Inception and Infographics

Fast Company has a wonderful contest going on now to encourage others to create inforgraphics explaining the movie Inception.

"Inception Infographics Contest: Searching for the Architect. Can you design a chart that elegantly explains the most complicated movie of the summer?"

Below is one of two examples Fast Company highlights.

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Fast Company is a bit critical of the above example, because they argue the movie is not a closed loop, because the movie doesn't begin where the movie ends. I disagree.

If you haven't seen the movie, don't read any further. If you have, join me in geeking out a bit. I've seen the movie twice in IMAX, and many of the below observations I didn't catch until the second time.

Do you think Cobb was dreaming the entire time?

I do.

1) Using Cobb's totem as a guide is unreliable. It depends on whose dream he is in, and you may remember it was even knocked over a couple times by accident. So I think that aspect makes it a toss up.

2) On the other hand, what else could explain the numerous times characters repeat themselves. For example, Seto in the helicopter urging Cobb by saying, "Take a leap of faith." Remember what Mau says shortly before she jumps? "Take a Leap of Faith." If all the characters in the movie are projections from Cobb, that would explain the repeating.

3) Yeah I get there can be a dream within a dream within a dream within a etc... But what about being stuck in limbo within limbo. Remember Cobb and Mau on the railroad tracks soon to be hit by the train? What happens when you die that many layers deep? You go into limbo, and I believe he's in limbo from the beginning of the movie until the end, from the seashore of his unconscious to seashore of his unconscious.

What do you think?

Comments

[Darius]

Hmm, good thoughts, Ed. I'm not sure what to think. I probably need to watch it again, or three more times. :) It was odd that they were shown to be old in limbo and then later when they put their heads on the tracks, they're young again. Not sure if that means anything.