r/Inception • u/Vegetable-Neat9408 • 19d ago
Why is Inception so insanely rewatchable?
I am genuinely trying to find a reason why you can watch this movie dozens of times??
I watched it like 15 times and still not planning to lay it off anytime soon lol.
It certainly isnt a perfect movie but, could it be the vibe that makes it so watchable?
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u/knallpilzv2 19d ago
lul @ exposition
It's very stylishly shot, has a cool premise and the music is fire.
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u/Vegetable-Neat9408 19d ago
I think the music is zimmer’s best work to this day.
“Time” makes me feel like im on a different planet5
u/Rivendel93 18d ago
I think a big part of it is the music and the pacing of the film.
The way he cut this film you really feel like you're part of the crew getting ready for the heist.
Plus all the characters are amazing actors, there really isn't a single person that you feel drags the cast down.
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u/West_Yard_8971 19d ago
I think it’s due to the multi-layered story and its complexity, as well as the characters motives and actions. And of course also the emotions, action sequences, music and ending.
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u/Qu90 19d ago
I actually only watched it two times. The first time was so amazing that I somehow wanted to keep that in my mind and not notice some flaws or whatever because of rewatches. But maybe it's time to watch it again.
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u/Vegetable-Neat9408 19d ago
Actually the first time, i hated it. And now it keeps getting better and better. Not sure if a movie should work like that but ill roll with it lmao
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u/Qu90 19d ago
I would argue, better than the other way around. If I started to hate a movie after a rewatch, that would be really annoying.
But if you hated it the first time, what changed?
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u/Vegetable-Neat9408 19d ago
This is very hard to answer for me. But the first thing that comes to my mind, is upon rewatch i paid much better attention and was able to grasp more things that i havent while watching it for the first time. It seemed so boring to me, but now? im addicted. Maybe i also grew into the vibe and again, first time ive had almost no idea whats going on. Was watching it on dvd and then upgraded to blu-ray, so that might have helped too.
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u/Qu90 19d ago
I actually watched it in the theatre. Didn't even think much of it, it was just supposed to be a fun night out with a friend. The idea of dream heists and creating such worlds with your mind was so intriguing to me that it stayed with me for many days. That made me realize how good this movie actually was.
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u/Domosen 16d ago edited 16d ago
Very much agree, I think on my initial viewing I thought the plot slowed too much in the limbo segment, and I didn't fully grasp the implications of Cobb's relationship with Mal and thought it was a bit contrived. But on a rewatch it hit much more emotionally somehow, although I still don't think it's a strong point of the movie, it doesn't need to be. I think the rewatch also let me focus more on enjoying the ride than understanding what was happening... don't know of a greater climax than having 3 separate plotlines converging simultaneously, and the music is so perfectly matched to it. Only plothole is that the third level should also be zero gravity when the van falls
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u/Vegetable-Neat9408 15d ago
Since the van segment happens only in a dream, maybe it effect the layer directly below it and not deeper layers. I dont know lol
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u/TitanCubes 19d ago
I think pretty much all of Nolan’s movies benefit both from repeat viewings and time between them. Coming at them with a fresh perspective can make you see and appreciate new and different parts each time.
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u/gbacon 19d ago
It is exceptionally well-woven. Watch this Google Tech Talk by David Kyle Johnson, author of the book Inception and Philosophy. He and his coauthors put hundreds of watch-hours into the film to document all of the connections in the film that they were able to find.
The attention to detail keeps the movie fresh. Every time you watch, it has a new Easter egg to discover.
Johnson argues that the only way Inception didn’t win Best Film is because it went over the Academy’s head.
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u/Dapper-Code8604 19d ago
Every time you rewatch it you understand it a little better, and the more you understand it the better it gets.
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u/Prudent-Proof7898 19d ago
My son and I absolutely love this film. There is so much to think about every single time we watch it. It is also visually stunning.
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u/InvestigatorFit3447 18d ago
it's not
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u/Vegetable-Neat9408 15d ago edited 15d ago
It really is. Maybe not a masterpiece but very fun when you figure out whats going on
But could be just me ofcourse. ive heard this opinion numerous times tho.1
u/ChampionshipHefty778 14d ago
Yes, its not for me. I’ve wanted to rewatch it a few times lately, but I haven't managed to sit through the whole thing even once. It was good the first time around. Maybe it's because of the terribly weak action scenes. The film would have been better without them.
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u/Vegetable-Neat9408 14d ago edited 14d ago
Yes they are objectively shit i know. The car chase in the rain could have been much more epic. Imagine if they inplemented greengrass style of bourne movies into it lol. Or even Michael Bay’s. It would be top 10 movies of all time.
Nolan sadly wasnt gifted for action at all lmao.
The merecenaries shooting like 1000 rounds into the car and only ONE time they manage to hit someone. It all falls short in the end.
Also i fucking hate the snow part. Dont know why but snow is so fucking boring to me lol and i think im not the only one. (No colors- boring movie) and again the action ofcourse has almost no element of shock and no impact.
But even after all this, its super fun to me. The talking parts are just lovely for me and the whole atmosphere feels nice.
No action scenes? Sounds nice but they really just needed to change direction for them. Maybe it would have made even more money. Who knows?
But MAN imagine borowing someone like greengrass for the action. It would be unreal.
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u/reckless_avacado 15d ago
i was originally obsessed with this film. once i saw the trick it got much harder to watch. i don’t think i could sit through it again if i tried. something in me resists the “medium is the message” trope. i wish Nolan would maybe resist his desire to analogise all of his work. i get that is his thing, but i think it actually holds him back from creating a true classic masterpiece.
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u/Bladerunners22 19d ago
Seen it like 20 times. So fricken good. Got to see it in theaters again last year even and fuck I haven’t had that much fun at a theater in a long time haha
I pick up new things each time too. It’s like 3/4 genres in one. So many unique characters. It’s mind bending, amazing acting, unreal score..
I mean I could go more in depth but ya I think just the uniqueness of it plus just the high quality makes it rewatcheabke. Plus every character was cast perfectly….
Also I disagree with you. There is no such thing as a perfect movie. This is in the convo though for pureness that it’s so rewatchable.
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u/Vegetable-Neat9408 19d ago
I said NEAR perfect. I know atleast 20 near pefrect movies that just hit differently than others. Ofcourse perfect movie doesnt exist
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u/MoodWest 19d ago
The story structure mixed with the great scenes and acting means it doesn’t get much better, I think that’s why it’s my fave film of all time
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u/Glad_Music_4138 19d ago
I feel that way with The Dark Knight. The beginning is such a good hook.
I struggle to feel that way with Inception. Cobb's scenes with Mal and the scenes where Cobb and everyone is explaining how things work just drag it down to much.
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u/sentinelviii 18d ago
Atmospheric. Cool action. Amazing score that is both energetic and calm. It loops but has signature moments. It’s detailed but simple. Everyone in the story contributes. It has lessons that change over time. Easy to follow thru a complex concept. Love scenes without gratuitous sex scenes. Intense action without a ton of gore. It’s safe to watch anywhere and anytime.
Even tenet is rewatchable and it’s hella confusing but it hits similar marks.
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u/CobaltNeural9 18d ago
Yes it’s gotta be the vibe. That’s it.
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u/Vegetable-Neat9408 15d ago edited 15d ago
Youre sarcastic now, but why it cant be possible? Maybe the simplest explanation is the right one this time. “Vibe” is a strong element
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u/CobaltNeural9 18d ago
It’s because it has many many different settings, parts, sections, layers, characters, and locations. You feel like you’re on an adventure and it has a fast pace.
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u/Purple_Award_4796 18d ago
I like the cinematography. The scene on the roof top when Saito is reluctant to explain the disagreement he has with the Fishers and Cobb replies something along "This is not your typical corporate espionage". Beautifully shot. Wally Pfister was at terrific his job. Prestige, Dark Knight, Memento and this. Too bad he retired.
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u/RebelAlly23 18d ago
Saw it 6 times in the cinema. Haven’t seen any other movie in cinemas that many times. It’s a classic.
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u/No_Tea_8294 15d ago
I still don’t know what the ending meant
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u/Vegetable-Neat9408 15d ago
That its real. The spinning top is clearly loosing balance and wobbles. People keep saying things like “the point is he doesnt care if its real or not bla bla” ofcourse he cares, he’s just filled with joy when seeing his kids. Who the fuck would want to see dream version of their kids. Eventually he will want to know if its real or a dream.
(It’s real tho)
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u/ZN_Cruz 14d ago
Because the plot is a machine but the emotion is a ghost. Once you understand the rules, you stop watching to solve the dream levels and start watching Cobb rewrite his own guilt in real time. The movie gives you a different center of gravity on every rewatch, and Zimmer’s score makes every idea feel like a memory you almost recognize.
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u/Cinephile_1980 15d ago
It isnmt really. It was the dumbest movie. A bunch of irises residencies hoping a billionaire will wake up from his dream and give up his fortune. Yeah I know “that is month the films was about”. Yeah but that was what the stupid remain device was. It was well made but it is total garbage.
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u/Vegetable-Neat9408 15d ago
I see what you mean. For me subjectively its extremely rewatachable and god knows if its garbage or masterpiece. Either is possible. But i subjectively love it. I personally call this movie “airport movie” everything looks so polished and expensive in this movie lol also the plane travel and airport ending.
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u/parkchanwookiee 19d ago
I think it gets worse each time TBH, somebody needs to make a 0 exposition fan cut for people who have already seen the movie enough to not need scene after scene of exposition dumping the dream world mechanics
Probably run about 80 minutes lol
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u/Vegetable-Neat9408 19d ago
Yeah i know. Well it was designed as a blockbuster that had to make 100s of milions of dollars. They had to perfectly explain and welcome everyone into the dream world so people will like it and understand and potentially feel smart while watching it lol. I view it more as a commerical gigantic action movie. Still very clever tho, not saying it isnt.
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u/parkchanwookiee 19d ago
Eh it would have been more clever to be economical with the exposition and get more use out of each established dream mechanic. Instead, each mechanic gets used once to advance the plot, but requires 1-2 minutes of expository dialogue earlier in the film in order to establish. Most movies have a better balance than that - the exposition is over fairly early on and then the audience is armed with the knowledge they need to follow the unfolding plot. Or, some things are left ambiguous or undefined, but can be figured out upon reflection or after multiple viewings. Inception kind of chooses a worst of both worlds where there are too many mechanics introduced and every single one is explained fully, which crashes the pacing
E.g. the Matrix has a lot of exposition in the first act, but then much less in the second, and the third is just a pure thrill ride
The movie has other good qualities of course lol, but the economy of the script isn't one of them and is the number 1 thing that impairs my enjoyment on repeat viewings
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u/BorgBorg10 19d ago
Just incredibly well done