Comments on: Comments on 19492

Post number 19492

dr_dank — Tue, 27 Aug 2002 09:00:26 -0800

Illusionist Criss Angel emerges from his 24-hour sojourn in a Chinese water torture cabinet in NYC's Times Square. Should an endurance contest really be considered magic? Where are you, David Copperfield?

By: madprops

madprops — Tue, 27 Aug 2002 09:08:34 -0800

I found him! He's right here.

By: joemaller

joemaller — Tue, 27 Aug 2002 09:22:50 -0800

Should magic really be considered magic?

By: madprops

madprops — Tue, 27 Aug 2002 09:27:10 -0800

Well, the guy did escape from shackles, so there was some 'magic' involved (in the Houdini sense). I'd call this eXtreme Illusionism.

By: o2b

o2b — Tue, 27 Aug 2002 09:32:28 -0800

Obviously a David Blaine follower.

By: RokkitNite

RokkitNite — Tue, 27 Aug 2002 09:39:43 -0800

I think it's pretty good that 'magic' in whatever form has kind of survived so long. People pulling bunches of flowers out of their sleeves was always going to get lame quickly. These kind of stunts are pretty cool, if a little stoopid.

By: Dr_Octavius

Dr_Octavius — Tue, 27 Aug 2002 09:49:05 -0800

Magic is going the way of the dodo. Slight of hand is interesting at best but when you get into stunts like these its just lame. Anyone who has seen how a magic trick works can contest that the most likely explanation is almost always right. There is no longer "magic" only deceitful tricks. (but "Magic the gathering is still cool. right?)

By: Samsonov14

Samsonov14 — Tue, 27 Aug 2002 09:52:04 -0800

Put him back in.

By: freakystyley

freakystyley — Tue, 27 Aug 2002 09:55:29 -0800

This is a travesty to all Blaintologists :)!

By: kalessin

kalessin — Tue, 27 Aug 2002 10:21:56 -0800

I like Penn and Teller a whole lot more than these guys who make it all seem harder than it is. I saw a show of P&T once at Wolftrap where they did some amazing things showing how illusion is really done.

By: stbalbach

stbalbach — Tue, 27 Aug 2002 10:47:04 -0800

The New York City tap water the illusionist was submerged in turned a milky color over the 24 hours, the result of salt and other body fluids. *shudder*

By: owillis

owillis — Tue, 27 Aug 2002 10:51:24 -0800

David Copperfield is soooooo lame. Along with Siegfried & Roy, I call for an end now to the "wind-blown hair" illusionists. Death to the infidels!

By: Dr_Octavius

Dr_Octavius — Tue, 27 Aug 2002 11:00:26 -0800

I, for one, welcome David Blaine as our supreme overlord!

By: tomplus2

tomplus2 — Tue, 27 Aug 2002 11:04:25 -0800

I remember when my favorite industrial band, Circle of Dust, teamed up with Angel and did audio for his performances. Hmm, the good ol' days.

By: pedantic

pedantic — Tue, 27 Aug 2002 11:10:54 -0800

Criss Angel is the G. G. Allin of magic/illusion. Scroll half way to the 58 photo body suspension spread -- not for the faint of heart.

By: mr_roboto

mr_roboto — Tue, 27 Aug 2002 11:21:18 -0800

I understand where these Blaine-type feats of endurance are coming from: there's certainly a tie to Houdini's escape feats. With Houdini, it wasn't about "magic"; rather, it was the exhibition of an exceptional skill. Still, I don't see the appeal of these recent feats of endurance. Houdini's feats were always suspenseful, often since there was a chance he might drown. Staying locked in a cabinet or a block of ice for 24 hours, on the other hand, really doesn't have much suspense built in. It's more of a side-show freak stunt, and not particularly interesting.

By: pemulis

pemulis — Tue, 27 Aug 2002 12:07:34 -0800

None of the magicians/illusionists named in this thread have anything on The Amazing Johnathan.

By: oh posey

oh posey — Tue, 27 Aug 2002 12:12:36 -0800

il·lu·sion n. an illusory feat; considered magical by naive observers...thereby I declare Evel Kneivel to be my favorite illusionist.

By: Vidiot

Vidiot — Tue, 27 Aug 2002 17:56:56 -0800

Now I'd have stopped by Times Square if he'd do the 24 hours without the air hose.