Magic

See Larger Image	Manufacturer: United American Video Starring: Anthony Hopkins, Ann-Margret, Burgess Meredith, Ed Lauter, E.J. André Directed By: Richard Attenborough Average Customer Rating:


Audience Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested) Binding: VHS Tape EAN: 0084296058662 Format: Color Label: United American Video Manufacturer: United American Video Publisher: United American Video Release Date: 1998-10-09 Running Time: 107 Studio: United American Video Theatrical Release Date: 1978-11-08
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Spotlight customer reviews: Customer Rating: Summary: "Magic" DVD Comment: I am very satisfied with my purchase of this DVD. It is in excellent condition, and I can now share this movie with others who never saw it. Customer Rating: Summary: Hopkins' Menacing Stage Act Comment: For fans of Anthony Hopkins' intensity and versatility as an actor, this late-seventies thriller is a shining obscurity. Hopkins plays troubled loner Corky, his years of preparation as a slight-of-hand magician thrust back in his face by a drunk and distracted debut audience, who then redirects his efforts into a ventriloquism act with an engagingly demented dummy-sidekick, Fats. The resulting sudden thrust into national fame causes a very real split within Corky, who has given away far too much of his sublimated soul to his wooden partner, and then finds himself totally dominated by his own creation -- who, it turns out, doesn't draw the line at murder when threatened. Ann Margret plays Corky's now world-weary and vulnerable high school infatuation, and Burgess Meredith is the veteran agent who is the only one to recognize the truth about his client: "Ya ain't in control, kid!" Side note: Hopkins threw himself totally into his role--all of the ventriloquism and slight-of-hand are his own. Customer Rating: Summary: Magic....... Comment: The 1978 film Magic is one of Anthony Hopkins earlier movies and, after watching this, it is plain to see why he is the master of doing suspenseful psychological thrillers. Directed by Richard Attenborough, Magic starred Anthony Hopkins, Ann Margaret, Burgess Meredith and David Ogden Stiers. Written by William Goldman, it told the story of 'Corky' Withers who fails at his first attempt at professional magic. Coming back a year later with "Fats", Corky does well on the circuit. When his agent tries to sign him for his own TV show, when it is mentioned he has to take a physical- Corky quickly declines and bails out. Yet, the truth is, he doesn't want them to find out that he suffers from Multiple Personality Disorder and he hears "Fats" talking to him. Once in the catskills, he meets up with an old flame-Peggy Ann Snow(Ann Margaret) who is in a marriage on the rocks. They both start up a relationship, which leads to the both of them making love & sparks the jealousy of both Fats and Peggy's husband Duke. That's when the fur starts to fly and the story gets even deeper. It's been said that, when the movie's trailer first aired, parents claimed that it gave their children nightmares. The trailer itself featured Fats reciting a poem(Abracadabra, I sit on his knee. Presto, change-o, and now he is me! Hocus Pocus, we take her to bed, Magic is fun...we're dead.") after which his eyes roll back in his head. It's followed by a cast reading, then Fats opens his eyes and gazes to his left. Siskel and Ebert loved the film and placed it at #9 on their top 10 list of great movies for that year. I, personally, loved the movie myself when it first came out and I still watch it from time to time now. If I had any gripes about the movie, it'd be that Corky and "Fats" die at the end. I know that it ties in with what takes place in the book but it would have been cool to see a second film based on the characters. Alas, it wasn't meant to be...which is a real bummer. At any rate, Magic is a great movie. Definitley on my top 10 favorites of all-time. Customer Rating: Summary: Creepy old Anthony Hopkins film Comment: Magic stars Anthony Hopkins long before Silence of the Lambs. His character "Corky" is a magician who can't seem to catch a break. He decides to try his luck at using a ventriloquist doll during his act and he becomes a success. His ventriloquist partner "Fats" starts to take over Corky's thoughts and motives. The success that his act has brought him starts to push him further into insanity and he runs off to escape with Fats. It is at this point that Corky's weird life begins to fall apart. He finds his long lost love and her violent drunk husband when Fats decides to take over. I remember seeing this movie as a kid and it really scared me. Just the thought of a doll coming to life is a bit disturbing. Great movie! Customer Rating: Summary: A ventriloquists nightmare Comment: Magic is a timeless suspense film starring Anthony Hopkinks, Ann Margret, and the always entertaining Burgess Meredith(better known as Mic from Rocky.) The story follows an up and coming ventriloquist "Corky" and his dummy "fats" on their near rise to stardom. This is a very entertaining yet creepy film where the dummy is in control of the ventriloquist(very similar to a Twilight Zone episode.) Just watching as Corky can't go more then five minutes without speaking as fats is sheer genius. Great acting plus a very clever story make for a timeless movie, as is the case in "Magic". I definately recommend this classic if you need a change from the typical cookie cutter horror/suspense films out there now. More Reviews