"The Prestige" will dazzle you. It will show you the impossible and you'll love it. It will impress you. It will flabbergast you. You will sit in the theater after having seen it and try to figure out what you just saw. You will want to run back to the ticketbooth and buy another ticket to watch it again. You will want to watch it again, to catch it. One question will haunt you. Was it magic?
"Prestige" is certainly movie magic, there is no doubt about that. After having waited in anticipation for many months for "Prestige", I was pleased to have it exceed my expectations. Starring Christian Bale ("Batman"), Hugh Jackman (Wolverine from "X-Men"), Scarlett Johansson (The Island), Rebecca Hall, and Michael Caine (Secondhand Lions, Alfred from "Batman"), "Prestige" is certainly filled with prestigious people. The cast also include Piper Perabo, Andy Serkis (Gollum), and David Bowie.
Chris Bale and Jackman play two magicians who begin as friends, but the friendship turns to obsessive rivalry when tragedy strikes. Bale is obviously the better magician, but Jackman has flair. When Bale performs "the greatest magic trick he's ever seen", Jackman decides to get even and the make a name for himself at the same time. Their hatred for each other puts Bale's wife and child and Scarlett Johansson in the middle of it all. The danger increases and the intensity rises as the men make attempt after attempt to outwit the other.
Chris Bale and Michael Caine had the most impressive acting, and I loved every minute they were on camera. That's not to say that Johansson and Jackman aren't great too. Surprisingly, Bowie gives a pretty good performance, not at all reminiscient of "The Labyrinth", which is a relief.
According to Caine's character, "Every great magic trick consists of three acts. The first act is called "The Pledge"; The magician shows you something ordinary, but of course... it probably isn't. The second act is called "The Turn"; The magician makes his ordinary some thing do something extraordinary. Now if you're looking for the secret... you won't find it, that's why there's a third act called, "The Prestige"; this is the part with the twists and turns, where lives hang in the balance, and you see something shocking you've never seen before."
The magician of this movie is the director, and the actors who make his film come alive. When you see "The Prestige", you will see something shocking you've never seen before. You will look for the secret, but you won't find it. Because of course, you're not really looking. You don't really want to know. Interestingly enough, movies, just like illusions, consist of three acts. "The Prestige" converts a film into a magic trick. If you think you have it all figured out, think again. Because the only parts you've seen are the Pledge and the Turn. The Prestige is still to come.
Sunday, October 29, 2006
Thursday, October 05, 2006
Survey #10
Survey Question 10-3-06: The real reason we invaded Iraq was terrorism, Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs), neither, or both?
Number of surveyed: 84
Guys: Terrorists 5%
WMDs 5%
Neither 39%
Both 50%
Girls: Terrorists 10%
WMDs 15%
Neither 23%
Both 52%
Totals: Terrorists 8%
WMDs 11%
Neither 30%
Both 63%
Unfortunately, considering that the Iraqis do not have WMDs, never had WMDs, and never will have WMDs, and the 9/11 tragedy had nothing to do with Iraq and everything to do with a terrorist network called Al Qeda, our country really invaded Iraq for no reason at all. Very few people who said neither actually thought our invasion was for good reason. Most of them just hate Bush, but a few said, "We went to IRaq to set up a new government for them."
Just think about that for a minute. It is any of our business what other people's governments are like. It is not our business to replace all monarchies, dictatorships, etc. with democracies. If we were going to replace a government with our own, why not Cuba's? Cuba's DICTATOR, Fidel Castro, has been ruling in that country for how long? Here's another example: Darfur. Darfur is a region in Sudan, which is in Africa. An ethnic cleansing is going on in Darfur. FOr those of you who don't understand the term "ethnic cleansing", think Hitler and the Holocaust. A radical Muslim group is forcing the Christians and those who practice traditional African religions out of the country. The key word there is "force". This force involves raiding, burning and pillaging defenseless villages. Kidnapping children and forcing them to watch their parents be killed. Giving the kidnapped orphans guns and forcing them to shoot people. Using children as sex slaves.
The whole world has just sat back and watched this atrocity go on. And America, the self-named "peacekeepers of the world" have ignored it too. We can't just leave Iraq, it's too late for that. But doesn't this speak volumes about the US priotities and values? Doesn't this make you think twice about our government and our goals as a country?
Is anyone else crying for Darfur? Is anyone else speaking out? I am.
Number of surveyed: 84
Guys: Terrorists 5%
WMDs 5%
Neither 39%
Both 50%
Girls: Terrorists 10%
WMDs 15%
Neither 23%
Both 52%
Totals: Terrorists 8%
WMDs 11%
Neither 30%
Both 63%
Unfortunately, considering that the Iraqis do not have WMDs, never had WMDs, and never will have WMDs, and the 9/11 tragedy had nothing to do with Iraq and everything to do with a terrorist network called Al Qeda, our country really invaded Iraq for no reason at all. Very few people who said neither actually thought our invasion was for good reason. Most of them just hate Bush, but a few said, "We went to IRaq to set up a new government for them."
Just think about that for a minute. It is any of our business what other people's governments are like. It is not our business to replace all monarchies, dictatorships, etc. with democracies. If we were going to replace a government with our own, why not Cuba's? Cuba's DICTATOR, Fidel Castro, has been ruling in that country for how long? Here's another example: Darfur. Darfur is a region in Sudan, which is in Africa. An ethnic cleansing is going on in Darfur. FOr those of you who don't understand the term "ethnic cleansing", think Hitler and the Holocaust. A radical Muslim group is forcing the Christians and those who practice traditional African religions out of the country. The key word there is "force". This force involves raiding, burning and pillaging defenseless villages. Kidnapping children and forcing them to watch their parents be killed. Giving the kidnapped orphans guns and forcing them to shoot people. Using children as sex slaves.
The whole world has just sat back and watched this atrocity go on. And America, the self-named "peacekeepers of the world" have ignored it too. We can't just leave Iraq, it's too late for that. But doesn't this speak volumes about the US priotities and values? Doesn't this make you think twice about our government and our goals as a country?
Is anyone else crying for Darfur? Is anyone else speaking out? I am.
Survey #9
Survey Question 10-2-06: Do you think our country is doing the right thing in Iraq or do you agree with the Iraq War?
Number of surveyed: 98
Location: Lowry
Guys: YES 38%
NO 49%
NUETRAL 13%
Girls: YES 19%
NO 53%
NUETRAL 28%
Totals: YES 30%
NO 51%
NUETRAL 19%
At last, survey results that please. Most of those who voted neutral didn't know enough about the Iraq War to choose anything different. Many people said yes and then when I asked why told me that the Iraqis had bombed our towers, so of course we were going after them! I would close my eyes and slowly shake my head and then inform them that no one bombed us, and the Iraquis hadn't produced those terrorists, nor harbored them. Confused, they would attempt to argue, but it was no use. "Why did we declare war on them?" They'd ask, and I had no answer for them. Is there an answer to that question? A justifiable, reasonable answer for the war in Iraq? You tell me because I can't think of one.
Number of surveyed: 98
Location: Lowry
Guys: YES 38%
NO 49%
NUETRAL 13%
Girls: YES 19%
NO 53%
NUETRAL 28%
Totals: YES 30%
NO 51%
NUETRAL 19%
At last, survey results that please. Most of those who voted neutral didn't know enough about the Iraq War to choose anything different. Many people said yes and then when I asked why told me that the Iraqis had bombed our towers, so of course we were going after them! I would close my eyes and slowly shake my head and then inform them that no one bombed us, and the Iraquis hadn't produced those terrorists, nor harbored them. Confused, they would attempt to argue, but it was no use. "Why did we declare war on them?" They'd ask, and I had no answer for them. Is there an answer to that question? A justifiable, reasonable answer for the war in Iraq? You tell me because I can't think of one.
Wednesday, October 04, 2006
Survey #8
Survey Question 9-29-06: Can you name the 8 continents?
Number of surveyed: 52
Location: Lowry
The Results:
Guys: YES 48%
NO 33%
There's 7 19%
Girls: YES 32%
NO 23%
There's 7 45%
Totals: YES 48%
NO 27%
There's 7 35%
Does this make any of you think twice? Considering that there are only 7 continents (Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, South America, Australia, and Antarctica) it should. Girls spotted the trick question from a mile away, but it took guys forever to figure it out. I had to tell them to count those continents again. Usually they said Africa twice. Or named the North Pole or India or Canada. Sadness, eh?
Number of surveyed: 52
Location: Lowry
The Results:
Guys: YES 48%
NO 33%
There's 7 19%
Girls: YES 32%
NO 23%
There's 7 45%
Totals: YES 48%
NO 27%
There's 7 35%
Does this make any of you think twice? Considering that there are only 7 continents (Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, South America, Australia, and Antarctica) it should. Girls spotted the trick question from a mile away, but it took guys forever to figure it out. I had to tell them to count those continents again. Usually they said Africa twice. Or named the North Pole or India or Canada. Sadness, eh?
Survey #7
Survey Question 9/28/06: Of these three actors, whose autograph would you get?
Number of surveyed: 67
Location: Lowry
The Results:
Guys: Johnny Depp 30%
Samuel L. Jackson 63%
Orlando Bloom 7%
Girls: Johnny Depp 60%
Samuel L. Jackson 8%
Orlando Bloom 30%
Grand Totals: Johnny Depp 50%
Samuel L. Jackson 30%
Orlando Bloom 20%
This survey proves that guys will choose the macho action hero over everything else. Girls on the other hand will choose the cute, smooth, and romantic. AKA, Johnny Depp. Poor Orlando Bloom got slammed by all the guys I talked to. He ended up getting about 14 votes in all to Johnny Depp's 32. I voted for Mr. Depp.
Number of surveyed: 67
Location: Lowry
The Results:
Guys: Johnny Depp 30%
Samuel L. Jackson 63%
Orlando Bloom 7%
Girls: Johnny Depp 60%
Samuel L. Jackson 8%
Orlando Bloom 30%
Grand Totals: Johnny Depp 50%
Samuel L. Jackson 30%
Orlando Bloom 20%
This survey proves that guys will choose the macho action hero over everything else. Girls on the other hand will choose the cute, smooth, and romantic. AKA, Johnny Depp. Poor Orlando Bloom got slammed by all the guys I talked to. He ended up getting about 14 votes in all to Johnny Depp's 32. I voted for Mr. Depp.
Survey #6
Survey question 9/27/06: Beatles or Rolling Stones, which is better?
Number of surveyed people: 122
Location: Lowry
Guys: 36% Beatles
29% Rolling Stones
11% Both
25% Neither
Girls: 47% Beatles
24% Rolling Stones
10% Both
18% Neither
Making for the grand totals of:
40% Beatles
27% Rolling Stones
11% Both
22% Neither
Sadly, classic rock has lost much of its appeal. And just as sad, the majority of the girls had no idea who The Beatles were. When I mentioned Paul McCartney they understood, but they didn't recognize The Beatle's name. How unfortunate, how much they're missing out on.
Number of surveyed people: 122
Location: Lowry
Guys: 36% Beatles
29% Rolling Stones
11% Both
25% Neither
Girls: 47% Beatles
24% Rolling Stones
10% Both
18% Neither
Making for the grand totals of:
40% Beatles
27% Rolling Stones
11% Both
22% Neither
Sadly, classic rock has lost much of its appeal. And just as sad, the majority of the girls had no idea who The Beatles were. When I mentioned Paul McCartney they understood, but they didn't recognize The Beatle's name. How unfortunate, how much they're missing out on.
Survey #5
Question: Do you think Timbuktu is a real place?
Number of surveyed people: 121
Boys: YES 73%
NO 27%
Girls: YES 72%
NO 28%
Total: YES 73%
NO 27%
Well at least we know something about geography. Timbuktu, also spelled TOMBOUCTOU, is a city in the West African nation of Mali. (source: http://thesalmons.org/lynn/wh-timbuktu.html just in case you'd like to read more about it)
Number of surveyed people: 121
Boys: YES 73%
NO 27%
Girls: YES 72%
NO 28%
Total: YES 73%
NO 27%
Well at least we know something about geography. Timbuktu, also spelled TOMBOUCTOU, is a city in the West African nation of Mali. (source: http://thesalmons.org/lynn/wh-timbuktu.html just in case you'd like to read more about it)
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