Sometimes if I’ve already seen a film in the theatres, it seems overkill to watch it again on DVD. If I had a questionable reaction to the movie, I’ll often view it again to give it another chance. Believe it or not, some mediocre films actually improve a bit on the small screen.

However, with a film like “The Prestige,” a chance to view it again is a treat. This film was full of twists and turns, with surprises to the very end. The movie itself is set up like a magic trick, with three separate parts: the Turn (which introduces something ordinary), the Pledge (which turns that ordinary thing extraordinary) and the Prestige (where the audience is left in awe).

We see the Pledge at the beginning: a magician named Alfred Borden (Christian Bale) has been arrested for killing his rival Robert Angier (Hugh Jackman).

As we move into the Turn, we learn the challenge of these two lives. They have been at odds for years. Angier blames Borden for the death of his wife during a failed trick. Borden is clearly a better magician, but Angier is a better showman. They go their separate ways but continue to be rivals, stealing each other’s tricks and audiences. During the Turn, we think things are clear as to why Borden killed Angier.

But the greatest part of “The Prestige” is the Prestige – the ending in which all is revealed. We learn the why, the how and – most interesting – what happens next.

Watching “The Prestige” again, knowing the Prestige of the movie, gives a completely different movie. It is very much like watching a magic trick performed after you know the trick. Everything seems so obvious, but because of good showmanship and sleight of hand, you never noticed it before.

While I recommended “The Prestige” in the theatre, I recommend it again on DVD. It’s definitely worth a second look, just to see how the movie magic of the plot came together. I have to say that I actually liked the movie better on DVD because I was in on the trick. What seemed superfluous upon my first viewing was revealed to be important to the movie when you know the end.

Director Christopher Nolan had some fun casting Batman versus Wolverine in this film, giving a nod to his comic book audience. While Hugh Jackman is decent in the film, he is overshadowed by Christian Bale. As Nolan’s new go-to actor, Bale is one of the best out there. After a few more stints as Batman, I expect to see him going on to some great things, possibly becoming the Tom Hanks of his own generation.

The DVD comes with an art gallery and a long-form documentary called “The Director’s Notebook: The Cinematic Sleight Of Hand Of Christopher Nolan.” This documentary is an in-depth look at the film, looking at everything from setting it in Victorian London to a brief history of Nikolas Tesla.

“The Prestige” was not the greatest movie of 2006, but it was up there with the better releases. It shined during the Halloween season, overcoming the onslaught of terror flicks like “Saw III” and “Texas Chain Saw: The Beginning.”

If you haven’t seen it, “The Prestige” is definitely worth checking out. If you’ve seen it already, it’s still worth checking out to see the trick in play.



Specifications: Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound. Widescreen (2.35:1) – Enhanced for 16x9 televisions. French and Spanish language tracks. French and Spanish subtitles. English subtitles for the hearing impaired.