REVIEW: 'Inception'RSS

REVIEW: 'Inception'

Leo firing up at Joseph Gordon-Levitt.

22nd Jul 2010

5 stars

Cryptically described as a contemporary sci-fi action thriller "set within the architecture of the mind", this is director Christopher Nolan's follow-up to smash-hit The Dark Knight. Stars Leonardo DiCaprio. Now playing nationwide (including IMAX).

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Christopher Nolan’s work has proved him an adept puzzle-maker here and world-builder there, talents that may not always lend themselves to box office success. Several times over now though, they have kept Hollywood’s tills ringing, and now with Inception Nolan has fused those various elements together for their maximum impact to date. There’s a bigger victory beyond that of the film’s financiers and creators to consider as well, a giant win for audiences and the degree to which filmmakers can respect their intelligence.

It’s hard to think of a denser or more complex blockbuster than Inception, especially one that so consistently refuses to abate from challenging those who watch it. From the opening frames it is a dizzying rollercoaster that relentlessly manipulates one’s senses, intellect, and emotions, not letting up for some two and a half hours.

Nolan’s team of collaborators overachieve throughout, be they cast members (DiCaprio grabbing his tragic character by the scruff of his neck, Juno’s Ellen Page surprisingly comfortable playing at this level, and Toms Hardy and Berenger great in supporting roles), Hans Zimmer and Johnny Marr’s work on the intense and incessant score, or longtime cinematographer Wally Pfister.

Basically, Inception’s pretty damn-near perfect and demands to be seen before you hear too much about it. This isn’t a film to be discussed so much as experienced, and while it certainly doesn’t require a repeat viewing to comprehend, I’m going back a second time very, very soon.

Watch trailer for Inception More on Inception

The people's comments

yeah, totally. not sci-fi so much as psy-fi. ha ha ha

By Locke

to JosB. Those weren't 'holes',they were clues to the individual viewer's figuring out what their interpretations of the movie are.Please....show me one!

By dd

To Javed your a muppet!!

By Auzzie

A brilliantly executed film by all parties involved, although reviews and critics have been overhyping it too much for my comfort.

Nevertheless one of the year's best movie, and for a sci-fi thriller to not even focus on the sci-fi/visual aspects, it's a triumph in modern story-telling that Inception manages to captivate, sensuate and pick into the brain of anyone who dares to try to understand the movie itself.

With a plot that involves being in a dream, plenty of plotholes are covered and you won't find yourself tripping in this one, much like how The Matrix (Part one) encapsulated itself back then.

A must watch for any and every movie enthusiasts, Inception is exceptionally, provocatingly, differently awesome.

By Mar

Hmmm, I really wanted to like this. The visual effects are top-notch of course. The storyline is filled with holes though.

I don't know about anyone else, but I also found it hard to hear what the actors were saying to one another; not sure if it was the film itself or the cinema, but since the ones at Manukau are quite new, I wouldn't have thought that would have been a problem.

All-in-all, I'd give the film 3 stars out of 5, mainly for the special effects.

By JosB

Anyone who is a fan of sci-fi or movies from christopher nolan i.e momento or the dark knight, should watch this film. It is a mind bending classic, that takes you to a place that all movies aspire to. That is the imagination of your mind. I found myself day dreaming about this film hours after I saw it. Anyone who loves film should at the very least enjoy this film on some level. Oh by the way Leonardo DiCaprio deserves an Oscar nomination for this film.

By Philip Moore

To James, above: "The premise of the film was implausible." Not true, the premise of the film was entirely plausible. Obviously you were just unable to understand it. I read another viewer's comment who said they left early claiming it was ridiculously convoluted tripe - again, it was obvious that they were unable to understand the movie. This movie is great in that it doesn't insult the audience - it assumes that they will be intelligent. If you're not intelligent then don't watch this movie.

By Javed

Overrated and silly.
Full of tedious gun fights and chases.
The premise of the film was implausible.

By James

This is a modern masterpiece. I haven't felt this way about a film since I saw star wars at age 11 in 1997. It is that good and I challenge anyone not to be amazed by this film that will be remembered for decades to come

By Philip Moore

Very very impressive and uncompromising film which doesn't allow itself to get too caught up in the sci part of sci-fi, it just focuses on the mental fantasy of the dream based story. Slow in some parts but necessarily so - as this is a well packed & thoughtful rollercoaster that delivers mentally, visually and audibly. (Check out the huge -terminator style- bass!) Don't read any reviews about the story itself, just go and see the film quick.

By Dave K

REVIEW: 'Inception'RSS