Absolutely Magic!

Rating: 9/10 (18 December 2006)

I love magic tricks. It's the intrigue of how the magician did it, the risk of knowing it could kill the 'assistant' and just the whole feeling of knowing you'll see something amazing.
'The Prestige' is strikingly similar to a magic show that you'd see at the theatre. It starts off grasping your attention, and then quickly throws you into the action, where you see a performance gone wrong, which left me covering my mouth in shock.
If 'The Prestige' had been filmed with any other actors, I probably would have been disappointed (but only so slightly). Jackman, Bale and Caine are all stars we are fond of, and they have only boosted their reputation by giving stunning performances in this film. Johansson's acting was a little dull and uninspired, but her roll was, in the end, fairly small.
The storyline was at some times a bit confusing, and I found myself trying to work out what came when and who was who, but it all fell into place in the final half hour, along with a plethora of shocking twists that make the story better and better. I can't say how close it is to the book by Christopher Priest (I'm soon to read it), but from what I have heard, the films is highly respected by most fans of the novel.
I don't want to go into the story too much, because it would ruin the movie for anyone. It's a film to see when you're aware and observant, though, as it's quite easy for you to get confused and possibly spoil the movie.
I'm giving it 9/10, and it gets 'Film of the Year' from me, without a doubt!