It's directed by the same person as the Dark Knight. It even has quite a few of the same cast members, and even the same soundtrack composer. That's where the similarities END, though, as this movie is something much deeper and much greater than most other movies you've seen. It's not impossible to follow, if you just pay attention, but beyond having a super-interesting story, the way it's executed is absolutely flawless.
If this movie were done by anyone else, with anyone else, it would have failed miserably. It's very science-fiction, and it is about dreams and breaking in to other people's dreams, but good lord, the way it's executed actually makes you BELIEVE in what you're seeing, and the tension and action is the best I've ever seen in a movie.
Oh man, there's this one action scene that takes place inside a hotel hallway while it is spinning around. And the one guy is, like, crawling from one wall to the next, standing up on each wall as the world spins around. It's so unbelievable natural, and I honestly have NO fucking idea how they even accomplished that scene. It seems physically impossible, but it's so believable.
That's pretty much the vein of the entire movie, whether it's the story or the action. It's SEEMS impossible, but it LOOKS believable.
And I would NOT describe it as a feel-good movie. There were moments where I honestly felt a little terrified at my own reality, and what this movie was implying. You know, the "what ifs" and such.
Now, I'm a big supporter of Imax, even when it's not 3D. In my opinion if you don't see this in theaters with a sound system as good as in an Imax theater, you are seriously missing out on the experience. The sound design and soundtrack are also very incredible in this movie.