OK so I have to admit that I am a big fan of Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale and well Scarlette Johanssan isn't all that bad to look at either. Oddly enough this movie just sort of crept up on me, hadn't heard much about it till release was right around the corner.
Moved to Pakistan a while back so couldn't catch it in the theater and so had to wait till I could land a decent print of the movie on DVD (yes piracy is pretty common in these parts of the world). And let me tell you what a Movie!!!!!!!!!! Although I have to admit that I was able to predict certain key plot points in the movie, how Nolan manages to bring them to the surface is really where this movie stands out.
The rivalry is set up well with the accidental death of Perabo's character and then its easy to see how Jackman's quest for revenge soon turns into an obsession with the trick.
Its a rivalry of Kane and Able proportions, where although both characters are at a stage where confrontation is no longer necessary, but yet have feel this inexplicable need to hurt the other. Brilliant! Now moving on as soon as you know the multiplication aspect of the trick you know that Jackman's looking to pull a coupe by sending his arch nemesis to the gallows and taking two things most precious to him -his trick and his daughter - in descending order of importance.
Alhthough I caught on a bit early into the movie I still was hooked because i was curious to know how everything would play out. There was enough in the movie to keep me entertained until the end, and then it becomes all the More apparent that this is no mere pop-corn entertainer... this is more...so much more...
Another thing that stands out is the fact that you really find it hard to sympathize with either character... its tough to pick sides... perhaps Jackman in the initial stages... but over time his character degrades to such an extent to find any justification for his actions is impossible...as is demonstrated by his camp follower Michael Caine's eventual turning.
And then the final scene... right at the end when you think its all over... and think that they both got what they deserved... well one of the Bale's anyways... you get a glimpse of something in the box and you leave the theater in my case the home theater in awe and then you put another pack of popcorn in the microwave and head back to the front row seats so a repeat...
Moved to Pakistan a while back so couldn't catch it in the theater and so had to wait till I could land a decent print of the movie on DVD (yes piracy is pretty common in these parts of the world). And let me tell you what a Movie!!!!!!!!!! Although I have to admit that I was able to predict certain key plot points in the movie, how Nolan manages to bring them to the surface is really where this movie stands out.
The rivalry is set up well with the accidental death of Perabo's character and then its easy to see how Jackman's quest for revenge soon turns into an obsession with the trick.
Its a rivalry of Kane and Able proportions, where although both characters are at a stage where confrontation is no longer necessary, but yet have feel this inexplicable need to hurt the other. Brilliant! Now moving on as soon as you know the multiplication aspect of the trick you know that Jackman's looking to pull a coupe by sending his arch nemesis to the gallows and taking two things most precious to him -his trick and his daughter - in descending order of importance.
Alhthough I caught on a bit early into the movie I still was hooked because i was curious to know how everything would play out. There was enough in the movie to keep me entertained until the end, and then it becomes all the More apparent that this is no mere pop-corn entertainer... this is more...so much more...
Another thing that stands out is the fact that you really find it hard to sympathize with either character... its tough to pick sides... perhaps Jackman in the initial stages... but over time his character degrades to such an extent to find any justification for his actions is impossible...as is demonstrated by his camp follower Michael Caine's eventual turning.
And then the final scene... right at the end when you think its all over... and think that they both got what they deserved... well one of the Bale's anyways... you get a glimpse of something in the box and you leave the theater in my case the home theater in awe and then you put another pack of popcorn in the microwave and head back to the front row seats so a repeat...