The Matrix vs. Inception?
 

**please note you can vote more than once in this particular poll**
Even if they may have no connection to each other, I was struck, as others might have been, that the two are similar on scales of an existential alternate reality when one thing appears to be not what it seems.

I thought with the upcoming home digital release it might be a good discussion to bring up as to whether you think the two are similar or vastly different and the reasons why. Perhaps you feel another is more apropo in the discussion of what's real and what might be a real possible alternate reality that we all live in but may not be conscious of.

I myself feel The Matrix was more entertaining, but still thought inducing as to being part of a larger "construct" or entity that might be "pulling the strings" in a sense whereas Inception invoked feelings of a more existential nature, grounded in reality, but far more thought-provoking and empirical.

So two questions on the poll are posed:

1) which movie do you think was the more existential and ground breaking in the sense it "originated in or was based on observation without regard to reality based theory or systems"?

2) which movie, simply, was the more entertaining affair?

Now, when I say entertaining, it doesn't necessarily mean the better movie, but The Matrix, at least, had more elements that a wider audience could grasp to, whereas Inception might have left more dumfounded.

i myself will defer until i see Inception once more this week.

Re: Matrix vs. Inception?
 

I thought the Matrix was a better film than Inception. However, I like both.

Re: Matrix vs. Inception?
 

I don't really know of any meanings for 'existential' or 'existentialism' that would be valid to say "Film A is more existential than film B." Maybe you're looking for a different word? Do you mean 'original'?

Re: Matrix vs. Inception?
 

The Matrix was more entertaining to me. I love Inception, but Matrix is more fun and feels like it doesn't try quite as hard to be deep and meaningful.

Re: Matrix vs. Inception?
 

The Matrix

(sorry for being so long-winded)

Re: Matrix vs. Inception?
 

Inception is a much better film in my opinion. I've never been a big fan of The Matrix.

Re: Matrix vs. Inception?
 

My brain hurt trying to figure out exactly what Scott was trying to ask.

I love both films, but think it's way too soon to compare Inception to any other film, at least in regards to lasting impact. People are still in the "honeymoon phase" with it.

In time, I think I'll end up watching and appreciating The Matrix much more.
I'll probably end up at this. Again, I loved Inception, but have a feeling I'll end up thinking it too pretentious.

Re: Matrix vs. Inception?
 

I'm the guy that didn't care much for The Matrix. I loved inception though.

I'm sure Inception will stand the test of time about as well as The Dark Knight, which is to say, not very well, but I still like it more.

I just pissed off two sets of fanboys in one post...

Re: Matrix vs. Inception?
 

2 years later and Dark Knight already hasn't stood the test of time?

Re: Matrix vs. Inception?
 

I put "other" for both and would like to point to Videodrome and eXistenZ. In terms of entertainment, The Matrix is a cut above Inception, but Inception is better than either Matrix sequel.

Re: Matrix vs. Inception?
 

I've only seen Videodrome once, so I can't really comment, but I completely agree about eXistenZ. Let's just hope Cronenberg never tries to do a sequel. :)

Re: Matrix vs. Inception?
 

This

Re: Matrix vs. Inception?
 

Dark City beats them both.

Re: Matrix vs. Inception?
 

:thumbsup:

Re: Matrix vs. Inception?
 

until it gets all DBZ and rushes itself to reach the credits. It was a fucking great film UNTIL it gets DBZ. After all that it's a pretty good film still...it's just rushed at that moment forward. I'm not sure how I would've done it but...it just feels off cuz it just didn't feel right. I don't mind that it did a DBZ thing there but something about how they did it just didn't sit well w/ me.

Re: Matrix vs. Inception?
 

What the hell does DBZ mean? And the ending is a thousand times better than the drawn out, agonizing and superfluous last 30 minutes of Inception.

Re: Matrix vs. Inception?
 

didn't care for either

Re: Matrix vs. Inception?
 

I assume DBZ means Dragonball Z the anime/manga, which is known for action sequences with big energy blasts and what not.

I agree with Solid Snake; I love Dark City, but the ending feels so out of place. I prefer both Matrix and Inception to it, and didn't feel the end to Inception was drawn out at all.

Re: Matrix vs. Inception?
 

Yes the battle scene of Dark City did feel like Dragon Ball Z when they both suspended in mid air shooting rays of light at each other. Other than that, Dark City is a gorgeous movie.

I think that Matrix is another amazing flick but i give the edge to Dark City.

Never seen Inception. Will have to check it out one day.

Re: Matrix vs. Inception?
 

Inception & The Matrix, yes.
Videodrome & eXistenZ, no.

Re: Matrix vs. Inception?
 

Dragon Ball Z....japanese cartoon about guys that are super martial artists and shoot blasts from there hands, came here and was dubbed, became huge sensation, etc etc....

What I meant with that was the whole sequence w/ Schreber injecting Murdoch and then Murdoch starts kicking ass from his mind.

Re: Matrix vs. Inception?
 

I have no problem with that, personally I love Dark City, eXistenZ, & Videodrome (although that is a far stretch comparing it to the others). Either way, the more I like about the daring & creative craft of those films, I find it so laughable that people could consider Inception on the same level when it misfires in so many ways. Even the first Matrix is far superior and I'm not a big fan of that film at all.

Re: Matrix vs. Inception?
 

And yet it succeeds far better at being deep and meaningful.

Inception couldn't stand the test of its running time.

Re: Matrix vs. Inception?
 

And then came the sequels.......................

Re: Matrix vs. Inception?
 

truly surprised for the seemingly lack of love for Inception.

Re: Matrix vs. Inception?
 

I'll go with Inception just because I found it more entertaining. The Matrix is a well crafted action/scifi flick but the dialog and wooden delivery was just so damn boring to me when I saw it in theaters -- especially once Neo wakes up in the "real" world the first time. Anything that happend on that ship was snooze worthy, and I did almost nod off a time or two. The fight scenes were pretty laughable and the leather outfits were silly. The gun scenes and helicopter scene were great, though. I also couldn't shake the feeling of "Ghost in the Shell meets Dark City." while watching it... it didn't help that I was also watching the series Serial Experiments Lain at the time.

Inception had a boring action scene (the James Bond one) but otherwise I enjoyed it.

eXistenZ was easily the best "Computer Reality" movie of 99 (competing with The Matrix and Thirteenth Floor) and was extremely enjoyable. Dark City is one of my all time favorites as well.

Re: Matrix vs. Inception?
 

The more I see it, and think about it, the more I think it is one of those films that is an amazing first viewing, but won't hold up well to repeated viewings.

Too much explanatory exposition, too much dry conversation, too pretentious.

I have a bad memory, so I think I'll just watch it every 7 or so years and be wowed by it each time.

Re: Matrix vs. Inception?
 

I'm pleasantly surprised. I practically got thrown out of the Inception thread for daring to not like it.

Re: Matrix vs. Inception?
 

I personally like Inception more but I guess I've just never been all that big on The Matrix. Its a good movie and I own it but I wouldn't really call it a favorite. Kinda surprised at the backlash Inception seems to be getting.

Re: Matrix vs. Inception?
 

:thumbsup: Same here, for being one of the few people not buying it this week, its seems like lemmings rushing out to get this on Blu-Ray. I don't know where these people have been hiding that suddenly are realizing that the movie isn't nearly as smart as it fools people into thinking it is, but I've seen nothing but blind love for the film here, so I don't know why people are feeling otherwise all of a sudden.

Re: Matrix vs. Inception?
 

My roommate does Blu-ray QC, and he'd come home every night he worked on Inception with a whole new set of complaints about how the movie makes no sense. :lol: He doesn't hate it as much as Avatar, but it's close.

Re: Matrix vs. Inception?
 

I think there's a pretty big difference between being a fan of the movie and buying the thing and being a lemming that buys into the "smartness" of it. Plus I don't think it ever tries to actually be smart, it's a summer action flick, and they practically explain every little thing in detail.

I found it to be an entertaining action/heist movie with visuals that should look fantastic on BD. :shrug:

Re: Matrix vs. Inception?
 

Alright, you've mentioned many times now how Inception fools and lures people into thinking it's smart. How are all of us sheep being coaxed by the film, and why exactly is it blind love?

Re: Matrix vs. Inception?
 

No I haven't, I posted it once, and a similar line another time. That is hardly "many".

I never called anyone sheep. Its blind love because of the hardons for Nolan here that get bent out of shape if someone actually offers a different opinion and criticize him in any way. Inception has some cool visuals, all of which were in the initial full trailer and the film itself never offered anything more. The story is straight-foward and spells everything out with endless bromide exposition while sacrificing character development (or depth) and never once actually requires the audience to think, yet people get suckered into a cliched ambiguous ending that causes endless posts and about how briliant the movie was when it was anything but. As pure craft Shutter Island was lightyears ahead of Inception and Nolan structured a far better non-linear story that actually altered the way the audience's perception of a film with Memento.

Re: Matrix vs. Inception?
 

I agree with all of your points, Sessa. Group hug?

Re: Matrix vs. Inception?
 

Alright, there's an explanation. :up: I disagree with it, and there's more meticulously-structured intelligence in Nolan's exposition and more depth in the Cobb-Mal emotional angle than it apparently receives credit for, but I do agree with the crammed exposition and watered-down periphery characters.

Re: Matrix vs. Inception?
 

In what way is calling people lemmings different? The implication is exactly the same. Arguing semantics is just a deflection.

Sure, there are Nolan fanboys around, but many DVD Talkers have offered balanced and well-articulated arguments for the merits of Inception, which is far from "blind love." Your hyperbole is unwarranted and hurts your case against the movie. It makes you appear just as irrational as the Nolan fanboys.

Re: Matrix vs. Inception?
 

Be careful agreeing with me, I'm quite the polarizing figure.

Re: Matrix vs. Inception?
 

Oh, don't worry, there's plenty we disagree on.

Re: Matrix vs. Inception?
 

Another Sessa post criticizing people that like something that reached a level of mainstream popularity is unsurprising to me.