The Prestige (2006)

As I mentally prepare myself for this weekend of softball, I decided to watch something relaxing and somewhat thought-provoking. After some thought, I decided on the 2006 sci-fi/mystery The Prestige.

Plot/ Two stage magicians engage in competitive one-upmanship in an attempt to create the ultimate stage illusion.

Any movie that features Nikola Tesla is an automatic winner in my book, plus when the amazing David Bowie is playing that genius, it is a home run. That is exactly what The Prestige is, an amazing journey to another time that doubles as a tremendous character study with a dark look at obsession. Complete with an outstanding storyline, an incredible cast with top-notch performances, and spot on direction and cinematography, this movie does not disappoint in any way. Not to mention the sci-fi/steampunk twist added into what was already a great trip into the world of illusion. Yes, it was a touch predictable if you pay attention to the dialog and hints that are sprinkled in, but that does nothing to bring the movie down. In the end, if you have not seen this film, you are really missing out. It is honestly one of Christopher Nolan’s best movies and a darker film that I could watch over and over again. Highly recommended.

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016)

Things have been a little uneven this week as I have been working on a few side projects. However, I did have some time to catch a few flicks. One of the first of the weekend in the 2016 Harry Potter prequel Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.

Plot/ The adventures of writer Newt Scamander in New York's secret community of witches and wizards seventy years before Harry Potter reads his book in school.

Let me start by saying that I am not the biggest Harry Potter fan, although I did enjoy the movies. Unfortunately, this movie in no way captures the atmosphere or depth that made the movies entertaining. While some of the visuals are solid and the theme was interesting, everything else felt flat. The characters were uneven, mostly unlikable, and often made little sense, the CGI was miserable and felt extremely rushed, and the production quality and attention to detail demonstrated in the Harry Potter series was nowhere to be found. In no way does this film do any justice for the franchise and it should be skipped. In the end, this one was a huge disappointment, and a film that would probably be totally dismissed had it not been for the Harry Potter moniker. Unless you are a complete diehard fan, stay away!

Magic (1978)

After watching the cheesefest that was Contamination, I decided to venture into something different. Subsequently, I searched through Shudder until I found something down a stranger path, finally settling on the underrated 1978 flick Magic.

Plot/ A ventriloquist is at the mercy of his vicious dummy while he tries to renew a romance with his high school sweetheart.

This was an amazing film, and one that often flies under the RADAR for fans of horror flicks or thrillers. Directed by Sir Richard Attenbourough, this movie oozes atmosphere and is one of the creepier films from that era. Academy Award winner Anthony Hopkins is amazing, creating a movie that is in many ways a precursor to his performance in Silence of the Lambs. The cast is strong, the cinematography is solid, the storyline works, and there is great tension sprinkled into the entire film. Yes, some of the pacing may seem slow and there are some head scratching moments, but those do not hold the movie back in any way. In the end, this is a creepy flick that for some reason often overlooked. With the movie now available on Shudder; give it a shot.

Now You See Me 2 (2016)

Today has been a busy day, but luckily, for me, I decided to watch a couple flicks last night, which can give me enough material to jump into the blog tonight before heading off to bed. Next up is the 2016 follow-up to the 2013 entry Now You See Me, with Now You See Me 2.

Plot/ The Four Horsemen resurface and are forcibly recruited by a tech genius to pull off their most impossible heist yet.

Sequels can always be difficult, as most never reach the heights of the original. That was definitely the case with this entry, as it does not even come close to the detail and twists of the first film in the series. While there are some positives with decent performances, some decent effects, and a cast that does work well together, the film never really develops the same tension and atmosphere of the original. The scripting feels off, the characters never come to life, and many details are left floating inside a predictable and clichéd format. In the end, this film is in no way as entertaining as the original and leaves a lot to be desired. Is it terrible? No, but it is not anything special either.