'The Illusionist (Italian Import)' - High-Def Digest Review

[RandellG]

Originally Posted by Josh Z

My projector is perfectly compatible with a PAL signal. I watch many PAL DVDs via my region-free DVD player. It's the American Blu-ray player that is not compatible with the PAL signal.

I still want a Region 2 PS3 or some Blu-Ray player capable of region free playback. Make importing a whole lot more fun, and expensive. But AMZ.UK won't ship one over here even if I did have the money to buy it

[Puhgete]

Originally Posted by Josh Z

It's interesting that you should say that, considering that The Prestige has a major cop-out plot twist by introducing sci-fi elements into what was otherwise a "realistic" story about sleight-of-hand tricks and stage magic. The Illusionist is consistent, in that everything is... well... an illusion.

Anyway, I liked both movies for what they are.

Ah, yeah that's the part I didn't like, which is why I said it wasn't perfect, but I still liked it better overall. They feeling I kinda got from The Illusionist was that I was supposed to be wowed or amazed by his unbelievable feats but because they presented in a way that you're supposed to believe he is actually capable of magice I wasn't.

[Josh Z]

Originally Posted by RandellG

I still want a Region 2 PS3 or some Blu-Ray player capable of region free playback. Make importing a whole lot more fun, and expensive. But AMZ.UK won't ship one over here even if I did have the money to buy it

I was in Paris a few weeks ago. I considered buying a French PS3, but they were expensive, especially with the current exchange rate, and then I'd have had to ship it back to myself at home. When I went into a post office, nobody there spoke English (which is unusual in Paris, because just about everyone else does). I had a hard enough time just buying stamps, and decided that I didn't need the hassle of shipping a large box.

On the way out of the country, there was a Virgin Megastore outlet with a PS3 in the window right at my airport gate. I really debated it, but between finding a place for the damn box in the overhead compartment and then Customs once I got back to the States, again I decided that it wasn't worth the hassle. I kind of regret it...

[Josh Z]

Originally Posted by Puhgete

Ah, yeah that's the part I didn't like, which is why I said it wasn't perfect, but I still liked it better overall.

Overall, I prefer The Prestige as well, because it has more ideas on its mind, even if it doesn't perfectly execute them. At the same time, it's also much more disappointing. It reaches for bigger things, but when it fails, it fails much harder. Throwing in a sci-fi twist from out of nowhere felt like a tremendous cheat to me. On the other hand, while The Illusionist doesn't strive for the same lofty goals, it does hold tight to the rules it sets down.

[kannisto]

Originally Posted by Damian

The reviewer said that he was unable to watch the special features but WHY ?

It seems like the US PS3 plays them. The TV is obviously unable to display a PAL signal therefore the blank screen.

But why the f*** the PS3 DOESN'T upconvert PAL to 1080P @ 60HZ ???

Is this some anti-piracy bullshit ???

My Japanese PS3 also doesn't seem to be able to play any SD PAL extras on Blu-ray discs. Usually when I try, a small play icon appears on the screen for a moment and the control goes back to menu instantly => No playback. If it was a TV issue, it wouldn't work like that. They work on my PC setup though.

[Valaquenta]

haha I love seeing people complain about the "scifi twist" (unnecessary genre labeling) or "deus ex machina" ending in the prestige. one of the major points of the movie was not to reveal secrets or people will be disappointed (you want to be fooled). i think insecure people tend to form negative opinions about twists they don't see coming. i don't try to figure out a movie before it's over like a complete idiot tho. anyway, i love every molecule of the prestige. there was no scifi twist out of nowhere. even at the beginning caine was telling jackman to go to the science convention, where he saw bale. the technology showed how unnatural jackman's interpretation of magic had become, while bale remained simple at heart. i don't see how you could change anything about the movie without ruining it. it's a house of cards.

as for the illusionist, im excited to see it on blu in the us cuz i missed it in theaters (and prestige). i feel sorry for people who think life is like highlander because companies turn everything into a competition. i can only see one magic movie this summer sorry guys! i think it comes back to people having to feel like their choice means something. like... I CHOSE the prestige, I VOTED for crazy old man, etc.

[Sky_Captain]

The Illusionist was like some shit Hallmark Channel movie compared to the Prestige. That's right, I said it. MWHAHAHAHA!!

[Dursman]

Well this is odd -- my LG BH200 plays all of the PAL supplements on this disc properly, and I have neither a display that is compatible with PAL nor have I applied any of the "hacks" available either to the player.

[Daytripper]

Originally Posted by Sky_Captain

The Illusionist was like some shit Hallmark Channel movie compared to the Prestige. That's right, I said it. MWHAHAHAHA!!

(Crickets)

O.K..........

[shawnmos]

Originally Posted by JoeBel

I've been holding myself back on buying the import for months, I also hope they announce a US release soon. For me this was one of those movies that I wanted to see but loved a lot more than I thought I would.

Same here. I really want this movie, but don't want to import.