Product description

The Prestige [2006]

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Average customer rating: 4.0

Binding : DVD
EAN : 7321902106472
Label : Warner Home Video
Manufacturer : Warner Home Video
Publisher : Warner Home Video
Release date : 2007-03-12
Title : The Prestige [2006]
Actor : Array
Audience rating : Suitable for 12 years and over
Format : PAL
Languages : Array
Number of items : 1
Original release date : 2006-01-01
Region code : 2
Running time : 125
Studio : Warner Home Video
Theatrical releaseDate : 2006

Editorial reviews

Amazon.co.uk Review
The Prestige attempts a hat trick by combining a ridiculously good-looking cast, a highly regarded new director, and more than one sleight of hand. Does it pull it off? Sort of. Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman play rival magicians who were once friends before an on-stage tragedy drove a wedge between them. While Bale's Alfred Borden is a more skilled illusionist, Jackman's Rufus Angier is the better showman; much of the film's interesting first half is their attempts to sabotage--and simultaneously, top--each other's tricks. Even with the help of a prop inventor (Michael Caine) and a comely assistant (Scarlett Johansson), Angier can't match Borden's ultimate illusion: The Transporting Man. Angier's obsession with learning Borden's trick leads him to an encounter with an eccentric inventor (David Bowie) in a second half that gets bogged down in plot loops and theatrics. Director Christopher Nolan, reuniting with his Batman Begins star Bale, demonstrates the same dark touch that hued that film, but some plot elements--without giving anything away--seem out of place with the rest of the movie. It's better to sit back and let the sometimes-clunky turns steer themselves than try to draw back the black curtain. That said, The Prestige still manages to entertain long after the magician has left the stage--a feat in itself. --Ellen A. Kim

Customer reviews

review by: date: 2008-10-10 rating:

You can't just make something disapear! You have to bring it back!

The Plot
When fellow magician Alfred Borden (Christian Bale) accidently kills his wife, Robert Angier (Hugh Jackman) heads down a path of jeoulousy and revenge, desperate to discover the secrets of Borden's 'The Transported Man'.
Angier's journey takes him to the little town of Colordao Springs were great scientist Nikola Tesler (David Bowie), may have all the answers needs.

The Characters
Robert Angier (Hugh Jackman) - Supposedly the good guy, you see Angier become obssessed with revenge and lose the few people that care about him.
Alfred Borden (Christian Bale) - Making a new life for himself, Borden only wants to forget, but a persistant Angier is forcing him to retaliate.
Cutter (Michael Caine) - The stage-hand who is worried about Angier and does want to be involved in getting back at Borden.
Olivia Wenscombe (Scarlett Johanssen) - The assisstant who falls for both magicians and is stuck in the middle of the rivalry.

The Review
This film as grabbed a great story with both hands and made it work. Every charcter is perfectly cast and each actor gives a great performance. There is a lot of energy in the film and it moves along at a rapid pace. With twists and turns every now and again, the film keeps you on the edge of your seat. The film appeals to all ages and is 100% worth getting as a Christmas present.

Top notch, 5/5!

review by: flush81 date: 2008-09-13 rating:

Absolute magic!
This film completely suprised me.

I didnt think it would be anything special when i took out of the cover and switched it on.. was i in for a shock..

This is without doubt the best film i have ever seen, and the reason for this is because it is a film you can watch and again and enjoy it each time.

I dont want to give away too much about the film in case anyone hasnt seen but to the critics: So what if the twist is obvious when you reach the end ? -- it doesnt make the film any less enjoyable

One thing i found which is a bit odd, when angier demanded to know what knot borden tied on the girl, why didnt he just have a look? lol

apart from that , this film gets 100 stars out of 100, christian bale in another quality film and good performance from him.

review by: blade1486 date: 2008-09-07 rating:

Very entertaining .
A very enjoyable film , and one that should keep your attention right the way through to the end . Some reviewers , I feel , have been too critical of the film . Enjoy it for what it is , A couple of Illusionists trying to outdo each other , and entertaining the audience along the way .

review by: date: 2008-08-13 rating:

tricky & decently entertaining
Good abracadabra movie... Interesting story, strong cast, moving performances and intricate plot make it highly watchable. It's like riding a roller coaster through an out-of-the-world backdrop. The treat of David Bowie is great. He's the real wizard here. Bale and Jackman deliver top notch performances too. The period is recreated nicely. Although, the forefront of the story is the never-ending rivalry between two aspiring albeit cunning magicians, it is about the consuming nature of envy and revenge. The final payoff of the film is two "big secrets" (somewhat forced though) which unravel at the very final moments.

But, for a movie about love, obsession, revenge, deception and self-absorption, it is remarkably lack of passion. Virtually no character development. The characters are somewhat thin; coincidences are mechanistic and unrealistic. The root of their mutual hatred is obscure. O.K. the accidental death of Angier's wife triggered their animosity, but why Borden had taken such a big risk by tying the wrong knot? Is it envy? Maybe, but the film tells nothing about it. There are some holes in the plot too (e.g. everytime both protagonists invite somebody from the audience to come on-stage to help him, it's turned out to be either Bale or Jackman). Vow... Such coincidences are ridiculously improbable, but let's admit that they are virtually necessary for the sake of plot.

Overall, "The Prestige" is a decently entertaining film which may deserve multiple viewings. I recommend it for anyone who enjoys tremendous twists and turns in movies. (3.7/5.0)

review by: loomx date: 2008-07-09 rating:

Ah, Nolan does it again.
I had read the book previously (which by the way is very good, if not better than the movie) and was shocked to discover that it differed a lot form the original material. Obviously this makes the movie bad, right?

Nope. Nolan has taken a different take on the book and has created something that only he can achieve as a director, a thriller that requires more than watch to understand and you actulally want to watch it again (at least I did).

If you liked this I would also recommened "Memento", also directed by Nolan.

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