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The Prestige

Director Christopher Nolan's dark 2006 thriller about the fierce rivalry between two magicians.

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The Twists and Turns Never End!

Sep 9, 2009

by MichaelN

Rating:

Two rival magicians in the late 1800’s. Each trying to sabotage each other, outdo each other, and decode the secrets of each others tricks. The twists and turns in this movie never seem to end. The story even brings in Houdini’s water closet escape trick as well as the great scientist Tesla. The story does exaggerate a lot about Tesla but it seems to work in this film.

The acting is first class and Michael Caine puts in another great supporting spot. Scarlett Johannsan is not quite as good as Jessica Beals was in The Illusionist but she is acceptable as the magician’s assistant and lover.

I would have given the film 5 stars but I was a little disappointed with the ending which seemed too implausible.

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More The Prestige reviews

review by rbuchanan. July 01, 2011

posted in Forbidden Planet - Sci-Fi Books & Films!

Buena Vista / Touchstone DVD review

I've not much to type of Christoper Nolan's finest accomplishment that hasn't been stated before. At this juncture, it wouldn't be unfair for the Nolans to abandon non-linear plotting; they've exploited the conceit so thoroughly here in conjunction with numerous interrelated visual metaphors in order to fully explore a variety of Victorian themes: the thrill of technology-driven entrepreneurship during the onset of modernity, science as magic explained and the nature of dualistic … more

Comments (5) Compliments (21)

review by Lopez15. December 30, 2009

A mind bending and twist a minute thriller....

I've seen some movies that try to blow your mind, I've seen some movies that try to challenge you and make you believe in the unimaginable. The Prestige does both, it challenges you while making you think you know what is going on and just when you have it all figured out it throws a Monkey wrench into your plans and leaves you totally baffled and dumbfounded even after the ending, so the real question is what is true in this film? and what is a lie? The Prestige … more

Comments (2) Compliments (27)

Quick Tip by bmcintire4. July 27, 2010

posted in Movie Hype

A Quick Tip by bmcintire4

A few flaws, however a great , great film. Chris Nolan has yet to make a bad film. Christian Bale is oscar-worthy is this movie.

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review by Husher315. May 15, 2009

Abra-Cadabra! Underrated Yet Truly Amazing! "The Prestige" Revisited!

The Prestige is probably one of the most underrated films of this this past decade. With such a great cast that included Hugh Jackman, Christian Bale, Michael Caine and Scarlett Johansson, this great drama/thriller did not get all the attention it deserved. This probably had a lot to do with the fact that The Illusionist was released around the same time of The Prestige. One thing is for sure, this film was pure magic. The Prestige follows two magicians, … more

Comments (6) Compliments (42)

review by vemartin. January 13, 2008

Bale and Jackman are Spellbinding in the Prestige

Pros: Great story-line and performances; outstanding direction. Cons: Hard to wrap your mind around at first... The Bottom Line: In the final analysis The Prestige is a complicated intelligent tale that genuinely beguiles and entertains. Plot Details: This opinion reveals minor details about the movie''s plot. According to The Prestige (2006) there is difference between a magician and a wizard; the former entertains with gimmickry, … more

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review by newtonooi. April 18, 2007

The most under-rated movie of 2006

There were many surprises at this year's Academy Awards. One of the biggest was the absence of nominations for several films, most noticeably this one. Containing no sex, no nudity, no bad language, no gore, no grand action scenes, minimal comedy, a non-descript sountrack, and only several seconds of violence, this movie has none of the hallmarks of a top movie. But a top movie it is; it sat atop the box office charts for a month and everyone who has seen it comes away impressed. This is one of … more

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review by MzJen_2_review. April 17, 2007

Well now, I was enchanted by these dark illusions

This movie has certainly captured the art of magic, its complexities and wonder. As two friends' different philosophies on magic set tensions in motion, it is a tragic death that forever puts a wedge between them. A rivalry ensues between the more penetrating Borden (Bale) and the showman Angiers (Jackman). With three different time lines moving all at once through most of the movie, there's really never a moment's boredom. This storytelling is efficient and compelling. The characters are rich--they … more

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review by ssjakira1. March 31, 2007

posted in Movie Hype

.noitceridsiM

Pros: Probably the single most...different movie plot I've ever seen. Cons: Sometimes hard to follow the heavy English accents The Bottom Line: Don't look away... Plot Details: This opinion reveals minor details about the movie's plot. Are you watching closely? I’d heard all sorts of good things about The Prestige so one day when my mother and I were out running errands, we decided to pop into the … more

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review by MichaelN. March 29, 2007

The Twists and Turns Never End!

Two rival magicians (Jackman and Bales) in the late 1800's. Each trying to sabotage each other, outdo each other, and decode the secrets of each others tricks. The twists and turns in this movie never seem to end. The story even brings in Houdini's water closet escape trick as well as the great scientist Tesla. The story does exaggerate a lot about Tesla but it seems to work in this film. The acting is first class and Michael Caine puts in another great supporting spot. Scarlett … more

Comment Compliment

review by cyclone_march. March 17, 2007

posted in Movie Hype

Dueling obsessions

Pros: Outstanding performances, very tightly controlled story and imagery Cons: One romp into the unreal that is a little hard to accept The Bottom Line: One of the best DVD's I've seen in a long time. Worth the time and effort (attention is required). Plot Details: This opinion reveals major details about the movie''s plot. The Prestige (latest movie by the Nolan brothers who gave … more

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see all The Prestige reviews (13)

About the reviewer

MichaelN
Ranked #11

I first got on this blog to discuss my first passion which is books. Since I have gotten on I find that books are only a piece of this blog and I can discuss just about anything that comes to mind. It … more

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About this movie

Wiki

The Prestige represents the second film that Christopher Nolan directed that Christian Bale starred in; the first was Batman Begins.

Christian Bales character in The Prestige was named Alfred. Alfred is the name of the Michael Canes character in Batman Begins and The Dark Knight. Cane has co-starred with Bale in all three of these films, coincidentally directed by the same director of all three, Christopher Nolan.

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Details

Cast: Christian Bale, Scarlett Johansson, Hugh Jackman, Andy Serkis, Michael Caine, Piper Perabo, Russ Fega, Ricky Jay, Jim Piddock, Ron Perkins, Chao-Li Chi, Scott Davis, Ezra Buzzington, Roger Rees, Edward Hibbert, James Lancaster, James Otis, Mark Ryan, Daniel Davis, Jamie Harris, Rebecca Hall, Samantha Mahurin, Christopher Neame, Monty Stuart, J. Paul Moore, Anthony Demarco, Gregory Humphreys, John Crye, W. Morgan Sheppard, Sean Francis Howse, Julie Sanford, Olivia Merg, Zoe Merg, Johnny Liska, Kevin Will, Christopher Judges, Sam Menning, Brian Tahash, Jodi Bianca Wise, Nikki Glick, Enn Reitel, Clive Kennedy, Rob Arbogast, Bob Arbogast, Chris Cleveland

Director: Christopher Nolan

Genre: Thriller

Release Date: October 20, 2006

MPAA Rating: PG-13

Screen Writer: Christopher Nolan, Jonathan Nolan

Runtime: 2hrs 10min

Studio: Syncopy Films, Newmarket Films, Warner Bros. Pictures, Touchstone Pictures

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