As Christopher Nolan’s Inception finally gives way to more standard summer box office fare (The Other Guys), one thing seems clear: The film has proven its lasting effect. Indeed, nearly a month after its release there are several reasons to think that Inception deserves another, longer look.
First, critics and many moviegoers would agree that it towers over its summer competitors, not so much in terms of revenue (beaten out by Toy Story 3 and, yes, sadly, that vampire movie) but in terms of scale and substance. Nolan’s work, which is best beheld in IMAX, has shown us that a summer blockbuster can indeed satisfy the eye while titillating the mind and tugging at the heart.
Second, Inception currently ranks third on the IMDb chart of top 250 movies of all time as voted by users. That’s right, third. Right behind The Shawshank Redemption and The Godfather. Even while acknowledging IMDb users’ bias toward the new, the film’s company among Schindler’s List and Lord of the Rings should make us pause and consider why so many people rated it so highly.
Third, and perhaps most importantly, Inception has proven itself to be a film that taps into something deep, something that gets us thinking and talking. We attend movies all the time that we don’t think a bit about ever again. My experience with Inception has been quite different. Lively conversation that went beyond simply piecing the plot together followed both of my viewings. And I’m not alone in this experience. Inception is a film that lingers and, in some ways, even haunts.
For these various reasons, Inception is exactly the sort of film that Christians should intentionally engage, even after its box office buzz has come and gone. Many summer movies draw a crowd as people take refuge from the sweltering heat. Few summer movies awaken people from their popcorn and soda slumber to grapple with our human condition and the substantial issues of our time. Inception does so in spades, joining the ranks of Star Wars and E.T. among other summer blockbusters that entertained while also prompting us to think . . . and dream.
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First, critics and many moviegoers would agree that it towers over its summer competitors, not so much in terms of revenue (beaten out by Toy Story 3 and, yes, sadly, that vampire movie) but in terms of scale and substance. Nolan’s work, which is best beheld in IMAX, has shown us that a summer blockbuster can indeed satisfy the eye while titillating the mind and tugging at the heart.
Second, Inception currently ranks third on the IMDb chart of top 250 movies of all time as voted by users. That’s right, third. Right behind The Shawshank Redemption and The Godfather. Even while acknowledging IMDb users’ bias toward the new, the film’s company among Schindler’s List and Lord of the Rings should make us pause and consider why so many people rated it so highly.
Third, and perhaps most importantly, Inception has proven itself to be a film that taps into something deep, something that gets us thinking and talking. We attend movies all the time that we don’t think a bit about ever again. My experience with Inception has been quite different. Lively conversation that went beyond simply piecing the plot together followed both of my viewings. And I’m not alone in this experience. Inception is a film that lingers and, in some ways, even haunts.For these various reasons, Inception is exactly the sort of film that Christians should intentionally engage, even after its box office buzz has come and gone. Many summer movies draw a crowd as people take refuge from the sweltering heat. Few summer movies awaken people from their popcorn and soda slumber to grapple with our human condition and the substantial issues of our time. Inception does so in spades, joining the ranks of Star Wars and E.T. among other summer blockbusters that entertained while also prompting us to think . . . and dream.
Continue - Gospel Coalition Blog
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