INCEPTION'S ENDING*mega spoliers*

The children at the end of the movie are different actors. Therefore it is real.

I don't understand how the ring works as a totem. A totem, as I understood it, is supposed to do an action differently in the real world than the dream world. Spinning forever vs. toppling over, chess piece falling with a slight touch vs. pushing it over, die landing on a number vs. random, not a ring appearing and disappearing. I do think the top is borked because it was his wife's, but since she died, I guess he could have taken it over for her.

I'm going to have to disagree with everyone and say that he's dreaming. I don't feel like explaining why I think that though.

I don't understand how the ring works as a totem. A totem, as I understood it, is supposed to do an action differently in the real world than the dream world. Spinning forever vs. toppling over, chess piece falling with a slight touch vs. pushing it over, die landing on a number vs. random, not a ring appearing and disappearing. I do think the top is borked because it was his wife's, but since she died, I guess he could have taken it over for her.

A totem is an item who's properties is only known by you. So that way when you're in someone else's dream, you can tell apart dream and reality. The ring could possibly be a totem because only Cobb knows the rings weigth, size, and shape.
The ring doesn't appear and disappear. Its simply that when Cobb is in a dream, he has it on. In reality, he takes it off.

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A totem is an item who's properties is only known by you. So that way when you're in someone else's dream, you can tell apart dream and reality. The ring could possibly be a totem because only Cobb knows the rings weigth, size, and shape.
The ring doesn't appear and disappear. Its simply that when Cobb is in a dream, he has it on. In reality, he takes it off.

Okay, but how does a different shape show totem? A totem is supposed to behave differently in a dream than real life. Weighted cube vs. fair. Something like that. Not like, "Oh, it's slightly square-ish, I must be dreaming."[/COLOR]

I saw one theory that the entire thing was a dream. The guy even claims that he is sure it's the right theory and it's what people will think if they revisit it.

I think that theory is stupid. It makes all other speculation entirely pointless. And that argument can be made for anything, not just Inception. anyone else see that comic where Franky from foster's home for imaginary friends is autistic and the entire show was inside her head? It's the same idea. I just think that calling the entire movie a dream is a moot point, since if it is true it doesn't change anything.

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Okay, but how does a different shape show totem? A totem is supposed to behave differently in a dream than real life. Weighted cube vs. fair. Something like that. Not like, "Oh, it's slightly square-ish, I must be dreaming."[/COLOR]

The idea behind it is so that you can tell if you're in someone else's dream, not if you are dreaming or not.
An architect will not be able to accurately replicate something that they don't know the properties of, this is why it is important that there is something "off" about the object.

That's the significance behind it behaving differently in a dream, if it's not the owner's dream it will behave differently since no one but the owner knows how it is supposed to behave (ideally).

The ring doesn't even nevessarily need to be a totem for a person within the movie. It can be the viewer's "totem" in order to distinguish reality from dream. Once a pattern is set we can then use it to determine where we are as a viewer. Most movies like this make these signs extremely obvious, of course that would ruin the wow factor for this movie so it's made more subtle.

I haven't watched it since reading the butt load of speculation articles that are floating around. Shuold make for a much more interesting second viewing, thanks for a ll the links.
I always believed it was reality but I'm an optimist at heart.

Yeah I'm going with the "entire thing was a dream" theory. If the entire thing is a dream you'd think Cobb would come up with something as equally ridiculous as a "dream machine" that would somehow revive his wife.

I'm pretty sure it's simply meant to be ambiguous, and that's the real reason the film cuts off before the top stops spinning (or fails to). Cobb simply doesn't care anymore, so neither should you. This is the reality he's sought the entire film and this is the reality he's content with.

What is reality, really, except what you believe?

Obligatory related rage:

I'm pretty sure it's simply meant to be ambiguous, and that's the real reason the film cuts off before the top stops spinning (or fails to). Cobb simply doesn't care anymore, so neither should you. This is the reality he's sought the entire film and this is the reality he's content with.

What is reality, really, except what you believe?

Obligatory related rage:

 Spoiler

reminds me of Kimi no Nozomu Eien (The Eternity You Seek)...mm, mahnamahna

Finally got to see it, and I have to see I love it.

The brain raping it makes is awesome, and the ending... OH THE ENDING. I'll have to say it's amazing. I prefer to simply imagine both possibilities.

Saw it again today. He's awake. His ring wasn't on, and I believe that was really his totem....

relevant: http://www.collegehumor.com/video:1939234

4. It's a sequel hook. If he's dreaming, they can do a new movie where the idea did/did not plant successfully and exploring what happens when he wakes up.

I'm pretty sure it's simply meant to be ambiguous, and that's the real reason the film cuts off before the top stops spinning (or fails to). Cobb simply doesn't care anymore, so neither should you. This is the reality he's sought the entire film and this is the reality he's content with.

Pretty much this. They knew that by leaving it ambiguous, it would not only spark discussion topics (such as this) and make the movie stand out from the other 87 action movies that came out this year. There's never definitive answers to discussion questions.

Personally, my theory on the whole thing is that he was still in a dream as well. When he woke up on the plane after they planted the idea, I think that was still part of his dream and that he never actually woke up.

That's just my take on things though.

I personally just want Cobb to be awake in the end, so that's what I choose to believe. I'll take any excuse I can to convince myself that he was awake.

Hey, I just made my own reality!!

I think he was sleep walking

relevant: http://www.collegehumor.com/video:1939234

Well that was hilarious.

I'm pretty sure it's simply meant to be ambiguous, and that's the real reason the film cuts off before the top stops spinning (or fails to). Cobb simply doesn't care anymore, so neither should you. This is the reality he's sought the entire film and this is the reality he's content with.

What is reality, really, except what you believe?]

I just saw it today, and I pretty much decided this. It doesn't matter if the top fell or not, and I think that's the point.

http://gizmodo.com/5651826/inception-end...hael-caine

THERE YOU HAVE IT. It's not ambiguous. Totally a riddle.

Yup. Just about to post this. Funny thing too. Least I can sleep well at night.