Droid drops a deuce – Inception and Predators
Who is responsible for this? Written and directed by Christopher Nolan (Memento, Batman Begins) is an action/thriller/heist flick starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Jospeh Gordon-Levitt, Ken Watanabe, Marion Cotillard, Ellen Page, Tom Hardy, Cillian Murphy and Tom Berenger.
What’s it all about? Dom Cobb (DiCaprio) is a thief, specialising in corporate espionage. The difference is that he steals information directly from the victims mind. He and his team are hired by Saito (Watanabe) to do something that is supposedly impossible. Instead of taking information from someone, he must place it in their head. This process is called Inception, and has only been done once before.
Is it any good? Yes, it’s very, very good. This is a film I think will reward a second viewing, because it’s quite complicated. There is a lot of exposition (slightly too much if you ask me), but the information is well layered throughout the film. All the performances are excellent, particularly Ken Watanabe. Ellen Page’s character is a little too much of an audience surrogate during the films first hour, but it’s necessary for explaining the immense detail of the complicated story. The action is brilliantly filmed, with the most exciting set piece involving JGL in zero gravity. ‘Inception’ reminded me quite a bit of ‘The Matrix’, in terms of the heroes being able to infiltrate and manipulate a world that can alter at a moments notice, as well as wage war within the confines of the mind. But what sets this apart from that film, what I think is it’s strongest asset, is that all the characters had their important role to play. It’s an ensemble film, with each individual playing their part for the plan to be successful. It didn’t just come down to Neo Leo going to work cracking skulls while the others looked into a computer monitor and ooh’d and aah’d.
Essentially the plot boils down to a two and a half hour therapy session dealing with grief and guilt, but it’s brilliantly handled and about half way through I began to suspect the reality of the situation. But just when I thought I was mistaken the film ends on a note of ambiguity in which it could go either way.
The special effects are superb and the editing and score are terrific. ‘Inception’ whips by and before you know it those two and a half hours are behind you.
Recommended? Definitely. This is the best film of 2010 thus far and it demands the big screen experience. I’ll be seeing it again before it leaves theatres.
Who is responsible for this? Produced by Robert Rodriguez, directed by Nimród Antal and starring Adrien Brody, Topher Grace, Alice Braga, Laurence Fishburne, Danny Trejo, and Derek Mears.
What’s it all about? A random group of Earths deadliest are dumped onto a planet as game for a trio of next gen Predators and their Predadogs.
Is it any good? No. It’s utter shit. ‘Predators’ begins awkwardly and never recovers. Royce (Brody) awakens in freefall, his parachute opens and he crashes to the ground. Then all around him land others. The dialogue as they try to figure out where they are and why is shamefully awkward and doesn’t get much better. One of the biggest problems with this film lay in it’s earnest dedication the the brilliant original. It fell into the ‘Superman Returns’ trap of emulation and endless referencing. But while ‘Predator’ was above all else a perfectly paced action thriller, this film plods along going nowhere before a brief action sequence mildly spices things up. Rinse and repeat. ‘Predators’ is a film we’ve seen many times before, only much better. The film even takes a scene right from last years surprisingly good ‘Pandorum’. The other big problem with ‘Predators’ is that it looks cheap. It was only made for $40 million but when you consider the achievements of films like ‘District 9′, or ‘Daybreakers’ which were both made for much less and contained more, there really is no excuse. Director Nimrod Antal builds no tension whatsoever, and after last years similarly boring ‘Armoured’, I’ve got no interest in seeing another one of his films. Adrien Brody is totally miscast as the mercenary super soldier and really needs to do everyone a favour and stay away from sci-fi.
Recommended? No. Not at all. I wouldn’t even recommend this for a rental. Just rewatch the original masterpiece and stay happy.
Barfy
kloipy
Echo the Bunnyman
Judge Droid
Jarv
ThereWolf
Xiphos0311
Inception is that good? Impressive. Although I’m the only person alive that thinks The Matrix is tosh.
Is Predators really that shit? I’m starting to think that Brody being in something means it will be shit
Yes and yes. I like The Matrix a lot, but Inception is better.
Predators is terrible.
The problem I have with the matrix is the cod philosophy- the whole dinner scene ruined the film for me.
The problem I had with the Matrix is it is an apologist film for fundemental religious terrorist.
The Matrix kept me entertained, in spite of all the quasi-philosophical/religious/ideological humbug. A decent venture into questionable wonderland, but also packing some serious action.
Only too bad that the sequels sucked horse-bollocks.
Jeez am I the only one who liked Predators?
Yes.
What scene was from Pandorum?
The scene with Fishburne luring them into his hidey hole. The exact same thing happens in Pandorum.
When he brings the people into his ship? Who does that in Pandorum?
I do agree though that the creature work in Pandorum was better, but also that was Stan Winston studios. I don’t know why they didn’t get Stan Winston Studios to do Predators?
I liked Predators, its a fine movie. But it doesn’t really bother me that people haven’t dug it. I’ve been meaning to put my review up on AIBN. I’m just surprised that you and HOD both fucking hated it. Shit you called it worse then AVP? I don’t agree there, just because there was no buddy action slow mo running scene. Like it just seems like such a middle of the road movie. I think people are playing up the original in their heads, and the biggest problem with the new one is the fact that there is the original there and it’s impossible to top.
The bloke who is going to eat them in Pandorum. It’s exactly the same scene, except Fishburne is just going to scavenge their weapons and gear.
The reason why people are comparing it so strongly to Predator is because it mimmicks everything in it. Almost the entire movie is a rip off. The scene with the yakuza = Billy (granted we didn’t see Billy fight). Blanes gun. Them falling off the cliff into the water. The mud. etc etc Even the music is basically the Predator soundtrack cd laid over the top of the movie. She tells that story about the events of the original. And theres shit like Brody knifing a scorpion which is in the original. All that shit makes it not merely a homage, but copying.
One question… What was that thing that was chasing Topher Grace just before Fishburne appears?
Well that was something from one of those creates. Just showing that not only do they hunt people but they also hunt other aliens.
Four Changs for Inception is right on the money. Blew my mind proper.
Fuck The Matrix.
Damn straight.
Haven’t yet seen INCEPTION so didn’t read for possible spoilers, but your 4 Changs has whetted my appetite.
Predators was meh at best, been there done that, still better than AvP Rectum!
I haven’t written anything that could be a spoiler (i think), but if you want the gist… GO SEE IT ASAP!!!
Predators was better than Rectum (Orangutan of Doom), but worse than AvP (1 Chang).
Well I’ll spoil it for you—IT’S ALL THE GIANT ROBOTS DOING THEY ARE A DREAMSQUAD AND LEO GETS HIS FROM THE CACTII GODDESS.
Thank you.
But seriously, I liked this quite a bit, once I got who was who straight and where they were going, etc. Good stuff all around. Much preferred this to Bats I and/or Too from same director.
Ok. I REALLY want to see Inception and will soon.
But Bando’s movie sounds like a definite must-see as well! Sequel??
The Cactii Goddess sounds pretty good, like a walking possessed Yucca plant maybe? Git Cokey on the phone–
Droid is absolutely correct about Inception.
I still daren’t say too much.
Just go and see it.
Not seen Predators – I decided a bit back that one was destined for the small screen anyway…
Predators looks okay, but has a video game aura about it. Not in a hurry to see it myself.
Jesus. I can’t believe how many moronic mistakes I’ve had to correct in this mini review. Simple shit like calling Daybreakers “Daywalkers” and saying Inception ended with ambivalence instead of what I really meant (and what remotely makes any sense), “ambiguity”. How the fuck does a movie end with ambivalence? Christ. Totally unprofessional.
A movie ends w/ Ambivalence if it’s directed by Brett Ratner.
A movie directed by Brett Ratner begins, middles and ends with ambivalence.
Except for Family Man. Hairpiece FTW!!!
Hahaha I thought Daywalkers was just what they called Daybreakers over there. You know sometimes movies are called different. I actually think its as good as Daybreakers, in fact better in some aspects because the acting it better.
I will admit to semi-liking Xmen III from Ratner for what it is worth.
Yeah I don’t hate that movie. It’s one of those fun drunk movies.
Needed Giant Robots though. Big PURPLE ONES!!
Hahaha Best Movie of 0 10? AAAAAAAAAAAAhahahaha. HOW DOES IT FEEL.
Really? Best movie of 2010? Christ almighty.
You’re a fucking mentally deprived idiot.
To borrow a phrase…
Says the guy that considers Edge of Darkness to be the best film of 2010, thinks Predators was anything but utter shit and knocked Inception because it wasn’t “fantastical” enough.
Christ almighty.
Ok, I’ll burn the goddamn house up, but blow me first!
I’m not gonna read this as I want to see Inception with no idea of what’s going on. Can’t wait.
Go see it, fishy. It’s great.
INCEPTION = FUCK YEAH!
wowsa. completely fascinating. mind is jello. must see again.
Damn. I’m severely disappointed. I was hoping for an awesome rendition of Predator, but the cast of Brody did make me frown a bit. Still, I was counting on Rodriguez saving the day. The Aliens vs. Predators franchise was certainly below par, so I was hoping for a decent ressurrection this year.
I was hoping too Fata. Unfortunately it was shite.
Was there a Gary Busey cameo?
There was not! That would’ve been an automatic 4 changs if they’d somehow worked in the top half of Buseys torso. He could be dragging himself around like Bishop at the end of Aliens.
They actually disregard Predator 2 altogether, like it’s better forgotten. They’re obviously delusional because as much as that film has major issues, it still shits all over this garbage.
I’m disappointed. Jesse the Body will hear about this–
Eh I liked Inception better when it was called Cypher.
Also Bart, this was nothing like Shutter Island so you can’t compare them.
Shutter Island = All Frontal close up shots of Leo’s face.
Inception = All side profile close up shots of Leo’s face.
Totally fucking different.
I enjoyed Inception. Probably say its a 2 1/2 or 3 Chang film. I enjoy the other movies it reminds me of a lot more. Like Dark City and The Matrix. Mainly because I’m more of a fantastical sort of guy rather then a realistical. In that sure the shit in Inception was fantastical but it was trying to show it based in reality. Like I would’ve loved to seen much crazier dream worlds like The Cell or some shit, but that’s not the science of Inception. But I enjoy that sort of shit more. Plus I didn’t really dig the Bourne like way a lot of the action was shot, save for the hallway fight scene most of it was pretty forgettable, there were a couple of good things like the chase. It was a fun movie not as epic as I hoped but I still prefer The Matrix and Dark City and Cypher. Also I got like one or two questions I’ll ask in he morning, but yeah I was right it’s not one of those movies you need to see twice to fully get it. I probably wouldn’t have any questions if Nolan had turned up the dialog sound up to 11 like he did with all the effects, tons of dialog (Namely Bronson’s) sounded like mumbles.
I liked this better than either the Matrix or Dark City. But all three work their own brands of magic if you will.
My thing with those two movies I wasn’t sitting there the whole time thinking how there are similar ideas in other movies, also how those movies aren’t based off of one of the easiest/lamest/dumbest idea in the book.
Also those movies didn’t introduce a character, just to make him redundant less then half way through. Thats JGL to Bronson, like once Bronson came on the scene what was JGL’s real function?
You’re talking about Predators right?
Morphius was reduced to a cooing fanboy in The Matrix. “Ooh! He’s beginning to believe!” “Aah! He’s… The One!”
JGLs character had an important role to play in the success of the heist. Just like every member of the team. I have no idea how you landed on the idea that his character is redundant.
I don’t really see a tangible connection to Dark City. How are they so similar?
It’s like Dark City in the whole fucking with worlds and being able to change them and change characters and ideas, also doing it to people in their sleep.
Yeah JGL’s character had in important role to the script of the heist, sure yeah the script needed him to do stuff. But I thought he was their for protection like a body guard, and Bronsons character takes care of most of that. It just seemed once Bronson’s character got there JGL was a lot less important.
As for Morphius, I’m just talking about Matrix 1, 2 and 3 I don’t really care about, and in 1 he was still important. Plus it was his job to recruit Neo and help him and teach him, and that’s what he did. He was like Mr. Miyagi
And really you think the ending of Inception was clever? That’s an idea I thought of in grade school, Predators didn’t have some lame ending, neither did Dark City or The Matrix.
AHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!! Funniest thing I’ve read all day. But yes. You’re right. Predators didn’t even bother having an ending. “Now lets get of this fucking planet” Roll Credits. Yeah. Great ending.
I was talking about The Matrix, not the sequels.
JGL was more important during the build up to the heist because he was the guy who researched all the targets. Tom Hardy’s role was minor until the heist. Like I said, they all had their role to play.
Dark City involves a changeable environment. Nothing else about it is remotely similar to Inception.
It seems to me that this is yet another case of Koutch hating on something because the majority likes it. Maybe you should hold off seeing critically successful films until all the hulabaloo dies down. Stick to shit like Twilight and Predators.
I don’t even hate it? I liked it just fine? I just like some other movies better?
As for the similarites between Dark City and Inception I’m gonna go with Ebert on this because they are a lot more similar then just that, the whole theme of fucking with peoples heads and everything. In fact I’d say Dark City is closer to Inception then The Matrix. The Matrix is only like Inception in that shit happens in your sleep.
Do you really think the ambiguous ending was creative? That was dumb come on. Also that’s not me hating it, that’s just pointing out the obvious. Also the action wasn’t amazing it was a lot of shit we’d seen before, outside of the hummer snowmobile and the hallway fight. In fact that whole snow mountain top section was probably the weakest part.
Like explain to me in case I missed it, why didn’t the zero-g stuff effect the other dream worlds? How come that just didn’t carry threw all of the them, since if in the first one they became Zero G? There could been some cool resilient effects Nolan could have done in the snow top world, but instead he just decide to carry over the whole Ken Watanabe aspect and nothing else.
This isn’t a case of Droid thinking that ohh he’s so smart because he likes critically appraised movies and Boom likes dumb movies (and actually Predators wasn’t some panned movie it got good reviews for that type of movie). I enjoyed Inception fine. This is a case of people not being able to look at a film objectionally and just hoping on the band wagon.
Also anyone else think that Leo looked a lot like Nolan in this?
I saw him interviewed in the Telegraph yesterday (Nolan).
They could be fucking twins.
These two are twins? I’d feel a little hard done by in I was the one on the right.
Nolan looks like Stellan Skarsgard if you ask me.
Seriously. The pictures in the Telegraph were unbelievably similar.
Oh, and the stupid woman that reviewed it said it was dull. But she only gave TDK 1 star for not being Burton’s batman.
Seriously, check this out…
Would help if you get a picture of Leo from Inception. They look a lot a like, same hair do and all. Plus Leo is going to be better looking, he’s the one in front of the camera.
Yes! Exactly. Nolan looks like Skarsgard.
Ok sure he kind of looks like Skarsgard, but in Inception are you saying the Leo looks nothing like Nolan?
The hairdo is similar.
I was gonna tweet about the resemblance. It’s insane. So is their movie.
Damn, I’m really gonna have to get to a theater and see Inception now.
*sigh*
Back to work.
You know surprisingly that boy from Juno is probably the first time I’ve ever liked a girl in a Nolan movie. Women really have no place in Nolan’s movies, like he doesn’t know what to do with them. Though Juno did feel terribly mis cast, had he gone with an older girl it would’ve been a good part and i wouldn’t laugh every time she tried to sound smart. Also her fucking name in the movie whatever it was, was really stupid. She was fine but I couldn’t stop laughing at her and had a hard time taking her seriously, especially next to the fucking tour de force that is that french bitch. That girl can act the shit out of anything. I need to see Via En Rose because everything else I’ve seen her in she’s usually been the best part. In fact I take that back the french actress is the first time I’ve ever seen a need for a women in a nolan film.
Nolan knew what to do with meatface in TDK.
Kaboom.
Marion is great but honestly, all she has to do is stand there and it’s enough.
Those eyes…………….
Yeah Nolan should make it a running gag in his films to blow up every chick in them.
Also Droid this movie didn’t remind you of Cypher at all? That’s the movie it reminded me the most of.
Anyone else laugh when Deepblow Ray gave the other drivers the finger?
Hey droid,
how do you feel about this notion:
http://chud.com/articles/articles/24477/1/NEVER-WAKE-UP-THE-MEANING-AND-SECRET-OF-INCEPTION/Page1.html
Also you will note that Leo says that his character is essentially Nolan, which is why he would look a lot like Nolan in the movie.
That’s the kind of stuff that’s starting to make me think it’s bad to be talking about movies so much.
I don’t mind it. Unlike some people I’m ok with different interpertations of film. I liked his, don’t know if I agree with it fully. I agree with aspects of it, like the whole allusion to how inception is like making a movie.
You know just going off that riff about Inception and now knowing this about Chris Nolan’s life:
http://www.examiner.com/x-704-Pop-Media-Examiner~y2009m3d20-Matthew-Nolan-brother-of-Christopher-Nolan-The-Dark-Knight-director-has-been-arrested-for-murder
makes me wonder where he got that kidnapping idea from?
I didn’t read it all, because well, it was fucking long and I got the point early on, but that is what I was thinking in terms of the ending being ambiguous (HUZZAH! I used the word correctly!). I was actually leaning towards that theory, which is why I said that I thought I was mistaken, but then ends on ambiguity where it could go either way.
Well of course the ending was ambigious, what else will fanboys argue about for the next 3 years?
Who’s cuter. The effeminite vampire or the shirtless werewolf.
So Droid, you still not down with the whole Leo looks like Nolan truth?
I’m down the with Nolan looks like Skarsgard truth. The only truth there is!
Typical droid.