History ShoutOut / Inception

* [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ariadne Ariadne]] in Greek mythology helped Theseus go into the Labyrinth to defeat the Minotaur. Ariadne here helps our heroes go into the labyrinth of the human mind. The maze she draws for Dom to pass his test is the Labyrinth of Minos. Not only that, but the mythical Ariadne gave Theseus a sword to slay the Minotaur, and a string to find his way back out of the maze. This Ariadne gives Cobb the means to finally [[spoiler: let go of Mal, whom he's imprisoned in the labyrinth of his mind.]]

* {{Creator/Oancitizen}} spent an episode of ''Between the Lines'' pointing out ''Inception'''s indebtedness to surrealist films ''The Blood of a Poet'' and ''Man With a Movie Camera''.

** This also may be a reference
to [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edgar_Allan_Poe Edgar Allan Poe]] 's poem "A Dream Within a Dream" where the "waking up on the beach" scene is decribed by the narrator.

* This also may be a refference to [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edgar_Allan_Poe Edgar Allan Poe]] 's poem "A Dream Within a Dream" where the "waking up on the beach" scene is decribed by the narrator.

* The music used to warn dreamscapers about their imminent awakening is a song by Edith Piaf, whom Creator/MarionCotillard played in ''La Vie en Rose'' (''La Môme''). When she was cast, Nolan says he even considered changing the song used in case the obvious real-world connection of Coutillard and Piaf might be jarring to people's suspension of disbelief. However, too much of the score had already been composed around motifs from 'Non Je Ne Regrette Rien' so he went with it. Another shout out from the score: [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=MgbjTaGv_fA One composition is titled]] "#9 Dream Within a Dream". [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Number_9_Dream "#9 Dream"]] is the name of a song by JohnLennon (reaching, hilariously enough [[http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=6972 number nine]] on the Billboard Hot 100) from his 1974 album ''Walls and Bridges''.

** The central structure of the third-level dream's fortress [[http://i.imgur.com/UlqQg.jpg greatly resembles]] the University of California, San Diego's [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geisel_Library Geisel Library.]]

* At the very least, Nolan tells us Ariadne's character was inspired by ''Literature/{{Paprika}}''. Also, Ariadne shatters a mirror by touching it, Paprika did this too.

* At the very least, Nolan tells us Ariadne's character was inspired by {{Literature/Paprika}}. Also, Ariadne shatters a mirror by touching it, Paprika did this too.

* The starmaking film ''{{Film/Titanic 1997}}'' features a dead Creator/LeonardoDiCaprio being dropped in the sea at the end of the movie. ''Inception'' starts with the same actor waking up on a beach.
* After invading Fishcher's consciousness, the first person we see is Yusef,from the back, standing on a corner waiting for the crew to pick him up. Instantly brings to mind the first shot of the Joker in TDK, when he's standing on a corner waiting for the clown crew to pick him up.
* In ''The Bridge on the River Kwai'' there is a '''Japanese man named "Saito"''' who is '''filled with regret''' over the actions of one of his subordinates in regard to '''the building of a structure''' that at first '''crumbles''' because its foundation is built on mud in the midst of a jungle where '''there is no escape'''.

That sound you've been hearing from the start of this article isn't wind--[[{{Film/Inception}} it's your kick]]!

* The starmaking film ''{{Film/Titanic}}'' features a dead Creator/LeonardoDiCaprio being dropped in the sea at the end of the movie. ''Inception'' starts with the same actor waking up on a beach.