# "The Illusionist" & "The Prestige" **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 17, 2007, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-illusionist-the-prestige/408317 "2007-06-17T01:53:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2007, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-illusionist-the-prestige/408317/1 "2007-06-17T01:53:56Z")
Which was the “good one,” again? Ukulele Lady Netflixed \*The Illusionist \* and I’m tryin’ to remember if that was the Summer 2006 19th-century Feuding Magician Movie That Might Be Pretty Good or if it was the Summer 2006 19th Century 19th-century Feuding Magician Movie That Sounded Fucking Awful. ---
**Author:** ![Orbifold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/779978/32.png) [@Orbifold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orbifold)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2007, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-illusionist-the-prestige/408317/2 "2007-06-17T01:55:28Z")
[QUOTE=Ukulele Ike] Which was the “good one,” again? [/QUOTE] Of the two I preferred “The Prestige”, but “The Illusionist” wasn’t completely awful. “The Illusionist” isn’t actually a feuding magician movie; there’s only one magician. ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2007, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-illusionist-the-prestige/408317/3 "2007-06-17T01:56:47Z")
The Prestige was phenomenal. I haven’t seen the Illusionist. ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2007, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-illusionist-the-prestige/408317/4 "2007-06-17T02:00:08Z")
I loved _The Prestige_; I did not like _The Illusionist_. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2007, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-illusionist-the-prestige/408317/5 "2007-06-17T03:43:24Z")
I liked them both, though they were quite different. Once actually had a supernatural element, whereas the the other was more a tale of revenge and love. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2007, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-illusionist-the-prestige/408317/6 "2007-06-17T03:45:14Z")
Neither was perfect, but IMHO, “The Prestige” was by far the more enjoyable film. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2007, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-illusionist-the-prestige/408317/7 "2007-06-17T03:48:27Z")
I also liked them both - _The Prestige_ for the mystery, and _The Illusionist_ for the a-freakin’-mazing performance by Ed Norton. I think. Or the other way 'round. ---
**Author:** ![CJJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecc23a/32.png) [@CJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CJJ)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2007, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-illusionist-the-prestige/408317/8 "2007-06-17T04:32:48Z")
Here’s a vote for _The Illusionist_. Ed Norton’s performance was riveting, and although the love/revenge story might seem trivial on the surface, there’s a deeper theme about how turn-of-the-century social changes exposed the failure of imperial/aristocratic governance. I contend that much of Eisenstein’s magic relied on the Viennese public’s desire to be fooled, as it soon became clear he was not just seeking revenge on the duke, but was subverting the social order. I found _The Prestige_ to be interesting (Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman know how subtle mannerisms help to clearly define a character), but ultimately the story was unsatisfying mainly because the film labored under its complicated exposition (three separate timelines are maintained, and although this allowed for a few dramatic juxtapositions, I think–to put it glibly–there wasn’t enough bang for the buck). And while the back of the DVD and the first few moments of the film alert the audience to “watch carefully” (for the amazing twist), once it’s over I’ve heard more than a few people ask if they missed something, mainly because one of the twists is telegraphed early in the third act, and the other is fairly easily guessed halfway thru (I think there was a SD thread about this). One could say the same thing about the twist in _The Illusionist_, but here I felt the film didn’t rely solely on the revealation to be successful; I thought it was more social commentary than a magical love story. Sorry to sound so cryptic, but I don’t want to give too much away. _The Prestige_ isn’t a bad film, perhaps a little above average, but if its between this and _The Illusionist_, I’d pick the latter. ---
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2007, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-illusionist-the-prestige/408317/9 "2007-06-17T04:38:24Z")
[QUOTE=CJJ\*] Here’s a vote for _The Illusionist_. Ed Norton’s performance was riveting, and although the love/revenge story might seem trivial on the surface, there’s a deeper theme about how turn-of-the-century social changes exposed the failure of imperial/aristocratic governance. I contend that much of Eisenstein’s magic relied on the Viennese public’s desire to be fooled, as it soon became clear he was not just seeking revenge on the duke, but was subverting the social order. I found _The Prestige_ to be interesting (Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman know how subtle mannerisms help to clearly define a character), but ultimately the story was unsatisfying mainly because the film labored under its complicated exposition (three separate timelines are maintained, and although this allowed for a few dramatic juxtapositions, I think–to put it glibly–there wasn’t enough bang for the buck). And while the back of the DVD and the first few moments of the film alert the audience to “watch carefully” (for the amazing twist), once it’s over I’ve heard more than a few people ask if they missed something, mainly because one of the twists is telegraphed early in the third act, and the other is fairly easily guessed halfway thru (I think there was a SD thread about this). One could say the same thing about the twist in _The Illusionist_, but here I felt the film didn’t rely solely on the revealation to be successful; I thought it was more social commentary than a magical love story. Sorry to sound so cryptic, but I don’t want to give too much away. _The Prestige_ isn’t a bad film, perhaps a little above average, but if its between this and _The Illusionist_, I’d pick the latter. [/QUOTE] I’m with you. I liked **The Illusionist** far more and remember it much better than **The Prestige** , also; the latter seemed to drag on and on and suffer from a case of third-act-itis. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2007, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-illusionist-the-prestige/408317/10 "2007-06-17T04:43:04Z")
_Prestige_ rules! _Illusionist_ drools! ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2007, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-illusionist-the-prestige/408317/11 "2007-06-17T06:13:04Z")
The first time I saw the Prestige, I was like “meh” until the ending, which blew my mind. I then thought it kicked ass when I watched it again. ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2007, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-illusionist-the-prestige/408317/12 "2007-06-17T06:24:44Z")
I was enjoying The Illusionist but I felt very let down by the ending, because part of it was pretty cliche and could be seen coming from a mile away, and the other part–which was basically “the big mystery” of the movie–wasn’t explained at all. Don’t build up this major plot point, upon which the climax of the story depends, and then give us no clue as to how it was done. I felt cheated. (And I’m sure people have ‘fanwanked’ all sorts of explanations, but that doesn’t really count) **The Prestige** , as others have said, isn’t perfect but I found it to be more interesting and entertaining, and it has greater rewatch value for me. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Hildo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bbce88/32.png) [@Johnny\_Hildo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Hildo)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2007, 8:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-illusionist-the-prestige/408317/13 "2007-06-17T08:24:13Z")
_The Prestige_ at least made sense, dramatically. _The Illusionist_ was a piece of shit and here’s why: Guy is performing world-class illusions that even today would be considered undoable. So, the whole of the movie we’re just expecting that dude has supernaturnal powers. Turns out, he doesn’t. It just ends in stupid crime drama gotcha twist ending bullshit. Fuck you, movie. No, seriously. FUCK YOU. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2007, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-illusionist-the-prestige/408317/14 "2007-06-17T12:05:54Z")
I have only seen _“The Prestige”_. I liked it. I think I was lucky because I was staying in a hotel, flicked through the channels on the TV and arrived at one of the movie channels. The Prestige was just starting and I watched it through. I had read nothing about it and wasn’t expecting any incredible twist or anything. And to be honest I didn’t get any incredible twist, I saw it all happening a little in advance. But because I wasn’t expecting a twist, I wasn’t dissapointed that it was a bit transparent. ---
**Author:** ![Trion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ccd318/32.png) [@Trion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trion)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2007, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-illusionist-the-prestige/408317/15 "2007-06-17T12:28:16Z")
[QUOTE=Johnny Hildo] _The Illusionist_ was a piece of shit and here’s why: Guy is performing world-class illusions that even today would be considered undoable. So, the whole of the movie we’re just expecting that dude has supernaturnal powers. Turns out, he doesn’t. It just ends in stupid crime drama gotcha twist ending bullshit. Fuck you, movie. No, seriously. FUCK YOU. [/QUOTE] Not true. Actually, most of the tricks shown in _The Illusionist_ were variations on illusions being done in the day. I refer you to the book “Hiding the Elephant” by Jim Steinmeyer for a history of magic and an explanation of how the tricks were done. I preferred _THe Illusionist_ for the reasons stated by **CJJ** \*. ---
**Author:** ![Fiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e274bd/32.png) [@Fiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiver)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2007, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-illusionist-the-prestige/408317/16 "2007-06-17T13:37:57Z")
I liked them both, but thought both were flawed. But the OP is also flawed. It’s a category error to equate the two simply because both are about Victorian magicians. After that the movies have few similarities. ---
**Author:** ![JpnDude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/838e76/32.png) [@JpnDude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JpnDude)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2007, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-illusionist-the-prestige/408317/17 "2007-06-17T13:57:55Z")
For those of us in Japan, “Prestige” came out in theaters recently. My SO and I are going to watch it this week. Thanks for the comments without giving away spoliers. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Taber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ac91a4/32.png) [@Taber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taber)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2007, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-illusionist-the-prestige/408317/18 "2007-06-17T14:30:54Z")
[QUOTE=JpnDude] For those of us in Japan, “Prestige” came out in theaters recently. My SO and I are going to watch it this week. Thanks for the comments without giving away spoliers. 😃 [/QUOTE] One of the magicians is a sled. And Luke’s father. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2007, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-illusionist-the-prestige/408317/19 "2007-06-17T14:34:02Z")
[QUOTE=Fiver] It’s a category error to equate the two simply because both are about Victorian magicians. [/QUOTE] Banana oil. YOU tot up the number of major-studio movies made in the past 20 years about Victorian magicians. So, if TWO come out within six weeks of each other, how can you NOT equate the two? (At least in terms of “which Victorian magician movie is which?”) ---
**Author:** ![Fiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e274bd/32.png) [@Fiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiver)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2007, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-illusionist-the-prestige/408317/20 "2007-06-17T14:42:44Z")
[QUOTE=Ukulele Ike] Banana oil. YOU tot up the number of major-studio movies made in the past 20 years about Victorian magicians. So, if TWO come out within six weeks of each other, how can you NOT equate the two? (At least in terms of “which Victorian magician movie is which?”) [/QUOTE] Granted, but you didn’t frame this thread as “Victorian magician movie.” You used “_feuding_ magician movie” (my italics), and there were no feuding magicians in _The Illusionist._ [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-illusionist-the-prestige/408317.md?page=2)