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It’s not often that a movie really makes you think. Not something like Crash - that made you think about the issue being presented, but it didn’t make you actually think. The Prestige did that for me.

The Prestige stars Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman as two rival magicians who keep trying to out-do each other. Every time that one does a new magic trick, the other attempts to find out how it was done and duplicate it. They each become so obsessed with out-doing the other that they start going to crazy lengths, eventually dealing with more than just typical magician trickery.

The movie takes place in late-19th century London and is wonderfully directed by Christopher Nolan of Batmans Begins (which I loved) and the upcoming sequel. The depiction of the time period is very well done. The streets of London are littered with magician show posters, and it’s easy to understand the general fascination with magic at the time.

All around, the movie is well acted. Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman are a great team even though they rarely directly interact during the movie. But their entire lives are focused on beating the other and they do a great job of building up their obsessions as the movie progresses.

The supporting actors (Michael Caine, Scarlett Johansson, Piper Perabo) aren’t particularly bad but their show is stolen by Bale and Jackman. At times the movie seems to have to many characters. Michael Caine always seems to be in the room, but he never really has much to do. Scarlett Johansson is the woman who they both (surprise!) love but her actions in the movie just seem to distract from the main plotline.

The soundtrack for the movie is surprisingly bad. Well, alright - not bad, but just not really anything. In movies like this you sort of expect for a central theme to play at times during the movie. Here, all there is here is this sort of musical drone for a couple of notes. It’s just sort of there to be there and I really missed something to identify with the movie like so many other movies have.

For the first half hour of the movie, I was very confused becuase it suddenly throws us into 3 different times of their lives and there are no subtitles to guide us and tell us what happens and in what order. As the movie progresses, it becomes apparent what happens when but not until the very end did I fully understand how and where each scene fit into the story. My dad actually walked out of the movie theater living room because he couldn’t understand the movie.

But I’m very glad that I sat through the entire thing. Althout a little bit confusing throughout, the movie really comes together at the end with an awesome twist ending, an epiphany (I literally went “Ooooooh!!!”), and a cherry on top. And that ending really makes you think. I’m not saying anything to give it away, but the length that the characters go to in their obsessions is scary and very thought-provoking. But I’m not saying anything. See the movie. Then comment and tell me what you thought.

So, although it has a few flaws, The Prestige eventually wraps up very nicely and leaves you with quite an interesting idea in your head. It’s entertaining and also thought-provoking and definitely worth renting on DVD if you think that it sounds interesting.

[rating:4]

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