Direction
The Wachowskis revolutionised the action film with The Matrix, introducing us to the notion of “bullet time” – a slow-motion visual-effects technique that has been copied by just about everyone since – which allowed them to craft what is easily one of the best action films ever made. It’s a high-wire, barmy, ridiculous action film that’s got countless iconic moments (such as the famous lobby shoot-out), and even if it borrows a lot from its foreign forebears, it’s still something quite unlike what most audiences anywhere have ever seen before.
Inception is directed with somewhat more restraint by Christopher Nolan; the premise and its delivery is mind-boggling but in a less gung-ho way. The epitome of this arrives as Cobb’s team seek to perform the Inception, resulting in a climactic action scene that fleets between several dream levels at once, requiring Nolan to have a firm grasp on various competing, concurrent narratives that are also taking place at different speeds. For even the most skilled directors, it would be a massive headache, yet Nolan manages to make it seem so effortless.
Again, The Wachowskis do a wonderful job directing the Hell out of The Matrix, but it’s Nolan’s approach that just feels so fresh and original, not especially derived from anyone before him.
WINNER: Inception
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10 Comments
Agree with all you said. I also think Inception is a better film overall
The Matrix wins for me on all counts. Inception also has ridiculous shoot out scenes, and “levels” that don’t really add up, so they are even equal in their somewhat popcorn cinema approach. But Matrix has more emotional value, and the cooler outfits. The idea of machines taking over, and letting humans dream they are doing something with their lives blows Inception’s dream levels away. Inception is also long winded, and a tad boring. Matrix keeps the flow throughout. There can be only one.
I can’t stand Inception’s writing. Practically every character speaks in straight exposition, and often so much that if you sit down and read the screenplay, that the characters seem completely interchangeable.
I think the Wachowskis did a much better directorial job. They established a film in which the stakes are much higher than Inception’s and also managed to change the way audiences perceive action sequences. They elongated their story far too much, but if the scale is holding both The Matrix and Inception, I see hardly any competition. The Matrix wins with ease.
What the hell?! Inception ripped off a million different movies and ideas. It’s writing was damned horrible, no attempt to hide the exposition or make it interesting to watch. Just plain boring people talking about stuff. Sure the idea’s were cool, and the movie is still cool. But to say it had better writing, and was all from Nolan’s head, while the Matrix was inspired by everything is DAMN silly. Dreamscape anyone? A million of sci fi ideas also borrowed and put into Inception? Nolan himself saying that The Matrix was a direct influence on his movie? Come on….
matrix shows us that we are not free. there are many types of slavery: political, economical you name it. everyone can see it’s own situation there. it’s true art.
inseptions shows that dicaprio has gained a lot of weight.
you be the judge.
Both films are excellent, but for me it’s ‘The Matrix’ all the way; I love Chris Nolan’s work but I simply can’t sit through ‘Inception’ at all, I find it emotionally empty and cold, there’s nothing at stake in the struggle, and the lead character fully deserves to be hunted by the lawful authorities for his dangerous irresponsibility. ‘The Matrix’ was about the survival of mankind, good vs evil, free will vs providence, human vs machine, plus some of the very best action, visual effects, and martial arts sequences yet put on celluloid… the sequels could have been better had the brothers Wachowski concentrated on the films themselves and not split their creative focus with all the other unnecessary crap (video games, animated shorts, online multi-player games, comic books)!
I think it’s a mistake to believe that Inception is intelligent at all – it’s just a complicated story wrapped in a bizarre narrative: there’s no “intelligence” there, though. In the words of Will Self: “Inception is a stupid person’s idea of what an intelligent movie is like.”
The Matrix, is, however, a great movie of ideas, and far more complicated.
Inception is a sure winner of these two ,but it doesn’t make ‘the matrix’ a loser . . . . . . . . . .other than that , , , i think ‘inception’ is the clear winner in the supporting cast category considering the level its actors have reached today mainly tom hardy , josheph gordon levitt and marion cottilard . . . .
Matrix, in every aspect. Its value is hidden in the philosophical message of solipsism and the attractive way of expressing it. Inception, in opposition has a rather inventive idea to offer, but the way Nolan decided to transform it into the movie is simply tragic (and I’ve seen it 5 times to make sure that I’m not an alien, since so far, I’ve met very few people who don’t think it’s a great movie)
I don’t see how anyone in the comments can say that the Matrix has the better story/plot when the external conflict is so ridiculously flawed. Machines using humans for energy? Not only is that ridiculously impractical due to many other sources being more viable, but the fact that it would require energy for humans to be kept alive means that they would run out of their supply very quickly.