The Inception of bated breath

Whenever a film that I am dying to watch is being released, I like to watch the trailer. Occasionally, I will look for clips on the Net and probably take in an interview or two. Usually, though, the trailer is the first thing I go for, savoring the images and dialogue in a deliciously chopped-up, sped-up, hyped-up version of the upcoming cinematic entity.

However, from the moment I saw the Inception teaser, I have been unable to tell myself that watching anything out of context about this film was the right thing to do. The teaser was a mini noir spectacle, exquisitely complex in the choreography of its sequences and special effects. It was one of the most adventurous concepts I had ever seen, made even more brilliant by the fact that I had absolutely NO IDEA as to what the story was about, the fact that made me giddy with delight. I realized then that, based on the disjointedly beautiful ballet I had witnessed, I did not want to know up until the very release date.

So, when the initial full-length trailer came out, I peeked at the first five seconds and would not allow myself to see more. Like a child reaching into a cookie jar, I wanted to indulge; unlike said child, I knew I would be spoiling a scrumptious dinner if I was greedy and yes, I do believe that watching anything about Inception in advance is pure, unadulterated greed. Some movies warrant and deserve to claim the air of mystery, only to gradually reveal their secrets to us in a darkened theatre brimming with fellow enthusiasts.

As is the case with most people, I cannot tolerate teasers and trailers that recount the entire movie within a minute. Selling out what seem to be the best parts is also a big no-no; selling out the best parts when it is known, in retrospect, that those were the singular ones worth watching is just painful, on so many levels. The Inception teaser is in a different league altogether, hinting at a unique and sprawling world, heretofore hidden in the corners of director Christopher Nolan's imagination. There are three directors I trust unequivocally with transporting me to universes unseen -- Tom Tykwer, James Cameron and Christopher Nolan -- and the latter filmmaker, who has managed to create a Gotham City to end all Gotham Cities, is the perfect director to take us into a surrealist innovation, where every building, every shadow and every move appears to be borne of a new dimension. So why should I not wait for the hour when I can finally see and marvel at the entire masterpiece? Choosing to taunt myself would be nothing short of masochistic.

Is it just me (come ON, it cannot just be me!) or is it more alluring for certain films to remain mysteries until the opening day? Do we need to know everything about what we are hotly anticipating? Inception or Intrigue? You be the judge. Here is the teaser: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DwuVKfjctk

EDIT: Yes, it has been almost a month since I started this article, and no, I still have not seen the trailer and stand by my decision not to peek... well, not beyond the first five seconds, that is.