I have to say, this is the coolest movie I've seen in years. And we watch a LOT of movies. I have high expectations for films these days. I think it's because I'm getting grouchy in my old age about spending valuable hours watching shit movies. Predictability (i.e. Avatar) is NOT cool - however, the effects made up for it. I don't like plot lines that are lacking in substance (i.e. Legion) or movies that literally make me fall asleep (i.e. Men Who Stare at Goats). But Inception... WOW. Like, seriously. You must use your brain while watching this movie. The girl next to me in the theater said "I don't get it" dozens of times, so I'm sure she hated this movie. You have to be a least a tad smart.
OK, so, you've seen it... what do you think happens to the totem at the end? Does it keep spinning? Or does it fall over?
Here's what I think: it keeps spinning. First of all, the movie doesn't tell us how long he's been away from his kids... but we can assume it's been a while, right? Why aren't they any older? And would they really be out playing just like they were in his dreams? And, would they really be home alone?
Also, we don't actually see Cobb get out of limbo, and he doesn't make it out of the van in the second level. Juno (er um... Ariadne) tells Arthur that "he'll be alright" when they all make it out and he doesn't. I think she knows that A) Cobb drown (died) in the van and is stuck in limbo with Saito or B) If he somehow does make it out, Saito has been stuck there long enough that his mind is gone and he will never be able to make the call to get Cobb home. So, Ariadne knows the only way Cobb will be happy is to live in his dream... and she resolves to leave him there, hence "he'll be alright."
Cobb then creates the last scene of the movie in his limbo... and becomes the architect of his own world again.
What do YOU think? Tell me. (please)
I don't get it.
ReplyDeleteNo seriously, it's a fantastic movie. I think I need to see it again now, I feel like I missed some things. At first I thought that the totem eventually fell because it was wobbly towards the end, and when it was spinning in a dream, it never wavered. But maybe that's too simplistic of an explanation. I definitely need to see it again.
I totally wanted the totem to fall at the end. We waited around, positive we'd see or hear it fall after the credits (some movies are sneaky like that), but it didn't.
ReplyDeleteI was still convinced it did. Just off camera. :-)
Then I read a comment by a reviewer that resonated with me: it doesn't matter. Cobb is in his version of heaven, it's OK if he's not physically alive and with his children.
I'm OK with that.
P.S. Whatcha think about Cobb's line about totems only working for the people they belong to, then him using Mal's totem throughout the movie?
ReplyDeleteCheck this out. Pretty cool.
ReplyDeletehttp://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/07/28/hans-zimmer-extracts-the-secrets-of-the-inception-score/
Awesome, Steve. Movie keeps getting cooler!
ReplyDeleteAmber, I didn't even remember that about Mal's totem. Whoa...
I had it in my head that it kept spinning. I had run your exact same thoughts through my head upon exiting the theater. The kids would have had to be older and definitely not doing the exact same thing. Getting out of limbo sure wouldn't have sent him back in time! Awesome movie. I want to see it again :)
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