Forgot about those instances. So we can say that until they go under on the 747, we've actually seen reality. But from then on, it's a crap shoot.

pretty much. I think they were in reality, they went in for the job and then (I think) Leo woke up in reality. They never say how much time has gone by since his wife died so I don't know how old the kids should be. It is of course intentionally done that way so idiots like us have conversations about it in forums that are longer than some GDT's.

I think Leo is not in reality in the final scene. He wakes up in the airplane with all the other guys and there is no equipment, nothing attached to his arm. When he meets his father, Cobbs gives him his case and in the next scene they are at home and his father puts the case down. They said you never know how you get anywhere when you dream, so it would fit that they walk right from the airport in his home. But the main reason why I think it's a dream is, that his kids look exactly like in his dream. Age, haircut and so on. They would probably look a bit different than he remembered.

Some points I didn't understand:
- Arthur should have woken up when the van left the bridge (first kick and he was awake).
- Why is Fisher in Cobbs dream (last level) after he got shot, only the girl and Cobb connected each other for the dream. Fisher is dead and supposed to be in his limbo.

GREAT points about the final scenes.

Also, never thought about that. Hmm.

about your first point...do you even see their wrists after Leo and Ken wake up?

as for waking up...you never actually see them go a lot of places...ie: after the first job, you never see them arrive in France (its assumed because you see them on the helicopter). nor do you see them actually go to south america,or where ever, when they meet The Forger. while these could all be an assumed travel to save time, its no different then being at the airport then being at home a second (in movie time) later.

as for Arthur...because he didnt want to wake up?

about Fischer...it goes that when you die in a dream you go to pretty much empty deam space (limbo) where nothing exists. as we saw with Leo and Mal creation can happen in limbo though. when Leo and Page went to get him back i think Leo used the world that him and Mal created as a way to find Fisher (if that makes any sense).

After the third level it is just Limbo since you're so deep inside of your subconscious if you go any deeper you'd be literally inside of it.

So if you die and are heavily sedated you go into that state already since you can't wake up unless you die in limbo or get thrown off a building.

As far as I can remember, he wakes up, the stewardess gives him immigration papers and there is no sign of any equipment (I think you can see his hand, but my memory tricks me sometimes). He looks at all the other guys (including saito) and there is no sign that anybody was attached to a machine.

about Fischer: my problem with this scene is, that I thought it was necessary to link all the co-dreamers together with this machine. They did it in every level to get to the next one. So, Fischer is shot and is supposed to be his own deep dark dream space (limbo). Cobb and the girl link each other and search for him. How can they find Fischer in Cobbs dream without linking him up? Cobb says he will look for Saito and I don't understand how he can look for him when they are not linked in the prior level. Is Cobb the magical limbo master and everybody who dies ends in his dream town? I don't really get this part.

also in regard to them not being connected to the machine, maybe the flight attendant disconnected them from the machine, she's the one who turned it on.

I was reading an interview with the movie's costuming director today who says that Cobb's kids are wearing different clothing than in the dreams, so the film ends in reality. Also, it's brought up that his wedding ring is his totem, and not Mal's top. In his dreams he has his ring on, in the ending scene he does not.

So, happy ending for everyone!

it could be a case where everyone thats sharing a dream goes to one limbo.

Yeah I mentioned his wedding ring a few posts back.

Good eyes, then! I had a feeling one of us had mentioned it but I was feeling WAAAY too lazy to look ahaha