Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1250 in DVD
• Released on: 2007-03-12
• Rating: Suitable for 12 years and over
• Format: PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 125 minutes

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

Synopsis
Director Christopher Nolan's (MEMENTO) eclectic resume gains another interesting entry with THE PRESTIGE. Set in early 20th-century London, the film centres on the bitter rivalry between two magicians who go to increasingly dangerous lengths to upstage one another. Robert Angier (Hugh Jackman, X-MEN) and Alfred Bordon (Christian Bale, BATMAN BEGINS) start out as apprentice magicians, but when an elaborate stunt goes horribly wrong, they’re driven beyond the point of reconciliation. In the years that follow, Robert grows wildly jealous of Alfred's superior talents, so in a last ditch attempt to gain some artistic ground, he sends his beautiful assistant Olivia (Scarlett Johansson, MATCH POINT) to seduce Alfred and steal his secrets.
While comparisons to Neil Burger’s THE ILLUSIONIST are inevitable--both films are set around the same time period and both deal with suspicious attitudes towards magic--Nolan's film concentrates more on the dynamic between these two characters and the rivalry that governs their every move. As the narrative twists and turns down a number of unexpected avenues, the viewer is drawn into a complex world of smoke and mirrors, where nothing is as it seems and no one can be trusted. Bale and Jackman perfectly execute their roles, winding up the tension to an unbearable degree as they wilfully enter into some dangerously competitive patterns of behaviour. Michael Caine makes his second appearance in a Nolan film, almost reprising his role of Alfred in BATMAN BEGINS by playing Cutter, Jackman's mentor; and Johansson pouts and flounces across the elaborate sets like a classic Hollywood screen siren. Stylistically, THE PRESTIGE is full of dark, gloomy imagery and a palpable sense of menace. It's not an easy film to digest, but fans of intelligent cinema will be richly rewarded with a film that delivers on both style and substance.

Customer Reviews

the prestige vs. the illusionist - no contest
I was totally spellbound by the illusionist, brought out around about the same time as this film, so it was with slight anticipation that I watched this, expecting that it wouldn't match up to the other in the slightest. What a surprise, I was right. While I found the first film brilliant and cleverly crafted with a brilliant storyline this was just a poor, weak plotted version of something vaguely resembling a good magician's film. The ending was absurd and I was actually throwing cushions at the screen because it was such a messy plot!!Don't bother with this, watch the illusionist and see a genuinely good plot instead of a positively awful one.

Excellent value for money!
Always wanted to buy this but had second thoughts about the price,bought this along with The Prestige and Equilibrium as part of the 3 for 10 offer.
Speedy delivery and great value for money!

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!