There is something about magic and those that practice it that amaze people and grant them some sort of thrill that cannot be fully explained. The thought that there might be something we can’t see and can’t possibly imagine being real actually being practiced by someone that knows the secret behind it is a thrill that many people throughout history have paid to witness. Of course with reality serving as a constant reminder of what lies beyond the tricks and deceits of so many magicians the story of magic has become little more than legend and entertainment that is used to amaze children and fool those adults that can’t see past the trickery. But really when you think about it and look at the world from a different view you can’t help but think that there might be something to the imagination that’s placed on the screen, some quality to the world that is indeed magical in a way that is enjoyable to think about but somehow terrifying to realize could be true. Thankfully those feats of magic and the magicians that display them on the screen are there for sheer entertainment purposes and continually thrill those that watch as they rely upon the magic of the cinema to bring such productions to life.
If magic was in fact a real and widely practiced form you can imagine the kind of trouble our world might be in. Here are a few movies that excelled when it came to showcasing magic at its finest and most dangerous.
5. Lord of Illusions
As one of the many 90’s films that decided to go ‘out there’ and simply take things to another level this movie was something unique. It was creepy, filled with disturbing imagery and actions and it did a great job of showing the dangers of cultism and what it could do to people. The magic part of it was absolutely brutal as it essentially laid bare the world that we know and revealed to people what lies beyond the flesh. While many of us might not agree, it’s by our imaginations alone that we create something both unique, horrifying, and wonderful all that same time in the creation of magic.
4. The Incredible Burt Wonderstone
Gimmickry is a useful tool to use when it comes to entertaining people and illusionists tend to use it a lot. In this movie however the ‘magic’ is a rather comical act since almost everything is broken down in some form as the lives of the two main characters are shown from childhood to adulthood. The film wasn’t all that well-received but it was pretty funny if a person took the time to watch it all the way through, as the last trick is one that seems like it would lend itself to certain abuses. But it was comical all the same.
3. Now You See Me
This film makes a good point about getting in close so that you can attempt to see what’s going on. The closer you get the more you’ll miss as the best illusionists want you to scrutinize every last bit of their trick. That’s when they tend to perform the real trick and you’re left with your jaw hanging open and your mind blown trying to figure out what really just happened. This film had a lot of amusing quirks and despite being kind of underrated it was still very entertaining.
2. Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Part 2
From the first to the last movie this series was highly enjoyable not just because of the magic, but because it showed that while magic is great and can do wonderful things, it still carries a heavy price that has to be paid when all is said and done. That is why this last movie is so important as it bestows upon the audience the final price that is demanded by the magic. From the tale of the three brothers to the ultimate toll it takes upon Voldemort and Harry, magic is more or less its own master while those that use it have to learn how to bend when necessary and stand when they have to. As entertainment it’s great, but as a lesson in how everything comes with a price the films are something unique.
1. The Prestige
Sometimes whether the magic is real or not doesn’t matter. It’s the dedication to the trick that creates the mystique, the thrill, and the unknown that lies behind the magician. The Prestige seems kind of dry when you first watch it but if you watch it again you start to pick up on the real trick of the movie as you pick up everything you missed initially while looking for the next hook. That’s the real trick of magic, it will keep you looking for more when what you needed to see was right in front of you.
Don’t blink, you might miss it again.
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