Inception
Dir. Christopher Nolan
Why I Like It So Much: Christopher Nolan is easily one of the best, if not the best, director of the past decade. Batman Begins made him a star and The Dark Knight solidified his place as a box office giant who could also craft a great story, a bit like a young Spielberg then. But it's here, with Inception, that Nolan shows he can truly do the spectacular and create a legitimate, modern day, sci-fi classic. The story is a bit convoluted at times, which is probably why every character deems it necessary to explain all aspects of what they're doing, but it's fine by me, we need it.
What sets this apart from so many other sci-fi flicks is that it's not a one trick pony. What do I mean? Well some sci-fi blockbusters are exactly that, brainless movie reels with lots of "BOOMS", this has all that in spades but it also has a solid script, terrific performances and some stunning cinematography. Nolan has once again put together one heck of a cast, with Di Caprio as the main lead, putting in another A+ performance, but it's the little details that make this so good. The nuanced performance from Ellen Page, Michael Caine's turn as the mentor and my personal favourite, Tom Hardy doing what Hardy does best...play a slightly unhinged action man.
Why It's Here: The Matrix was a science fiction movie that defined the 90s but it's sequels failed to live up to much in the new millennium...and that was the case for most of the 00s. Then came Inception, not quite as great as it's other 21st century rivals (more on those later) but it is definitely the most beautiful and technological impressive movie of the bunch.
Not to mention having one of the most original plots in Hollywood for a long time, creating a torturous love story that seems more tangible than the vast majority of Hollywood romances. As with all great films, it's a movie that is bigger than it's special effects and plot lines, it's a story about love, regret and progress, all encased in a smooth and beautifully constructed box of mysteries. This is a seminal sci-fi, which has influenced pop culture, as all good sci-fi does.
Highlights! Beware Spoilers Best Lines: Cobb: "Dreams feel real while we're in them. It's only when we wake up that we realize something was actually strange"
And JGL getting some action:
Ariadne: What's happening?
Arthur: Your subconscious is looking for the dreamer; me. Quick, give me a kiss.
Ariadne: [She kisses him and then looks around]
Ariadne: They're still looking at us.
Arthur: Yeah, it was worth a shot.