The Prestige

The dynamic between Hugh Jackman’s Robert Angier and Christian Bale’s Alfred Borden in The Prestige is a captivating study of obsession and rivalry. Angier, portrayed by Jackman, stands out with his charismatic showmanship and deep-seated need for revenge and recognition. His journey from a grieving husband to a determined magician is both compelling and tragic, driven by the loss of his wife and the desire to surpass Borden. Angier's character is marked by his relentless pursuit of perfection, making sacrifices that reveal the depths of his ambition and dedication to his craft. While Borden, played by Bale, is more methodical and secretive, it's Angier's emotional and passionate quest that often captures the audience's sympathy. Jackman's portrayal brings a poignant depth to Angier, showcasing the vulnerability behind his vengeful facade. Their rivalry is intensely personal, with each man’s actions profoundly affecting the other’s life, but it's Angier's tragic path and ultimate sacrifices that leave a lasting impact, highlighting the cost of obsession and the dark side of ambition.

I heard of "The Prestige" when it came out on DVD, but I didn't know too much about it. Saw some commercials for it here and there, but I wasn't sure if it was something that I had to see right away. It wasn't until I went to a store and saw that this was directed by none other than the brilliant Christopher Nolan (who directed my all-time favorite movie, "Memento"). That's all it took for me to buy the DVD without even really knowing what the movie was about. I didn't care. It had Nolan's name on it, and that's all I needed. I watched it the next day and couldn't believe how great this movie was. Not only that, but I ended up watching it again only a few hours after my first viewing. Unfortunately, there are so many twists and turns in this wild ride that I'll have to be brief in describing what it's about so I don't end up giving away something crucial (yeah, it's one of those where you give away one little thing, and it could possibly ruin the movie for the other person). As simplistic as I can put it the film concerns two magicians, Robert Angier and Alfred Borden. The two were quite the team and worked together splendidly until one night one of their well known tricks goes wrong and ends up costing Angier a loved one. He blames Borden for his loss and becomes obsessed with finding any means to out-show him, learn his secrets and destroy him. I know, this sounds like a typical "thriller," but that's really only a small outline of the movie. I had to keep it short and simple to avoid giving away too much. "The Prestige" works more as a drama/thriller/mystery. The entire theme of the movie is to "watch closely," and there's reason for that. You're not entirely sure what is going on until the very end, and even then you feel like you have to watch it again right away to verify what you've just witnessed. Nolan's great at playing head-games with you, and it's nice to see him dive intos that area of film again. Even though you're always trying to piece together what's going on, none of that takes away the enjoyment of watching these characters and how they interact in the environment around them. The look and feel of the film is very dark, but it looks so gorgeous. The performances from Hugh Jackman, Christian Bale and Michael Caine are perfect. Bale never ceases to amaze me in the roles he takes, as he commits himself a hundred percent every time. David Bowie even makes a small appearance in the film, and trust me when I say this, you do not see him as David Bowie on the screen. You buy into his character completely. It must be said, even though this is a PG-13 movie, it gets pretty disturbing and the overall tone of the movie is dark and cold. I wouldn't recommend it for children. The DVD doesn't offer a whole lot of features, which is a shame because I have the suspicion that they will re-release it in a "fully-loaded" edition later on (which I will have to go and buy). "The Prestige" is a total success, and then some. It's one of those movies that you have to watch more than once, and each time you see it (just like with "Memento"), chances are you're going to pick up on something that you didn't see the first time around. If you're looking for something different and unique, I strongly suggest giving this a try. It ranks up there as one of my top favorites of 2006. Nice to see that Christopher Nolan has made another fantastic movie and has proven that he's not just a one-trick pony. The movie may have a lot of twists and turns to keep you interested, but they never take away from the great story and characters. Are you watching closely? -Michael Crane

Christopher Nolan is a director that I have trouble grappling with. I always seem to enjoy his movies in the moment, but upon reflection, his films always seem to lose their praise. This was true for "Interstellar", "The Dark Knight Rises", "Inception", and even "The Dark knight". I'm beginning to think that Nolan is actually just fooling everyone. He delivers so well on the emotion of the experience and the overall story, that audiences seem to overlook the plot holes, the technical sloppiness, and the silliness of his films. "Inception" is a prime example of a movie that seems really good on the surface, but when you think about how much of that film actually makes honest-to-goodness sense, you come up short. Of course, I still really like "Inception", but I would never use that film as an example to say Nolan is a master director; which many people seem to think. So I went through his filmography, trying to find a film that would help me put Nolan into perspective. I stayed away from "Momento", because we all know that it's a classic of high quality, and would not give me much insight into the Nolan of today. And then I found it, "the Prestige". A movie few people saw. bit was critically well received (even by me when I saw it back in 2006). Upon a rewatch, "the Prestige" is a phenomenal movie. From the characters, to the twists, to the unique premise, and most of all to the subtext, "The Prestige" is firing on all cylinders. I think it may be Nolan's best movie outside of "Momento". In fact, upon deep inspection, I couldn't really find any flaws. Obviously the ending requires a suspension of disbelief, but the movie earned that request of me. Going back to "The Prestige" finally helped me see why Nolan is a great director. It isn't his technique or attention to detail. It's his ambition. Nolan is probably the most ambitious director working today. With films like "Inception" and "Interstellar", his ambition exceeds his ability; which is why I can poke so many holes in them. However, the ambition of those films deserves admiration and compassion. The fact that Nolan is trying to give you something that no other director is brave enough to attempt, is sufficient grounds to be lenient in your review of his films. So though I don't think Nolan is a master at the craft of directing, I think he deserves a place amongst the greats as a visionary.

tutto ok

One of my favourite movies of all time. I just love the twists and turns in the story, as well as the depth. The first few times you watch the movie you pick up new things, and then when you re-watch the movie a couple of years later it still wows with its fabulous writing and complex characters. One of Christopher Nolan's finest, and that's really saying something! Also, the acting is fantastic. Aside from unsurprisingly strong performances from Christian Bale, Hugh Jackman and Michael Caine, Andy Serkis and David Bowie (!!) are phenomenal as well! Beware the OLD, first print of this Blu-Ray (not this version, the ones printed back ~2006-2007). They suffered from the infamous "Blu Ray Rot" where the disc would develop spots and become unplayable over time.

100 % OK Goede verzending van besteld item beantwoorde volledig aan de beschrijving van de verkoper ( uiterst tevreden ) :-):-):-)

The Prestige ist für mich ein absoluter Kinohöhepunkt. Ein Film, der nicht nur unterhält, sondern nachhaltig beeindruckt. Christopher Nolan versteht es meisterhaft, eine Geschichte zu weben, in der Rivalität, Besessenheit und Opfer auf einmal menschlich und schockierend wirken. Die Darsteller (Hugh Jackman, Christian Bale, Michael Caine u.a.) liefern starke Leistungen. Die Inszenierung im viktorianischen England ist visuell präzise und atmosphärisch dicht, die Musik und Kameraführung verstärken das Gefühl von Geheimnis und Unruhe. Besonders beeindruckt hat mich der Plotaufbau mit seinen Wendungen – man glaubt, man hat verstanden, und dann wird nochmal alles durcheinandergewirbelt. The Prestige fordert Geduld und Aufmerksamkeit, aber die Belohnung ist ein emotionaler und intellektueller Nervenkitzel, der lange nachwirkt. Kurzum: Ein Film, bei dem jedes Detail sitzt. Absolut sehenswert!

This is a great movie with an awesome storyline. Movie provides an interesting portrayal on how one night changed everything between two magicians. Friends become enemies. There is a lot of intrigue in this story. This is also the movie that cemented me personally as a Christopher Nolan fan after Batman Begins. The rest of the cast is also amazing. HD & Special Features are of a very great quality.