Anyone watched the prestige?

z0mb13

Lifer
May 19, 2002
18,106
1
76
I dont quite get the ending, so the reason why christian bale's character was able to do the transporting trick is because he had a twin. One of the twins had to be hung.

What about hugh jackman's character? is the tesla machine actually real? (it creates duplicates?) or is it another trick?

What is the significance of another hugh jackman "clone" in that water tank at the end?

 

911paramedic

Diamond Member
Jan 7, 2002
9,448
1
76
All the tanks had clones in them. Every performance he really fell through the stage and drowned in the tank that locked, and the blind helpers removed it. The clone carried on from the top of the theater, until the next performance of course, then it was lights out.

 

911paramedic

Diamond Member
Jan 7, 2002
9,448
1
76
Originally posted by: z0mb13
so the machine actually worked? man I expected a better explanation
:confused:

Yes, it worked. You first realize that when he finds the other cats and all of his hats outside of Tesla's house on the side of the hill. That's when you realize that the original "whatever" stays right where it is, but instead of teleporting the "whatever" it clones it and sends it to another place. In the original case, outside the house on the side of the hill...where all the hats ended up and why they thought it wasn't working. (because the hat never moved
)

They were trying to create a teleport machine but actually created a cloning machine, and figured that out after finding all the hats. When he got the machine Tesla said in the note "here is your device and complete instructions on how to use it." ie., how to 'dial in' where the clone ends up.

So.....

He used the machine sending the clone to the upstairs balcony, and the original dropped through the trap door in the stage. (and into the water trap, setting up the other magician.) He realized that after Bale watched it and couldn't figure out how it was done that he would some day wander downstairs, and that is when he would get busted for murder. (which was happening every show, hence the blind stage hands.)

Enough now?
 

SaltBoy

Diamond Member
Aug 13, 2001
8,975
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Yes, in the end, the Prestige is really a science fiction movie.

One thing I also noticed after watching it yesterday was that you could call it "Memento II." The tone, editing, music, direction, plot setup - almost everything technical about it - was just about identical to Memento's. Not that there's anything wrong with that - Christopher Nolan directed both - but I just found it interesting that Nolan, when working with his own projects, brings to his movies a very distinct style that is different from anybody else. Batman Begins doesn't count, mostly because it's a superhero movie. :)

I found it particularly refreshing that his direction didn't glorify the actions of the two protagonists -- if you could call them that. Their actions were deporable and Nolan made sure we knew that following their example would bring only pain and misery. The movie is a feel-bad movie, sure enough, but even with that bad feeling I had inside, I also felt inspired to go out and change my life for the better. :thumbsup:

 

SP33Demon

Lifer
Jun 22, 2001
27,928
142
106
Great acting, horrible/cheesy plot. I figured it out after seeing the clones of the cats/hats. I wouldn't recommend it unless you like Scarlet Jo, she looked great and played her role well.
 

Imagination

Member
Jun 14, 2006
114
0
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I saw it last night. I was let down in the end. I thought finally Hugh Jackman's character had won and revenge was his... nope.
 

nod218

Member
Nov 18, 2003
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Which twin was hung? I didn't quite hear it, was it the one who was in love with Olivia or was it the one who was in love with sarah and had the kid? Also, do you think Sarah knew the secret?
 

EvilYoda

Lifer
Apr 1, 2001
21,198
9
81
I thought it was pretty damn good...but I'm a Nolan fanboy, so take that as you will :p
 

JEDI

Lifer
Sep 25, 2001
29,391
2,737
126
Originally posted by: nod218
Which twin was hung? I didn't quite hear it, was it the one who was in love with Olivia or was it the one who was in love with sarah and had the kid? Also, do you think Sarah knew the secret?

the one in love w/sara was hung. he cared alot for the daughter while he was in jail.

as for him being found guilty and hung, how did that exactly happen?

the old guy (machael cain's character) supposely told the judge how the trick worked. but did he really know how it worked? ie: did he know it produced a clone?

either way, how Bale's character wind up being found guily???
 

Conky

Lifer
May 9, 2001
10,709
0
0
I just wondered if maybe there was yet another Hugh Jackman clone somewhere listening to Borden's secret while the other clone died at the end. He had to know Caine couldn't keep his secret that he was still alive.

And that's another thing I wondered... why would Caine flip that easy? It's not like he planned anything terrible for Borden's child or that he owed anything to Borden.
 

hdeck

Lifer
Sep 26, 2002
14,530
1
0
there is a ton of interesting debate on The Prestige imdb comment board. one particularly interesting theory is that the machine never worked to begin with. since most of the film scenes are just narratives from what the two said in their diaries (and since both of them lied a lot in their diaries to fool each other) it's possible it was all a ruse to out-do Borden.

That could relate to your question Beachboy, since the machine not working would mean there were never any clones, only the double working with him again. I believe that Caine knew for the majority of the movie that Borden had a twin. He constantly told Angier that the transported man trick just used a body double, and the recurring quote he said about wanting to be fooled fits in with that quite well.

As for why he flipped, I see it like he was the father figure for both of them. He just wanted it to end, and he knew Angier's obsession would never stop. He knew the child should be with her father and probably felt that Borden had sacrafised enough.
 

glutenberg

Golden Member
Sep 2, 2004
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Originally posted by: JEDI
Originally posted by: nod218
Which twin was hung? I didn't quite hear it, was it the one who was in love with Olivia or was it the one who was in love with sarah and had the kid? Also, do you think Sarah knew the secret?

the one in love w/sara was hung. he cared alot for the daughter while he was in jail.

as for him being found guilty and hung, how did that exactly happen?

the old guy (machael cain's character) supposely told the judge how the trick worked. but did he really know how it worked? ie: did he know it produced a clone?

either way, how Bale's character wind up being found guily???

The one who was hung was in love with Olivia. Before he is dragged off at the end he apologizes to the disguised twin saying, "I'm sorry about Sarah." He says this because he couldn't offer Sarah the same love as the other twin did and thus eventually led to her suicide. Both brothers would care for the children as they're family.

Regarding Caine's testimony. I thought that he found out how the machine worked after the he gave his testimony in court. While he was in court he thought that Angier was really dead and was probably emotionally upset with Borden, thus fogging his judgement. He tells the judge that he can't give away the secrets of the transporting man but when he and the judge are alone with the tesla coil, he merely explains that machinery as true magic and not illusion. Hence, his testimony regarding their rivalry and possible hatred for each other was enough to get Borden placed on death row.
 

Conky

Lifer
May 9, 2001
10,709
0
0
Originally posted by: hdeck
there is a ton of interesting debate on The Prestige imdb comment board. one particularly interesting theory is that the machine never worked to begin with. since most of the film scenes are just narratives from what the two said in their diaries (and since both of them lied a lot in their diaries to fool each other) it's possible it was all a ruse to out-do Borden.

That could relate to your question Beachboy, since the machine not working would mean there were never any clones, only the double working with him again. I believe that Caine knew for the majority of the movie that Borden had a twin. He constantly told Angier that the transported man trick just used a body double, and the recurring quote he said about wanting to be fooled fits in with that quite well.

As for why he flipped, I see it like he was the father figure for both of them. He just wanted it to end, and he knew Angier's obsession would never stop. He knew the child should be with her father and probably felt that Borden had sacrafised enough.
Good points on both of my questions. :thumbsup:

I guess one of the signs of a good movie about magic is an ending that leaves you wondering exactly what it is you saw... much like a magic trick. ;)
 

Descartes

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
13,968
2
0
I thought it was a really good movie. I too assumed the machine worked for all the reasons others have said, and I'll continue to assume so as there's no point in debating it :D
 

KLin

Lifer
Feb 29, 2000
29,969
393
126
So would it be too much to say that Angiers kept on committing suicide each time he did the trick? :p

EDIT: And it would definitely suck if the electricity all of a sudden cut off in the middle and there was no clone made :laugh:.
 

ntdz

Diamond Member
Aug 5, 2004
6,989
0
0
Originally posted by: z0mb13
I dont quite get the ending, so the reason why christian bale's character was able to do the transporting trick is because he had a twin. One of the twins had to be hung.

What about hugh jackman's character? is the tesla machine actually real? (it creates duplicates?) or is it another trick?

What is the significance of another hugh jackman "clone" in that water tank at the end?

Hugh Jackman killed himself every night and recreated himself up above with the machine. So the machine recreated him up above and then he himself fell below into the water so he would die and they wouldn't know his secret.
 

ntdz

Diamond Member
Aug 5, 2004
6,989
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Originally posted by: JEDI
Originally posted by: OREOSpeedwagon
Originally posted by: Journer
damn good movie...just saw it...i loved it :)

Agreed. Thom Yorke's "Analyse" during the credits was a nice touch too :D

esplain

Thom Yorke...lead singer of Radiohead...one of his solo songs was in the credits. Radiohead and Thom Yorke are badass.
 

BlancoNino

Diamond Member
Oct 31, 2005
5,695
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Originally posted by: ntdz
Hugh Jackman killed himself every night and recreated himself up above with the machine. So the machine recreated him up above and then he himself fell below into the water so he would die and they wouldn't know his secret.

I don't see how that could work. You don't re-create yourself when you clone yourself...afterall, when he first cloned himself he shot his clone...he didn't turn into his clone.

I think he cloned himself before every performance and had his clone drown (the clone didn't know he was going to drown hence the reason why he struggled) while the real Hugh Jackman appeared on the balcony.

This makes 100x more sense, IMO.
 

KLin

Lifer
Feb 29, 2000
29,969
393
126
Originally posted by: BlancoNino
Originally posted by: ntdz
Hugh Jackman killed himself every night and recreated himself up above with the machine. So the machine recreated him up above and then he himself fell below into the water so he would die and they wouldn't know his secret.

I don't see how that could work. You don't re-create yourself when you clone yourself...afterall, when he first cloned himself he shot his clone...he didn't turn into his clone.

I think he cloned himself before every performance and had his clone drown (the clone didn't know he was going to drown hence the reason why he struggled) while the real Hugh Jackman appeared on the balcony.

This makes 100x more sense, IMO.

so instead of a serial suicide king, he's a serial killer :laugh:
 

Lifted

Diamond Member
Nov 30, 2004
5,748
2
0
Originally posted by: BlancoNino
Originally posted by: ntdz
Hugh Jackman killed himself every night and recreated himself up above with the machine. So the machine recreated him up above and then he himself fell below into the water so he would die and they wouldn't know his secret.

I don't see how that could work. You don't re-create yourself when you clone yourself...afterall, when he first cloned himself he shot his clone...he didn't turn into his clone.

I think he cloned himself before every performance and had his clone drown (the clone didn't know he was going to drown hence the reason why he struggled) while the real Hugh Jackman appeared on the balcony.

This makes 100x more sense, IMO.


I thought the movie inferred that he killed himself due the line about drowning not being so bad. Hugh though it wouldn't be bad to drown each night (only have to do it once) but you saw him struggling in the tank as he is clearly a gullible fool and drowning SUCKS.