top spotted in movie - Muppets Most Wanted

[the Earl of Whirl]

I am guessing no one else saw the pump top in the movie "Muppets Most Wanted."  I just noticed it today as we had the movie on while we were taking the Christmas tree down.  It looks like it is 17 or 18 minutes into the movie and right before they send Kermit to the Gulag with a fake mole on his cheek (which makes him look like the evil Constantine).

My wife and I are arguing over what our interpretation of the pump top is.  I am wondering if it a take off of "Inception".  The top definitely is slowing and stops when the bad guy/muppet Constantine shows up.  Is it simply there to show how everything stops when he shows up or is there more to it.

I took a quick look around the internet but did not see any pictures or videos of this scene yet.

[the Earl of Whirl]

In looking for some evidence of the pump top in the "Muppets Most Wanted" movie, I ran across this very early muppet scene on Sesame Street.  There are no tops spinning in it but they do a rendition of a classic top spinning song: Spinning Wheel!  (fyi - there is no video until after 2:15)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20mITVyfykQ

[ta0]

I am guessing no one else saw the pump top in the movie "Muppets Most Wanted."

My guess is that nobody saw the movie!

But to keep the Earl happy, here it is. I linked it so it should start playing like 30 seconds before the 4 second scene (11:07 - 11:11)   

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4XAlZ68bKQ#t=630

Mike, you should really watch Inception. The top appears for much longer . . .

[ta0]

Give yourself a pat in the back if you noticed, from just watching the top, that the youtube upload has the left and right reversed. I didn't until I saw the wanted posters but Sherlock Holmes (or toytopguy) would. The pump top is precessing (and therefore spinning) counterclockwise what is a giveaway as all pump tops spin clockwise!

It is a little curious that the top is spinning with the plunge out. It was probably spun on a different surface and then lifted by the plunge.

I agree with you Earl, I think it is a reference to Inception.

[the Earl of Whirl]

I couldn't get this to play earlier today but I did just a few minutes ago......and I notice all the voices are a little higher!

Good catch on the precession thing.