“Inception” takes place in a near future where dream technology is apparently commonplace enough that corporate businessmen take lessons from specialists on how to thwart dream invasions by competitors. And yet, the film isn’t so futuristic that it looks any different from the world we know.
Leonardo DiCaprio stars as Cobb, a wanted American fugitive hiding out in Europe, who specializes in invading the dreams of corporate bigwigs to steal secrets. When we first meet him, Cobb is in the middle of a job with partner-in-crime Arthur (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), where they are attempting to extract corporate secrets from Japanese industrialist Saito (Ken Watanabe). The mission goes awry quickly (Saito, it turns out, is quite the smarty pants), but yields surprising results: instead of sending armed goons to dispatch them, Saito wants to hire the thieves for a job of his own. Arthur bristles, but Cobb is tempted when Saito offers him the one thing he can’t buy: the freedom to return to America, back to his two young kids.

To complete this new job for Saito (who insists on tagging along), Cobb recruits architect wunderkind Ariadne (Ellen Page), a counterfeiter named Eames (Tom Hardy), and a pharmacist named Yusuf (Dileep Rao). Their new target: Robert Fischer (Cillian Murphy), a man who is about to inherit his dying father’s company, a rival of Saito’s. To accomplish the job means invading Fischer’s dream and inserting a single idea without him knowing – or as it’s known, “inception”. Arthur insists inception is not possible, but Cobb knows better. For you see, Cobb has a secret that he hasn’t told anyone, and that is intimately connected to his deceased wife Mal (Marion Cotillard), whose death made Cobb a fugitive in the first place.

nception becomes a little tiresome as the conceptual conceit of the dream world becomes an excuse for too many action pieces that don't serve the story. While it's still the most intelligent blockbuster in a while and intriguing when you start applying some of the ideas about dreams to the world of film making, it could have increased its staying power through better service to its primary concept.

Too many fancy effects in the service of dream depiction leave the film more on the What Dreams May Come level than that of the great and cheaper dream films. Like the dreamer who has been sabotaged by Mal, the viewer is here left realising too early that this is just a piece of cinematic trickery that began with the promise of so much more than only dreams.

Wow! when I got out of the movie theater I really had to think about the movie. It was a great movie, but very hard to follow at some points. One thing I liked about Inception, was the action scenes. I also liked that you never no what will happen next. Although I didn't like how it was confusing, and hard to follow. Overall I give Inception an 4/5.

I'm nearly at a loss for words. Just when you thought Christopher Nolan couldn't get any better than "The Dark Knight", he outshines himself there and continues to deliver another masterpiece, one with so much power and rich themes that has been lost from the box office for several years. Questioning illusions vs reality usually makes the film weird, but Nolan grips your attention like an iron claw that you just can't help watching and wondering what will happen next. That is a real powerful skill a director has. No wonder Warner Bros. put their trust in him, he is THAT good of a director, and over-hyping a Christopher Nolan film, no matter what the film is about, is always an understatement instead of an overestimate like MANY films before.

Not since the eras of Stanley Kubrick, Andrei Tarkovsky and Alfred Hitchcock has there been a more brilliant director than Christopher Nolan. He is, undoubtedly, one of THE most brilliant and gifted Hollywood filmmakers in history. Filmmakers like him come but just once in a lifetime. He has the ability to seduce our eyes, ears and most importantly, mind, and then delivers what he intends to deliver in full blast. Rarely have blockbusters have the gall to deliver such amounts imagination and intelligence at the same time. And yes, it is similar to the excellent anime film "Paprika" in the whole "invading dreams" plot, but the similarities end there as Nolan brings the film to a whole different level.

Visuals and intelligence rarely come together in movies at the same time, it's either all-visuals-no-smarts ("G.I. Joe", "Transformers") or the exact opposite ("Doubt", "Invictus"). In this film the excellently directed action sequences combined with immensely groundbreaking and jaw-dropping visual effects are combined smoothly with a heavy dose of intelligence and believability.

Although having an ensemble cast and financed by a Hollywood giant studio (Warner Bros), this film is a very personal film for Nolan, he wrote the film as well as directing it, and as you watch the film you get many glimpses of Nolan's perplexing, increasingly imaginative thoughts and dreams in the dialog that he writes and the plot that he sets up. Ideas have never felt more interesting and put to good use than in this film. This film is NOT for the popcorn muncher, rather it is a film for thinkers. Honestly I can't explain the plot for fear of spoiling the movie for you readers. Even the slightest hint will ruin the experience. The viewer will walk out of the cinema feeling dazed, confused and ultimately breathless. It's like a puzzle, both physically and mentally, and you have to pay attention throughout the film for the clues. However Nolan controls the spectacle of the film and is careful not to let it overwhelm the film's humanity, and this is where "Inception" shines. It is a very deep film that will have one thinking and asking questions for years to come. That's right, years.

Once the film ends, you'll want to watch it again, for there's something new every time. This is a film that requires multiple viewing for someone to truly comprehend the film's ambiguous themes, and will be discussed by many in the future. This is an original film, no adaptation, no sequel/prequel, no remake/reboot, which is extremely refreshing having gone nearly three years of mostly unremarkable visual effects roadshows ("Avatar" be damned).

Of course, a film is not complete without the actors. Leo DiCaprio delivers an Oscar worthy performance, similar but better than his previous effort "Shutter Island". He shows glimpses of a flawed, grim, fragile man, who has knowledge about everything else but yet can't seem to come in grips with himself and his demons. Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Ellen Page, Tom Hardy, Ken Watanabe, Dileep Rao, Cillian Murphy, Tom Berenger, Michael Caine, Marion Cottilard, Pete Postlethwaite, Lukas Haas... Nolan really brings out the best in this unusual yet extremely talented group of supporting actors who make their roles their own.

Nolan is of course, a master behind the camera, a real virtuoso when it comes to film. His direction is taut, focused, gripping, and extraordinarily fascinating. The detailed and complex original script is no surprise from Nolan, considering the fact that he turned Batman the superhero into pop-culture art two years ago ("The Dark Knight"). The action sequences are unique, exciting and fresh, something absent from the cinema which has since been interested at things popping towards the screen and stuff blowing up every two milliseconds. The visual effects are awesome and imaginative, and best of all they do not bring down the movie's quality one bit, rather it makes the movie more fascinating to watch. The cinematography is absolutely, beautifully shot, so we can see the action and emotion in all their glory. Production design is top notch, with terrific design of sets and locations. Hans Zimmer's complementing music score is simply outstanding, and knowing the man, that's really all I have to say. Together all of these elements combine to deliver a mesmerizing movie experience like no other this year.

Christopher Nolan has once again outdone himself. He truly is a gifted filmmaker, arguably the most imaginative in Hollywood today. And "Inception" can proudly stand alongside "Blade Runner" and "2001: A Space Odyssey" as science-fiction masterpieces that push the boundaries for movie making and become a different experience altogether.

There are two types of films: the crowd-pleasing blockbuster and the intelligent indie/art film. Nolan has combined two of these tropes together into one exceptionally brilliant package, pulling off that rare, now nearly-extinct Movie Magic that has since been wiped off the planet by sequelitis and reboots. Movie of Summer 2010? Movie of 2010? Heck this is possibly the first masterpiece of the decade! Nolan is a genius and I applaud him for treating his audiences as intelligent people.

This show is basically explaining the mysticism and basic foundation behind lucid dreams. It is loosely based on how the main actor, Leonardo Di Caprio is able to use his understanding of this concept to tap into the minds of others and suggest certain thoughts. Done correctly, would irrevocably change the person they were working on as his team of "dream architects" work on planting an idea in the subjects head. Thus allowing the subject to indulge in the induced self suggestion which has been elaborately planted. The "dream architects" will also find out that throughout their mission, they will futher understand the dangers of working through the subconscious minds of others.

Director Christopher Nolan played great with his "Batman" movies and his new original thriller, lived almost up to the high expectations.

"Inception" is set in a world where people by some technical means can get into other people's dreams and find out their kept secrets. Dom Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio) is a specialist in the field and leads a team that engaged in industrial espionage on the subconscious level. Faced with a new mission, he collects together his key people - an architect (Ellen Page) who creates a dream world, a supporting actor (Tom Hardy) to trick the victim inside a dream, a chemist (Dileep Rao) to cooking up the sleeping pills as needed, and a researcher ( Joseph Gordon-Levitt), which identify the target. The dreams are governed by certain rules but there are also unexpected hazards where the ghosts of one's subconscious can haunt when you least expect it. Much more will be withheld from the story, which may sound vague, but Nolan presents the quick and safe way the film's universe and it's rather all levels of the plot that tricks the audience.

/Eazzer

I honestly couldn’t believe what I was watching as I was sitting in the theaters. I thought it was impossible now-a-days to have a film be so visual but yet still be smart.This movie peels layers upon layers of a complex plot acted out by an impeccable cast. At first I thought it would be confusing for the viewer to tell what is the dream, and what is the dream within the dream. However, each layer of the dream world is so distinguishable from each other. The use of color, lighting, weather changes, and atmosphere, keep each dream looking and feeling like completely different places. Another thing that separates Inception from other action films is that it doesn’t focus on the clichéd good guy vs. bad guy, but instead made all the characters equal. Whether it is information, reconciliation, or a desire for an alternate reality, all the characters want something and rely on each other to get it. Ken Watanabe shines in his role as Saito “the Tourist” a man looking for information on how to make his company a leader in energy, is not the stereotypical “Yakuza” that many Japanese are portrayed as, but as a man who wants something from the dreams just like everyone else. Watanabe proves to be an equal acting powerhouse as the rest of the cast, and the difference in language does not interfere with him completely becoming his character and leaves you feeling that no other man could play Saito but him. Cillian Murphy also gets entwined in the plot as a trust fund baby with daddy issues. He gets the character right on so many levels even down to the yuppie hair style.Joseph- Gordon Levitt will surprise you with his maturity on screen, while Ellen Page is just as charming as ever. Indian actor and newcomer Dileep Rao also plays an integral part of the diverse cast, and makes you grateful that the minorities in the film aren’t stereotypical, or reduced only to a silent role in the background. Leonardo Dicaprio and Marion Cotillard have amazing chemistry on film. She is both a beautiful dream and a terrible nightmare Dicaprio’s character "Cobb", cannot wake up from. Marion’s “Mal” is hauntingly beautiful who can become terrifying in an instant. A prisoner in Cobb’s mind, Mal yearns to be free, and will stop at nothing to have Cobb for herself. Cobb is a man with a troubled past whose dreams only contain broken memories and guilt.This film is truly a delight to the senses, and will make your heart race while its wonderful music score transcends you straight to well… a dream. Yes there are plot holes, and at times the actors seem long winded when explaining the complexity of the plot, but none of this slows down the movie. It always remains a constant action film, which engrosses you in the story and effects, to the point you don’t remember why they even have movies in 3-D if they can look like Inception. The amount of detail in the film will make you want to pay close attention to see if you can catch every line, every small reference, but then again you might just watch it again for the acting and how damn good it looks. Inception is just so right on so many different levels, and if you don’t see it in IMAX or theaters in general, you are truly cheating yourself out of the film experience of the year. Inception doesn’t suffer from predictability or feed on clichés, but creates its own world and brings you along for the experience. With its diverse cast of amazing actors, Inception does not only live up to the hype, but surpasses it.A visual masterpiece, Inception backs it up with amazing depth, wonderful execution, and a cast that were perfect for each of their roles. You simply cannot miss this one.

Audiences want the thrill of a car chase, the thrill of romance, the thrill of the spectacular! If that is the case, then Inception just might be the greatest summer blockbuster of all time as it also contains something we often don't look for...brains! "What is the most resilient parasite? An idea" says Leonardo Di Caprio's character Cobb. Well, Inception is all about ideas. It's all right there in the title. The film central idea revolves around "Extractors", who are paid to extract secrets from people's subconscious minds by sneaking into their dreams, usually for the purpose of corporate espionage. However, when one client asks them to plant an idea in the mind of their corporate rival, "Inception" is born. The less said about this film the better. It is full of ideas and invention and for each set piece I divulge, a piece of the film's genius is weakened. This is a film that cleverly and intricately brings the audience through several planes of existence simultaneously but never allows the viewer to feel lost. Such is the power of Christopher Nolan's script which, I imagine, is likely to get overlooked due to the sheer visual magnificence of his direction. But everything that makes this film so great is in the script...in the ideas! Everything else is just spectacle. This film bears an uncanny resemblance, thematically, with DiCaprio's other instant classic this year, Shutter Island. Both films investigate in depth the tricks a traumatised mind can play on the individual. Both films are luscious to watch and both films keep the audience firmly outside the realm of reality. However, Inception is an even more layered film than Shutter Island and I believe the sci-fi genre setting will prove to be less alienating for audiences than the prison noir of Scorsese's film. There is not a single dull moment in Nolan's film. There is style, charm and intelligence in every frame of the film. Every performance is pitch-perfect with some strong support by Ellen Page and Joseph Gordon-Levitt particularly who have grown up right before our eyes into undeniable movie stars. Leonardo DiCaprio gives a typically flawless performance as the muddled, grieving man who we never quite trust to be li

It's stylish, compelling, kinetic and relentlessly cool. A must-see. It's a spectacular, pulse-pounding and utterly mind-blowing edge of your seat thriller. A spellbinding original that pushes your mind to limits that you might not be able to handle. It's one hell of an amazing journey that truly takes your breath away.

It's 007 meets The Matrix on steroids. A tremendously entertaining and unforgettable thrill-ride that truly delivers. It's truly mind-shattering and frequently amazing. An instant classic.

An ingenious masterpiece. Director, Christopher Nolan has crafted a new breed of psychological thriller. It's Nolan's biggest and most accomplished work as a director yet. It's slickly written, superbly crafted and brilliantly performed. A total blast of heart-pounding suspense, adrenaline-pumping action and a brilliant plot. It delivers more twist and turns than a Chinese puzzle that will push you to the limit.

A dazzling, powerful and relentlessly exhilarating action-packed ride. "INCEPTION" is not only the best film of the year... it's one of the best films of the past few years and twice as good as anything Christopher Nolan has crafted so far. An extraordinary mixture of science fiction, mystery and action all rolled into a superb and exciting heist film. An electrifying experience that has to be seen to be believed. An all-star cast that packs serious heat. Leonardo DiCaprio is brilliant. Cillian Murphy is terrific. Ellen Page is wonderful. Joseph Gordon-Levitt is fantastic. Ken Wananabe is excellent.

Inception has been justifiably lauded for its stunning action sequences and inventive story, but it's hardly a shock that such a talented group of people could come up with those. What really surprised me was how much emotional power it had. The dramatic tension builds gradually as we learn more about the lead characters background until it reaches a shattering climax that I haven't experienced in science-fiction since Aliens. It's a very different movie but that sense of desperation, that the person you love the most is in mortal peril, even doomed, is very similar. I actually cried *twice* near the end and I can't say that about Transformers. There really is something for everyone in Inception: spectacular action and effects; excellent acting (especially from Leonardo DiCaprio and Marion Cotillard, who actually convince as a loved-up couple); an intriguing plot; and, if that doesn't tickle your fancy, some seriously hot stars. (I suspect Tom Hardy keeps fit by constantly beating off hoards of screaming fans with a large stick.) The only downside is that it's hard to see how all involved are going to top this one but I can't wait to see them try.

The story can either be told in a few sentences, or not told at all. Here is a movie immune to spoilers: If you knew how it ended, that would tell you nothing unless you knew how it got there. And telling you how it got there would produce bafflement. The movie is all about process, about fighting our way through enveloping sheets of reality and dream, reality within dreams, dreams without reality. It's a breathtaking juggling act, and Nolan may have considered his "Memento" (2000) a warm-up; he apparently started this screenplay while filming that one. It was the story of a man with short-term memory loss, and the story was told backwards.

WOAH!!! Do yourself a favor and dont miss this movie! Unbeleivable!! This movie was excellent, it had such originality in every aspect. If you liked the matrix you'll love this movie, story wise the 2 are absolutley nothing alike but overall original storey idea and mind bending plot twists are apparent. Its really like watching 3 movies in one sitting not to mention the mind bending ending that will have you restarting the movie after its done. Best movie you've never seen worth the watch and a purchase!

Now that was a touch different! Ok so if you peel away the whole dream premise it is a straight forward film about guilt, escapism and what really defines you...which could be applied to most of the Nolan brothers films really.

But theres no denying that I was checking the films running time and hoping that there was still time to flesh out this subplot or that one and alas as Ive seen a lot of people comment it does sometimes feel like theyve got to a point where they were simply running out of film reel.

The cast are all very solid and Leo is myabe not one of the stand out actors of his generation but you know what, theres no way that you could ever say that hes anything less then committed and watchable. He holds the film together and is generous enough to give people like Tom Hardy the chance to really shine in scenes.

The plot has been discussed a lot in other reviews so I wont put a lot of time into that and skip right to the summary! This is worth the hype, if youve enjoyed any of the previous Nolan efforts than do it, watch this. If not then the combination of CGI, good cast and orginal plot-you'd be worse off then to use this as a starting board into the rather dark world of Christopher and Jonsthon.

This is a great movie and as for the final scene...yes he is. lol.

I had the privilege of seeing this movie before it came out, and, like most of DiCaprio's films, it blew me away.

Inception is a well-made movie, filmed in about 6 locations all over the world. The directing was outstanding, there were only about two moments, maybe three seconds in total, where i noticed that visual effects were being used (of course defying gravity is pretty difficult).

The plot was very pleasingly intricate, with a twist-and-turn, keep-you-on-the-edge-of-your-seat type feel. I noticed that this film had similarities with DiCaprios thriller Shutter Island (which i also enjoyed very much)seeing as it left you wondering what was real and what was not. It's great to see a movie with a thick and emotional plot and not just grenade-throwing action heroes who achieve greatness in the end.

Inception also has a very well-composed score, which to me was the finishing touch to a perfect movie. If you're thinking about seeing Inception, definitely go! Even though i was fortunate enough to see a free show, it is worth every penny you pay.

Truly unique, like nothing i've ever seen before. Christopher Nolan certainly covered new ground with this film and wasn't afraid to leave us hanging with a spectacular ending.

I had the privilege of seeing this movie before it came out, and, like most of DiCaprio's films, it blew me away.

Inception is a well-made movie, filmed in about 6 locations all over the world. The directing was outstanding, there were only about two moments, maybe three seconds in total, where i noticed that visual effects were being used (of course defying gravity is pretty difficult).

The plot was very pleasingly intricate, with a twist-and-turn, keep-you-on-the-edge-of-your-seat type feel. I noticed that this film had similarities with DiCaprios thriller Shutter Island (which i also enjoyed very much)seeing as it left you wondering what was real and what was not. It's great to see a movie with a thick and emotional plot and not just grenade-throwing action heroes who achieve greatness in the end.

Inception also has a very well-composed score, which to me was the finishing touch to a perfect movie. If you're thinking about seeing Inception, definitely go! Even though i was fortunate enough to see a free show, it is worth every penny you pay.

Truly unique, like nothing i've ever seen before. Christopher Nolan certainly covered new ground with this film and wasn't afraid to leave us hanging with a spectacular ending.

I'd like to keep my review rather to the point.

Pros: 1. its theme - dream is a fascinating topic to say the least. There are a lot of unknowns in dreamworld.

2. its plot - there are several sweet twists and unpredictable turns.

3. its edgy drive - although you know what's coming next, still you feel jumpy about it when it does.

4. its rapid storyline - the story moves fast from one scene to another, making the viewers feel like on a roller coaster ride. At times, it's hard to keep up, even after watching it several times.

5. its sophistication - there is a lot of information to remember and digest. This is the very thing the modern moviegoers are after, I believe.

6. its realism - okay, pun intended. The movie explains (or at least tries to) the ins and outs of what dream is about and how it functions, some of which are very familiar with and dear to us.

Cons: 1. its poor character development - although the acting was convincing enough there was not enough of character development. I wonder how many people really felt connected to the main character(s) after watching the movie. Yes, the movie talks about emotional struggles but it was more of an action film than anything else, if you ask me.

2. too many distractions - I found that the movie had more characters than necessary. They may play certain roles in the plot but they seemed more of distractions than anything else. I wish the movie was more focused.

3. a bit preachy - I noticed that the characters would explain things about dreamworld and then the exact things happen later in the movie. I'm afraid, Inception overused this trick.

In conclusion, its theme is fascinating but its delivery is not without room for improvement.

I highly recommend you to go and read Somewhere carnal over 40 winks, if you dig this kind of flicks.

Cheers!

What do we ask for in a summer blockbuster? What is it that incites hysteria this time every year for whatever dross the studios churn out? Epic hugeness? Blowing stuff up? Romance? Action? Heroes? What are we looking for in a blockbuster? I think it all boils down to thrills! Audiences want the thrill of a car chase, the thrill of romance, the thrill of the spectacular! If that is the case, then Inception just might be the greatest summer blockbuster of all time as it also contains something we often don't look for...brains! "What is the most resilient parasite? An idea" says Leonardo Di Caprio's character Cobb. Well, Inception is all about ideas. It's all right there in the title. The film central idea revolves around "Extractors", who are paid to extract secrets from people's subconscious minds by sneaking into their dreams, usually for the purpose of corporate espionage. However, when one client asks them to plant an idea in the mind of their corporate rival, "Inception" is born. The less said about this film the better. It is full of ideas and invention and for each set piece I divulge, a piece of the film's genius is weakened. This is a film that cleverly and intricately brings the audience through several planes of existence simultaneously but never allows the viewer to feel lost. Such is the power of Christopher Nolan's script which, I imagine, is likely to get overlooked due to the sheer visual magnificence of his direction. But everything that makes this film so great is in the script...in the ideas! Everything else is just spectacle. This film bears an uncanny resemblance, thematically, with DiCaprio's other instant classic this year, Shutter Island. Both films investigate in depth the tricks a traumatised mind can play on the individual. Both films are luscious to watch and both films keep the audience firmly outside the realm of reality. However, Inception is an even more layered film than Shutter Island and I believe the sci-fi genre setting will prove to be less alienating for audiences than the prison noir of Scorsese's film. There is not a single dull moment in Nolan's film. There is style, charm and intelligence in every frame of the film. Every performance is pitch-perfect with some strong support by Ellen Page and Joseph Gordon-Levitt particularly who have grown up right before our eyes into undeniable movie stars. Leonardo DiCaprio gives a typically flawless performance as the muddled, grieving man who we never quite trust to be living in the real world. The best part of Inception is the large amount of effects which were done in camera. While the film does make use of CGI, there are some pretty mind-blowing practical effects which are as simple as the camera telling beautiful lies; a rare treat these days. This is a blockbuster that ticks all the boxes; smart, sexy (femme fatale, sexy brainy girl, very beautiful men in very beautiful suits) and magical. Inception is the kind of film that reminds me why cinema will never die. Because anyone who thinks it's OK to watch this film on a laptop or iPad is a fool! This is pure cinema, and proud of it. Not to be missed on the big screen!

This movie is mind blowing. Take a seat and prepare to be moved. 1 second here and 10 hours in your sleep. this movie will keep your mind going up and down. the ending was the best when he is finally free everyone should give this movie a chance. Best actors in the movie too

A very entertaining film. It keeps you enthralled from start to finish, which you kind of don't have a choice if you want to keep up with what's going on. A pretty good concept and something different was refreshing from the usual Hollywood recycled crap. I've heard people talk of this film and how you need to watch it a 2nd time to fully understand it, but did't find that to be the case. Just a good complex story that kept moving and held your interest.

9/10

Dom Cobb is a skilled thief, the absolute best in the dangerous art of extraction, stealing valuable secrets from deep within the subconscious during the dream state, when the mind is at its most vulnerable. Cobb's rare ability has made him a coveted player in this treacherous new world of corporate espionage, but it has also made him an international fugitive and cost him everything he has ever loved. Now Cobb is being offered a chance at redemption. One last job could give him his life back but only if he can accomplish the impossible-inception. Instead of the perfect heist, Cobb and his team of specialists have to pull off the reverse: their task is not to steal an idea but to plant one. If they succeed, it could be the perfect crime. But no amount of careful planning or expertise can prepare the team for the dangerous enemy that seems to predict their every move. An enemy that only Cobb could have seen coming.

In a world where technology exists to enter the human mind through dream invasion, a highly skilled thief is given a final chance at redemption which involves executing his toughest job to date:

Inception.

Director / Writer: Christopher Nolan

Stars:
Leonardo DiCaprio,
Joseph Gordon-Levitt
Ellen Page