# "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:** 2
**Author:** ![RikWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/49beb7/32.png) [@RikWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RikWriter)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2007, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-illusionist-the-prestige/408317/21 "2007-06-17T14:44:49Z")
The Illusionist was a very good movie. Haven’t bothered to see The Prestige. ---
**Author:** ![delphica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9a140/32.png) [@delphica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/delphica)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2007, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-illusionist-the-prestige/408317/22 "2007-06-17T14:47:43Z")
I don’t know if this helps, but I’ve seen both of them and _still_ have trouble remembering which pretty good bits and which pretty awful bits were in which one. If I think hard on it, I tend to agree with _CJJ’s_\* summary. _The Illusionist_ is a quieter movie, it’s more thoughtful throughout, but at the same time, it doesn’t think too _deep_ on anything. _The Prestige_ takes more risks, but as a result has more noticeable moments when the risk doesn’t pay off. It’s the kind of movie where there is more to talk about after, although here at Chez Del, there was a high frequency of crabbing in the talk. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2007, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-illusionist-the-prestige/408317/23 "2007-06-17T14:52:22Z")
They were both pretty mediocre IMHO, but _The Prestige_ at least had the hotter chick. ---
**Author:** ![Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/bc8723/32.png) [@Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unauthorized_Cinnamon)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2007, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-illusionist-the-prestige/408317/24 "2007-06-17T14:53:54Z")
I like _The Prestige_ better, though I agree with James Berardinelli’s comment that it takes a turn that “alters the suspension of disbelief curve,” which disrupts the flow of the movie. _The Illusionist_ is too obvious, and the protagonists are too unsympathetic (at least on reflection). It’s well worth watching, but I think I prefer _The Prestige_. ---
**Author:** ![BluePitbull](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e9bcb4/32.png) [@BluePitbull](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BluePitbull)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2007, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-illusionist-the-prestige/408317/25 "2007-06-17T15:22:52Z")
[QUOTE=Unauthorized Cinnamon] _The Illusionist_ is too obvious, and the protagonists are too unsympathetic (at least on reflection). It’s well worth watching, but I think I prefer _The Prestige_. [/QUOTE] How are they unsympathetic? ---
**Author:** ![Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/bc8723/32.png) [@Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unauthorized_Cinnamon)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2007, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-illusionist-the-prestige/408317/26 "2007-06-17T16:43:21Z")
[QUOTE=BluePitbull] How are they unsympathetic? [/QUOTE] Admittedly, Rufus Sewell’s character was an asshole, and did specific nasty stuff like slap Jessica Biel around and try to force her into marriage. However, while there was a rumor that he’d offed a chorus girl or something, all it was was gossip. The heroes of the story could easily have just faked Biel’s death and thus run away happily together, but they went out of their way to frame an innocent (of her murder, and possibly any murder) man. ---
**Author:** ![Gukumatz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/74df32/32.png) [@Gukumatz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gukumatz)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2007, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-illusionist-the-prestige/408317/27 "2007-06-17T19:15:09Z")
[QUOTE=Unauthorized Cinnamon] Admittedly, Rufus Sewell’s character was an asshole, and did specific nasty stuff like slap Jessica Biel around and try to force her into marriage. However, while there was a rumor that he’d offed a chorus girl or something, all it was was gossip. The heroes of the story could easily have just faked Biel’s death and thus run away happily together, but they went out of their way to frame an innocent (of her murder, and possibly any murder) man. [/QUOTE] I considered that when I watched the movie, but after a re-watch, it felt more compelling to believe that this ties in with Norton’s agenda agains the prevailing social structure. A coup as an added bonus, one could say. ---
**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, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-illusionist-the-prestige/408317/28 "2007-06-17T22:08:23Z")
My problem with _The Illusionist_ was the M. Night Shyamawhatever trick ending. Not only was it not true to the rest of the movie, but Giamatti’s grotesque mugging while the camera spun around him as he “put it all together” was to laugh. ---
**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 18, 2007, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-illusionist-the-prestige/408317/29 "2007-06-18T00:04:06Z")
[QUOTE=Trion] 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. [/QUOTE] Gee, I had no idea that walking, talking, three-dimensional holograms were so advanced in the 1800s. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Tenar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@Tenar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tenar)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2007, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-illusionist-the-prestige/408317/30 "2007-06-18T02:01:43Z")
I wasn’t terribly fond of either one of them, but I would describe \*The Illusionist \* as a fairy tale (and we know that fairy tales can be dark, to say the least) and I would describe \*The Prestige \* as a suspense/horror movie. YMMV. ---
**Author:** ![Trion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ccd318/32.png) [@Trion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trion)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2007, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-illusionist-the-prestige/408317/31 "2007-06-18T02:08:29Z")
[QUOTE=Johnny Hildo] Gee, I had no idea that walking, talking, three-dimensional holograms were so advanced in the 1800s. :rolleyes: [/QUOTE] Depends what you mean by “advanced”. It was certainly the “Hollywood” version. Had the movie version been identical to the trick as it was performed in real life, it would have been obvious to the Paul Giamatti character what was going on as soon as he got on stage. But a version of the trick _was_ performed. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2007, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-illusionist-the-prestige/408317/32 "2007-06-18T02:53:05Z")
The Illusionist was considerably better than The Prestige, by a long shot. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2007, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-illusionist-the-prestige/408317/33 "2007-06-18T02:55:35Z")
I enjoyed The Prestige more, but Ed Norton was great in The Illusionist. ---
**Author:** ![Rubystreak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Rubystreak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rubystreak)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2007, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-illusionist-the-prestige/408317/34 "2007-06-18T13:31:23Z")
_The Prestige_ was a fantastic movie. Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman were outstanding, as were Michael Caine and David Bowie. The story was compelling and well-imagined. Highly recommended. _The Illusionist_ was kind of corny and predictable, esp. after seeing _The Prestige_. JMO, but \*The Prestige \* was a far better movie. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2007, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-illusionist-the-prestige/408317/35 "2007-06-18T13:45:34Z")
I was really looking forward to both of these, and was really underwhelmed by both. Once they explained the trick in **The Prestige** , I thought the final scene - which apparently was intended to impress - was obvious and unnecessary. And I had major problems with Ed Norton’s apparent supernatural abilities in **The Illusionist.** I think I preferred the latter, mainly because I really like Norton, and think Jessica is hotter than Scarlett. Both were okay rentals IMO, but little more. ---
**Author:** ![singular1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ba9def/32.png) [@singular1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/singular1)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2007, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-illusionist-the-prestige/408317/36 "2007-06-18T14:15:34Z")
By the way, I just finished reading _The Prestige_, and the book the movie is based on was better than the movie by a long shot. Excellent writing that you can still enjoy, even though you know the twist that’s coming. The magic in the Illusionist was more interesting, simply because it was a replication of Victorian magic - well, except for that polished hologram… But I like the Prestige more myself, even though I didn’t like either of the magicians. ---
**Author:** ![Fiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e274bd/32.png) [@Fiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiver)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2007, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-illusionist-the-prestige/408317/37 "2007-06-18T14:17:07Z")
**singular1** , is the story essentially the same? Including Borden’s big secret and Tesla’s machine? ---
**Author:** ![Scoundrel\_Swanswater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dfb087/32.png) [@Scoundrel\_Swanswater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scoundrel_Swanswater)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2007, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-illusionist-the-prestige/408317/38 "2007-06-18T14:20:00Z")
I thought the ending to the Illusionist, as an other poster here already said, had a very distinctive “we need an M. Shyamalan ending” tacked-on feel to it. It totally negated everything that happened before and didn’t even make the least bit of sense. I am eagerly awaiting the release of The Prestige on DVD, as I haven’t seen it yet. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2007, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-illusionist-the-prestige/408317/39 "2007-06-18T14:52:19Z")
Haven’t seen the Illusionist, but really enjoyed the Prestige. I still find myself thinking about it, months after seeing it - a good sign in my book. Although it was set in Victorian England and dealt with feuding magicians, I really feel it is more like a Greek tragedy, where an unintended act of pride (Bale’s wanting to try the new knot in the escape trick with Jackman’s gal) leads to far-reaching blood-war consequences that invoke the gods (or at least, the supernatural) and where Man’s hubris forces the warring player’s hands and ultimately leads to tragedy for all involved, because they pursued their revenge at the expense of harmony with the gods… I also like Christopher Nolan’s movie direction. As with Memento - the other plot-twisty movie he directed, his attention to detail is wonderful and the things he reveals early on without really tipping his hat are very cool… ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2007, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-illusionist-the-prestige/408317/40 "2007-06-18T15:20:31Z")
I preferred _The Prestige_, mainly because I couldn’t get over the magical holograms of _The Illusionist_. Plus, although Ed Norton did a great job, I hated his character. In _Prestige_ I saw Bales secret early on and Jackman’s long before the final scene, but it was still a much more satisfying movie. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-illusionist-the-prestige/408317.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-illusionist-the-prestige/408317.md?page=3)