There are three parts to a magic act...
So after looking at the title of my entry, can you guess what I saw today? Well, this movie is so complex that I'm still sitting here, trying to understand everything. For those who haven't seen it, let me do a little cut line so I can talk about the movie and its counterpart, The Illusionist.
Well, to start with, I thought it would be just a simple movie about two dueling magicians who keep trying to one up each other. Wrong again. It was about something much darker...the human desire for obsession. Once you're hooked, you can't stop. Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale did a pretty good job but it was really the story line that drove the movie. One critique I do have is that it was presented out of order so you were really confused about what was happening when. Once you figured it all out, it was great fun. I like how they showed in the preview that it was about black magic and maybe Christian Bale's character was really Satan. However, it was nice to reveal the triumph of science over magic in the end.
First off, I really don't want to see any more tricks with animals after seeing that they kill the animal and bring out a look alike when doing some of those disappearing acts. I'm sure they probably don't do that now due to lawsuits from animal rights activists but still the idea of killing innocent birds is so sad. What was brilliant is that the key to the movie was in front of your eyes all along when they showed this magic trick. They just take it to a whole new level with a cloning machine where they can do to humans what they do to birds in making them disappear. What gets me is this? Was it the clone that died each night or was it Angier (Hugh Jackman)? Did the real guy ever live on or did he just die one of the nights when the trick was being performed? What about when Angier's wife died? Did Barton try to kill her with a complex knot or did he just mess up? So many questions, not enough time to answer them.
Now to compare this to "The Illusionist." If I were to do this it would be like comparing a one page handwritten note to a 500 page hardback novel. The two just don't match up. "The Prestige" is just so much more complex and intriguing as you try to figure out what happened and keep everyone straight, not to mention who is a clone and who isn't once you figure that out. The love story is the centerpiece of "The Illusionist" where it's the background of "The Prestige." The former relies more on magic while the latter discusses science. "The Illusionist" focuses more on a period mystery while "The Prestige" has ramifications for cloning issues in the present. Just depends on what is more to your taste :)
Ok, enough of the new movie...now on to the news. I stumbled across this last week when I was googling the name of Judi Itzin (Am I a stalker if I use her name on google?) and came across this gem. Evidently, the guy who has this blog is a news reporter who met and became friends with Greg. I'm posting this because of the Christmas Card message Greg sent him. They are such a nice down to earth couple :)
Buckle up! It's gonna be a bumpy ride!!!
Well y'all...here we go again...Day 6 is less than a month away...As I've mentioned before, last year at the Duke Children's Classic, I got to play golf and hang out with Gregory Itzin (Pres. Logan)....We've kept in touch since then...Thought I'd paste this latest exchange between us...
Greg and Judi…Hope y'all are well and ready for the holidays…
Greg…I'm starting my "24" blog next week and was wondering if you might have any tidbits re: season 6 that you might share…Without letting any cats out of any sacks, of course….Bill
Dear Jordans--funny you should write, I was thinking about you and yours.
I'll think about this cat-bag-letting thing. You already know that the ex-pres and his lovely wacky wife will be in the 6th day, though of course he can't be the prez anymore.... alas.
More anon one way or the other.
Best Wishes for the Holidays,
Greg and Judie Itzin
They're a great couple...Very down to earth...
I've already been trolling for intel on upcoming magazine and tv appearances by the cast as we get geared up again...Here's some Kiefer stuff...
Upcoming TV Appearances new! Kiefer is scheduled to make an appearance on ESPN Monday Night Football (12/25), The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (1/9/07), E! True Hollywood Story (1/10/07) , Live with Regis & Kelly (1/12/07), Late Night With Conan O'Brien (1/12/07) and The Charlie Rose Show (1/12/07)
The "prequel" to Season 6 is here...
www.24trailer.com
More later...
http://offtheclockblog.blogspot.com/
Just a little something to tide you over until January when the real news stories should start pouring in!
Tell me you love me, Charles...I want to hear you say it...I want to believe you mean it...
Well, to start with, I thought it would be just a simple movie about two dueling magicians who keep trying to one up each other. Wrong again. It was about something much darker...the human desire for obsession. Once you're hooked, you can't stop. Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale did a pretty good job but it was really the story line that drove the movie. One critique I do have is that it was presented out of order so you were really confused about what was happening when. Once you figured it all out, it was great fun. I like how they showed in the preview that it was about black magic and maybe Christian Bale's character was really Satan. However, it was nice to reveal the triumph of science over magic in the end.
First off, I really don't want to see any more tricks with animals after seeing that they kill the animal and bring out a look alike when doing some of those disappearing acts. I'm sure they probably don't do that now due to lawsuits from animal rights activists but still the idea of killing innocent birds is so sad. What was brilliant is that the key to the movie was in front of your eyes all along when they showed this magic trick. They just take it to a whole new level with a cloning machine where they can do to humans what they do to birds in making them disappear. What gets me is this? Was it the clone that died each night or was it Angier (Hugh Jackman)? Did the real guy ever live on or did he just die one of the nights when the trick was being performed? What about when Angier's wife died? Did Barton try to kill her with a complex knot or did he just mess up? So many questions, not enough time to answer them.
Now to compare this to "The Illusionist." If I were to do this it would be like comparing a one page handwritten note to a 500 page hardback novel. The two just don't match up. "The Prestige" is just so much more complex and intriguing as you try to figure out what happened and keep everyone straight, not to mention who is a clone and who isn't once you figure that out. The love story is the centerpiece of "The Illusionist" where it's the background of "The Prestige." The former relies more on magic while the latter discusses science. "The Illusionist" focuses more on a period mystery while "The Prestige" has ramifications for cloning issues in the present. Just depends on what is more to your taste :)
Ok, enough of the new movie...now on to the news. I stumbled across this last week when I was googling the name of Judi Itzin (Am I a stalker if I use her name on google?) and came across this gem. Evidently, the guy who has this blog is a news reporter who met and became friends with Greg. I'm posting this because of the Christmas Card message Greg sent him. They are such a nice down to earth couple :)
Buckle up! It's gonna be a bumpy ride!!!
Well y'all...here we go again...Day 6 is less than a month away...As I've mentioned before, last year at the Duke Children's Classic, I got to play golf and hang out with Gregory Itzin (Pres. Logan)....We've kept in touch since then...Thought I'd paste this latest exchange between us...
Greg and Judi…Hope y'all are well and ready for the holidays…
Greg…I'm starting my "24" blog next week and was wondering if you might have any tidbits re: season 6 that you might share…Without letting any cats out of any sacks, of course….Bill
Dear Jordans--funny you should write, I was thinking about you and yours.
I'll think about this cat-bag-letting thing. You already know that the ex-pres and his lovely wacky wife will be in the 6th day, though of course he can't be the prez anymore.... alas.
More anon one way or the other.
Best Wishes for the Holidays,
Greg and Judie Itzin
They're a great couple...Very down to earth...
I've already been trolling for intel on upcoming magazine and tv appearances by the cast as we get geared up again...Here's some Kiefer stuff...
Upcoming TV Appearances new! Kiefer is scheduled to make an appearance on ESPN Monday Night Football (12/25), The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (1/9/07), E! True Hollywood Story (1/10/07) , Live with Regis & Kelly (1/12/07), Late Night With Conan O'Brien (1/12/07) and The Charlie Rose Show (1/12/07)
The "prequel" to Season 6 is here...
www.24trailer.com
More later...
http://offtheclockblog.blogspot.com/
Just a little something to tide you over until January when the real news stories should start pouring in!
Tell me you love me, Charles...I want to hear you say it...I want to believe you mean it...