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19 comments
16 comments
Rank This Matchup or Comment/Reply Below
on 7/17/2010
Nolan was practicing for Inception when he made Memento. What a pair of fantastic movies. (On a side note, it was reading Roger Ebert's review for Inception that made me realize that maybe there is a plot hole in Memento, even though I never thought about it after half a dozen viewings.) Anyway, I just came back from watching Inception, and I'm still on a high, but it is currently coming in immediately ahead of Memento in my Top 5.
on 7/19/2010
It's a close one, but I think Inception squeaks out ahead of Nolan's previous mind-bender.
on 7/23/2010
Inception wins this one. As for the plot hole in Memento, I wouldn't worry about that, @johnmason. I asked the question Roger Ebert asks when mentioning Memento in a Nolan site, and this is my favorite answer: " As I see it, the effects of brain damage aren't black and white, especially since Leonard has his amnesia from trauma. There are only two or three real-life examples of human patients with anterograde amnesia, and I know that two of them basically had their entire hippocampus taken out. H.M. (the most famous) was apparently aware he had memory impairment, but Clive Weaving does not know. He does somewhat remember very emotional events in his life after his illness, like his brother dying. He gets sad when someone mentions his brother but he doesn't know why. Weaving's memory is also extremely bad - he only remembers 7-30 seconds at a time. He still remembers how to play piano and conduct even though he doesn't remember that he went to school for it. He even forgets that he was making music at all right after the piece ends and he basically goes into fits for several minutes afterwards. The brain is a really strange thing. So...yeah. Realistically, it depends on how Leonard's brain was affected by the injury and how much it managed to recover."
on 8/3/2010
Memento felt more innovative, believable, exciting, better acted, and had a much more powerful ending. I liked Inception, but for whatever reason, it didn't 'click' with me the way Memento did. Probably partially because I couldn't get over Ellen Page and Joseph Gordon-Levitt's miscasting in the film, and partially because I just found the whole 'dream' structure convoluted and a tad bit ridiculous. Still a fantastic, enjoyable and surprisingly cerebral film.
on 9/8/2010
What ^ he said. The total lack of subtlety killed Inception's ending for me. You just didn't need to zoom into the totem son, you didn't. I guess it's like Ralph Wiggum's analysis of The Departed..."the rat symbolizes obviousness", except it's not majorly detrimental to The Departed (being more of a linear thriller/actioner).
on 1/25/2011
Memento by a hair.
on 1/29/2011
Both in my top 10, have to pick Inception as more of a masterpiece.
on 2/24/2011
Memento, hands down.
on 4/23/2011
"Nolan was practicing for Inception when he made Memento". Brilliant. INCEPTION takes this one just because it has been one of the few movies that can go neck-to-neck with MEMENTO in complexity and writing. But it's a 10 to MEMENTO'S 9.99.
on 7/20/2011
Two great mindf*cks. The dream thriller is the best one though.
on 12/10/2011
I refuse to do this ranking sure inception might have squeked by if i was to vote but i am not willing to say memento is any less great
on 1/22/2012
Memento messes with your brain in ways Inception can't.
on 2/27/2012
Inception takes it out as Nolans masterpiece.
on 4/6/2012
Memento
on 4/7/2012
Memento is my all time fav movie. While it may not be Nolan's true masterpiece, I think it is the most enjoyable and rewatchable flick he has made.
on 6/6/2012
I loved Inception, but I was blown away by Memento. The first time I watched it I was blown away. I watched it ten times over the next two weeks. That's how great it was. To this day, I haven't watched a movie that is as great as it. Memento is the main reason why I love Chris Nolan so much. So this is a no-brainer to me.
on 6/20/2012
Two outstanding classics. Simply brilliant mind-benders that get better with repeat viewings. For this, I'll go with Memento because the reverse linear narrative is still remarkable to this day.
on 7/17/2012
Inception.
on 7/28/2012
The two greatest Christopher Nolan movies in my opinion, with The Prestige being a very close third. I have to go with Inception though, it blew my mind in multiple ways. It proves to Hollywood that original movies can still be made; they don't have to be sequels, spin-offs, reboots or remakes.
on 7/29/2012
VERY close, but Inception BARELY!!!
on 8/16/2012
Inception only because Michael Caine was in it. To close otherwise.
on 11/18/2012
Memento. It holds up very well and is a fantastic thriller.
Both are exceedingly intelligent and clever films made in an era where the "dumb" movie has reigned supreme. As admirable as Memento is, it just doesn't entertain the way Inception does. Inception is Christopher Nolan's best film (so far).
on 2/2/2013
Nolan is a genius and both a amazing. I must choose Memento. Blows me away every time.
Memento is probably the greater achievement in film making but Inception was much more entertaining to me.
Memento is great, but it can't beat my #1.
on 2/8/2013
Inception is a greater story than Memento
on Feb 27
I admit that when Inception first came out, I was caught up in the hype. It's a great movie, but Memento is just one of a kind. Inception has great special effects and all, but Memento really showcases Nolan's sheer ability by not relying on special effects, nudity, excessive profanity, and all the other props that many movies use. Now, Inception didn't use hardly any of this either except for the special effects. And it's not a knock against Inception, but Memento is more like a bare-bones movie made on a much lower budget and yet is still so amazing.
on Mar 3
Momento is a good movie but isnt re-watchable for me.
I'm sorry, but did you say that Memento isn't re-watchable? Really? Wow. I've never heard anyone say that about Memento. I've seen it three times and discovered something new everytime. It's easily the most re-watchable movie I've seen in the modern era.
on Mar 4
Memento definitely wins. And along with The Prestige, Inception and Memento make up the Holy Trinity of mindfuck films that Nolan has made. Memento is stronger than Inception due to its setting, characters and narrative. The validity of the entire film is more believable and relatable than Inception.
on Mar 30
I've changed my mind. Inception is the more entertaining film, Memento can be slow in some scenes.
on Apr 9
Both re-watchable to the bone. But Inception is slightly better for entertainment purposes.
on May 5
This is rather tough for some people. Both are confusing yet intriguing films and two of Nolan's best. Due to the clever structure, Memento wins
on Tuesday
Ahhh, i cant decide.
