Are you watching closely. Enigma, Cypher whatever you call it, its magnificent....

Rating: 9/10 (23 January 2013)

Movie Review
The Prestige Seemed to be enigmatic and twisting movie at the start, based on 'The Prestige' Novel of Christopher Priest, directed by Christopher Nolan, and leaves many clues beyond many scenes in a mind capturing way. "The Prestige" is a victorious movie among that of twisting ones. The main phrase of movie, "Are you watching closely?" in start have a little bit impact on the viewer's mind but at the end it stuns the viewer in way that he cannot come out of its spell soon.
In movie the word "prestige", reveals the most amazing part of any magic trick when the climax of curiosity of audience touches its peaks. Two youthful and passionate magicians working together turn instantly their friendship to Rivalry and segregate their ways one another due death of one's wife by mistake of other. Later the faulty magician, having a title of "Professor" has successful life, as he invents a new trick, "The transported Man", in which, on the stage, enters a magic box by instantly closing it and appearing from other box placed apart from first one. Jealous of all these things, the other magician, "The Great Danton", tries the same trick by using his double but Borden (Professor), ruins his show. Later, the "Professor", to save his assistant from Angier (Danton), suggests him to consult Tesla, by a plan. Tesla, a scientist, forbids Angier to do such task. But, on his insistence he builds a machine for Angier that he wants, but Tesla leaves. On the other hand, Borden's Life is full of stress due to his relation with former assistant of Angier, and his wife doubts him, that he doesn't love him as he loved earlier. The later, "The great Danton", performs a trick, "Real transported man", in which he disappears on the stage and in final step he instantly appears on the Roof. He becomes famous and his trick's popularity rises in the whole England. On the other hand, Borden's Wife commits suicide, his female assistant leaves her. Borden, the later tries to find the secret of Angier's trick but during trick in which Angier mysteriously drowns under the stage and dies Borden is sentenced to be hanged. But, before his death, a person Lord Cadlow, asks him to utter his secret of "Transported man" in owe to grow her young daughter. When Borden meets Codlow he stuns that Codlow is just the dead Angier. He the later, doesn't comprehend, he asks his assistant Fallon to look after his daughter. Falon says good-bye to Borden and then Borden is hanged. In the Last scene, When Lord Codlow, new Angier destroys the machine of Tesla, he is shot by Borden who was hanged, then the movie, Unveils its amazing story, Actually, Borden's trick was simple because he and his twin brother and same appearance Fallon (Assistant) perform it simultaneously, and they take turns; one goes in a box other appears from second. Angier in fact, has the machine creating duplicates; every night during performance one duplicate drowns, and mystery is that Angier even not know was he real one or that who drowned, he tried to trick Borden but unfortunately Fallon caught, Angier did this prove himself a better magician. Movie ends at the scene Borden greeting with her daughter, the earlier who was promised by his late uncle Fallon. Interesting thing is the double character of Borden, by Borden and his like brother Fallon, As they share their life with Sarah(Borden's wife) and Olivia (Female assistant). Angier is shown as a jealous man, in start ruining Borden's show in revenge of his life but later, he does everything in his rage. Borden, a nice showman but due to him his wife and mother dies. John Cutter, Angier's old male assistant, a gentle man, due to whose evidence Fallon the mistaken Borden dies. Olivia, female assistant of Angier, who shows propensity to Borden on urge of Angier to take Borden's secret. Fallon, mistaken Borden, dies for his brother, sacrifices many times, such sacrifices make him die. "Are you watching closely", is the thing that castes a spell on the spectator. Movie captures mind of a viewer and slowly moves in a twisting manner, but at the Borden and Angier's final meeting ends In a really magnificent unveiling manner. In such a manner that one watching this movie feels its effect for a long time. Conclusion is that, Movie is fantastic, though having many thongs un-explained but this is for viewers own minds' capability to create and look beneath the surface. Movie has many aspects that tell how a person becomes so selfish, in jealousy that he forgets his moral values too, even his loved ones. The curiosity sometimes proves to be lethal. And heeding much on un-important issues can make one suffer. Finally, Movie has an amazing end, and suggestion is that viewers must watch it . AR Bilal