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The Prestige Analysis

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The Prestige Analysis
The Prestige is a film adaptation of the Christopher Priest novel bearing the same name. The story is set in the turn-of-the-century London about two stage magicians, their rivalry, and their obsession to be the best with the artistry and secrecy of illusion. The analysis of The Prestige will examine several aspects of the film including plot, character development, use of sound, use of photography, set design, lighting, and role of the collaborators. Each of these areas is important to create the emotion, suspense, and energy for a successful and entertaining film.
The Plot
The filmmakers introduce a man who designs the equipment to pull off the illusions. The magic of a successful illusion consists of three …show more content…

Other key characters include Mr. Cutter, Sarah Borden, and Olivia Wenscombe. Mr. Cutter, the engineer that designs the mechanical devices used for the illusions, tells the story leading up to the death of Mr. Angier and Mr. Borden. Sarah Borden, Alfred Borden’s wife, displays confusion over the on-again, off-again love received by Mr. Borden. Throughout the film, she expresses this confusion by telling Alfred, “Today, it’s true,” or “Today, you don’t mean it” (Nolan, Ryder, and Thomas). She believes on some days, his love of magic is greater than his love for her. Olivia Wenscombe, Mr. Angier’s assistant and later Mr. Borden’s mistress, represented a woman who loved the attention of the stage. Her outgoing personality embodied through her clothing and her dialogue.
The Use of Sound
Even though the film is essentially a visual experience, the use of sound has become extremely important in modern film. The modern viewer hears a complicated soundtrack that is as meaningful as the image on the screen. Three elements comprise the film's soundtrack: the dialogue, the sound effects, and the musical score. The proper balance and mix of these elements produced the essential emphasis required, which created the desired effects. As explained by Joseph Boggs and Dennis Petrie,
Because we are more consciously aware of what we see than what we hear, we generally accept the soundtrack without much thought, responding intuitively to the

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