Actually, I've thought about it over and over, and now reading dileep explain points of the movie i am certain I am write. The ending of inception is flawed because it breaks its own rules. It is not possible for Leo to be in reality or in a dream. So when people ask me if he was awake or not, it is neither.

You know what thinking about it even more I'm positive I'm write. The ending of the movie cannot be explained by the laws of the movie itself.

This review hits on the head for me exactly what I was thinking through the film, that "inception" is really about bringing Leo back from his own mind.

Think of it like this: at the end of Fischer's experience, he finds himself sitting on the beach with Tom Berenger, having come to terms with what he'll do. Then he wakes up in the plane, and he's "back in reality."

Leo's experience ends on his arrival at home, and the top is continuing to spin. He's still in his dream -- he hasn't "woken up" from his experience yet. Presumably, had the movie continued for one more scene, we would have seen him waking, possibly with his children around him.

I thought through the film that Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Ellen Paige were actually the embodiments of his grown children, and had put themselves in this world to save him.

I've realized there is an inherent catch-22 in debating whether everything in the movie was real or a dream. Take Michael Caine's remark: "Come back to reality." OK, you could take that as a hint that Cobb is already in a dream at that point -- or you could take it as a metaphor for the emotional journey that Cobb needs to complete. But, but, but... dreams are where metaphors are made real. So are movies, for that matter. And this is a movie about dreams. The logic folds right back onto itself, just like Ellen Page's Paris neighborhood.

This is precisely the point, I think. It's very similar to the debates over The Usual Suspects -- sure, the ending might negate a lot of the "facts" that the movie has presented us with, but does it negate the movie, or just add another layer? -- and I think Nolan is inviting these arguments... I honestly don't think it's a coincidence that he cast Pete Postlethwaite in the movie.

Two great points by both Earl and Nick...

The notion that Page and Gordon-Levitt could be Cobb's kids just blows my mind apart. Not that any clues exists for such a thing but I love the idea anyway, very delicious possibility!

And, as you said Nick, having Mr. Kobayashi himself as the dying father... sweet.

Love this film more and more with each passing day... and with every new insightful post made by folks like you in these pages!

The true "inception" was planting the idea in cobb's mind that is was ok to "face" his children after years riddle with guilt over the death of mal. He designed an elaborate dream to snap him out of it. With the help of his sub-conscious players he was able to go deep enough in limbo (when inception took place) without it being his idea. instead of being stuck there he had a reason to get out in the form of rescuing saito.

At the end when he greets his kids they are still the same age. 3 years and 20 months old (IMDB) but when he spoke to them on the phone they were 5 and 3 years old (IMDB) Obviously Cobb was still in the last stage of his dream. when it become his idea to go home (i.e. being allowed in the country)

The fact that the totem titters at the end is not just a conformation of it being a dream or a "what if"

It's a choice. Do you want to wake up and live in reality or do you want to be ignorant and live in bliss.

Then again what is reality? Are we all ignorantly blissfull right now? Inception is The Matrix of 2010 with the dare: which would you take, the red or the blue pill?