Even if you know the "big" trick, it's worth watching

Rating: 8/10 (29 October 2006)

Spoilers follow
Unfortunately I had seen a new Outer Limits episode (nothing about magicians) that was very relevant about sacrifice and moral choices inherent in the science employed. Nolan offered clues very early (depiction of the reason for the trial, Caine's comments about the sailor, and Jackman walking past the hats on his first trek up the hill)combined with the OL episode, on the secret. The more interesting parts were how each man sacrificed along the way, not trying to hurt anyone but themselves, and leaving a lot of damage in their wake.

Is there a disconnect between Caine's supposed knowledge of the trick, demonstrated to the judge, and his decision near the end? Surely the visiting judge did not take at face value that the machine just "worked."

Is that how bird tricks really work? Surely, performers can't do that stuff these days. Every time I saw Bale in his studio with those numerous bird cages along the window, it gave me a pause. I'm sure that was Nolan's intention because they are prominent visual and auditory feature of every scene in that studio. It was a great way to demonstrate that performing magic is about life and death.