[Skykid]

I went with my friends to see the film and only because I was dragged into it. It has some original elements, but falls prey to the usual shortcomings of Hollywood fare. Things like trained killers with horrible aim, love interests, and shitty endings you can predict halfway through the movie.

I'm going to wait for the DVD rental, that officialized it.

[Strider77]

You've all ready made up your mind beforehand.... there has been more positive said on this movie in this thread than negative. This is the reason we get crap movies and not good ones. Folks don't go see them but will see Toy Story 3.... one of these days we'll only have lame pixar movies to go to in 3D.

It's getting harder and harder for Sci Fi these days

[Ed Oscuro]

Old argument about why true democracies don't work.

Everyone know there's no such thing as a true democracy.

Isn't the oldest democracy in the world also the closest to a true democracy? The place where even teachers stand for re-election...

It's funny how this movie doesn't go far enough for a lot of people - but then it goes a lot farther than others by some other concepts. I think that really it's just a breed of Hollywood with some sci-fi elements, so you get some good and bad out of both camps. The good, especially the film work itself, was good enough to sell the movie to me. It's very rare that I watch a movie more than once these days, anyway (Disney actually fares pretty well there, i.e. the blagole)

[UnscathedFlyingObject]

You've all ready made up your mind beforehand.... there has been more positive said on this movie in this thread than negative. This is the reason we get crap movies and not good ones. Folks don't go see them but will see Toy Story 3.... one of these days we'll only have lame pixar movies to go to in 3D.

It's getting harder and harder for Sci Fi these days

You've all assumed beforehand... I didn't know anything about the movie before it started.

[Shocky]

I lke how in one key scene of Inception, it pays tribute to a certain PSX game indeed.

Hmm, which scene, which game? The only game that popped into my mind was that the snow base sequence reminded me of MGS4 (the battle with Crying Wolf).

For me, Inception was good, but nowhere near the masterpiece it has been hyped up to be. The worst problem was the rhythm of the film: Always when Nolan had some good stuff and interesting plot development going on, suddenly it was jammed by some totally uninterestingly written scene between Leo and his ex-wife, or even worse, some guys skiing and shooting for what felt like half an hour. Another problem was that the dream worlds were so incredibly dull. The trailer suggested that there might be some impressive visuals as seen in The Cell (2000), but we only get one city wrapping around itself? Dreamscape (1984) was a much more solid film, even though it was cheaper and not as ambitious as Inception. Best Nolan films: The Prestige and The Dark Knight.

[Skykid]

You've all ready made up your mind beforehand....

I know, but you guys had almost convinced me to get my ass to the theatre. I'm more for Sci-fi than any other movie genre, so I'm totally with you on giving it a break - but it's got to be a movie I can buy into or I'll just be disappointed.

[RGC]

.

[CMoon]

I'm going to wait for the DVD rental, that officialized it.

I've realized that this whole business can be simplified. You haven't enjoyed (apparently) any of the previous Nolan films, you really, probably, won't like this. In thinking about the movie, I realized there is much thematically in common with TDK and Memento (another sort of Inception). Production wise, it is very similar to TDK. Unlike so many other directors, Nolan feels consistent enough in the way he produces film that I think it is safe to say that if the other films disappointed you, this will too.

Still, it is rather funny. You're one of the major contributors to this thread, and haven't seen the movie.
Of course, we haven't been discussing the movie half the time...

[Acid King]

Still, it is rather funny. You're one of the major contributors to this thread, and haven't seen the movie.
Of course, we haven't been discussing the movie half the time...

See also; threads about Predators.

[CMoon]

Still, it is rather funny. You're one of the major contributors to this thread, and haven't seen the movie.
Of course, we haven't been discussing the movie half the time...

See also; threads about Predators.

I should add in case anyone takes it the wrong way that I do mean 'funny', not 'annoying' or 'stfu' or anything like that. I've enjoyed the conversations.

Hell, Skykid should go see the movie just so we have more to talk about.

[Skykid]

I'm going to wait for the DVD rental, that officialized it.

I've realized that this whole business can be simplified. You haven't enjoyed (apparently) any of the previous Nolan films, you really, probably, won't like this. In thinking about the movie, I realized there is much thematically in common with TDK and Memento (another sort of Inception). Production wise, it is very similar to TDK. Unlike so many other directors, Nolan feels consistent enough in the way he produces film that I think it is safe to say that if the other films disappointed you, this will too.

Still, it is rather funny. You're one of the major contributors to this thread, and haven't seen the movie.
Of course, we haven't been discussing the movie half the time...

You're right of course, I just love to shoot the shit when it comes to movies because I'm far more critical than most so it always sparks some topic of debate. I think we've spent more time actually discussing the merit of Nolan's films than Inception itself (which I can't really comment on, only make some kind of prediction.)

But you got me all wrong. I enjoyed TDK the second time I watched it more than the first. I'd say it was one of the best superhero movies so far. Whether I think it was as good as it could have been is another debate - I saw a lot of room for improvement.

I don't actually hate Nolan's films at all, I just hate it when the guy is put on a pedestal because he's not a great film maker, just one who's better than others. But he ain't got much competition to be honest.

I thought the first half of Batman Begins was sleep inducing, the second half, better. Insomnia is a poorly made film and barely watchable, while The Prestige is chock full of stupid issues that should have been taken care of, but is somehow compelling anyway. Didn't hate it, it was decent enough throwaway entertainment.

Memento for what it's worth is probably still his best original movie, only Carrie-Anne Moss (who's crap) put any kind of dampner on what was otherwise a really promising debut.

I don't think he's lived up to Memento since, but like I said, he's not a director I hate - far from it. He's just someone who seems to prove his limitations in every film he makes, no matter how good. That's the point I was getting at.

Thread title: "Checked out the sci-fi masterpiece that is Inception?"

Is it really a masterpiece, or just pretty decent sci-fi that's a cut above normal Hollywood drivel?

[RGC]

.

[szycag]

side note: David Bowie as Nikolai Tesla was cool as shit no matter what you thought of The Prestige

[CMoon]

Thread title: "Checked out the sci-fi masterpiece that is Inception?"

Is it really a masterpiece, or just pretty decent sci-fi that's a cut above normal Hollywood drivel?

I'm sure this has been addressed earlier in this thread, but what 'masterpiece' is to someone is something different to someone else. I REALLY enjoyed the film and think it has substantial merit, but I don't use the word masterpiece lightly. On the other hand, sci fi doesn't have an amazing running streak. Most sci fi films are terrible or mediocre. I've already expressed my opinion on Inception and I won't keep doing it again and again, however:

I don't think this is just a 'cut' above standard hollywood fare. I've argued before that truly great films are often objectively great. You may not like Citizen Kane, but trying to argue that it is not executed well, acted well, shot well, scripted well etc. is just kind of foolish. It is all those things, and on a level that is well above the ability of most directors living or dead. It's why Welles is a legend. That said, many people don't like Kane and that's cool. You can easily not enjoy the content even if it is superbly done. That 10 out of 10 steak is shit to a vegetarian, but if they want to call themselves a food connoisseur they better either learn to appreciate or be up front on their own short comings.

Anyway, those are the kinds of films I'd call masterpieces. I don't think Inception is anything like that, and I think it is when people see those words thrown around or see it get super glowing reviews they freak out and try to balance the scale. But what they are missing is that virtually all movies, both now and in the past, have generally sucked. One or more of the many things that comes together to make a movie great completely fails and we all have to wince a bit to get through the film, or rather, we accept the film on its own terms and declare ourselves entertained. Inception does not, as far as I can tell, have any failings. It may not be a masterpiece, but it feels solid through and through which I think is far better, far more competent than a 'cut above' standard hollywood fare. On the other hand, what do you consider standard hollywood drivel?

[PC Engine Fan X!]

Here's the 411 on much Inception has earned at the U.S. box office:

Box Office Results
For weekend of 7/25/2010
Rank: 1
Title: Inception
Weekend Gross: $42,725,012
Cumulative Gross: $142,883,424
Weeks In Release: 2

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[drunken starsailor]

Thank God for Skykid. That was one of the worst movies I've ever seen. The script was probably made up as Nolan wrote. To use a good example: at first the characters were not supposed to "kill themselves", because it would mean slipping further into the "dream". (We are never told why this is a bad thing.) THEN, after Di Crappio lets Cillian Murphy know this(who he stopped from killing himself), they end up delving further into the "dream" anyway--with no reason given at all for this change of plans. Even though that guy says "He (Di Crappio) spends a lot of time doing what he's not supposed to do", it still doesn't hide the fact that it's bad writing. Not high-brow-watch enough-times-until-you-discover-the-hidden-meaning, but bad writing. The entire film is an intangible wreck.

That's not to say that the entire movie was worthless. I quite liked the special effects. Oh and the actors were great. After all, they have to be to deliver their lines with the intention of being serious. A+ in my book. Won't be seeing Nolan's next film, though. How could he do that to his audience? I sat there waiting for some clarification, but he never explained anything, because it's impossible to explain jargon.

Imagine you get dressed one morning and go to work. As you leave your car, you notice that everyone in town is crapping on each other. Why are they doing this? Who knows! But they seem to not have a care in the world. Your boss has crap all over his face when he asks you, "Hey Bill, did you see the Lakers game, yesterday?" Meanwhile, the interns are crapping on themselves and each other, while laughing and watching General Hospital in the break room.

At this point you're like, "WTF is going on??! Why is everyone acting like everything is fine and dandy?!" This is more or less how I feel about Inception... in my humble opinion.

[drunken starsailor]

Ebert has a review up (as usual) where he explains in detail about why Inception is actually a good movie.

He'll need better reasoning power than this to accomplish such a thing:

http://www.flipsidepa.com/ci_15538164

"And also as the occasion for some of the movie's astonishing special effects, which seemed senseless in the trailer but now fit right in."

How do they now "fit in"? How does the story make sense of them? Oh wait, that's right. Ebert has no idea. Which is why he didn't bother to explain.

"Why does Cobb need an architect to create spaces in dreams? He explains to her. Dreams have a shifting architecture, as we all know; where we seem to be has a way of shifting."

Great. That clears up everything. They need an architect because dreams have "shifting architecture". And the People's Choice Award for Most Vague Reviewer of 2010 goes to....



So yeah. Crap review.

[CMoon]

Thank God for Skykid. That was one of the worst movies I've ever seen.

Dude, Skykid hasn't seen the movie yet, and actually seems to like Nolan (look up a few posts).

Obviously not everyone is going to agree with Ebert on everything, but great job taking the free punch at him. I've found myself respecting him more and more over the years as I've gone through his great movie list. He's been more than happy to go against the status quo, and in fact most of the other critics to champion a movie. On the other hand, he's put E.T. on that list of great movies, so clearly no one can be right all the time.

[kozo]

Haters gonna hate!

[Strider77]

Haters gonna hate!

They remind me of the drill instructors I had in the army during basic training. They look for ANY kind of fuck up b/c they are hell bent to do so, then bust your balls endlessly over a button not buttoned or shoe string lower than the other. If you look for something wrong long enough... without a doubt you'll find it.

[UnscathedFlyingObject]

Some people will get their toes stepped on and won't say anything.

[Skykid]

Thank God for Skykid. That was one of the worst movies I've ever seen.

As Cmoon said, I was basing my opinions of Inception on a trusted source (who felt basically the same as you about the movie) and Nolan's track record.
I can't be bothered to tread old ground because even I'm getting confused now, suffice to say I think Nolan makes half-decent and watchable movies when compared to others in his current field (who are generally shit), but they're always riddled with flaws and silly oversights that make him more a style man than bonafide master director.

Chances are I'd probably agree with you on most of the points if I watched the movie, but I ain't. I went to watch Toy Story 3 last night instead and it was absolutely terrific!

[Koa Zo]

I saw this at a drive-in on Friday with a friend and his daughter.
My friend hadn't even heard of the movie, I didn't know a thing about it except that there was supposed to be cool effects and Leo is in it, and the 16y/o daughter wanted to see it cause all her friends said it was the best movie ever.

I'm a big fan of sci-fi and was psyched as the movie got going, but before long I was practically yawning.
My friend finally said, "this is stupid" and we all agreed. We wanted to wait to the end to see if it redeemed itself but about 2 hours into it we got in the car and drove out.
I don't have the slightest interest to know what I missed at the end.

Leonardo DiCaprio's pretty hair may have been the most remarkable thing about the movie.

[UnscathedFlyingObject]

I went with my friend and two girls (17 and 20), and only my friend thought it was great. The girls openly admitted they almost took a nap but the theater was too noisy.

[drunken starsailor]

Some people will get their toes stepped on and won't say anything.

Here you are clearly against what I had to say.

THEN...

I went with my friend and two girls (17 and 20), and only my friend thought it was great. The girls openly admitted they almost took a nap but the theater was too noisy.

You contradict yourself by pretending to dislike the film. (I'm guessing the girls made up their mind before you did-- and not wanting to look like a loser, you agreed with them in the end.) If you gave any legitimate reasons for why you thought Inception was a shitty movie, it would mean echoing my sentiments. What a cowardly hipster you are.

[CMoon]

Haters gonna hate!

[Strider77]

I'm sure those same 2 girls would tell you twilight was soooooo good.