Christopher Nolan + DiCaprio = Inception

[KmK]

Re: Christopher Nolan + DiCaprio = Inception

Saw it last night and it was very confusing. This is one you have to watch like 5 times to fully understand haha. Maybe that is just the case for me...

[Beantown]

Re: Christopher Nolan + DiCaprio = Inception

For you guys that loved it, can you explain this part to me.

Spoiler

So I've been thinking about it, and I need somebody to explain the whole kick part at the end of the movie, and how they woke up from each level. I was under the impression that you need the kick in the current level to wake up. So hitting the water woke them up in the first level- the elevator explosion woke them up in the second level, the blowing up of the snow base woke them up on the third level. But if that's the case, why did the architect girl played by Ellen Page have to jump off the building in the 4th level? Shouldn't she have been jarred awake by the explosion in the 3rd level? And why did they even need plan to plant explosives in the snow level? The plan never involved them going to the 4th level, so they never should have needed to be jarred awake in the third level.

The other way it could go is that you need to be 'kicked' awake in the level below to wake up in the level above. But this doesn't make sense either. So Ellen Pages character jumps off the building in the 4th level, this wakes her up in the snow level. Then the blowing up base, which wakes her up in the 2nd level. Then the elevator movement, wakes her up in the 1st level. But then why do they even hit the water? If this logic follows- hitting the water was either useless, or should have woken them up in real life.

Non-spoiler thoughts....

....****ing incredible. I haven't been this satisfied, happy, relieved, etc. after a first/single viewing since The Dark Knight and The Departed. Those two movies happen to be my two favorite movies, so we'll see how this one holds up after repeat viewings and if it can keep that streak alive.

Nolan cemented himself as a premier director with this movie, Leo locked his place in as one of the best actors out there and one of my favorites, JGL needs more roles, and should get them after this one.

Everyone needs to see this movie. Usually a comment like this, from me, would come from the "hype factor," but that is not the case with this one. There is no hype for me anymore because this one surpassed my expectations.

Spoiler thoughts about the ending...

Spoiler

Incredible. I was depressed that Leo didn't seem like he was going to get back...then he did....then I expected it to all be another layer of dreams....and then Nolan ends it with the "totem" wobbling, but doesn't show whether it stayed up or whether it fell. For a movie with so many layers/questions/turns it was the perfect ending. I expect people to be disappointed with not having the finite proof one way or the other, but for me, it amazed me.

And, just as an afterthought, I really didn't have a hard time following or understanding anything, so hopefully people don't think that's a universal thought and go into the movie thinking "this is going to be confusing".

Also, and I just remembered this observation during the movie, but to me the fight scenes in this movie, and the action scenes in general, were a LOT better than The Dark Knight. If Nolan improves on these ones and puts that kind of effort into the third Batman fight scenes, which I believe he obviously will, that removes one of the major problems with TDK. Now to just get someone to make sure Bale tones the voice down.

[Leon]

Re: Christopher Nolan + DiCaprio = Inception

Just finished watching the movie. All I can is, WOW! Everyone should go see this. The ending was a nice touch as well.

For you guys that loved it, can you explain this part to me.

Spoiler

So I've been thinking about it, and I need somebody to explain the whole kick part at the end of the movie, and how they woke up from each level. I was under the impression that you need the kick in the current level to wake up. So hitting the water woke them up in the first level- the elevator explosion woke them up in the second level, the blowing up of the snow base woke them up on the third level. But if that's the case, why did the architect girl played by Ellen Page have to jump off the building in the 4th level? Shouldn't she have been jarred awake by the explosion in the 3rd level? And why did they even need plan to plant explosives in the snow level? The plan never involved them going to the 4th level, so they never should have needed to be jarred awake in the third level.

The other way it could go is that you need to be 'kicked' awake in the level below to wake up in the level above. But this doesn't make sense either. So Ellen Pages character jumps off the building in the 4th level, this wakes her up in the snow level. Then the blowing up base, which wakes her up in the 2nd level. Then the elevator movement, wakes her up in the 1st level. But then why do they even hit the water? If this logic follows- hitting the water was either useless, or should have woken them up in real life.

I'll try to answer your question as best as I can...

Spoiler

There were only supposed to be 3 layers/dreams. If everything went according to plan, there wouldn't be any need to start a kick in the 3rd since JGL was going to wake them up in the hotel by blowing up the floor of the room on top of his (2nd layer) and Chemist was supposed to do something else (NOT DROP the van into the water, or at least not as soon as he did) to wake them up in the 1st. Everything in sequence.

Since things did not go according to plan, they had to make sure to wake themselves up to ensure they got back to the 1st layer and ultimately, reality while still following the kick sequence. It's important to remember that THEY SHOULDN'T DIE in Fischer's dream(s) to avoid getting stuck in limbo due to the chemical they used to sleep. In order to get back safely, they had to be woken up by messing with their sense of gravity (falling) or water getting in their ears. If you can recall, music was used in order to get the timing correctly. So it goes like this:

4th layer is Cobb's sub-conscious, so it's safe to assume it's alright to "die" except for Cobb. Fischer is thrown, gets back safely to the 3rd layer to complete inception. Ariadne jumps off the building and wakes up just as the snow base is blown up. As she wakes up, notice how she/they are being flung upwards (gravity). Ariadne/Eames/Fischer get back to the 2nd layer just as Arthur has blown up the elevator (flinging the elevator upwards and thus, inducing gravity in a zero-g environment). As this happens, the van hits the water and they all wake up except for Cobb and Saito -- both of them stuck in the 5th layer (shared dream of Cobb and Saito) while Cobb tries to save him.

No one dies. Everyone follows the sequence while each guy in charge of the layer wakes the team up without knowing what's happening in the layer beneath theirs. Leap of faith. Drug wears off as they near LAX and they all wake up to reality having taken the proper steps to wake up.

There might (heck, probably even) be holes in my explanation but I hope it helps clear things up a bit. Though I personally don't feel the need for a 2nd viewing in the theaters, I just might do that since your question has got me intrigued and I may have missed a few details.

Great, great movie. Or maybe Nolan just planted the idea in my head.

[Laffer]

Re: Christopher Nolan + DiCaprio = Inception

Just finished watching the movie. All I can is, WOW! Everyone should go see this. The ending was a nice touch as well.



I'll try to answer your question as best as I can...

Spoiler

There were only supposed to be 3 layers/dreams. If everything went according to plan, there wouldn't be any need to start a kick in the 3rd since JGL was going to wake them up in the hotel by blowing up the floor of the room on top of his (2nd layer) and Chemist was supposed to do something else (NOT DROP the van into the water, or at least not as soon as he did) to wake them up in the 1st. Everything in sequence.

Since things did not go according to plan, they had to make sure to wake themselves up to ensure they got back to the 1st layer and ultimately, reality while still following the kick sequence. It's important to remember that THEY SHOULDN'T DIE in Fischer's dream(s) to avoid getting stuck in limbo due to the chemical they used to sleep. In order to get back safely, they had to be woken up by messing with their sense of gravity (falling) or water getting in their ears. If you can recall, music was used in order to get the timing correctly. So it goes like this:

4th layer is Cobb's sub-conscious, so it's safe to assume it's alright to "die" except for Cobb. Fischer is thrown, gets back safely to the 3rd layer to complete inception. Ariadne jumps off the building and wakes up just as the snow base is blown up. As she wakes up, notice how she/they are being flung upwards (gravity). Ariadne/Eames/Fischer get back to the 2nd layer just as Arthur has blown up the elevator (flinging the elevator upwards and thus, inducing gravity in a zero-g environment). As this happens, the van hits the water and they all wake up except for Cobb and Saito -- both of them stuck in the 5th layer (shared dream of Cobb and Saito) while Cobb tries to save him.

No one dies. Everyone follows the sequence while each guy in charge of the layer wakes the team up without knowing what's happening in the layer beneath theirs. Leap of faith. Drug wears off as they near LAX and they all wake up to reality having taken the proper steps to wake up.

There might (heck, probably even) be holes in my explanation but I hope it helps clear things up a bit. Though I personally don't feel the need for a 2nd viewing in the theaters, I just might do that since your question has got me intrigued and I may have missed a few details.

Great, great movie. Or maybe Nolan just planted the idea in my head.

Spoiler

Let me get what you are saying straight, we'll just follow Fischer and Ellen Page's charcters.

4th to 3rd level - Death by falling off the building
3rd to 2nd level- Exploding Snow Fortress
2nd to 1st level- Elevator acceleration
1st to Reality- Time

So we lost any meaning of the van hitting the water?

[erich20012001]

Re: Christopher Nolan + DiCaprio = Inception

Spoiler

Let me get what you are saying straight, we'll just follow Fischer and Ellen Page's charcters.

4th to 3rd level - Death by falling off the building
3rd to 2nd level- Exploding Snow Fortress
2nd to 1st level- Elevator acceleration
1st to Reality- Time

So we lost any meaning of the van hitting the water?

Spoiler

I don't think that is how it worked.

4th to 3rd- the explosions in the snow fortress were meant to warn/make sure that page/leo's characters would wake up from the 4th level. the defib was to time when fischer's character should wake up.
3rd to 2nd-the kick was the elevator acceleration, waking up everyone who was asleep in the snow fortress
2nd to 1st-once the bus hit the water, water filled the ears, waking everyone up from the elevator
1st to reality-time

[Fresh Tendrils]

Re: Christopher Nolan + DiCaprio = Inception

Hopefully I can see this Sunday night.

[LionsFanNJ]

Re: Christopher Nolan + DiCaprio = Inception

The middle of the week next week i'll be in the theater

[Laffer]

Re: Christopher Nolan + DiCaprio = Inception

Spoiler

I don't think that is how it worked.

4th to 3rd- the explosions in the snow fortress were meant to warn/make sure that page/leo's characters would wake up from the 4th level. the defib was to time when fischer's character should wake up.
3rd to 2nd-the kick was the elevator acceleration, waking up everyone who was asleep in the snow fortress
2nd to 1st-once the bus hit the water, water filled the ears, waking everyone up from the elevator
1st to reality-time

Spoiler

But if the snow explosion was to 'make sure' those 3 woke up, why did Page and Fischer have to throw themselves off the cliff, and why didn't it wake up Leo?

[Beantown]

Re: Christopher Nolan + DiCaprio = Inception

Spoiler

But if the snow explosion was to 'make sure' those 3 woke up, why did Page and Fischer have to throw themselves off the cliff, and why didn't it wake up Leo?

Spoiler

I believe Fischer/Page threw themselves off the building to wake themselves from the "Limbo" state, which then allowed the snow explosion to wake them up in the next level.

And I don't think Leo woke up because his body died in the van, so there was nothing to "kick" him to.

[Salhus]

Re: Christopher Nolan + DiCaprio = Inception

Just got back..

I thought filmmaking had limits..now I believe the possibilities are unlimited. Nolan is a true genius.

If he keeps this up he will be on the Mt. Rushmore of filmmakers

[Lintyfresh85]

Re: Christopher Nolan + DiCaprio = Inception

Mind. blown.

Also, I'm gay for Tom Hardy now. First acting I've ever seen from him. Amazing performance.

[Jano]

Re: Christopher Nolan + DiCaprio = Inception

Great movie loved every second of it missed the first 3-4 mins so I was a lil confused at first. Thought I was missing out on something important but I was fine haha!

This is definitely one of them movies I can watch again and again great story and the whole idea was amazing. Had no real expectations going in so I was just taken for a ride that was fun all the way to the end.

This one is definitely up there with TDK and Toy Story 3 (haha loved it) on my movie list. Everyone should go out and see this..

[Salhus]

Re: Christopher Nolan + DiCaprio = Inception

Mind. blown.

Also, I'm gay for Tom Hardy now. First acting I've ever seen from him. Amazing performance.

Then you have to see "Bronson"

[Lintyfresh85]

Re: Christopher Nolan + DiCaprio = Inception

Did anyone else notice this...

Spoiler

In the dream where JGL fought the guys in the hall, if you watch his face when he starts floating, he never once opens his mouth... I assume Nolan simulated the loss of gravity by filming the scenes underwater.... and then removing the water in post production.

Seriously, watch JGL, not once does he ever open his mouth, or even looks like he takes a breath when he's working with the 'sleeping' actors and moving them about.

[Gibbz]

Re: Christopher Nolan + DiCaprio = Inception

Well, I thought it was awesome. Glad I checked it out.