talkmagic.co.uk

by **ace of kev** » Jan 15th, '06, 01:10

Blain has a new stunt this year. I have copied this from the CNN website:

NEW YORK (AP) -- For his next stunt, David Blaine says he'll perform an "easy and fun" high-wire act in Manhattan on Halloween.

"Basically, it's something that's been done in the circuses, based on the old high-wire acts," Blaine told The Associated Press on Tuesday. "It's like family entertainment, this one."

For his last stunt, in the fall of 2003, Blaine dangled in a plastic cubicle near the River Thames in London for 44 days with only small amounts of water for nourishment. He emerged 50 pounds lighter.

The New York magician expects this next stunt will be less demanding.

"It's my easiest one," he said, adding that the logistics aren't completed. "I want it to be simplistic and reachable for everybody. I was even going to call this one 'Easy and Fun."'

Blaine, 32, said he recently reached a deal with ABC for four more shows, beginning with the Halloween stunt. His three previous ABC specials will air on TLC beginning Sunday. The programs include "David Blaine's Vertigo," when he stood on a small platform atop a 100-foot-high pillar for 35 hours in midtown Manhattan, and "David Blaine: Frozen in Time," when he suspended himself inside a 6-ton block of ice for 62 hours in New York's Times Square.

While some have said his tricks no longer constitute magic in the traditional sense, Blaine said that's too narrow a view.

"I think magic is whatever the individual defines it to be. I say it's all magic."

I hope that this man can get it into his brain that we want to see him perform magic, not do really stupid things! :roll:

by **Captain Fantastic** » Jan 15th, '06, 01:31

As Catherine Tate would say..... 'Are we bovvered???'

by **ace of kev** » Jan 15th, '06, 01:39

Brilliant

by **Blade Master** » Jan 15th, '06, 05:15

You know I have some interesting views about Blaine. When I was younger I thought David was the best magician of all time, but now I realize he's just a simple street magician that recorded some reactions and got big. So for a while I thought less off him. But I do respect David more than many other magicians (especially Chriss Angel) because he is willing to risk his life to show people that the shear will of the human mind can have them triumph over such unbelievable feats. He has been baried alive for seven days without food, light, or human contact - been trapped in an ice cube for 35 hours while people stared - been suspend on a pole for 2 days - held suspended in a clear box for 40 days without food - and whatever his last stunt was. Now that is AMAZING.

by **ace of kev** » Jan 15th, '06, 13:12

His last stunt was the box was it not?

by **SirRawlins** » Jan 15th, '06, 13:36

I think the view of Magicians toward David Blaine will never be settled, my personal opinion is that he a fabulous performed, and for certain i wouldnt be into magic without him.

If you read David's books "Mysterious Stranger" thats right kids a B-O-O-K ... NOT a DVD :lol:

... you will gain an interesting insight into the history of magic and the performing arts.

When you see David's passion and intreage into the arts history you can appreciate all the more why he performs these stunts, alot of them have deeply rooted foundations, they are not just things he dreamt up over night, not only do they have routes in acient history but even the more recent history magicians such as Harry Houdini have performed these forms of endurance stunts and learned the teqniues of "pain resistors" and such like.

I'm looking forward to some more TV specials from David, as well as the stunt itself we can no doubt expect a little more magic as we know it.

Rob

by **ace of kev** » Jan 15th, '06, 13:52

SirRawlins wrote:If you read David's books "Mysterious Stranger" thats right kids a B-O-O-K ... NOT a DVD

Whats that supposed to meen :wink:

by **craigcox893** » Jan 15th, '06, 16:33

SirRawlins wrote:.If you read David's books "Mysterious Stranger" thats right kids a B-O-O-K ... NOT a DVD ... you will gain an interesting insight into the history of magic and the performing arts.

i have to agree with you there, his book, i thought was really good, although he doesn't divulge many tricks its a great insight into magic through the ages and he talks about the things that inspired him to do what he does, also there is a chapter on each of his stunts upto frozen in time. in the chapter on buried alive there are pictures of the coffin and on top of it there clearly seems to be a cross shadow on it, this was not part of the feat. and it was taken of a womans camera who was notrhing to do with the crew (i believe). anyway enough on the book.
i have always admired blaine, he is one of the main reason's i now love magic, but i also believe he has strayed to far away from the good old,
"you wanna see something", that said he still continues to entertain with his stupidly crazy stunts. personally i can't see his new one being a hit, a clown does tightrope walking, let them do their job david and stick to your own, oh well enough said.
i think we should send our very own derren brown over to the usa to do a show, it could be called "the magician" david blaine could take part, now THAT would be good viewing

by **ace of kev** » Jan 15th, '06, 16:50

I think that Blaine is a good magician, but has strayed to far away from magic like you said Craig. I have a video of him, I think that it is called Showman or something, and it is good, the tricks in it are good, but I do not understand the stunts.

The best bit of any of his stunts was the bit at the end of vertigo when he jumped off into the boxes, that looked fun

by **craigcox893** » Jan 15th, '06, 17:00

i've got that video to kev, it is called showman, that was the very video that started me off. i fully agree with you the tricks he does on there are good, i particularly liked his two card monte, which i have performed regularly ever since learning it.
On that video he has an edge about him, which is why he was unique, he was mysterious and his style was cool. But it seems he has lost his edge, and wants to be a circus performer.
And i have to agree, the jumping from that high did look cool,

by **ace of kev** » Jan 15th, '06, 22:29

by **Mandrake** » Jan 16th, '06, 12:29

"I think magic is whatever the individual defines it to be. I say it's all magic."

Hmm - not so sure about that. If I open a can of tomato soup and call it magic does that actually make it magic?

I have to agree regarding the book, Mysterious Stranger is a surprisingly good book even though the competition/Treasure Hunt has long since been won. I have no doubt he had additional help in writing the section on history but that doesn't matter as the information is all there for us to read and enjoy. At the time of writing my favourite magic book supplier in the world, The Works (!), are selling the book at £1.99 per copy.

by **pdjamez** » Jan 16th, '06, 12:59

Mandrake wrote:
"I think magic is whatever the individual defines it to be. I say it's all magic."
Hmm - not so sure about that. If I open a can of tomato soup and call it magic does that actually make it magic?

Not that your being pedantic at all mandrake. :wink:

I also agree that Mysterious Stranger was a fascinating read. I would also not be surprised if a large portion, if not all, had been penned by a ghostwriter. Thats not a negative by the way. It provides an insight into Blaines approach and inspiration. This in part explains the approach he is taking with his performances today.

Like him or not, he is making his living from magic, and thats a fairly unusual situation.

by **greedoniz** » Jan 16th, '06, 15:28

One good thing you can say about David Blaine is that although his ego is "ever so slightly" inflated (understatement) he has raised the profile of magic and magicians.
I maybe wrong but before the David Blaine street magic show I don't really remember any high profile magicians on tv since the demise of the Paul Daniels show. He especially raised the profile of street / close up magic.

Love him or hate him he's definitely caught the publics imagination although I think most are getting sick of his "stunts".

by **Mandrake** » Jan 16th, '06, 16:07

Not that your being pedantic at all mandrake.

Pedantic - Moi?!! :wink:

Regarding Mysterious Stranger, I noticed at lunchtime that my most favourite Magic Bookshop in the world (The Works, naturally) is knocking these out now at 99p a copy!

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