INCEPTION!

I have nothing but flaily joy at this point. IT'S OUT!

I don't have it yet, because I preordered it on Amazon but it shipped yesterday and I shall have it and it shall be mine! MINE!

Why yes, I do intend to watch it obsessively. Why do you even bother to ask?

*stalks Eames and Arthur*

Cas is a BAMF

Someone made a Casifesto. Proving that he is not an emo angel, but rather a BAMF sneaky angel of awesome. I may love this person.

On the same level of love as the person who made the Inception gun manifesto.

For Love of Commas

LK do you remember a while back when you volunteered to beta my little Inception fic and you said that I 'really liked commas' or something to that effect?

At the time I was like, 'well, okay, maybe I went overboard on the commas on this one since it's been so long.'

I've been reviewing a couple of old, unfinished Anita Blake fics that I'm thinking of reworking for NaNoWriMo. And contemplating (with some bits here and there for aide in the contemplation process) an A-Team kink meme prompt that seems to be calling to me.

And holy crap you're right! I REALLY like to use commas! I've been doing it all along! I've had three or four different betas throughout my 'career' and none of them have ever mentioned it! I did have one who told me I liked to use '...' too much, which yeah, I did. But no one ever brought up the forest of commas!

So thanks! I'm even noticing that I do it when I'm typing up posts. I'm trying to cut back, really. But I have no idea when this twitch happened and it's apparently ingrained at this point.

WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

Inception is now available! *rushes over to order* Give it to me noooooowwwwwwwwwwww!

*headdesk* Inception will eat my life...

My movie buddy and I have three points of contention:

1. We counted swear words on the third viewing. I counted five, starting with Arthur's 'asshole' on the train in Japan. She counted three, starting with a 'dammit' in Saito's palace when they were trying to steal from him.

2. She believes that Cobb, Arthur, and Eames all worked together before (true) and that we get told about it during to movie (false). She keeps referring to a scene in the van, which is the 'Mr. Charles' discussion, and Eames was clearly not in on that job, or he'd have known what it was and why it didn't work. But he didn't. So he wasn't. And I have the script to back me up here!

3. During the 'dream a little bigger, darling' scene, Eames whips a grenade launcher up. She insists that he took Arthur's rifle and turned it into the launcher. I say no, Arthur still had his rifle. Eames made the grenade launcher out of his gun. He's a Forger, so he can do this. Clearly. (We know they can change the dreams, because they do. They just try not to do it too often, because it will draw the projections and/or alert the subject that they're dreaming, and then they'll 'die'. This doesn't apply here, since the projections are already after them.)

These may only be solved when the bluray comes out (or I get the magically appearing thing that might magically become mine if I can find a blank dvd to give to someone I may or may not know).

amusing idea

droit du biscuit - right of the cookie

based off the droit du seigneur...someone brings dinner to the group, and everyone gets a cookie but Eames. He's annoyed by this, and mutters about being ignored and left out, amusingly, not seriously.

So, when someone (Ariadne?) brings in boxes of cookies, Eames takes the first cookie out of each box. When someone (Arthur?) mentions/complains, Eames claims droit du biscuit.

Yes, yes, I am weird.

Also, still need R.E.A. fic!

Inception Shooting Script Notes

I liked it a lot. Very interesting. It didn't help me understand the movie any better, but since I don't misunderstand the movie, that wasn't an issue. Anyway.

Things which I note:

In the original 'sketch' of the descent into the layers of dreams, Eames was supposed to be the dreamer for the second level, with Arthur as the dreamer on the third. I can't help but overlay the movies levels onto that layout, and keep thinking that 'it doesn't work'. I assume the layers would have been different if they'd kept the original plan. But then would we have had Arthur being awesome and fighting people in zero-g?

The dialogue in the hotel room, when they're all going to sleep, between Arthur and Eames?

Eames: *quietly concerned* Security's going to run you down hard.

Arthur: *trying to be reassuring and cute* And I will lead them on a merry chase.

Eames: *grinning like a lovestruck fool* Just be back in time for the kick.

Arthur: *FONDLY AND WITH AN ADORABLE SMIRK OF ADORABLENESS* Go to sleep, Mr. Eames.

Was originally between Arthur and Cobb, and was not as awesome. It seems very business like in the script. Of course, you lose the nuances and such that actors add, which makes the script not as much fun, in general, imho, but still, I think that the scene works magnitudes better between Arthur and Eames. Of course, I might be biased. Maybe.

It's MINE!

ALL MIINNEEEEEEEEEEE!

*INSANE LAUGHTER*

crap. Still have to work for like....four more hours. Damn you, work.

Salt v. Inception

So, we're technically, theoretically 'scheduled' to go see Salt this weekend. But I've mentioned it to my movie partner that I'd really rather see Inception again. The fact is, I just don't care about Salt anymore. When I first saw the previews, I was like, 'oh, yeah, that looks fun'. But now...now I just don't really think it'll be entertaining me. I think I'll be sitting in the theater, thinking, 'wow, no, this is just beat 'em up stuff' and pondering Inception. I'm obsessive, okay?

Like, if someone announced a fan convention for Inception, right now, I'd be there. And I'd figure out some way to cosplay as Arthur, despite him being tall and lanky and me being neither of those things. But I'd make it work!

So while I'm sure that Salt is not a *bad* film (though I suspect that Liev Schrieber's character is the real spy, if there is one, don't ask me why...but if I'm right, I figured that out from the bloody previews, and therefore this movie is not good and twisty, and therefore not worth my time. I think I'm going to have to go look it up to see if I'm right. Because if I am, I've not going to see it. *pause for internet surfing* Hah. And this is why I'm not allowed to talk during mystery shows/movies anymore.), I think I'd really, really, really rather see Inception for the third time, and then see Scott Pilgrim vs. the World the next weekend.

Because I know that ones going to be goofy, but it's got Chris Evans in it, and also Brandon Routh, who, despite Superman Returns, I kind of enjoy. I liked him in Chuck, at least.

edit: Having just spent approx. 30 min on phone explaining parts of movie to movie buddy, we're definitely going to see it again.

We Have Shipping!

The Inception Shooting Script that wasn't originally due out until the beginning of September? Has been shipped. Assuming that Amazon/UPS doesn't lie, I will have it Friday.

*makes grabby hands* GIVE IT TO ME NOW!

And I've done it again

second Inception fic written and emailed to beta! Sadly, beta has not seen the film. Also, crap, I wrote this at work. It is not the R.E.A. fic I noted for myself earlier. It's more...'awww....Eames is totally a stalker but he and Arthur are adorable together anyway...'

Fic note so I don't lose it

Fic around the phrase 'R.E.A. - Reckless Endangerment of Arthur'. Clearly this will be Eames thinking/saying/etc. this about Cobb's treatment and use of Arthur. Perhaps in info. gathering in the real world? Since danger (typically) in dreams, is not actually dangerous. Traumatising, sure. But it won't actually kill you.

edit: Note to Self: Please stop writing fic at work. You have actual work to do.

PANIC FLAIL

I POSTED THE FIC TO THE ARTHUR/EAMES COMM! PANIC WITH ME AS I WAIT TO FIND OUT IF I AM LOATHED OR ACCEPTABLE TO THE TRIBE!

ETA: I HAVE COMMENTS OF GOODNESS! THE TRIBE HAS ACCEPTED ME AS ONE OF THEIR OWN!

FanFic and Me

Okay, here's the thing. I've written a fic, and I intend to post it to my lj later tonight (and maybe the Arthur/Eames comm I found? We'll see. I have to read the comm rules first). I won't be posting it here, because I'm not comfortable with the whole, blogger/fanfic dynamic. I've always used lj for my fic, or dreamwidth, and I see no reason to change now. Also, since this blog is attached to the other...yeah. Not comfortable with that. Reason being? I only write one kind of fanfic - slash.

So, what I think is, if either of you two (because it's just LK and sanil around here, I know), want to read my fics, email me and I'll send you back my lj address. So long as we all understand what slash is, that I write in varying levels of maturity, and that we're not to ever share my lj with anyone else.

So. In case you don't have it, the email is akelios @ yahoo.com

It's like falling off a bike...

I have committed an act of fic. Wow. It's been a while.

*squee*

The second viewing of Inception did it to me.

The, the scene with Arthur hooking Eames up to the Pasiv Device in the hotel-layer, that whole, 'Go to sleep, Mr. Eames'. Yeah. That look on Arthur's face? How could I not? And the thing is, I totally missed that line the first time I saw the movie. Wow. Now, to send my little drabble off to the beta. And then possibly find the guts to post in a new fandom?

I THINK I MIGHT NEED THIS!

Inception: The Shooting Script

'Inception, writer-director Christopher Nolan's seventh feature film, joins the epic scope of The Dark Knight with the narrative sophistication of Memento.

The story of a group of thieves who specialize in invading the mind through one's dreams, Inception explores the writer-director's signature psychological themes of memory, paranoia, and self-doubt as his protagonist, Dom Cobb, is pitted against a hostile subconscious spurred on by personal demons and regrets from the past.

In a conversational preface, Nolan discusses with brother and frequent collaborator, Jonathan, the genesis of the idea for the film and the decade-long process it took to write it. Detailing the results of Nolan's efforts, Inception: The Shooting Script includes key storyboard sequences, full-colour concept art, and an appendix on the workings of the mysterious Pasiv Device that Cobb and his fellow extractors use to initiate the dream-share. An exclusive exploration of a highly original concept, Inception: The Shooting Script is the record of a writer-director at the height of his craft.

Includes: Writer-Director Christopher Nolan's initial handwritten outline of the Inception plot. A preface by brothers and collaborators Christopher Nolan and Jonathan Nolan, in which they delve into the 10-year development process behind Inception. An 8-page colour insert featuring Inception concept art. An in-world appendix with instructions for operating the mysterious Pasiv Device mechanism.'

I can't decide. I dropped it into my Amazon cart to ponder. It's...completely nerdy and unnecessary, and yet I want it like *burning*. But I can't decide if that's just rampant love for the film. I've done this before, and gotten books from films, and been disappointed because clearly my love was only for the film. But- IT HAS INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO USE THE COMPLETELY MADE-UP DEVICE! IT'S GEEK PORN!

Cobb: Recklessly Playing God

Yes, back to Inception.

So, Cobb basically plays god here, with the implantation of an idea in Fischer's mind. The other people in his crew, they at first insist that inception can't be done. You can't introduce a foreign thought into someones mind and have them come out believing that it was their idea. It's too complicated, too messy. The mind eventually tracks it back and realizes that it popped in there, fully formed from elsewhere, and rejects it, because it cannot find a natural evolution for it.

The idea that Saito wants introduced is that Fischer wants to break up his fathers empire. It's complicated, because of all the political, personal, and financial ties. So they have to come up with an *extremely* simple concept to slide in there that will net them the same result - the destruction of the Fischer energy empire.

Eames, who is a forger, explains that emotions are the way to go. They're the most basic, and if an idea can be thought to be based on the persons emotions, they'll take it in as their own. In theory, of course, because no one *does* this, because everyone knows it can't be done.

So they slide into Fischer's brain, take him down into three dreams. A dream within a dream, within a dream. And on each level they work their way deeper into his subconscious. The first level they make him believe that he's awake, and he and his godfather (who is the only male role model he has a good relationship with) have been kidnapped for the combination to a safe in his father's office. The father is already dead at this point, by the way. Eames is 'playing' the godfather, so that he can explain what is in this imaginary safe, which is a second will allowing Fischer to dissolve his father's empire, saying that Fischer Sr. wanted Fischer Jr. to be his own man, and to build something bigger and better. Then, from that, they slide him into a second dream, where they lay the suspicion that his godfather is actually in on the kidnapping, and is manipulating him. So, in order to find out what his godfather is up to, Fischer (thinking that Cobb and co. are parts of *his* subconscious trying to defend him from the invasion of his godfather's goons), goes into the third dream, thinking that he's breaking into his godfather's mind to get at the truth there, when, in fact, he is breaking into his own deepest subconscious, and taking Cobb and co. with him, so they can see if their plan to reconcile him with his father and make him believe that the breaking up of the empire is what the father really wanted for his son is working.

Now, here's the playing god *recklessly* part. The other people, they believe that inception can be done because Cobb tells them that he's done it before. The important factor that he leaves out is that he did it to his wife, to rescue them from a dream state that they couldn't escape. He planted the thought that her world was not real, so that she would 'kill' herself with him in the dream, thus kicking them back into consciousness. And it worked. However, what he didn't realize was that thoughts are like viruses. They take over, and reshape the person. Become their entire being. They were back in the real world, but Molly (Cobb's wife), was consumed with the thought, with the belief, that her world was not real. And, trying to save herself from this 'dream', she killed herself.

The first time was an accident. Cobb had no way of knowing the ripple effect that would occur. But, when he agreed to do it to Fischer, he knew perfectly well that there is no predicting, and no controlling, what happens once the thought has been accepted. Certainly, it *seems* harmless enough for one really, really rich guy to destroy his fathers life work. But, it's not just that. At the last dream, Fischer's father tells him that he wants him to build his own 'empire', to surpass the father. How do you know that Fischer, Jr. doesn't surpass his father in really horrible and destructive ways? Sure, Fischer seemed like a sensitive, kind enough sort, but (to follow Godwin's Law) Hitler was an artist before he rose to power.

Cobb is the only one who could have had any idea that this might run out of control, and that there's nothing they could do to stop it or control it, but he didn't care. It was all about getting home and being with his children again. It absolutely did not matter to Cobb that he could be unleashing a monster on the world, so long as he got what he wanted.

Movie: Inception

Oh, holy crap, this movie is awesome. I mean...this movie is like sex. For the brain. I needed a cigarette and a stiff drink after this movie, and I don't smoke.

The plot is not insanely complicated, really, in the broad outlines.

Technology exists that allows people to share dreams. I'm assuming that it had some theraputic applications which it was originally invented for. Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his team use it for slightly illegal purposes. They go into other peoples minds and steal their secrets. Of course, they're hired to do this, it's not something they do for shits and grins.

So a man, Mr. Saito (played by Chow Yun Fat Ken Watanabe), hires this team. Not to steal ideas, but to implant one. He wants to destroy a rival company by having the son, played by Cillian Murphy, break up the empire after he inherits it from his dying father. Of course, planting an idea is infinitely more difficult that stealing one, because the persons brain can always track down the thought to it's origins, and subconsiously, if nothing else, recognize that it originated from somewhere else.

They create the world, drop Robert Fischer (the son) into it without his knowledge, and take him down through three levels of dreams, slipping into his brain in insane ways, until he thinks that it's his idea. That his father really wanted him to destroy his life's work, so that Robert can be his own man.

It's not a complicated plot (though of course there's much, much more to it, and I'm leaving lots out despite my not spoiler safe policy, because you really need to *see* this movie), but it is so insanely well written and acted it's not even funny. It's mind bending at it's finest, and you leave the movie having to almost pick an ending. Is Cobb out of the dream? Has everything worked out for the best? Is his happiness real? Or is the top still spinning?

Now if you'll excuse me, I'll be in my bunk.

ALSO: Joseph Gordon-Levitt. My dear boy, I forgive you for G.I. Joe. If I acted, I totally would be in a campy movie of crapitude if I got the chance to play a kick ass villain too. Other than that, you're doing *awesome*.