The Prestige on DVD (2006)

Best film of 2006

BH101 from Cambridge [Highly rated reviewer] , 28/02/2007

Best film I saw all last year, and for me, far better and more enjoyable than some other films which attracted more acclaim (I'm looking at you, Babel). Nolan on the absolute top of his game.

Bale and Jackman are superb, the story is riveting, and aside from a slightly wobbly accent from Scarlett Johansson, everything about it is of the highest quality. Very different from the Illusionist, which is simpler, more linear, and less ambitious in scope- The Prestige is a complex, rich, intriguing film about life, love, art, obsession and deception. Michael Caine lends excellent support, and I personally really enjoyed Bowie's cameo as the eccentric Serb-American inventor Tesla.

Read the book on the strength of seeing the film, and while enjoyable in its own right, it only served to emphasize just what a superb job was done of adapting the screenplay. All the changes worked for the better, while retaining the heart of darkness that gives this film such a chilling atmosphere.

See it. It's the sort of film it's difficult to watch without then wanting to spend hours talking about.

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Best of the best.

younglochinvar from Prestatyn [Highly rated reviewer] , 17/09/2007

My favorite movie of all time is a period piece, drama, thriller, romance, action/adventure, sci-fi as well as documenting the history of magic. Even it's comedy is perfectly timed. Not a word of the screenplay is wasted and both acting and direction are flawless. Equally if not more enjoyable once you fully grasp the outcome then re-watch the film. BRILLIANT!

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Nolan's best, possibly 2006's best.

Michael Pattison from Gateshead, England. , 23/12/2006

Outstanding: a film told for the most part in flashback, with one character reading another character's journal... and within that narrative, the other character reads the principle character's journal. On top of this, parallel to this dual-perspective, we've a third character reliving the fatal night which begins the film. It's spellbinding stuff, narratively exciting and completely authentic. Nolan is growing vastly in confidence and skill, and one would hope that he continues to be prolific, ambitious and vastly intelligent. His direction of actors is admirable - all the performances are notable, but Bale, at the very top of his game, gives further evidence of being the finest actor currently working. Nolan also has a fine sense of pacing and volume, knowing when to cut and what to - it's incredibly complicated stuff made to look effortless, much like the magic tricks themselves.

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Reel Magic.......

PaulaWestwood from Ashton-Under-Lyne [Highly rated reviewer] , 10/11/2006

This is a very unusual film, a total one off that comes right out of nowhere and is nothing like anything that is out right now. There isn't a weak performance anywhere, they are all outstanding and this makes for a treasure of a film. Even if period theming (turn of the century 18 to 1900s) puts you off most films, this never gets in the way of a great story, and anyway the way it is handled should make even the sternest like this one. It is an extra-ordinary film that I would definately rate as a 'must see' !!

Its for you if : You like an interesting story that is not run of the mill. Its not for you if : You only like shoot 'em ups with a good peppering of F's in !

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Magical

Carrie Stewart from London, England [Highly rated reviewer] , 27/11/2006

Forget all the bells and whistles (I figured out the 'twist' early on), and look at it as an excellent character study and great story. It focuses on two magicians who begin their careers as colleagues but, after a tragedy, turn against each other in a rivalry which spans years. Christian Bale plays Bardon, Hugh Jackman is Angiers. Bardon is the better magician, Angiers is the better showman. Sometimes one is on top, sometimes the other, but their old friend is always around to spoil things. It is their rivalry which is the interesting thing, and shown through flashbacks within flashbacks (Christopher Nolan of Memento directs, so it was never going to be straightforward). Bale is the best thing in it, but then he is an amazing actor. Jackman is competent as Angiers, although his accent is his own which I found odd for an Englishman. Though it seems to be a film of dodgy accents. Scarlett Johansson (rather wooden and miscast), doesn't seem to know where she's from, and neither does David Bowie. Is he Scottish, is he Russian? Michael Caine again is excellent. As a mystery this may have left a lot to be desired, but as a study of two men whose passion for magic slowly becomes their own undoing, it's a great film.

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Entertaining!

A customer from London , 18/05/2007

Saw this at the cinema and really enjoyed it. It has a few twists and keeps you guessing at points, so you do need to concentrate on this movie, its not one to nip into the kitchen for a cuppa and hope you havent missed anything, you gotta keep your eye on the ball (pause button definitely needed). Jackman and Bale are great and well cast and I think its about time I saw it again. I would recommend it.

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