In 2013 a film came out called 'Now You See Me'. this was an exciting and funny film about magic. Four street magicians came together as 'The Four Horsemen' and used their magic to rob a bank. Mark Ruffalo played the role of an FBI Agent hunting them down. Michael Caine played a wealthy man robbed by the magicians, and Morgan Freeman, played a magic-debunker, blamed for the death of a magician, who ended up framed and imprisoned by the magicians. A final reveal showed that the FBI Agent was also really a magician, and the final scene was a sweetly romantic one set on a Paris bridge.
As this reviewer has only recently returned from Paris, after walking across the said bridge several times, the arrival of the sequel to this magic film was highly anticipated. Sadly, it must be reported that this sequel makes the romantic scene now totally redundant. We cling to the romantic hope that there was at least a brief encounter, but sadly, in this film there is not even that.
Jesse Eisenberg must have really enjoyed acting in the original fun film because he went on to star with Kristen Stewart in 'American Ultra' (2015), a silly Bourne-like spy-spoof comedy. Jesse Eisenberg as a magician, is joined once again by fellow magicians Dave Franco and Woody Harrelson.
This film is set a year after the events of the first film. The Four Horsemen are in hiding, and Mark Ruffalo is still in the FBI pretending to track them down. In reality they are preparing for their next coup. There are some nice early scenes that introduce Lizzy Caplan to the story, as well as a flashback scene of the magician Lionel Shrike dying in front of his son. Richard Laing and William Henderson played their small parts well.
It should be said that although the UK rating of the film is 12A, the subject of this film is magic in all of it's forms, thus bloody illusions are performed, and death is always a possibility.
Some of the early scenes are frankly boring, and there is little tension as the coup unfolds. The original movie was cleverly filmed so that action scenes were clearly seen, and were also funny and exciting at the same time. There was not a need for too much of a suspension of belief. Sadly, the sequel, directed this time by Jon M. Chu, lacks that same fine touch most of the time. The action takes are so fast that we cannot see what is happening, and they are neither exciting or funny either. Of course, what this film is about, is a major twist, in which the magicians are undone in their coup, and are themselves played by a Mr Big. Director Chu does however reveal the Mr Big in a very impressive scene with an accompanying classic rock track.
There is some impressive acting, especially by Woody Harrelson. Mark Ruffalo once again shows a fine touch, fans should check out the 2013 musical drama 'Begin Again'. In a smaller role, Sanaa Lathan makes a very convincing FBI Agent, and Jay Chou and Tsai Chin entertain us in their small roles too.
The film opens with our magicians about to perform their coup, but as Mr Big ensnares them, it looks like they will need some magic of their own to escape his clutches.
The Prestige, (there is a 2006 film of that name starring Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman), is the final reveal, where the magic trick is revealed in all of it's glory. Those who enjoyed 'Now You See Me' (2013), will enjoy this sequel, which, whilst it certainly does not surpass the original, does contain it's own magical flourishes as rabbits are pulled out of the hat. 8/10.
As this reviewer has only recently returned from Paris, after walking across the said bridge several times, the arrival of the sequel to this magic film was highly anticipated. Sadly, it must be reported that this sequel makes the romantic scene now totally redundant. We cling to the romantic hope that there was at least a brief encounter, but sadly, in this film there is not even that.
Jesse Eisenberg must have really enjoyed acting in the original fun film because he went on to star with Kristen Stewart in 'American Ultra' (2015), a silly Bourne-like spy-spoof comedy. Jesse Eisenberg as a magician, is joined once again by fellow magicians Dave Franco and Woody Harrelson.
This film is set a year after the events of the first film. The Four Horsemen are in hiding, and Mark Ruffalo is still in the FBI pretending to track them down. In reality they are preparing for their next coup. There are some nice early scenes that introduce Lizzy Caplan to the story, as well as a flashback scene of the magician Lionel Shrike dying in front of his son. Richard Laing and William Henderson played their small parts well.
It should be said that although the UK rating of the film is 12A, the subject of this film is magic in all of it's forms, thus bloody illusions are performed, and death is always a possibility.
Some of the early scenes are frankly boring, and there is little tension as the coup unfolds. The original movie was cleverly filmed so that action scenes were clearly seen, and were also funny and exciting at the same time. There was not a need for too much of a suspension of belief. Sadly, the sequel, directed this time by Jon M. Chu, lacks that same fine touch most of the time. The action takes are so fast that we cannot see what is happening, and they are neither exciting or funny either. Of course, what this film is about, is a major twist, in which the magicians are undone in their coup, and are themselves played by a Mr Big. Director Chu does however reveal the Mr Big in a very impressive scene with an accompanying classic rock track.
There is some impressive acting, especially by Woody Harrelson. Mark Ruffalo once again shows a fine touch, fans should check out the 2013 musical drama 'Begin Again'. In a smaller role, Sanaa Lathan makes a very convincing FBI Agent, and Jay Chou and Tsai Chin entertain us in their small roles too.
The film opens with our magicians about to perform their coup, but as Mr Big ensnares them, it looks like they will need some magic of their own to escape his clutches.
The Prestige, (there is a 2006 film of that name starring Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman), is the final reveal, where the magic trick is revealed in all of it's glory. Those who enjoyed 'Now You See Me' (2013), will enjoy this sequel, which, whilst it certainly does not surpass the original, does contain it's own magical flourishes as rabbits are pulled out of the hat. 8/10.