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RE: He needed exactly 100, for each of his final 100 shows

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In Reply to: RE: He needed exactly 100, for each of his final 100 shows posted by Jazz Inmate on September 12, 2007 at 10:22:18

If I expected movies to be limited by what is considered possible I probably wouldn't go nearly as often.

I think your argument falls down when Algier first tests his machine and then shoots the clone that is created. At that point, he would have been convinced that it was indeed a cloning machine (having spent large sums of money), and would not have needed to locate a body double to show himself that the machine worked.

Michael Caine's voiceover could have been directed at the crowd (and jury), who believed that there was only one Algier.

I wish that the movie would have explored the moral dilemma created by the machine. It's not really clear to me which Algier is the clone and which is the original each time he uses the machine, or how much of his memories get transferred to the clone. Was he effectively committing suicide each night, or murder?

Follow Ups:

RE: He needed exactly 100, for each of his final 100 shows - Jazz Inmate 09:37:05 09/13/07 (4)
I agree that movies should not be limited to reality but this movie was very careful to have a rational explanation for each and every magic trick. Cloning is not a rational explanation. My interpretation is that Algier's first test of the device was not shown, and simply resulted in his realization that he had been tricked by Tesla. At that point, he would not have given up. He was obsessed and would go to any length to outdo Borden and ruin Borden's life. The very reason he hooked up with Tesla in the first place was because Borden tricked him, not because Tesla could build anything magical.

During the final conversation between Borden and Algier, as they're talking, the screen shows all those hats piled up outside Tesla's workshop. This is a big clue. Were those hats cloned or not? It's absolutely up to each viewer to decide but I do think one interpretation is correct and one is incorrect.

I wonder if the book makes it clearer.
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"I have found that if you love life, life will love you back." -Arthur Rubinstein (1887-1982)
- In the book it was clones... sort of... - sjb 11:21:22 09/13/07 (2)
  .
  
  "You can safely assume you have created God in your own image when he hates all the same people you do."
  - defintely not searched out body doubles (Open in New Window)
  - ...but the book is supposed to be just a series of journal entries - Jazz Inmate 13:32:28 09/13/07 (0)
    Do the magicians ever reveal their real secrets in the journal entries?
    
    Consider that, at the film's critical moment in Angier's diary when he steps into the machine for the first time, he ends his account of what happens. That's significant. He does not lie about what happened but instead simply stops telling his story before his secret is revealed.
    -------------
    "I have found that if you love life, life will love you back." -Arthur Rubinstein (1887-1982)
  - That's a much different ending. You're right though. NT - Jazz Inmate 12:58:13 09/13/07 (0)
    -------------
    "I have found that if you love life, life will love you back." -Arthur Rubinstein (1887-1982)
- "My interpretation is that Algier's first test of the device was not shown... - sjb 11:16:37 09/13/07 (0)
  and simply resulted in his realization that he had been tricked by Tesla."
  
  LOL! Man, are you reaching.
  
  "You can safely assume you have created God in your own image when he hates all the same people you do."

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