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Great movie loved The Illusionist more so than The Prestige.I Recommend both but i would give The Illusionist a 9/10 and The Prestige a 7/10.
Watch them!!

I watched The Illusionist the other day and I so wanted to like it; I think Edward Norton is a great actor and as for the subject matter, well, need I say more?

But did I like it? No.

I loved it! Fantastic film which had me spellbound for nearly two hours. I just wish I could do some of the magic Eisenheim was pulling off on stage! Orange tree, butterflies and hankie, sword in the "stone" - almost like real magic.

Looking forward to getting The Prestige on DVD now. Will probably read the book first, though.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Illusionist and look forward to seeing the Prestige soon now its out on DVD.

I'm clearly in the minority, as I really didn't enjoy 'The Illusionist'. It was clearly an attempt to dress up a rather conventional and dreary love story in the melodramtic cloak of 19th century magic. As a plot device, it meant the writer(s) could make the protagonist do whatever he wanted, which I find very uninteresting.

I normally enjoy Ed Norton's acting very much, but he seemed as bored with the whole thing as I was watching it.

'The Prestige' on the other hand, I very much enjoyed - the film was BEAUTIFULLY shot - some of the Tesla scenes will stay in my mind for a long time (and, incidentally, it was great to see him appear in a film - a phenomenally interesting man) well paced, and with enough genuine characterisations to keep the action going. I particularly enjoyed the way the the protagonists were also both antagonists! Caine's supporting role was wonderfully acted and thought out too!

Best,

Lee

I haven't seen the illusionist yet but I am very much looking forward to it (I adore Edward Norton). I really enjoyed the Prestige but the film didn't do the book justice. The film was very good (David Bowie played Tesler brilliantly) but the book is phenomonal, with a fantastic writing style and disturbingly frightening ending that couldn't make it into the film due to the narrative style of the book and film being very different.

If you haven't read the book then what are you waiting for, it's a fantastic read... Christopher Priest, The Prestige... get it!

monkeyman wrote:I really enjoyed the Prestige but the film didn't do the book justice. The film was very good (David Bowie played Tesler brilliantly) but the book is phenomonal, with a fantastic writing style and disturbingly frightening ending that couldn't make it into the film due to the narrative style of the book and film being very different.

I didn't like the book or the film much (Prestige). It was all just TOO nasty. I agree though the book was better than the movie

The Illusionist though was quite a beautiful movie. Ed Norton played the part very well.

I absolutely loved the Illusionist.

At one point in the movie, I said to myself, "if it carries on like this, I know damn well that I'm going to cry." Thankfully, it didn't carry on like that.

I have a soft spot for sad romantic films.

I want to know about the "slowing down time trick" any info out there?

I can only say that after watching the film, I was helplessly stuck in front of the screen even after the credits went by and the music stopped.

And dear Bicycle808,
I was spellbound all night long. I nearly slept with a deck on my hands. It was the first thing I thought of in the morning when I woke up.


It was so magical.

And as for Prestige Vs. Illusionist

I definitely vote for Illusionist.

Prestige was so complicated. It could have been more simple.
However, what bothers me most is that the Prestige was focused so much on how the tricks were done and how the protagonists struggled to steal each others secrets. This affair made it all the less magical.

On the other hand. When you see the Illusionist, you don't really want to know how it's done. Instead, it creates an appreciation for the magicians attitude, the presentation and THE MESSAGE that is passed with each trick.

EACH AND EVERY TRICK IN THE ILLUSIONIST CARIES A MESSAGE.

Think of it. It is communication. That is what magic is all about. It is not a riddle. It doesn't matter how it's done even if you are a magician. It is what every art form exists for. EXPRESSION!!!

In The Prestige, the protagonists struggle to find the impossible trick. But they fail to communicate a message. Yes there is patter talk but it is just patter, not communication.

In the Illusionist, magic is presented as an art. Eisenheim expresses himself using his effects. He expresses love as a child with a deck of cards, he argues against the crown prince with the fixed blade and he finally manipulates everyones beleifs about a non-existent crime with his necromancy illusion.

I just couldn't belive it!

This movie has played a major role in forming my approach towards magic.

I'll never forget my friend's comment when she was watching the Illusionist.. the scene where as a child Eisenheim does a rising card for his girl... at the start of the scene, my friend goes, "Oh Mick can do that!" and then toward the end "oh maybe not" ha ha ha

It was a really great movie with some great classic magic in it. I totally loved it.

Its weird, on the movie sites I've been to most non-magicians preferred The Prestige. just like most non-magicians love Criss Angel and most magicians don't. I guess we magicians think differently

I haven't even seen the illusionist yet, but the prestige has a special place in my heart.....sigh........ I watched it over and over 4 times, so now I really understand it. True, it is a bit sci-fi, but so is magic.

I thought the Prestige was better. The twist, although a little obvious, was brilliant in the way it was done. All through the film.

The Illusionist didn't surprise me at all. Good film and all but I much preferred The Prestige on almost every level.



Anyway, why resurrect this thread? After just watching the Illusionist on DVD, i found a hidden section with some simple trick instructions. It's nice to find these things on your own.

i loved the prestige, but thought the illusionist was pretty poor really...

it would have made a far better sherlock holmes movie than anything else...

I liked the Prestige more than the Illusoinist. The Prestige kept you guessing right up to the end.