Holy crap! I've often found that low expectations can be rewarding with otherwise poor or mediocre fare - if you think a movie's going to be the lousiest thing you've ever seen, and it turns out that it's only the fifth lousiest movie you've ever seen, you're ahead on points. When you've got little to no expectations for a movie, little knowledge of it, and you're delighted to discover that it's brilliant, then you're a happy chap indeed. Robert Angier (Hugh Jackman) and Alfred Borden (Christian Bale) are magicians at the end of the 1800s, friends at first who, after a tragic incident, become rivals, obsessed with revenge and each other's secrets. Personally, I'd rather not give you any more information about the plot or characters than that. You'll enjoy it all the more just letting it unfold in front of you for the first time. Gorgeous production values, solid special effects where needed, and a pair of amazing performances from Jackman and Bale, not to mention the usual excellent turn by Michael Caine are more than enough to carry this movie, even if you're the kind of person who spots all the twists and solves all the mysteries 5 minutes into a movie (not that I'm thinking of my mother here or anything). Still haven't sold you? How about Scarlett Johansson in a 19th century bustier and stockings? 9/10 The Region 1 DVD is scheduled to be released on February 20th 2007

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Copyright © 2007 Christopher Coleman About the Author