Great Adpatation, Entertaining, Keeps You Thinking

Rating: 9/10 (24 October 2006)

Having read the book by Christopher Priest, I was looking forward to how this story would translate to the big screen. I was not disappointed.
Overall, we the core elements of the novel version: a story of two magical acts who are obsessed over a single trick and their drive to continually outdo and sabotage each other. This obsession drives them to lose loved ones, forgo their humanity, and in the end, commit murder.
The film layers on twist upon twist, with plenty of foreshadowing and a clever dual between the characters via their diaries. While the earlier magic-themed release of "The Illusionist" was an elegant period piece with a single twist, this film delves into the darker nature of humanity, and what it means to be truly obsessed. Both versions of the trick "The Transported Man" will keep you thinking for days, and you will find yourself asking "would I have done what they did to perform the greatest trick in the world?"
This film will definitely find a place in my library upon DVD release.