It should be taught in film schools as the quintessential worst ending to a movie ever. - tehKenny

Rly? I thought it was perfect. - Stephen Mack

Do you was it all back? - Johnny

I had never heard of this movie until today, and I'm still not sure what it's about, but DAYUM is the jury hung on whether it's good. - Lo

I thought the movie, while not perfect, was really good. I think as far as an ending goes, that's really the only way that movie could have ended and remained true to the themes in the film. Not to mention that things were established and layered much better than they were with The Prestige and The Dark Knight. If anything I thought the beginning was a bit rough. - Jonathan Hardesty

The theme of the film is that no matter how good the fantasy, reality is better. Instead of being the voice of reason in this whole mess, at the end he is preparing to accept a fantasy in order to get what he wants. It's like it was written by a guy who watched the movie with the sound off. - tehKenny

And the beginning IS a bit of a hard sell. They are explaining in brutal detail all of the things that SHOULD BE things that everyone in this future-world alreaddy know quite well. - tehKenny

See, I never saw it as Cobb accepting the fantasy world in the end. If anything he either didn't know or lost his grip on reality completely. He was never that strong of a character mentally so it didn't seem like that much of a leap. - Jonathan Hardesty

Just the fact that it IS a dream at the end is enough to make me wretch. First: If you need two/three people to do this, who's the other one? The business man is creating the world? And don't make me care THAT MUCH ABOUT HIM SEEING HIS KIDS and then tell me the moment that just made me choke up was "all just a dream". No thank you. - tehKenny

Well, I don't actually think it's a dream in the end. If anything I think we just weren't allowed to see the top topple as a bit of a misdirect. But that could be me missing something. - Jonathan Hardesty

Kids: Same clothing, same age, same position as when he left. Also, Bruce Willis is dead. (Okay, not that obvious, but still.) - tehKenny

Spoilers...... I agree with Jon, it's not a dream at the end. It shows how tenuous reality is and makes sure we know that Cobb no longer cares what's real. - Stephen Mack

Although, teh makes a good point. The kids *are* exactly the same as when he left. And I'm not entirely sure how long he's been away, or if they established that. Hrm.. - Jonathan Hardesty

And no the kids are older. Note two sets of child actors in the credits. - Stephen Mack

I loved the end. I thought it was perfect. - iTad

The ending was required, and pitch perfect. You hear the top slowing the moment before the film cuts, but you are left with Cobb's doubt, the idea that was sown in his mind as to the unreality of any world being the real one. But it was clear that he was trying to "get home", and that the doubt at the end was the film's painful denouement. - Absentee

Agreed with James and LogEx. - Chieze Okoye