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The Prestige

Fleur De Guerre

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,056
Location
Walton on Thames, UK
Anyone else heard about this?

I saw a trailor for it and it look brilliant. I really want to read the book before I see it though. I have heard great things about Christopher Priest, I like Nolan's films and it has a great cast. What more do you need?
 

Doctor Strange

I'll Lock Up
Messages
5,228
Location
Hudson Valley, NY
Lots of folks are confused between this film and The Illusionist. Why do these things always come in pairs? I mean: Armageddon/Deep Impact, Volcano/Dante's Peak, and, come to think of it, Hollywoodland/The Black Dahlia?!?!?

As a former student of magic, I had thought that this was based on the famous real-life rivalry of Ching Ling Foo and Chung Ling Su (who was not Chinese, but the stage persona of an Englishman) at the turn of the last century - but the story seems to have only been loosely suggested by those events.
 

Alighieri

Suspended
Messages
20
Location
Indiana
Besides how can you go wrong with Bale and Jackman? My girl is already wanting to buy the movie for a "private" screening. :p
 

Feraud

Bartender
Messages
17,190
Location
Hardlucksville, NY
Did anyone see The Prestige?

I did and thought it was great! I enjoyed this more than The Illusionist although my better half disagrees.
The acting, story, and costumes were excellent.
I have been a Christoper Nolan fan since Memento and am glad to see his talent as a director growing.

For those who do not know, The Prestige is about two magicians who were partners but are bitter rivals due to the accidental (?) death of Hugh Jackman's wife while performing a water trick. Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman star as the rivals who attempt to sabotage the other's career. Hugh Jackman becomes obsessed with a particular trick called "The Transporting Man" and goes to great lenghts to obtain its secret.

Michael Caine and Scarlett Johanssen co-star. The latter was her usual bland self.
 

Miss Neecerie

I'll Lock Up
Messages
6,616
Location
The land of Sinatra, Hoboken
I saw this on Tuesday.

I am very torn between saying which is the 'better' film, this or the Illusionist.

I have decided to leave it at 'both are fantastic'.

In many ways they are mirrors.

The Illusionist is about love and the magic that builds lives up.

The Prestige is about love, but the revenge and hate/love of competition and how it tears lives apart.
 

Steve

Practically Family
Messages
550
Location
Pensacola, FL
Just got back from seeing it. It kept me enthralled; in a quiet sort of way. The whole film is one amazing magic trick, and the prestige of it all is astounding.
 

Marc Chevalier

Gone Home
Messages
18,192
Location
Los Feliz, Los Angeles, California
.

TERRIFIC film!!!


The taughtest, most carefully crafted of screenplays -- absolutely filled with clues that we don't pick up on (and we laugh at ourselves afterward for not having seen and heard them).


One word of advice: See The Prestige twice. It's one of those rare films that's even more enjoyable at the second viewing. When you see it again, you'll catch every clue (and there are literally dozens) that you missed the first time -- and you'll be amazed at how the filmmakers made the truth accessible all along.



.
 

scotrace

Head Bartender
Staff member
Messages
14,378
Location
Small Town Ohio, USA
Mmmbbbnlmmmmbbbbblll

Christian Bale gives us another fine two hours of lisping, mumbling and speaking at less than a whisper. You can do that with the right voice, which he does not possess. I saw it with several people and we had to keep constantly backing up and cranking the volume to try and decode what the hell he was not saying.
 

Feraud

Bartender
Messages
17,190
Location
Hardlucksville, NY
o.k. confess, you do not like Bale do you! ;) :)

His particular voice does not distract me but I have noticed a tendency for actors to not speak as clearly as they should. I am not sure if this is because of the ability to re-record a vocal track (which seem to not be clearing things up for you!), a sign of the times (is it a post 70's phenom?), or the potential lack of proper diction as a requirement for film (as opposed to theater)...[huh]
 

Feraud

Bartender
Messages
17,190
Location
Hardlucksville, NY
Steve said:
On that I have to agree. Compare Casino Royale with His Girl Friday and it really becomes apparent.
Hmmm, I wonder about that. His Girl Friday verges on parody with the way the characters spit out their dialogue.
Rosalind Russell mocks Grant in the film for his rapid fire delivery.
 

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