I don't think I reacted to that particular revelation as sternly as others in this thread, but after the fact I do have to admit that I would have preferred that he was just a local, or perhaps from the neighbor state just to make it sound a tad more plausible to beleive.

besides the rather interesting numerical coincidence, it isn't especially hard to direct behavior using various types of suggestions. it is called social engineering. besides getting folks to click on malicious links or unwittingly divulge confidential information, i would think it could plant other suggestions to, say, plan a trip to las vegas.

You wound me, sir.
"What kind of tea do you want?"
"There's more than one kind?"

Everything means everything and everything is connected to everything and this movie is no exception. Thanks, Obama.

It was a just a silly thought that passed through my head.
In the movie the very first trick they show is a card trick in which the cards are flashed by and the person is supposed to pick a card. As we the audience can see the cards too it is natural to play along. Speed and placement of delivery as well as focus are used to lead you to choose the seven of diamonds.
Now, in cards, for games like poker where a draw could technically occur - two players having eight high straights for instance - the suits determine the winner. They are assigned in a hierarchy of Spades, Hearts, Diamonds, Clubs. Spades beats Hearts, etc. Or ranked numerically 1, 2 ,3 , 4. Thus the seven of diamonds is 7.3. The rating on iMDB.
It wasn't that funny to begin with and like most humor fails utterly if it has to be explained.
Good night folks, I'm here all week.
"What kind of tea do you want?"
"There's more than one kind?"

Pardon me sir/madam, you'll have to explain whatever you're talking about to me using smaller, simpler words, for I am an idiot and do not comprehend.

It's funny. The value on suits: Spades, Hearts, Diamonds, Clubs. 7.3 = the 7 of Diamonds - the card every member of the real audience picked in the first trick.
"What kind of tea do you want?"
"There's more than one kind?"

you have asked the great question for the ages.
I know there is such a thing as 'green marketing' or 'astroturf marketing' which employs people to make up fake user accounts on imdb, Facebook, twitter, etc. and then use those accounts to upvote a movie to increase its rating which in turn draws in more people to see it. But still, 7.3 is still very high for something like this. Kids and drunk people might like it, but seriously, it's an insult to anyone's intelligence.

I am in complete agreement with everything you've written, but the best trick the movie managed to pull was getting a 7.3 rating on IMDB. Seriously, who could go for this crap?

it was preposterous and that's exactly where I checked out of the movie mentally. I sat through the rest, but basically every few minutes i'd say "wait that's bllsht!". It's hard enough to influence an intelligent adult at all, much less convince him to fly to the other side of the planet to see a magic show by using a poker chip. Think about that: it's absolutely insane.
The list of things wrong with this movie grows every time i see it, and still there's so many more instances that I discover through other posters or Mad About Movies. I'm shocked by all the people who say "err cmon it's a movie" because no one with a brain can accept what they're trying to sell.

It's ludicrous but I just went with it having seen lots of Derren Brown.. Check out The Heist if you want your socks blown off:)

I was a little confused about whether this movie was supposed to be set in reality with talented illusionists or if it was meant to be a fantasy where magic is real. If it was supposed to be reality, it was totally preposterous. If it was fantasy, it was totally lame.