If you haven’t gone out to see Inception (2010), I highly recommend that you do. It’s rated PG-13, so it’s suitable for just about any audience. It’s classified as an action, mystery, sci-fi, thriller, but it has a lot more to offer the critical thinker than one would expect. The entire movie revolves around dream states and it really makes you think about what we experience as reality and it’s importance to us in the grand scheme of life. One of the things I rarely seen discussed about this movie is the fact that the main character has come to an understanding that many of us lack. He has a choice. He can continue to do what he is doing, which pays him handsomely and allows him to live a live many would call luxury, OR he can give it all up for the love of his children. In fact when you look at the movie in a larger scale, while in the dream world he can have anything he wants in the form of material possessions as he has the ability to “create” anything his mind (or sub conscience) desires. However, he knows that these “things” are not real, and he has come to the understanding that what he really wants out of life is to experience the love of his children, and the reality of being a father.
I have discussed in my book that one of the many reasons why people have a hard time finding happiness is due to the pursuit of material possessions rather than living live through experiences. In many ways this philosophy of thought is the same as the minimalist movement (links for some additional reading and info are located in the blogroll section) in the understanding that we cherish the best “moments” in life rather than the best possessions.
The most discussed item in reference to the movie is the last scene. Specifically whether it is taking place in “reality” or “limbo” as the writers have left clues, hints, and red herrings that could lean in either direction. I don’t need to join in on the debate as my belief is that the writers were trying to send a very deliberate message. In the end of the movie he is reunited with his children and is “happy”. He got what he wanted, and is now living his life for the experiences he wants to have. The message is very clear on that. We should be doing the same.
