By now, those who've seen Christopher Nolan's latest film, "Inception" in the theater and enjoyed it are returning for second, third and more viewings.  If you're one of those people, this guide is for you, but warning, it does contain SPOILERS.

For those of you who haven't yet seen the film, I recommend going in entirely blank slate if possible, and don't recommend you read or watch anything about it beforehand.  Please revisit this page after you've seen it at least once.

*Watch the wedding band.  Much has been made since the film's release about whether Cobb has his wedding band on in every scene.  If you can pull yourself away from the action and complication, watch for it.  (Hint: it isn't on in every scene.  Deciphering why it's on in some scenes and not others might be helpful.)

*Pay attention to the children.  Cobb's children appear throughout the film.  Do they always look the same, appear the same age, and are they dressed the same?  They are supposed to be with their grandmother, and we assume that's Mal's mother, since she has a French accent.   (Hint: in most scenes, they have on exactly the same clothing, with only a couple of exceptions.)

*Enjoy the chase scene in Mombasa, one of the best chase scenes in recent cinematic memory.  Are there elements of it that appear to be a dream?

*Decipher the train riddle.  "You're waiting for a train, a train that will take you far away.  You know where you hope this train will take you, but you don't know for sure.  Because you'll be together."

*Watch for trains throughout the film.  What do they represent?

*Pay attention to the water imagery throughout the film, walls of water, rain, water bursting through, bathtubs filled with water.  In the opening scene, Cobb is washed up on a beach.   How or why is that important?

*Study the scene where Michael Caine's character first appears, and pay very close attention to the dialogue.    Then give equal attention to the final exchanges of dialogue between Marion Cotillard and Leonardo Di Caprio.  

*What is the significance of architects, and architecture?   

*Try to see what's on the "confidential" document Dom pulls from Saito's safe early in the film, what's on the flight ticket he's offered twice, and what's in Fischer's passport.  If you can, look for Fischer's birthdate.  (Spoiler:  It's 17 Sep 1973)  What's the significance of the man who keeps handing him an airline ticket and telling him he must "go now."

*Ask yourself the significance of the numbers:  528 491.  Other than being a six-digit prime number, does it have any significance?

*Pay attention to the names:  Fischer, Arthur, Eames, Browning, Mal (pronounced "Moll" as in "Molly"), Ariadne, Miles.  What is the significance of Mr. Charles?  What is the importance of their various roles?  (The Tourist, The Point Man, The Architect, The Forger, The Extractor, The Mark)

*Pay attention to the totems, and their names:  top, die, bishop.  Why is it that Cobb can use Mal's totem if one isn't supposed to be able to do that?

*Take time to enjoy the Hans Zimmer soundtrack, which was apparently created without seeing the film.  

*Enjoy the Edith Piaf song used as a countdown throughout, and ask yourself the significance of the title.  Appreciate the nod to Marion Cotillard's turn in "La Vie en Rose."

*Watch the top.  Cobb spins it several times throughout the film.  How often does it fall?  What significance does it have with Mal's secret which has been deeply buried?

*Cobb tells Ariadne there's only one thing she needs to know about him.  What is that?  He admits to doing something with his memories throughout the process.  How does that correlate to the concept of inception, the father-son relationship, and the rescue?  What is resolved by film's end?

*Ask yourself the significance of the rescue of Saito from limbo, and ponder what happens with Cobb's gun.

*Pay attention to the use of cold in the third level of the dream.  How would that correspond to reality, and why is everyone dressed in white?

*Take time to enjoy the location shots.  The "alps" scenes were filmed at Fortress Mountain Resort in Alberta, Canada, and the "Mombasa" scenes were actually shot in Tangiers.

*Ponder the significance of Mal's apparent suicide, and why she would need to be rescued from limbo.

*Watch for the gauzy curtains.  What do they mean?  Why do they appear more at the end of the film, and what is the light coming through them?  What significance do they have if any to the appearance of the children, which increases at the end? 

*Pay special attention to the difference in the passage of time in the film.  Notice especially when a watch face is ticking.

*Ask yourself the significance of Saito's call and Cobb's passage through immigration.  He doesn't speak to any of the other main characters after he wakes up on the plane.  Why is that?

*Some have suggested it's significant to look at Cobb's passport stamp as he passes through immigration (I'm unconvinced).  Do pay attention to whether or not he is wearing his wedding ring in this scene. 

*Is Michael Caine wearing the same clothing he had on in the earlier scene in Paris? 

*Enjoy the CGI and special effects, especially the rotating hallway reminiscent of Fred Astaire's classic scene in "Royal Wedding."

*Take time to enjoy the laughs in the film, including the "worth a shot" kiss, "It seemed neater," and Eames' idea of dreaming bigger.   Have a good laugh at Saito on the green shag carpet noting it's polyester instead of wool.  Is the carpeting always there in that scene?  And where is this apartment located?

*Look for possible real-life mirrors to any of the events or people in the dreams. 

*Consider that the actual length of time covered in the film was either very short or very long.  Which is more logical? 

*Pick a theory of the plot and stick with it throughout your second viewing of the film.  Does it hold?   

*Finally, appreciate the script and the fact that the screenplay took ten years for Christopher Nolan to write. 

Then, ask yourself the following questions:

*Is it logical that Michael Caine's character would be in Paris?

*Is it logical that when the van is tumbling, affecting the gravity in scenes below it, there is no corresponding gravity disturbance in the airplane above it?

*Is it believable that the architect Cobb hires in Paris would coincidentally be named Ariadne? 

*Is it logical that Cobb's children called him in Tokyo?  Are their voices consistent throughout that call?

*If they are using a powerful sedative, does it make sense that any of them would drink alcohol beforehand?  How are they administering sedative inside the dreams?

*How did they know that Fischer would order water?

*How do they get back and forth from various locations around the globe?  Eames claims to be in Sydney studying Browning and his relationship with Fischer, at the same time they're all in a workshop where exactly?  Paris?   How are they getting back and forth?

*Is it logical that rooms 528 and 491 would be stacked on top of each other in a hotel? 

*Is it logical that Fischer could be revived with a defibrillator after waiting that long? 

*Is it logical in the dream scene in Saito's love nest apartment that the mob outside would be in Mombasa? 

*Is it logical that Fischer never recognizes Saito, if he's one of their company's chief competitors? 

*Is it logical that non-dreamers see what's in the dreams above and below them when they've already been kicked or didn't enter?  Yusif laughs as he's driving the van.  How does he see what's in the dream below? 

For a helpful primer, see:  The Guide and Inception Explained - Green Tea Movie (this site has spoilers in the second section and not in the first,   which is also useful to those who have not yet seen the film)

On the Web:

Inception - official site (Warner Bros)  (possible spoilers)

Inception - Wikipedia (synopsis, filming details, spoilers) 

Everything you wanted to know about "Inception" - Salon (spoilers)