talkmagic.co.uk

First off, I do think Criss Angel is a talented magician. He has done many good legitimate magic tricks. However, am a concerned about the direction TV magic is going. In the olden days TV magic shows showed you exactly what you would see if you were there in person. Later David Copperfield pushed the limits of what was acceptable on a magic trick TV show with the trick where he made the Statue of Liberty disappear. Over time magicians have progressively pushed the limits of what they can pass off as magic tricks on TV. Now he people like David Blain and Criss Angel who are getting into some really questionable territory. If the trend continues, we might see some new magicians come out who go beyond the borderline camera tricks we see now to flat out camera tricks. My hope is that this trend stops and we go back to the days were they just show exactly what you would see in person.

I watched the episode tonight where Criss is at an Air Force base in California.

In one of his last tricks, he makes a vehicle and a couple dozen troops appear from behind a large sheet.

If you watch his left armpit while he is walking toward the camera, some VERY obvious post-editing is going on as the area has black and tan blurring.

I'm guessing that the secret to the trick is having the vehicle and troops follow in a single file behind him until right before the reveal when they spread out. The editing was probably done because the troops moved out of place and would have been seen on TV if not for the blur.

I love good magic, but not when computer technology is used.

If it's the effect I'm thinking of you wouldn't need any post-editing to do it with that method.

Why do people keep dragging this topic back up?!

Good question, Cardza. Considering 15 other threads on this same topic have come up all over the place, perhaps it's time to bury this long dead (and severely over-beaten) horse....

Cigam wrote:

Later David Copperfield pushed the limits of what was acceptable on a magic trick TV show with the trick where he made the Statue of Liberty disappear.

I have read an article saying how David Copperfield actually 'made' the Statue of Liberty 'disappear'. When the curtain is let down, the audience is moved to somewhere(i dunno) so when the curtain is let up, the audience can see nothing except for the lights which has already been placed there to show that the Statue has gone.

About criss angel, i dun really think he deserved to be critisized by others. You see, watch the reactions of homeviewers watching the show. Most would have gasped at it(not at the couple disappear and appear at the back of the hallway).At least he dares to show his tricks to the public and let people comment on it. We, as magicians, also do infront of our friends/families and we all know its fake.We are just looking forward to the reactions thats all.We want entertainment so whats wrong with that?
I really think criss angel should have more respect than what he has now...
P.S.: For all the tricks criss angel does, i somehow dun understand one of them: The levitation. Is there a wire or something attached? Can someone pls tell me.

Davendithas wrote:Can someone pls tell me.

I'm guessing you posted this before you realised what TM's about - it's a marketed effect, so if you want to know you can buy the DVD of it.

Interesting thing is ethics!

The thread runs and runs.

He may or may not got caught doing the illusion but think of all the people who didnt catch him doing what devilish peace of trickery he susposed to do.

First off Davenithas, you never, NEVER, ask for a tip or secret here on TalkMagic. Second, your article you claim to have read about the statue of liberty was completely wrong. This isn't even close to the method. And just for the record, it didn't use a camera trick! At first thought I would have wanted you kicked off the forums for that post. But after some thought, I wouldn't want to have been kicked off so quickly if I were in your situation, so I am contented. Here's a tip - REREAD the forum rules.

Okok. I guess i really made trouble here. Sry.

I guess my point is....that on the Forums...there are threads of "10"..."5"...."15"....when it comes to Criss Angel....there are 153 !!! Point here is: he is creating a "buzz"....and beginner magicians, pro's or the general public are interested in him....critiquing him....criticizing him...

I'd say he's done a pretty damn good job of getting people hooked.

i am a mindfreak fan and i think it was a dumb move to have anything happen when someone is blocking the camera. the show creators should have replaced that illusion with a different one

TVPRO wrote:I'd say he's done a pretty damn good job of getting people hooked.

Most of Magic's old time greats did something similar, I guess Houdini was the best example, plenty of freebie stunts out of doors to whip up publicity and interest and, of course, in more reecnt times David Blaine's series of stunts which annoy the hell out of most of us but at least we're still talking about him and his name crops up time and time again.

Ya, I noticed that in the video a while ago and have read ppl commenting about it on youtube. I do think he deserves SOME credit for it but only so much. Him acting like it's impromptu and doing an illusion that can only be successful if the spec is viewing it on a Tv is not something that can be done live. He claims that he wont do anything that cant be done live in person and that little illusion mishap make me a but unnerved about all of the rest of his illusions that SEEM to be pretty damn impromptu. His In Two illusion I can believe that it can be done live because he does perform that one live in his live show and on stage. So ya, stooges aren't something that I think should be frowned upon, but his claims of everything being possible to be performed live are something that should.

- Ben

Darrel wrote:If you can make £100,000,000 appear on my desk, I will give you £1000, together with a public apology

Do I HAVE to leave the £100,000,000 on your desk, or can I take it with me, along with your £1000?

J/K, I was just reading the thread and couldn't resist.