I know I'm over a year behind the times, but I finally watched The Illusionist this weekend. What a fantastic movie! Norton was amazing.
I didn't see a thread about it but wondered what you all thought of it.
Posted by adfectio (Member # 11070) on :
I watched it after the Prestige, and actually liked this one less. I know they are very different movies, but the movies about Magicians coming out at about the same time makes it hard not to compare them.
It was a fantastic movie, without a doubt. I just happened to like the Prestige more.
Posted by BlackBlade (Member # 8376) on :
I keep seeing it at Blockbuster and keep resisting the urge to watch it, (I love Norton) because I'm afraid it will be just like The Prestige.
Posted by Shanna (Member # 7900) on :
I saw it in theaters and didn't get to see "The Prestige" until it came out on dvd...and I still prefer "The Prestige."
I came out of "The Illustionist" disappointed. I like Norton but the story just wasn't there for me and I really disliked the casting of Biel.
Posted by Rodger Brown (Member # 11476) on :
Funny thing about this is I watched a lousy magic show special on tv this afternoon and thought I should watch both the Prestige and the Illusionist again. I do prefer the Prestige mostly because I have an unhealthy obsession with Tesla. Look him up he was way before his time.
Posted by The Flying Dracula Hair (Member # 10155) on :
I went to see The Illusionist just because it was a movie and I wanted to take a girl to something for a date, and I ended up Loving it. I'm very glad I got to see it in a theatre, and that I got to give it my full movie attention because the girl brought her friend.
It's one of those movies I only need to see once, yet it's one of the ones I still think about every now and then.
Posted by Synesthesia (Member # 4774) on :
It was a good movie. Very stylish. I think the main character pwned the people in the Prestidge, but they'd be good back to back.
when I have netflix again.
Posted by Uprooted (Member # 8353) on :
I haven't seen The Prestige either; I guess I need to rent that one next.
Posted by Dan_raven (Member # 3383) on :
Coincidence. Sasha, my 7 year old, helped out our Magic Company by performing a couple tricks on stage for the first time Saturday.
Now I can dread him growing up to be just like the Movie Magicians. (At least he won't grow up to be just like the movie ventriloquists.)
Posted by Steve_G (Member # 10101) on :
Illusionist is to The Prestige as Armegeddon is to Deep Impact.
**spoiler warning**
My biggest problem with the illusionist was the illusions were of a caliber that David Copperfield couldn't pull off in our day and yet the story was set in the days of gas lamps. The special effects were over the top for the period. so much so, that the only logical conclusion you could make was that it wasn't really illusions. Then to discover it was was a huge letdown because the special effects didn't match the explanation.
I loved the Prestige. Everything about that movie was perfect. Fortunatly I watched The Prestige second, so I was able to better enjoy The Illusionist than I would have if I had watched it second.
Posted by Uprooted (Member # 8353) on :
Steve, I also felt a disconnect regarding the quality of the illusions, but enjoyed the rest of the film enough that I was willing to suspend disbelief.
Since I know nothing about either Armageddon or Deep Impact, I'm afraid the comparison is lost on me. ;-)
Posted by Joldo (Member # 6991) on :
The Illusionist totally bored me, I'm afraid. I was just waiting for it to be over. And I've never seen Edward Norton quite so wooden.
The Prestige, on the other hand, was fantastic. Posted by The Flying Dracula Hair (Member # 10155) on :
quote:Originally posted by Steve_G: **spoiler warning**
See I liked that, it's kind of Scooby Doo.
Posted by Steve_G (Member # 10101) on :
quote:Originally posted by Uprooted: Since I know nothing about either Armageddon or Deep Impact, I'm afraid the comparison is lost on me. ;-)
Sorry about that.
Armegeddon and Deep Impact were "asteroid hits earth" movies that came out at roughly the same time. Deep Impact was a good movie that was totally believable, wheras armegeddon was just an ok movie with a huge special effects budget.
Posted by cassv746 (Member # 11173) on :
I loved the Illusionist. However disliked the Prestige. It wasn't bad in in my opinion it just wasn't that great, maybe I'm missing something.
Posted by Reshpeckobiggle (Member # 8947) on :
quote:Originally posted by cassv746: I loved the Illusionist. However disliked the Prestige. It wasn't bad in in my opinion it just wasn't that great, maybe I'm missing something.
You are definitely missing something.
Posted by TL (Member # 8124) on :
I also liked The Illusionist a lot more than I liked The Prestige. Saw the twists coming a mile away.... But I liked the performances more -- Giamatti and Norton were wonderful. The Prestige was all about spectacle and grand ideas that weren't really that grand; the depth of the film itself was a kind of illusion. There was nothing much to it, really. Don't get me wrong, I liked it all right. I was entertained when it was happening. The Illusionist had some real moments of dark mystery, though. It promised more and delivered more, I thought.
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
I loved the Illusionist and liked the Prestige.
However, I have a simmering crush on Edward Norton that may have something to do with that.
Posted by Reshpeckobiggle (Member # 8947) on :
Once again I must step in and assert the rightness of my opinion and the wrongness of yours. The Prestige was a much better film.
Forget what I said at the beginning of this post about me having an opinion; that's as factual a statement as one can make.
Posted by Uprooted (Member # 8353) on :
quote:Originally posted by katharina: I loved the Illusionist and liked the Prestige.
However, I have a simmering crush on Edward Norton that may have something to do with that.
I saw The Prestige tonight, and I must say I pretty much agree w/ katharina on all points. (Although I think my crush begins and ends with Norton's role in The Illusionist.)
Posted by Synesthesia (Member # 4774) on :
It's all about Hugh Jackman
Not wearing a shirt.
Always a nice thing to see dispite my dislike of hairy chests.
Posted by Olivet (Member # 1104) on :
The Prestige had Bowie. The Prestige wins!
In truth I loved them both. I have a thang for Norton, and a slightly smaller thing for Bale... but you kind of double the Bale and exponential Jackman... But it's the Bowie that tips The Prestige over, in my book. Gotta love the Bowie
Posted by Uprooted (Member # 8353) on :
I forgot Bowie was in it until the end credits, didn't recognize him when he was on, and I'm still having a hard time reconciling my memory of Tesla in the movie with David Bowie.
And I didn't recognize Gollum as Tesla's assistant, either! ;-)
Posted by SteveRogers (Member # 7130) on :
I liked both movies. But I ended up liking The Prestige just a tiny bit better. The ending was better.
I like Edward Norton as an actor, and I thought the perfomances in The Illusionist were fantastic. But I just hated the ending.
SPOILERS KINDA:
I hated at the end of The Illusionist when Paul Giamatti's character figured everything out. The way they had him spinning around in circles looking at the sky while they did flashbacks was horrific.
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