Inception was AMAZING (spoilers)

[libellule]

Reasonable said:

libellule said:

Fumanchu said:

I find the whole concept of totems is such an annoying and unexplained paradox.  It contradicts the ideology presented in the movie that you can't consciously be aware of something 'strange' until you wake up, so how could you then possibly assign 'strange' physics properties to an object subconsciously?

I really like the idea that the ending is Nolan's inception on the audience.  He plants the seed of doubt to make you question its reality, through the totem and other red herrings throughout the film supporting either side.

I also like the fact that Cobb doesn't wait around for the totem to stop, meaning it doesn't matter as long as he's happy and with his children.

about the totem,

perhaps I m misunderstanding your post but, totem are only usefull to the "dream investigator team" that are supposed to know they are in a dream but may want, if the situation turns bad, to make a test with their totem.

At the opposite, Fisher Jr, that is trapped in his dream, is completely unconscient that he is dreaming and is not aware about the totem concept.

I think you are misunderstanding - maybe my post and the film (if I may be so bold)!

The Totem serves two primary functions

- the first is to be used when awake to confirm you are no longer in a dream.  The logical proposition is that, without a Totem, you would soon become completely unsure if you where awake or not and lose touch with reality.  Clearly not a good idea - hence the idea of Totem's for anyone entering anothers' dreams.  This is a central concept concerning Limbo and Mal obviously.

- the second is the inverse of this and is to confirm you are in a dream (which is the use you mention).  This is also important of course although in the film the emphasis I felt was on the test for being awake as the most important.

 

Ficher, who I didn't mention (or don't think I did), is not completely unaware that he is dreaming in fact.  As noted in the film he has been trained to automatically recognize the signs of being in a dream and to fight back.  Hence the team are attacked immediately they enter his dream state and when Cobb approaches him he is very, very suspicious as to what's going on.  This is why Cobb tries the gambit (quite cute I thought) of informing Ficher that he is indeed asleep and that others are indeed trying to steal his secrets.  Basically confirming his suspicions but directing them away from Cobb himself and his team.

Obviously, given Ficher (Fischer, Fisher, can't remember spelling actually, anyway, doesn't matter) has been trained to combat industrial espionage via dreams he would no doubt be well versed in something to emblic as a Totem and it's role.

 

 

 

but yeah, obviously, you are right. totem can be used to test a dream or the reality and depending on their behaviour they will inform you about where you truly are.

Neverthless, to me, when the dream occur there is clearly 2 type of person : the ones that are aware (usually Cobb and co) and the dreamer that is unaware (here Fisher). If Cobb and co know the level and have planned their next move (from the falling car (L1) to the falling lift (L2) for example), Fisher seems to be absolutely unaware he is dreaming until his discussion with Cobb. His military defense are all driven "unconsciensly" (consequence of his training "anti-extraction") but the action of using your totem need yourself to "have doubt" and to question the reality of your universe. 
Perhaps, he mets Cobb before asking himself the question.
Perhaps he has no totem ... that would be strange considering he has been trained (that is what you were saying)
Indeed, the best way Cobb could have convinced Fisher he was dreaming was to ask him to use his own totem ...