The Prestige...

[Charade]

Can someone explain this movie to me? We watched it last night. The first 1.5 was pretty boring but I managed to stay awake and watch the rest of it.

Did both Bale and Jackman characters use doubles (or a twin) for that "transporting" act? Did that machine that Jackman's character got from Tesla really make "copies" of whatever was in it? And was Jackman's character killing them off after the act?

 

[JJClemson]

Can someone explain this movie to me? We watched it last night. The first 1.5 was pretty boring but I managed to stay awake and watch the rest of it.

Did both Bale and Jackman characters use doubles (or a twin) for that "transporting" act? Did that machine that Jackman's character got from Tesla really make "copies" of whatever was in it? And was Jackman's character killing them off after the act?

1. Yes, both Bale & Jackman's characters used a twin/ double for the transporting act.

2. Yes, that machine did make copies of whatever was in it. That's why there were so many hats. They kept trying again and again to transport the hate, but it was actually duplicating it.

3. Yes, Jackman's character was killing the copies after each act. He was drowning them in the tank. That is why he was able to set up his rival and make it look like murder.

HTH

 

[KimR]

Spoilers below.....





I loved the movie! I'm not great at explaining things but this is the way I understand it:

Bale was a twin. Remember in the beginning of the movie they were discussing how a fellow magician pretended to be crippled so as to make his illusions more amazing? They made the comment that he actually lived his entire life as a cripple, making that sacrifice for the sake of his career. They went on to talk about how difficult that had to be to give up part of your life like that. Well, that was basically what the two twins did - they sacrificed their individual lives and basically became one person, but kept it a secret so they would be able to pull off their illusion.

Now, Jackman used the duplicating machine. He created a double every night and then killed him off by drowning him when he went through the trap door. Remember when somebody (Bale?) saw a huge box leaving the theatre every night after the performance. Apparently, that was the dead man being carted away. And then, in the end, he set Bale up to take the rap for the murder.

 

[Charade]

1. Yes, both Bale & Jackman's characters used a twin/ double for the transporting act.

2. Yes, that machine did make copies of whatever was in it. That's why there were so many hats. They kept trying again and again to transport the hate, but it was actually duplicating it.

3. Yes, Jackman's character was killing the copies after each act. He was drowning them in the tank. That is why he was able to set up his rival and make it look like murder.

HTH

Thanks! That's what I thought.

So Bale's "double" actually died. Hmm.. man, that's a *real* friend.

 

[JoyG]

Can someone explain this movie to me? We watched it last night. The first 1.5 was pretty boring but I managed to stay awake and watch the rest of it.

Did both Bale and Jackman characters use doubles (or a twin) for that "transporting" act? Did that machine that Jackman's character got from Tesla really make "copies" of whatever was in it? And was Jackman's character killing them off after the act?

I had to watch the movie twice in a row to get everything.

Bale had a twin brother that was with him pretty much from the beginning. He had been talking about his "great trick" that he was going to reveal to the world...that's also why he was impressed with the Chinese magician at the beginning...b/c he "lived" his trick.

Jackman first had the drunk look alike and then started "making" twins with his machine.

He was drowning them after every act...which is why I believe he only wanted to do 100 shows. He wanted to put some sort of limit on it.

 

[apirateslifeforme]

Slightly OT, but someone PLEASE tell me that they knew that Tesla was David Bowie! Almost everyone I've spoken to about this movie has said, "THAT was David Bowie???"

 

[DisMN]

Slightly OT, but someone PLEASE tell me that they knew that Tesla was David Bowie! Almost everyone I've spoken to about this movie has said, "THAT was David Bowie???"

Nope, we didn't realize it was him until the end credits ran. What a great part for him!! We also found it interesting that some of the movie was based on fact.....there really WAS a Nikola Tesla and he really was an inventor/electrical engineer considered at the time to be somewhat of a mad scientist.

With the drowning scenes, at one point didn't Jackmans character say something about it being difficult not knowing whether he'd be the man IN the box on any given night? I take that to mean that sometimes HE was killed and other times his duplicate was. A little confusing but an interesting twist.

 

[Scutapipig]

We did! Our jaws dropped, but we recognized Bowie as Tesla right away.

At the beginning of the movie I really disliked Bale's character and by the end of the movie, I really disliked Jackman's.

We felt it was a brilliant movie!

 

[Charade]

Slightly OT, but someone PLEASE tell me that they knew that Tesla was David Bowie! Almost everyone I've spoken to about this movie has said, "THAT was David Bowie???"

I noticed that right away when I first saw him.

 

[dizneenut]

I was a bit confused by the movie, but now I think I got it.

And I recognized David Bowie right away, too!

 

[JoyG]

With the drowning scenes, at one point didn't Jackmans character say something about it being difficult not knowing whether he'd be the man IN the box on any given night? I take that to mean that sometimes HE was killed and other times his duplicate was. A little confusing but an interesting twist.

I don't think the original Jackman ended up in the drowning box ever. I think he was just worried that he would one day.

The reason I don't think he ended up in the box is because he remembered what Michael Caine had said at his wife's funeral about the drowning sailor...and then he was all the more shocked when Michael Caine told him he was lying.

 

[DisMN]

Thanks! That's what I thought.

So Bale's "double" actually died. Hmm.. man, that's a *real* friend.

Even worse Charade, he wasn't just a friend...he was his twin!!

 

[DisMN]

I don't think the original Jackman ended up in the drowning box ever. I think he was just worried that he would one day.
The reason I don't think he ended up in the box is because he remembered what Michael Caine had said at his wife's funeral about the drowning sailor...and then he was all the more shocked when Michael Caine told him he was lying.

Yeah that makes sense too. I just remember him wondering if he himself would be the man in the box OR the prestige.........which made me think maybe he had indeed been in the box now and then *shiver*. Really really icky!!

 

[KikiFan]

I absolutely loved that movie! Seeing David Bowie was a nice surprise.

The one question: do we know which twin died? Was it the one that was the father of the little girl? or the Uncle?

 

[Fitswimmer]

We did! Our jaws dropped, but we recognized Bowie as Tesla right away.

At the beginning of the movie I really disliked Bale's character and by the end of the movie, I really disliked Jackman's.

We felt it was a brilliant movie!

Me too!! I loved this movie enough to go out and buy the Blu Ray disc to watch it again! I don't buy that many DVD's anymore, and rarely will I spend $25-$30 on a blu-ray unless I KNOW I really will watch the film more than a couple times.

 

[Desiree]

Slightly OT, but someone PLEASE tell me that they knew that Tesla was David Bowie! Almost everyone I've spoken to about this movie has said, "THAT was David Bowie???"

I noticed it was him from the trailer!!!

 

[LoraJ]

I watched this last night and really enjoyed it. I had no clue that was David Bowie. Duh.

I wonder if they have this on HD-DVD. I'd like to buy it too.

 

[pansmermaidzlagoon]

Slightly OT, but someone PLEASE tell me that they knew that Tesla was David Bowie! Almost everyone I've spoken to about this movie has said, "THAT was David Bowie???"

I knew!!!! loooovvvvee Bowie!!!...but I did have to clue DH in!!!!

 

[jamimb]

]I don't think the original Jackman ended up in the drowning box ever. I think he was just worried that he would one day.

The reason I don't think he ended up in the box is because he remembered what Michael Caine had said at his wife's funeral about the drowning sailor...and then he was all the more shocked when Michael Caine told him he was lying.

[/QUOTE]

there is no way to tell if the "original" Jackman was ever drowned or not.
For all we know he was the man shot when Jackman first produced the double.
They were exact duplicates they would have had every memory the "original" one did. theres no way to know.
The men everynight who died in the water tank thought they were the "original" as well.

 

[jamimb]

I absolutely loved that movie! Seeing David Bowie was a nice surprise.

The one question: do we know which twin died? Was it the one that was the father of the little girl? or the Uncle?

they both obviously loved the little girl very much and they probably were not sure who the father was. i think they both loved her like a daughter.
Iloved this movie and I actually went to the video store just a few hours ago so my husbabnd could watch it.