10 Movies SIGNIFICANTLY Better Than The Book
8. The Prestige
While many people may be more familiar with the Christopher Nolan film version of The Prestige, it was originated as a book by author Christopher Priest in 1995. The novel, told in epistolary form, read by the descendants of both magicians, tells the tale of their rivalry, one that continues to present day thanks to several of the twists that are revealed.
Grander in scope than the film, the novel is an excellent portrayal of his twisting tale. However, Nolan's film manages to take what was best about the novel and improve on it. For example, the Borden men are more of a mystery in the film, something that is remarked on by, and ultimately causes the destruction of, Borden's wife, played by Rebecca Hall.
Angier, as played by Hugh Jackman, is far less sympathetic character in the film. Though spurred by what he believes is righteous vengeance, his search brings him to David Bowie's Tesla and his fantastic machine, but with a stark difference from the novel. In the film, Angier's clones are very much as real and conscious as he is. That shot of the many, many cages of water containing bodies serves a chilling ending.
The film's tone and score by David Julyan is to serve the heavy and intense story. Abandoning much of the epistolary form of the novel, Nolan's film is a more linear and therefore easier to follow narrative, without losing the driving thread of the story.