talkmagic.co.uk

Absolutely!

It's comforting (also annoying!) that someone can come up with a new/unique idea independently and make such a splash with it. Since Geller did the tricks on TV all the world and his brother have been trying to copy them. Some with reasonable success, but never to the same stringent standards.

This seems a key to success. I was reading on Harary's web site an interview he did where he states that he invented the principle for his large-scale illusions some 20 years ago, and the technique has stood him in good stead ever since.

Considering the amount of people watching, and indeed involved, you'd have expected the trick to have leaked out and become common currency by now. The fact that it hasn't speaks volumes for the quality of the illusion. Even in these days of nearly instant communications.

Copperfield too still amazes when surely by now the general public should know all the wrinkles. I only discovered recently how the Statue of Liberty trick was done and the technique is based on a knowledge of how the biology of our perception works. Again you'd have thought that was common (ish) knowledge.

So hat's off to Geller.

We should change the title of this thread to: Uri Gellar - Psychic, Sorcerer or Jeweller!
I've just noticed this on Magicweek:
8.2.04 Uri Geller Jewellery Collection
12noon on Tuesday 8th February (1 hour) on QVC.
Presenting a beautiful and mystical jewellery range that incorporates natural crystals. Uri's designs are inspired by important aspects of his life such as spheres, movement and Egyptian themes.

(whatever you do, don't mention bent jewellery.....)

I'm not so sure about this. Last summer I was walking with some friends along a riverbank early in the morning minding our own business. We happened to be walking passed a wooden garden gate; it opened and a man walking with a dog came through it and walked straight into us. It was one Mr Geller. With his alleged abilities surely he would have known we were there. Make your own mind up. (This really did happen.)

He's a Fake and it really winds me up that some people like richard and judy really belive him and make more of the public believe him!!

for example did you know he is the reason england were knocked out of euro 96 and euro 2004?
im sorry but as a scientific kind of guy i know there is no way of Telekenises it breaks all the laws of nature!

And if he can tell the future then there is no point worrying over any thing as it is going to happen any way so there is no point going to university as what is going to happen will happen either way or maybe he knew i would post that??

now he is just putting his name on anything to make him self money!
Uri geller bikes
Uri geller Jewllery
whats next
The Uri geller Toilet (it knows wether the seat should be up or down!! and wether you are ready to flush!!)


Sorry but he really gets my goat!! (maybe it is telekenises!!)

But Breaking News Uri Geller Has Died!!

He Rubbed His neck and his head fell off!!!!


Sorry had to post that (any one who goes in to davenports will be very used to it by now!!)

Rant over!!

Pcwizme

Uri Geller is definite a good performer in mentalism & phycic phenomena.But he is a real phycic? I doubt so..

and if nothing else, we're still talking about him!

Uri Gellar is a good performer but is definately no psychic. Maybe Psychotic would be more to his area. LOL.
He needs to come out and be honest.

Regards
Wolflock

Wolflock wrote:He needs to come out and be honest.

Ah, but HOW FAR should he go, if he were to 'be honest?'.

Surely it's all part of the magic... it's only the same as me telling people about my Great Uncle Charlie when performing Heirloom. Or any other stories, for that matter.

He just got lucky, got coverage and mis-directed everyone.

The media included.

To true.
He does not exactly have to expose how he does things just, be honest about not being psychic.

Hell, if Banachek could do it, why cant he.

Regards
Wolflock

Hi there,

I met Mr Geller at a Memorabilia Show at the NEC in Birminham (UK). My mum really likes him / his act (probably just 'likes' him and his accent!) - So I went and got her a signed picture. I asked it to be made out to my Mum who was a fan and that she'd be sorry she missed him. He then got me to call her on my mobile, and spoke to her on the phone.

Whatever he is Performer / Psychic . . he certainly has got a very good marketing / PR strategy, and it struck me how nice it was to phone my mum. He didn't have to, nor did I ask him.

As someone else mentioned, we all need a bit of mystry in our lives and he certainly gives that to some people - real or fake.

I have my own opinion, and I have to say it borders on the magician that denies he's a magician (I honestly think he believes his own hype!!)

Um, yeah, Randi, Banachek and Ray Hyman (also another magician from Eugene Oregon) have all said their piece on him. And as I lived in Eugene for over a year and talked with Ray (lectures on psychology) on a number of occasions... the only conclusion was that he was a magician and sometimes not even a very good one.

The pure scientists were fooled on occasion, but put someone who is a magician, skeptic and psychologist in front of him and the picture looks different.

Nuff said

To drag up an old thread
I saw this the other day an thought I'd share.
http://itricks.com/news/?p=5572

Uri Gellar makes people believe that some things are possible
Just like derren brown does
i know people who firmly believe derren is psychic despite him constantly saying he isnt

i had one person tell me that derren just doesnt know he's psychic

if uri were to come out an say it was all illusion it would ruin the illusion.

people want to believe in magic. they want just enough reason to doubt all they know.

uri gellar can be exposed til the sun comes up but the fact he never flinches in his stance that he is psychic lets people never quite be sure that he isnt.

Currently "The Next Uri Geller" airs in Greece. I only saw some of the first episodes. There are a few decent performers (and some bad ones ) .

Nefesch was also one of the performers but he was eliminated in the second episode (totally unjustified imo).

If you are curious (and you paid attention during your modern greek classes you can see all the episodes here : http://antenna.gr/webtv/urigeller live ones too).

I don't know if it is in every country that aired like this, but I have a strong suspicion that the prominent guests are totally a part of the show (as you can clearly see in some of the performer's mistakes)

As for Uri himself I don't have a clear opinion yet . He was at my mother's Art gallery (as he will be presenting a book he did with a Cypriot artist there) and when he asked for a spoon he bent it quite easily despite being very very thick (not like some other ones used in some tricks). I;m not at all familiar with metal bending though.
I hope I will have a chance to speak with him during the presentation (in the unlikely situation that someone is in Greece during the 22th of November you are more than welcome )

There's no way in hell that Uri is actually psychic or supernatural in any way shape or form. Personally, I don't enjoy his act, I don't even really like the whole spoon bending thing, never did. But that is just down to my own personal taste. I don't like anybody claiming this sort of thing, it makes me cringe.

However, there is absolutely no denying he is a very clever man. His effects (even though they do nothing for my own personal taste) are clearly powerful pieces of magic and showmanship to last THIS long and still be discussed at length, even by other magicians. And the coverage he gets, even now, is remarkable. He knows what he is doing when it comes to promotion.

So yeah, I don't believe in him, I dont even really like him. But I am definately smart enough to respect him.

Personally i dont believe he is phsycic, nor is he changing the molecular structure of metal objects with his mind. He is a magician. Fault his morals if you wish but what hes achieved is astounding. I would like to share a quote from John Booth which i first came across in the 'Magic of Michael Ammar'.

''The magician is trying to bring some happiness and romance, some escape into a never-never land where the limitations of ordinary existence are overcome, to lift up the often dull and depressing life of other people. Surely this is a most commendable aim whether in the hands of a clergyman, physician, clerk, or magician. The greater conjurers feel inwardly this romance and exitement, the mystery and wonder of it, and project it unashamedly to their audiences. They believe that a miracle is actually happening''

Mr Geller believes in what he does - he obviously knows his methods and such, but what i mean is when he bends a spoon or reads someones thoughts, to him it is real - and like the quote above he projects this attitude to the audience. The sense of wonder he can create is amazing, and the fact that he is still being talked about on magic forums is surely a testament to his skill. He may well be one of the greatest magicians of our time