"Inception:" the movie of your dreams

Christopher Nolan's highly-anticipated "Inception” lives up to its hype as the most imaginative summer blockbuster. After establishing himself as a prestigious director with films like "Memento” and "The Dark Knight,” Nolan doesn't disappoint with his newest picture. It is a mind-bending, edge-of-your-seat action flick, and with help from a star-studded cast and amazing visuals, "Inception” is a can't-miss.

The movie follows Dom Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio), whose job it is to enter people's minds through dreams and extract important information. Cobb and his team are hired by Saito (Ken Watanabe) to do just the opposite – to plant an idea inside of someone's mind instead of stealing one. In return, Saito promises Cobb the chance to go back to the U.S. and live with his kids, whom he hasn't been allowed to see in years. After sedating Saito's corporate rival, Robert Fischer Jr. (Cillian Murphy), Cobb enters Fischer's dream and begins to trick Fischer's subconscious into splitting up the late Fischer Sr.'s company. Along with partners Eames (Tom Hardy), Ariadne (Ellen Page) and Arthur (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), Cobb navigates through the different levels of dreamland, facing foes such as subconscious security, a lack of gravity and the dreaded "limbo” – a place where one goes if he or she dies in a certain type of dream. Action-packed fight sequences, matched with dramatic plot twists, exceptional acting and special effects, work together terrifically for a heart-pounding effect.

Nearly all of the movie takes place during a dream - where anything is possible. With the use of dazzling special effects, Nolan manages to capture the creativity and spontaneity of a dream through slow-motion sequences and gravity-defying stunts.

DiCaprio leads the strong acting as a confident, intelligent Cobb, who has trouble hiding his emotional side. DiCaprio's cool, calm mannerisms complement his swagger to produce an acting masterpiece. Page shines as Ariadne the architect, a college student who designs each dream's location and structure. French actress Marion Cotillard also has a strong performance as Dom's dead wife, who appears in dreams and causes distractions for Cobb.

The lone weak spot is Murphy's acting. His over-the-top, suave demeanor and cheesy, delicate voice makes him the unoriginal and obvious choice for the role of pathetic victim. In addition, his performance is all too reminiscent of his role in "Batman Begins,” in which he played the villain Scarecrow.

Overall, "Inception” is a complex, shoot-em-up movie full of intriguing plot lines – think "Casino Royale” meets "The Matrix.” Although the movie is two-and-a-half hours long, the plot moves extremely fast, and it is difficult to process every detail that is thrown at the audience. For many fans, it will be necessary to rent "Inception” the day it comes out on DVD and watch it again in order to fully understand everything. However, the movie's entertainment value is high, and viewers should be able to grasp the general plot concepts even if minute aspects are sometimes missed.

"Inception” doesn't fall flat as yet another dumb summer crime-combat movie. It blends fast-paced car chases and gun-touting action heroes with the power and awe of dreams. Sensational acting and a fresh, unique plotline make "Inception” a movie for the ages.

Rated PG-13 for sequences of violence and action throughout. Now playing in theaters everywhere.