Whew....I'm not stupid after all!

Rating: 3/10 (24 July 2010)

Having read a couple of glowing initial critics' reviews for this movie, I ventured out to catch Inception on its opening weekend. I wouldn't call myself a regular movie-goer and I usually prefer to wait and get some positive feedback on a movie before I invest my time and money. I felt confident that Inception would be worth both. I was wrong. This movie is so heavy on confusing, superficial action, yet void of any emotional connection, that it's difficult to remain attentive to it. Fortunately, even though the movie is overly long at 2.5 hours, the initial scenes give you an indication pretty early on whether it is your kind of movie or not. If you can grasp the first 15-20 minutes or so, and like what you see, then you may enjoy the movie or at least find it somewhat intriguing; if not, I can assure you it doesn't get any better, and you will feel confused and jilted by the end. I won't go into the plot - that has been delved into and debated in numerous previous reviews; suffice it to say, it's very convoluted, "layered" and needs your rapt attention. Nothing really, in my mind, stands out as being its saving grace. The acting is adequate but, again, the characters are not developed to the point where you really have any feelings for their ultimate fates. The special effects, save for the hallway zero gravity fight scene, are nothing out of the ordinary. The movie jumps around a lot, and DeCaprio's reoccurring interaction with his late wife is particularly annoying and confusing (what's a dream and what's reality?). I left the theatre wondering what all the buzz was about, although the majority of attendees at my showing had the same reaction as myself. I came home and checked out this site and, again, wondered what the heck I was missing in this movie that made it so spectacular,a "masterpiece" according to some. Now, a couple of weeks later, I see more realistic and accurate reviews and am gratified to know that I am neither insane nor stupid. This movie is obviously geared demographically to a youthful audience and/or those who consider themselves aficionados of this genre. I honestly think some have talked themselves into believing all the hype about this movie. Personally, I'm just relieved to know that I am not that far off the mark about this film. I'm going to check back again in about a month to see where this movie stands and I have no doubt it will have dropped off the radar altogether.