Inception – Don’t believe ‘South Park’ (completely)

I’ve watched ‘Inception’ twice now.  The first time I loved it (even though I didn’t quite understand every little thing that went on) and the second time I enjoyed it for different reasons.  Mainly, because in the years between viewings I’d watched the (typically-brilliant!) episode of ‘South Park’ known as ‘Insheeption,’ or, in other words, the episode that completely lampoons Christopher Nolan’s sci-fi epic.

In the near future, thieves are able to infiltrate people’s dreams and therefore steal secret information (such as PIN codes etc) for use in real life.  However, one such gang of crooks are recruited to perform a slightly different spin on this venture, when they’re hired to ‘implant’ an idea into a subject’s head without his knowing – a process known as ‘Inception.’

The first thing that you’ll need to know (and have probably already heard) is that the plot is pretty damn complicated.  There are scenes where dreams are intercut with parts of the story set in our waking world.  Then, just when you think you’ve got it figured, people start going into dreams within a dream and you end up with ‘different levels’ of the subconscious.

However, even if the story completely loses you within half an hour (and this is probably a good time to mention that the films lasts well over two hours!) you do have not only a damn fine cast of stars assembled for this blockbuster, but a sizeable chunk of money dedicated to some very revolutionary special effects (for the time, anyway – since then we’ve had ‘Dr. Strange’ which has adopted, adapted and improved (?) on them).  Part of the film’s marketing was dedicated to the crazy scenes where cities kind of ‘fold in’ on themselves over the protagonists’ heads.

Talking of the protagonists, I haven’t said about the cast.  It’s one hell of a good line-up for a science fiction/action film.  Obviously, much of the marketing (and screen-time) goes to leading man Leonardo DiCaprio, but you also have a supporting heavyweight cast including Tom Hardy, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Ellen Page, Michael Caine, Cillian Murphy and Tom Berenger.

‘South Park’s point was that just because something is complicated, doesn’t mean it’s any good.  And they’re right… to a degree.  Yes, there is plenty of ‘techno-babble’ where the physics of these new feats are ‘explained’ (mainly for the benefit of the audience!) and sometimes you just have to go with it.  I know that the details of the story will lose (and therefore turn off) some who watch this.  And there’s the ‘South Park’ school of thought which says that it’s too complicated for its own good and simply relies on deliberately being ‘out there’ in order to cover any script failings, but there is plenty to entertain, be it the impressive cast, the special effects, the action or a combination of all three.  Either way, it was met with praise from both critics and audiences alike and remains a revolutionary classic to this day (and possibly for quite some time to come).

8/10 The Force is definitely strong with this one