Inception - for all its complexity, its shallow and lacking.

Rating: 8/10 (28 July 2010)

Unquestionably it is a great movie. But a 9 or 10 implies it couldn't have been done better.
But, its not (strictly) an action movie, and may disappoint super hero movie fans. Its obviously not a comedy or horror movie, either. But its smart and thought provoking, although it seems too focused on the subject.
OVERVIEW OF PLOT: .---------------. Inception is sci-fi drama at its finest. Cobb, is recruited into corporate espionage - by stealing secrets from the mind.
But, in the first audition, the deception of a dream within a dream doesn't fool the victim, Saito, a very powerful business man. Saito turns the tables on Cobb, and hires him for a different kind of job - Inception - rather than stealing information, the planting of an idea.
Cobb is relentlessly pursued around the world by his former employer for services not delivered, while putting together his team for the job. The target is a wealthy heir to a huge energy-conglomerate, with a bitter relationship with his father.
The "job" will require 3 levels of dream within a dream. And everybody is on the run from screeching bullets as the host's subconscious attacks the invaders in the form of Matrix like agents. But, there is a bigger danger. Cobb has been holding out many secrets of his past from his team, and his unstable psyche jeopardizes the mission.
PROS and CONS: .-------------. Spectacular soundtrack and visuals whisk you away on an almost real journey. But, already here is the problem - the dreams seem too real and have few discontinuities or missing pieces. Perhaps then deliberately, the viewer cannot easily identify what portrayed is real or a dream-state.
The movie draws parallels to other reality bending flicks like the 'Matrix', 'Dark City', 'What Dreams May Come', 'Total Recall', and especially 'Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind'. Like in Matrix, the dreamers jack into the system to share a dream. And in the gist of Dark City, the dreamer or architect, can construct the virtual world. Like in Total Recall, eerie parallels between reality and dream world lead Cobb to question what is real.
But, although Inception presents many layers to the dream and elaborate "kicks" and their explanations, at its heart, like Jim Carrey's Eternal Sunshine, or What Dreams May Come, it boils down to a tragedy separating a man from his beloved soulmate. And as Cobb discovers meaning in his flaws and failed relationship, so do we as the audience - all while incredible reality distorting CGI sequences carry us along through the mission.
So, where are they connected. What does a man's lost childhood and bitter relationship have to do with Cobb. Just 1 repeatedly shown photograph - we learn so little about Fischer. Moreover, why do we learn so little about the other characters and their personalities. Having them infused into the dream reality was a missed opportunity for Nolan. At very least, I expected the architects of each level to have some influence on the reality - ie hang on, I'll turn this pistol into a grenade launcher.
Nolan did an exceptional job of introducing developing Cobb. But, once again, by solely focusing on his character and repeatedly showing only his flashbacks, the movie focuses too narrowly on Cobb, with some sci-fi dreams backdrop thrown in for entertainment.