Monday, 27 May 2013

Watch, Read, Listen it; Magic


My husband and I have recently discovered one of the rare genres of film/TV that is loved by both of us. Magic. Here are our findings!

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// Penn and Teller //


How do you become a great magician? Fool them. If you’re out of the magician loop, Penn and Teller are two of the most well known magicians in the world and I’ve recently been introduced to their reality TV show “Fool Us.” They’re most known for their Vegas acts and the contestants on their new show are trying to win a place on the stage with them. How? Fool them. 



Magicians come from all around Britain to perform for the pair of magicians, and if Penn and Teller can’t figure out their tricks, they get a flight to Vegas to open the Penn and Teller show. Every episode there are a variety of acts but the part that has me most hooked is the reaction of the magical pair afterward. As Teller assumes a mute character on stage, the talking is done by Penn, and while most of the time he won’t let slip how the magician does their trick, he gives you great insight to how hard, easy, common or special the trick is. They’ll exchange magical terms and draw pictures to communicate that, yet again, Penn and Teller haven’t been fooled. 

But then, comes the times that the budding magician fools The Greats. Just when you think that Penn and Teller will, yet again, have this trick in the bag, Penn will have to utter the words “you fooled us.” Watching this series is a lot more than watching your average magician because sitting at home on your couch being fooled by a magic trick is one thing, but seeing two of the most famous magicians in the world being fooled is just spectacular.






 // The Illusionist //

A 2006 film about, well, an illusionist. This film had me hooked, intrigued, and ultimately, completely fooled. Questions appear sooner than answers and the whole thing buckles under you just when you thought you've started to understand. These aren't your typical magic tricks but I definitely recommend you give it a watch if you've caught the magic bug (or just love Edward Norton.)




// The Prestige //
 
It's rated number 70 on the IMBd’s top picks and again, was released 7 years ago so I have no doubt that most people out there have seen it. But if you haven’t seen it, let me tell you, even if your sister in-law has told you the entire plot over a family dinner, it’s still a great film. Two magicians with two great secrets battling it out to be the best played by the strong cast of Christian Bale, Hugh Jackman and Scarlett Johansson. If you too have found yourself a fan of illusions then this is one to watch.



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Please let me know if you have some other magicy things to watch - I'd love to continue this new interest :)

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