The Prestige

[ellestra]

I’ve just seen The Prestige. If you don’t know it yet it is a movie about two illusionists and their bitter rivalry. Angier is a better showman. Borden is a better magician. But they are both obsessed with their work and mutual hatred. It leads to death and destruction and makes a very intriguing movie :p. Their mutual obsession ruins both their lives and careers. Makes them blind to everything and everyone else.

Despite what the setting and theme may suggest it is a science fiction not a fantasy movie. The magic is all illusion, the science is a real deal. That’s one of the things I liked most about this movie – it showed the times when advancements of science awed people. We are to jaded now - too much too fast.

The most fascinating thing is finding out what really happened.
This movie has two mysteries.
The movie starts with a murder – that’s one mystery. It is obvious what happens there as soon as it’s revealed how the machine works.
The other is Borden secret – how he does his trick. It’s both harder and more ordinary. I admit I guessed it somewhere in the middle of the movie and then all the clues become obvious. I admit I thought the ending explained it too literally but I’ve learned that what is obvious for one can be invisible too others. Although I think a bit of understatement is good thing it works better in books then movies. With a book you can go back and reread every part anytime. It’s bad when (at least some) people leave the cinema not understanding movie. I was always shocked how many people didn’t understand 12 Monkeys. Explanation makes a better box office.

Still this is wonderful movie about human obsession and ambition with just a touch of science fiction.