Originally posted by cityondown012510That wasn't the scene of proof...not that portion, anyway. That was just what I was saying to establish the ambiguity. Besides,
Spoiler: Cobb and Arthur were friends, and often worked together, so one would assume that they would have spoken at least. It's not entirely uncommon for two people that know each other to be on a plane, nor is it uncommon for one's subconscious to place people around you into dreams. Regardless, that scene was proof of nothing. I'm still thrown by why his father-in-law would have flown to America, from France, on a separate plane from them, to...give Cobb a ride home? If it was to check up on how the mission went, a simple phone call would have sufficed. Just seemed strange to me.
Spoiler: Though I can understand where you're going with the plane thing (I didn't remember about the high fiving either), the dad thing still doesn't strike me as strange at all. Cobb had been away from home for a long time and was going to see his kids and continue to live his life from that point onwards. I see no reason NOT to meet him at the airport.. it's a day to celebrate!
Didn't we establish that we don't need to use spoilers anymore?
That wasn't the scene of proof...not that portion, anyway. That was just what I was saying to establish the ambiguity. Besides,
Spoiler: Cobb and Arthur were friends, and often worked together, so one would assume that they would have spoken at least. It's not entirely uncommon for two people that know each other to be on a plane, nor is it uncommon for one's subconscious to place people around you into dreams. Regardless, that scene was proof of nothing. I'm still thrown by why his father-in-law would have flown to America, from France, on a separate plane from them, to...give Cobb a ride home? If it was to check up on how the mission went, a simple phone call would have sufficed. Just seemed strange to me.
Originally posted by cityondown012510I agree, that would be the wholesome, satisfying ending. However, I can definitely see how it could go both ways.
Spoiler: When they wake up on the plane, it is the most ambiguous scene that I have ever seen. There are no signs of recognition on the plane. Only smiles. Now, this could be because they can't all seem to know each other because Fischer is still there...or because they really don't know each other. Furthermore, when Saito wakes up and immediately makes the phone call. That could be him making the call for Cobb, or him just having to make a business call. The glances of kinda recognition between Cobb-Arthur and Cobb-Eames could be them playing it cool, or just them noticing one another from the plane. Ariadne watching Cobb through customs could be her checking to see if everything is cool, or her checking out the ruggedly handsome man from the plane. And the brief recognition between Fischer and Cobb could, again, just be recognition from the plane, or Fischer remembering him from the dream. It's perfectly done, and perfectly ambiguous. The top spinning is, as well. It might have wobbled...but it might have not. We, as the audience, don't know.
The red flag for me was Miles, Cobb's father-in-law (Michael Caine), showing up at the airport. That, above all else, is what makes me think that it's a dream. It is established that Cobb and Co. are landing in America. It is also established that Miles is a teacher in France. If it was reality...why the hell would he be there?
Spoiler: You're reading into it a lot more than I ever thought about it. I'm sure Cobb told his dad the whole situation and if he had done the job correctly, he'll be able to go through customs without a problem.
Plus, there wasn't any reason to talk. The completed the mission and now they can all go their separate ways.
Spoiler: Because nothing says "group of intelligent operatives" like turning to each other and going "WE FUCKING DID IT, GUYS! HIGH FIVE! LETS MAKE SURE HE TURNS AROUND AND RECOGNIZES ALL OF US FROM THE DREAM!"
Of all the scenes to use as proof of reality just being another level of dream, I don't really think this one is your best bet.
Originally posted by cityondown012510I agree, that would be the wholesome, satisfying ending. However, I can definitely see how it could go both ways.
Spoiler: When they wake up on the plane, it is the most ambiguous scene that I have ever seen. There are no signs of recognition on the plane. Only smiles. Now, this could be because they can't all seem to know each other because Fischer is still there...or because they really don't know each other. Furthermore, when Saito wakes up and immediately makes the phone call. That could be him making the call for Cobb, or him just having to make a business call. The glances of kinda recognition between Cobb-Arthur and Cobb-Eames could be them playing it cool, or just them noticing one another from the plane. Ariadne watching Cobb through customs could be her checking to see if everything is cool, or her checking out the ruggedly handsome man from the plane. And the brief recognition between Fischer and Cobb could, again, just be recognition from the plane, or Fischer remembering him from the dream. It's perfectly done, and perfectly ambiguous. The top spinning is, as well. It might have wobbled...but it might have not. We, as the audience, don't know.
The red flag for me was Miles, Cobb's father-in-law (Michael Caine), showing up at the airport. That, above all else, is what makes me think that it's a dream. It is established that Cobb and Co. are landing in America. It is also established that Miles is a teacher in France. If it was reality...why the hell would he be there?
Spoiler: You're reading into it a lot more than I ever thought about it. I'm sure Cobb told his dad the whole situation and if he had done the job correctly, he'll be able to go through customs without a problem.
Plus, there wasn't any reason to talk. The completed the mission and now they can all go their separate ways.
As for the fall...they had to experience the feeling of falling in their current layer of dreaming in order to wake up. So, the van would only wake them up if they were awake in the van, the fall from the elevator would only wake them up if they were awake in the elevator, etc.
And for those wondering about the bathtub, its a different type of drug. You'll notice that he didn't wake up in the bathtub until he was already underneath the water, soaked, similiar to how you can wake up when having a bucket of water thrown on you. The idea is that the drugs weren't nearly as powerful for the first dream.
I agree, that would be the wholesome, satisfying ending. However, I can definitely see how it could go both ways.
Spoiler: When they wake up on the plane, it is the most ambiguous scene that I have ever seen. There are no signs of recognition on the plane. Only smiles. Now, this could be because they can't all seem to know each other because Fischer is still there...or because they really don't know each other. Furthermore, when Saito wakes up and immediately makes the phone call. That could be him making the call for Cobb, or him just having to make a business call. The glances of kinda recognition between Cobb-Arthur and Cobb-Eames could be them playing it cool, or just them noticing one another from the plane. Ariadne watching Cobb through customs could be her checking to see if everything is cool, or her checking out the ruggedly handsome man from the plane. And the brief recognition between Fischer and Cobb could, again, just be recognition from the plane, or Fischer remembering him from the dream. It's perfectly done, and perfectly ambiguous. The top spinning is, as well. It might have wobbled...but it might have not. We, as the audience, don't know.
The red flag for me was Miles, Cobb's father-in-law (Michael Caine), showing up at the airport. That, above all else, is what makes me think that it's a dream. It is established that Cobb and Co. are landing in America. It is also established that Miles is a teacher in France. If it was reality...why the hell would he be there?
Spoiler: TO CLEAR UP WHY THE VAN ROLLING DID NOT WAKE THEM UP: the feeling of falling IS NOT the only thing that wakes them. Even when not heavily sedated, the crash is what wakes them. The first dream sequence, when they're in Saito's apartment with their old Architect, he knocks Cobb's chair over. At this point, Cobb is still under. It's not until he HITS THE WATER (the kick) that they are woken up. With their seatbelts on, the van rolling did not provide a big enough impact as hitting the solid steel bridge, or crashing into the water, did. Furthermore, the sedation was planned by Yusuf, an expert. He had to anticipate that, and as such, would have given them the dosage that would have been necessary to keep them under until the timer (on the plane) ran out. Besides...don't quote me on this, I'm not positive, but if my memory serves correctly, Arthur was the only one in the level below the van (the hotel) when the van rolled. I'm not 100% about the mechanics of the dreams, but maybe the dreamer can't be taken out if people are another level under. Besides, kicks HAVE TO BE SYNCHRONIZED. That was very established. The van rolling was synchronized with nothing, just as the van crashing into the bridge was. As such, it had no effect. There are several reasons. Pick your favorite.
In other news, I'm curious to hear everyone's take on the ending. Was it all a dream? Is Cobb in the real world? Let's hear opinions, people.
Also, my favorite part was definitely:
Arthur: Quick, kiss me.
Ariadne: They're still looking at us.
Arthur: Eh, worth a shot.
I don't know why you'd be this deep into this thread if you weren't alerted of the Spoilers so this is kinda one, don't continue to read if you don't want to know what i'm saying >.>
If the kicks were set to go off at a certain time then when they weren't awake by the van falling they'd be in that dream state forever. The sense of zero gravity was brought about by them falling so that was another hole in the science. and I also like that part ^
Spoiler: I remember waiting the movie and wondering the same thing. But since their already falling, they are already in "zero gravity" in the dream, right? So there isn't anymore sense of falling? Just sense of jerking. Remember, it wasn't the movement that woke them, it's the feeling of falling.
Spoiler: I haven't seen the movie since the midnight showing, but if I remember correctly each kick was timed and planned out so only at the exact time would you been woken up from the dream.
I don't know...I've seen it twice now, and I do think its a really good movie...
But I don't think its quite as awesome as a lot of people seem to think it is. Its got a good plot, and everything ties together well, but I've honestly liked every one of Christopher Nolan's other movies better than this.
Now if you want to truly have your mind blown, I'd reccomend Memento. That's a truly crazy movie.
Yet again, I agree wholeheartedly with Cairoi. Inception was one of the best movies that I've ever seen, and arguably the only sci-fi movie (in my book) that will ever top The Matrix.
I also really enjoyed the movie. So much that when my friend asked me to go see it with her..the night after we had both already seen it, I happily went along.
Here's an interesting article I read about it. Though I disagree about what they say about the "hotel room on the other side of the street" thing.
Spoiler: She was probably just trying to avoid him forcing her not to jump.
