Inception (12/7/2010)

PG-13 for sequences of violence and action throughout.

Directed by Christophe Nolan (The Dark Night, The Prestige, Memento and Insomnia)

Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Ellen Page

Here’s an idea…go see Inception.

Dom Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio) is a skilled thief, the absolute best in the dangerous art of extraction, stealing valuable secrets from deep within the subconscious during the dream state, when the mind is at its most vulnerable. Cobb's rare ability has made him a coveted player in this treacherous new world of corporate espionage, but it has also made him an international fugitive and cost him everything he has ever loved. Now Cobb is being offered a chance at redemption. One last job could give him his life back but only if he can accomplish the impossible…inception. Instead of the perfect heist, Cobb and his team of specialists have to pull off the reverse: their task is not to steal an idea but to plant one. If they succeed, it could be the perfect crime. But no amount of careful planning or expertise can prepare the team for the dangerous enemy that seems to predict their every move. An enemy that only Cobb could have seen coming.

First of all let me say that writer/director Christophe Nolan is a genius. I honestly don’t think he knows how to make a bad film. Everything from the slow motion shots to the bizarre dream sequences to the zero gravity fight scenes is stunning. Not to mention that really creepy foghorn sound effect.

Secondly Leonardo DiCaprio is an amazing actor. I love when an actor can change my opinion of them by producing one great performance after another. Seriously, look at this long list of great films: Shutter Island (2010), Blood Diamond (2006), The Departed (2006), The Aviator (2004), Catch Me If You Can (2002), Gangs of New York (2002), and Titanic (1997). And he really delivers another great performance here.

The story is brilliant from the word go. I already mentioned that I think Nolan is a genius, and if films like Memento and The Prestige haven’t already convinced you of that…and somehow you were not blown away by the Batman films…this 2 ½ hour experience will certainly remove all doubts.

Inception will certainly make my 2010 Top Ten List…it’s definitely Worth Buying.

SHOULD KIDS SEE IT?
Christopher Nolan tends to make films on the cleaner side of Hollywood and Inception is no different. This film is fine for teenagers to see.

Conversation Starter
Three Simple Questions (with Answers You May Be Looking for):

Q: What was the theme (or the message) of this movie?

A: This movie is about one thing and one thing only: the difference between reality and dreams. It asks the ultimate question: What is real? Of course, there’s the huge twist at the end of the movie to cause speculation amongst viewers, but it just serves to reinforce the question: What is truly real?

Q: How should we – as serious Christ-followers — react to this movie?

A: As Christians, we have to continually remind ourselves what’s real, and what’s not. We are told the truth (by God)…but we are also told lies (by Satan). It can be a bit confusing trying to determine what to believe, and what to ignore.

This problem goes all the way back to the time of Jesus’ disciples. In 1 John 4:1-3, John writes:

1Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.

John gives us a way to check what we’re hearing in life. He didn’t want any of his friends falling for deception, nor does he want any of us to be lied to.

Q: How can we move from healthy, Bible-based opinions about this movie to actually living out those opinions?

A: We need to be able to distinguish between what’s real (true) and what’s false (lies). There are two great ways to do that.

First, do just what John says do in this passage. If a message or revelation or teaching comes to you saying that Jesus is the Son of God, it is a true one. If the teaching denies Jesus as God’s Son, it’s false.

Secondly, test everything by the Word of God. If you hear something that agrees with God’s Word, it is true. If it disagrees with God’s Word, it cannot be trusted; it’s false.

By taking these two steps, we can do a lot to make sure we’re only believing the truth.