Criss Angel [Archive]

rikzilla

25th July 2005, 07:17 AM

I did get to see some of the "Mindfreak" show but wasn't home so couldn't record it. Criss has some very cool street magic illusions. I went to his message board to learn more and found it full of nutty "believers".

Here's a common example:
I remember him telling the people who he was levitating (or they were levitating either or) and he told them to think of the perfect moment, happiest moment in their life.

I'm gonna go out on a limb and say it's SIMILAR to Astral projection, in order to preform you have to be at peace with everything, and be happy, and feel lighter than air, and have the urge to want to and to not be afraid and to belive in yourself. To "Face your fears" :P

-Sean

Edited by: BoRdOm4SaLe at: 7/20/05 11:37 pm

Here's a link. (http://p100.ezboard.com/fcrissangelfrm2.showMessageRange?topicID=178.topic&start=1&stop=20)

I've been trying to talk a little sense to some of these people and have been warned by moderators to "stop trying to debunk this".

I'm likely to get banned....funny thing is that Mr. Angel is not making supernatural claims as far as I know....but he sure seems to be encouraging others to court the woo-woos for him. Disgusting!

-z

Bob Klase

25th July 2005, 07:31 AM

Thanks for the link. I really loved this one:

"here is my experience with levitation: so far all ive been able to do is become unbalanced and fall over (which is good, which means that im becoming light enough to fall over)"

rikzilla

25th July 2005, 07:38 AM

Yeah, it's a hoot! It's a veritable gold mine of woo-wooism! Could Criss Angel actually be fostering the belief that he's doing real paranormal stuff? Seems to me that at least the people running his board are anyway!

We ought to get a JREF intervention going on that board! If we all get banned we can clue Randi in that Criss Angel's gone off to the dark side.

-z

Cain

26th July 2005, 01:41 AM

I liked part of the show, didn't like others. Criss Angel just seems way too over-dramatic for my tastes. What's up with the cuts of him and the chick walking through the desert with the wind blowing against their hair/long clothing? Silliness. He's trying to hard.

rikzilla

26th July 2005, 05:25 AM

Originally posted by Cain
I liked part of the show, didn't like others. Criss Angel just seems way too over-dramatic for my tastes. What's up with the cuts of him and the chick walking through the desert with the wind blowing against their hair/long clothing? Silliness. He's trying to hard.

He's just doing the showman/mystique thing. What's really disturbing is his following on his forum. It's like a huge woo-woo convention! They all really seem to think he's capable of levitation and telekinesis! Check this out:

Pheonixx04x
Registered Member
Posts: 1
(7/23/05 5:23 pm)
Reply Telekenesis
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Does anyone beleive in Telekenetic Power? And if so what is your most effective way to develope this technique.

funkadelicxnerrdette
Unregistered User
(7/23/05 5:27 pm)
Reply tele
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i believe in that...
heres a website so you can learn more about it

psipog.net found it from a friend=]

PsychicDream777
Registered Member
Posts: 16
(7/23/05 5:35 pm)
Reply Re: telekenisis
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Yes you can devlope telekenetic powers it just takes lots of concentration and focus and daily practice its mind over matter stuff usually unless you are born with psychic powers that you arent aware of technically everyone is born with this ( in my opinion) its weather or not you want to devlope that unique gift .

magicman
Registered Member
Posts: 11
(7/23/05 6:26 pm)
Reply Re: Telekenesis
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don't think too much cause it can melt your brain

the Prince of Swords
Registered Member
Posts: 21
(7/23/05 9:44 pm)
Reply Re: Telekenesis
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"I'm melting...I'm M E L T I N G!"

PsychicDream777
Registered Member
Posts: 19
(7/24/05 5:01 am)
Reply Re: Telekenesis
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right its best not to push it it take gradual effect if you practice honing your Tk skills and you feel dizrzy or a headache then just stop.

magiklinda
Registered Member
Posts: 2
(7/24/05 6:21 am)
Reply Re: Telekenesis
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Well I can "visit" someone and see everything in their room/home and even jump inisde of them and hear and see everything they are experiencing.

All from my meditation map and one white candle.

And that's not all..l

l in

It's full of stuff like that. Criss Angel doesn't seem to care at all that his fans are succumbing to woo-wooism. Sad.

-z

Cain

26th July 2005, 11:53 AM

That's so disturbing.

Anti_Hypeman

26th July 2005, 01:32 PM

I thought the Anne Rice goth fettish thing was over I guess not.

Lane

26th July 2005, 11:05 PM

I watched an episode of this the other day. At the beginning of the episode, viewers are warned not to try these "illusions" at home. As far as I know, the show isn't calling these powers supernatural.

Through from reading the linked posts here, some of his fans may be taking off on that. Even if he were to come out and publicly say that these were all tricks (which he won't, bad for business, especially among the 'true believers'), they'd likely not believe him.

rikzilla

28th July 2005, 09:26 AM

Welcome to the forum Lane...

Well I've been engaged in several threads there. I started a thread called :
Nothing Criss does is paranormal (http://p100.ezboard.com/fcrissangelfrm2.showMessage?topicID=262.topic)

Sad to say the thread was locked...and I seem to be on the cusp of being banned and yet have violated no established rule! Not only that but there were several attempts to infect my PC while I was on the site. Luckily this PC has all the anti-virus bells and whistles plus is behind a corporate firewall.

Ugly, ugly, ugly. Makes me appreciate the ethical people who run this site!

It looks to me like Criss's people are letting people make incredible claims for him...then tacity agreeing with them. That's just slimy.

-z

HarryKeogh

28th July 2005, 09:48 AM

Originally posted by rikzilla
Well I've been engaged in several threads there. I started a thread called :
Nothing Criss does is paranormal (http://p100.ezboard.com/fcrissangelfrm2.showMessage?topicID=262.topic)

-z

Just read through that thread Rik...I was impressed by the way you handled yourself. Nice job even though your efforts seemed to fall on deaf ears.

rikzilla

28th July 2005, 11:13 AM

Originally posted by HarryKeogh
Just read through that thread Rik...I was impressed by the way you handled yourself. Nice job even though your efforts seemed to fall on deaf ears.

Thanks man... Doesn't it suck that nonsense is soo much more popular than reality?
:(

-z

Psiload

28th July 2005, 11:21 AM

I'm surprised. I heard Criss being inteviewed on a radio show and he was adament in his explanation that everything he does is based on illusion and not real magic. He went on to bash John Edwards calling him a dispicible fraud, and he even went into a short explanation of cold reading techniques.

I can't imagine he condones what's happening on his message board. It sounds like a woo somehow wormed themselves into a moderator position. I hope he stomps that crap real quick.

Lane

28th July 2005, 09:40 PM

Originally posted by rikzilla
Welcome to the forum Lane...

Well I've been engaged in several threads there. I started a thread called :
Nothing Criss does is paranormal (http://p100.ezboard.com/fcrissangelfrm2.showMessage?topicID=262.topic)

Sad to say the thread was locked...and I seem to be on the cusp of being banned and yet have violated no established rule! Not only that but there were several attempts to infect my PC while I was on the site. Luckily this PC has all the anti-virus bells and whistles plus is behind a corporate firewall.

Ugly, ugly, ugly. Makes me appreciate the ethical people who run this site!

It looks to me like Criss's people are letting people make incredible claims for him...then tacity agreeing with them. That's just slimy.

-z

Thanks for the warm welcome. I can volunteer the use of my computer for such forays into unknown waters (I run a Mac). :)

Your posts are very well-reasoned, and you managed to walk the thin line between condemnation of fallacious beliefs and attempting to educate people honestly about the truth.

Winslow Leach

23rd August 2005, 07:30 PM

I thought you handled yourself as best you could in that forum. I just couldn't believe the reponses you were getting when everything you said was totally rational.

darkstar747

4th September 2005, 11:52 PM

Hello all. I'm excited to say this is my first post. I also had some interest in the whole Beleive in Criss Angel Cult that's been sprouting out from fans. I joined the Yahoo group just out of curiousity, and I must say he really is gathering a mass of people whom think he has supernatural abilities. I watched the questbook one day and someone asked how he turned water into beer. I posted a book that explains this without exposing the trick itself. Sure enough my post was deleted within about 12 hours. The symbology of it all eh. I myself am a humble street magician, that has never made a dime doing tricks, on the other hand I have yet to see anything on Criss's shows I can't figure out the true nature of. What bothers me is his clever wording. He's not claiming to produce paranormal feats, but he just may be, that's for you to decide. Isn't that in essence what magic is? He truly walks the fine line there, perhaps for his own ego, or ratings. None the less the use of camera cuts and how he produces a sense of supernatural in the downtime before tricks is a little irresponsible in my opinion. Way too overboard if you will.

Much respect to rikzilla for speaking kindly and wisely in that other forum.
It's odd some folks blasted him with outright insults and degrading responses, yet your the one causing the problem. There are so many flim flam (bet you know where I got that word from) groups out there, now we have yet another.

I'm gald to be a part of this group now. My first book on magic was a gift from my grandmother "The Magic World of the Amazing Randi". I'm 30 now, learning from the masters of past and present. I ponder how different I would be now if it wasn't for that book. I most surely wouldn't be here, nor entertaining the masses for fun.

Cheers

Brown

5th September 2005, 09:02 PM

Originally posted by Cain
I liked part of the show, didn't like others. Criss Angel just seems way too over-dramatic for my tastes. He's way too over-dramatic for my tastes, too. There are bad camera angles (the camera apparently often acting as a stooge) and jerky motions, not to mention disorienting cuts. It's not a pleasant show to watch.

Some of what he does is weird, but genuine. Some of what he does is plainly fake. His stated goal is make it difficult for the viewer to determine whether what's seen is genuine or fake.

As for his magic, I was impressed by some, but unimpressed by other effects. In one of his card tricks, I spotted the method immediately (I was familiar with the method from "Scarne on Card Tricks") and laughed all the way through the trick. I know a lot of people would be utterly mystified by that trick, but I could easily perform it myself.

sf108

11th October 2005, 06:27 PM

Anyone discovered how he does his levitation? It's far better than Blaine's balducci. And with the camera showing both feet up. Care to discuss.

crocodile deathroll

12th October 2005, 04:02 PM

Anyone discovered how he does his levitation? It's far better than Blaine's balducci. And with the camera showing both feet up. Care to discuss.

He could be a stage hypnotist as well. It would be amazing what a stage hypnotist could do if you combine with him with the skills of an illusionist with a bit of digital video editing thrown in afterwards. If I was there in the shopping mall to witness it for myself I probably just be observing him standing on a stool of climbing up a ladder and a few half spaced out hypnotised onlookers looking bemused as those "amazing" feats of TK (sic)

I also saw another scene of a woman in the street drawing a picture of a butterfly on a piece of paper. She passed it to Criss Angel who proceeded to fold it and open it up and a live butterfly flew out and the drawing vanished. That does IMO smack of digital video editing. I would love to see what he would do if I drew a picture of an elephant on the little piece of paper.

Another method and I think it would be a very good method would be the use of a "trick boot" where most of the sole cut out just leave the out edge in tact just so the toe end of the foot enter in and out of the boot easily. The trick boot should show no external signs to that boot modification at all to the audience. Then with good balancing skills all Criss Angel has to do is balance on the toe of foot that is wearing the trick boot to raise him or herself off the ground and the observers get the illusion that both feet are levitating up off the ground at once because no one suspects that the toe end of one of the feet is no longer inside the boot as he is very carefully balancing on it. No one can spot the protruding foot beneath the boot as he is careful to keep it out of their line of sight. There is also no give away camera angles.

I also noticed that as he is performing his standing levitation illusions his arms are outstretched. There are some mystical quasi-religious overtones to this like Christ ascending to heaven. But it is also a handy way to aid balance. It is very difficult the balance on one toe with your arms down.

:crc:

sf108

12th October 2005, 11:52 PM

Crocodile. I've probably seen the same episode you saw last week.

Regarding the butterfly one, it could be legit. It could all be just editing for the final cut of the episode. He could've done the trick to dozens of people, and that particular lady chose butterfly. On the other hand, those people choosing animals other than butterfly could've gotten into an entirely different trick...which isn't shown on TV coz it wasn't as impressive.

For the levitation trick, I don't think he stood on a stool, since you can clearly see him hovering, up and down. The trick boot won't work, since he hovers at least 1-2 feet above ground.

Another thing is that I find it hard to believe that he'll use dodgy tricks like hardcore video editing ie. deleting wires/stools, since he'll be so looked down upon by all the other professional magicians.

Anyone else have info?

crocodile deathroll

13th October 2005, 03:01 AM

The guy relies a lot on his own camera crew, so he and only he can call the shots on the right camera angle right from the start. You would be surprised at what would finish up on the cutting room floor in a prerecorded trick. They would of course be the most impressive tricks of the lot like that butterfly trick.
He could even call the shots on some of his live tricks as the camera tracking would have been choreographed to a tee.
It would also be a disaster for television ratings it he botched a trick live on television. So he would still call the shots as far as camera angles are concerned in much of the mainstream media as well.
He does not a all strike me as one of the old school magicians who was not in the business of manipulating the media like that.

:crc:

Bob Klase

13th October 2005, 04:49 PM

He does not a all strike me as one of the old school magicians who was not in the business of manipulating the media like that.

The old school magicians didn't have the same kind of media to manipulate.

But there can be a fine line between taking advantage of the camera and doing camera tricks.

he and only he can call the shots on the right camera angle right from the start

And a magician on stage can keep you from going backstage or in the wings to watch- which is really no different than calling the shots on the right camera angle. For that matter, if I do something close up I can control your viewing angle too.

crocodile deathroll

14th October 2005, 02:51 AM

The old school magicians didn't have the same kind of media to manipulate.

But there can be a fine line between taking advantage of the camera and doing camera tricks.

I am not pointing specifically at Criss Angel but IMO in such a competitive entertainment discipline it would be very tempting for some magicians to cross that line and use those video editing tools just as some athletes use performance enhancing drugs and do get away with it.

Like lets show the world how I can levitate an 80 ton Abrams Tank and I will tell all my fans it is telekinesis and they will believe me.

:crc:

Paul C. Anagnostopoulos

29th October 2005, 05:48 AM

The poor quality videos of his levitation and teleportation tricks are here:

http://crissangel.com/data/generic_site/crissangel/static/video2.html#

~~ Paul

Bob Klase

29th October 2005, 08:56 AM

Like lets show the world how I can levitate an 80 ton Abrams Tank and I will tell all my fans it is telekinesis and they will believe me. :

Pretty much exactly what some people do- like Crossing Over's John Edward. But then they're no longer magicians- just another scam artist.

Checkmite

1st November 2005, 09:06 PM

Anyone discovered how he does his levitation? It's far better than Blaine's balducci. And with the camera showing both feet up. Care to discuss.

There's a few levitations out there; to my knowledge, Criss has not released his for sale yet.

Freakshow

1st November 2005, 11:06 PM

There's a few levitations out there; to my knowledge, Criss has not released his for sale yet.
http://cliquemerch.sparkart.com/crissangel/viewmerch.php?merch_id=484

Checkmite

2nd November 2005, 04:47 PM

There's a few levitations out there; to my knowledge, Criss has released his for sale.

Azrael 5

3rd November 2005, 05:01 PM

http://cliquemerch.sparkart.com/crissangel/viewmerch.php?merch_id=484

I doubt you could repeat Angel's levetation as seen on TV,even with his DVD!:p

sf108

9th November 2005, 05:38 PM

I would love to get my hands on the instruction for this!!...pity it is quite costly. I doubt anyone can pull it off how he does it...

Brown

10th November 2005, 07:56 AM

I would love to get my hands on the instruction for this!!...pity it is quite costly. I doubt anyone can pull it off how he does it...This illusion strikes me as really overpriced. I expect that anyone who pays for this DVD is really going to be disappointed in its simple (and fairly obvious) method, and may also be disappointed by how much spectator control may be needed.

Azrael 5

13th November 2005, 09:39 AM

This illusion strikes me as really overpriced. I expect that anyone who pays for this DVD is really going to be disappointed in its simple (and fairly obvious) method, and may also be disappointed by how much spectator control may be needed.
Not to mention time doing TV edits!;)

JohnF_73

24th November 2005, 05:49 AM

It looks to me like he's doing the levitation by this method...
{snip}
Sorry, I wasn't sure if theorising how it was done, counted as "revealing" secrets
{/snip}
But hey, I'm not a magician. That's just what it looks like to me.

Winslow Leach

30th November 2005, 05:58 AM

Criss Angel reminds me of Paul Stanley from Kiss. "I'm going to levitate for all you ladies, but first I need to take my shirt off!".

Regnad Kcin

11th December 2005, 09:28 AM

Well, a couple friends introduced me to CA last night (on video, that is). We all watched about an hour of recorded programs.

I grant that he's got the showmanship down. No doubt charisma and characterization play a part of his charm.

But as for the illusions, there was nothing I found terribly awe-inspiring. I said to my friends (all while trying not to dampen their enthusiasm) the first thing I do when watching somebody, especially prerecorded, is to not assume anything is as it seems.

For instance, in one bit, CA is standing outside a Las Vegas hotel and, before a group of onlookers, proceeds to grab hold and lift the front of a taxicab about a foot in the air (with the back wheels still on the ground). I suggested that the cab could easily be a prop, and the onlookers could be accomplices, and proceed from there.

In short, since I know that each illusion is an illusion, I'm able to consider the mechanics of its construction, as well as admire when it's well done. But, again, many people do want to believe in such "powers" and the right approach has to be taken when discussing such matters, else one can come off as a dick and a downer.

Nibarlan

8th January 2006, 09:00 AM

I visit his forums frequently and it takes some EXTREME restraint from just going through and bursting everyone's bubble and saying that it's not real. I don't do it for the very reason that many of them do not want to know(although I do imply it heavily). About the car thing though, I think the car he used is parked behind a magic store in vegas, take from that what you will.

Jyera

8th January 2006, 09:28 PM

I saw on TV where he levitated a person in the middle of public place.
So far, I am inclined to believe that he has real telekinesis ability to do the levitation.

Jyera

8th January 2006, 10:10 PM

I did get to see some of the "Mindfreak" show but wasn't home so couldn't record it. Criss has some very cool street magic illusions. I went to his message board to learn more and found it full of nutty "believers".

Here's a common example:

Here's a link. (http://p100.ezboard.com/fcrissangelfrm2.showMessageRange?topicID=178.topic&start=1&stop=20)

I've been trying to talk a little sense to some of these people and have been warned by moderators to "stop trying to debunk this".

I'm likely to get banned....funny thing is that Mr. Angel is not making supernatural claims as far as I know....but he sure seems to be encouraging others to court the woo-woos for him. Disgusting!

-z I cannot access the link.

How did you try to "debunk" it or to "talk a little sense"?

I would presume you would not be able to reveal how the trick is done. (if you are a knowledgable magician). Without facts on how the trick is done, how would there be strong evidence to show that it is indeed just a magic trick?

Garrette

9th January 2006, 09:49 AM

Jyera,

Pointing out that there are mundane methods of performing the effects would be sufficient to a reasonable person, even if they are not the specific methods that Criss uses.

Nibarlan

13th January 2006, 10:41 PM

Jyera,

Pointing out that there are mundane methods of performing the effects would be sufficient to a reasonable person, even if they are not the specific methods that Criss uses.

Absolutely, that street levitation for example the common consensus is it is a variation of the gamolo levitiation(a very impressive variation) which can be found for sale for a a few thousand dollars by doing a google search.

MarkDown

14th January 2006, 04:48 AM

Nibarlan

14th January 2006, 06:39 AM

Another reason people may be disappointed if they were to shell out the money for the CA levitation is the way it's presented on TV vs the way it's presented in reality. It's recommended to only do it for one person at a time. On the tv show, he has people right to his right front, who go on clapping as if they've just been amazed. I suspect (and it's only a suspicion since I don't know the exact method he uses) that those people are either "in on it" with CA, or are just willing to clap as a wink at those who are being fooled behind him.

When ever I perform this in public I almost always have a couple of my buddies act as confederates and do the same thing you saw on the show. By doing that I've been able to perform it successfully for over half a dozen people at a time. Using confederates or stooges is a part of magic that many seem to take for granted.

fandjdbear

12th February 2006, 07:17 AM

I watched my first Criss Angel show last night. I DVR'd it too. I went back and watched several times the levitation onto the cafe chair and the concrete wall. When he is levitating onto the concrete wall about 2 feet up the wind is blowing and he appears to wobble as if connected to something in front of him. Very bad for breaking the whole illusion for me. The levitation we see where he lifts about 4 or 5 feet looks very staged and I bet this is done by some type of lift or crane system. These levitations of up to 4 or 5 feet do not appear to be part of his street magic but are very staged. There are edits of people seeing this but they are not in the same camera shot. They could easily be edits from another trick he has done where the participates look amazed. I was very disappointed with CA. The whole occult look to him and the symbol of his name looks much like a pentagram when you first see it. He is going to cash in big with the Goth and Satanic crowd. I will stick with David Blaine for all my street magic. He is the better of the two IMHO.

T'ai Chi

12th February 2006, 08:17 AM

Magic, cool tricks and all, is typically cheesy, and when I see CA with his goth shtick, and his hype-men saying that CA is in such danger with each and every trick, etc., all I can think of is a big block of cheese.

magicflute

14th February 2006, 01:15 PM

WOW!! I just read thru some posts in that Chris Angel board, Holy S&%*T! If that is not a definition for of a cult following I don't know. The moderators are trully hostile!
Check out this link
http://p100.ezboard.com/fcrissangelfrm2.showMessage?topicID=3586.topic

I don't know how much control Chris has over this board, or that he is even aware of it. If he is and he does nothing about it, then I lost my respect for him.

Quinn

14th February 2006, 02:48 PM

You can hear Penn interviewing him at:

http://penn.freefm.com

In the interview he states clearly that he doesn't believe in anything paranormal, he doesn't have any special powers, and he doesn't want people thinking he has special powers.

Numenaster

20th February 2006, 05:02 PM

I found another thread where regular members of the board point out clearly that there is NO magick-with-a-k involved in Criss's show. So they're not all deluded.

I can't post the URL unfortunately: not enough posts yet.

magicflute

22nd February 2006, 08:04 AM

I cannot speak for anyone, much less for Chris Angel, but if it was up to me, I would put a "sticky" post in the forum with a disclaimer. If after that folks want to continue with the nonsence (and some probably will), at least my personal ethics would be satisfied.

3point14

27th February 2006, 08:28 AM

I'm no magician, and it all amazes me, but watching him levitate a woman on the street in Las Vegas, I got the serious feeling that the lady, and her partner were stooges. The Gentleman held her from the side across the middle, was the last (of three people) to let go of her, and while watching this woman seemingly hang in the air, was looking around to watch the crowd applauding. I may be drawing incorrect conclusions, but if it were me, I'd be watching the trick and only the trick.

Mendeli

20th June 2006, 03:57 AM

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6888112787967661311

just listen to Criss here and draw your own conclusions on if he's claiming to do paranormal or not. Personally I couldn't watch it through as I got disgusted.

what I'm about to do, anybody can do - if you believe

Believe in what Criss? In strings?

T'ai Chi

26th June 2006, 09:45 AM

And stooges, lots of stooges. :)

CFLarsen

26th June 2006, 09:55 AM

Bob Klase

26th June 2006, 11:43 AM

If you don't like magic, don't watch it.

Sort of like- if you don't like his posts, don't read them?

T'ai Chi

26th June 2006, 11:45 AM

I like magic. I also like commenting on what I find silly about it.

I guess people seem to think if you like something that means not criticizing it at all, and they throw thinking out the window.

CFLarsen

26th June 2006, 12:08 PM

I like magic. I also like commenting on what I find silly about it.

I guess people seem to think if you like something that means not criticizing it at all, and they throw thinking out the window.
Thanks for acknowledging that you read my posts.

T'ai Chi

26th June 2006, 04:18 PM

Another CA feat on non-amazingness was the buried alive, how people were talking about something like 'gee, I hope it doesn't rain, that would make the dirt heavier and crush Chris', then it rains. Not only a little trickle, but a huge downpour.

And they all managed to have umbrellas and slickers on, despite them earlier saying that the weatherman didn't predict this.

*groan!*

CFLarsen

27th June 2006, 12:35 AM

Bob Klase

27th June 2006, 07:47 AM

This has nothing to do with the magic act itself. You are instead mocking the spectators.

Family members and paid members of the crew are not 'spectators'. They are participants which makes them part of the magic act.

Opinions on TV shows and magic acts are almost always worthless prattle when given by someone who hasn't seen the show or act.

JM85

3rd July 2006, 05:37 PM

I did get to see some of the "Mindfreak" show but wasn't home so couldn't record it. Criss has some very cool street magic illusions. I went to his message board to learn more and found it full of nutty "believers".

Here's a common example:

Here's a link. (http://p100.ezboard.com/fcrissangelfrm2.showMessageRange?topicID=178.topic&start=1&stop=20)

I've been trying to talk a little sense to some of these people and have been warned by moderators to "stop trying to debunk this".

I'm likely to get banned....funny thing is that Mr. Angel is not making supernatural claims as far as I know....but he sure seems to be encouraging others to court the woo-woos for him. Disgusting!

-z

That's why I don't understand why some people try to debunk him, and call him a fraud. He's a magician performing illusions.

mrfreeze

4th July 2006, 05:24 AM

Sadly I had to hunt down online the video of him showing how he did his levitation trick just to prove to my friends that he didn't make a pact with Satan for supernatural powers.

Then they made me hunt down how he did the window trick and prove that glass isn't in fact a slow moving liquid.

I need less gullibe friends damnit.

NoDeity

9th February 2007, 08:53 PM

Here's a video in which Criss Angel shows how he does one type levitation trick:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6616406655978150142&q=Criss+Angel&hl=en

JPK

10th February 2007, 03:10 PM

Good evening.
And this is as sad as it gets. I am no fan of censurship but these disclosures of effects need to be stopped. I am no fan of CA. This is just wrong. OK, I admit I am speaking from my heart but F***. This is BS! Is this material copyrighted? This isn't just speculation on how it might be done. This is a video he released for his customers on how it's done.

JPK

thaiboxerken

10th February 2007, 03:39 PM

Without facts on how the trick is done, how would there be strong evidence to show that it is indeed just a magic trick?

Maybe the fact that you can buy a DVD on how to do it yourself has a bit to do with it.

Azrael 5

10th February 2007, 06:05 PM

thaiboxerken

10th February 2007, 06:12 PM

I just got a couple of vids at ellusionist and it's just amazing how simple the tricks are. I will definitely have to practice before I try them on people though.

JPK

10th February 2007, 06:20 PM

Good evening.

OK. I calmed down a bit and maybe I was overreacting, but I don't believe that. If this is vid of what he sells to his cutomers , then this is wrong. I don't so much blame the poster here for posting the link, but isn't there a rule of disclosure here?
JPK

Bob Klase

10th February 2007, 07:18 PM

OK. I calmed down a bit and maybe I was overreacting, but I don't believe that. If this is vid of what he sells to his cutomers , then this is wrong. I don't so much blame the poster here for posting the link, but isn't there a rule of disclosure here?

This is part of a video (DVD) that magic dealers sell. Criss Angel doesn't sell it to his 'customers' (ie- the ones who hire him to perform).

I tend to agree with you- that is one small part of a DVD that's sold to teach people how to do the levitation. Posting that small part only shows how it's done and teaches little. I'm fairly sure it's a copyright violation- much like most of the TV clips and other things are Youtube are violations.

I would say that posting the link here does violate the disclosure rule here. What good is a rule saying you can't expose tricks if you can get around the rule merely posting the exposure somewhere else and then posting a link here?

remedyweapon

6th March 2007, 10:28 AM

it's all an illusion. it's mmmmagic! not magick. i think it is funny when christians get up in arms about this stuff, like i heard one girl say she would like to rip his cross necklace off until he acts on it! ROFL! he's probably a christian too. come on people, it's all a show! it's not real! but it is very cool. i love the show. criss angel and the team seem like they are having a blast all the time. it would be fun to do that as a job. it's not evil or demonic, it's just that criss does a good job of making it seem real, and that is the whole point is to baffle and amaze. in some of his interviews, a lot of his insight is based on reality.. it can be spiritual, but in a very good way. like "pain is a beautiful thing" - it doesn't mean go cutting yourself. pain could be,... i don't know, cutting sugar or cigarettes out of your diet or making yourself train martial arts or go to the gym or whatever it is in your life that you need to go through the pain for the gain.. lose your life to find it, but if you cling to it you will lose it ..that type of thing. i find the guy to be a genius. ever notice how it always says "love doesn't die" or "love never ends" on the credits? i find a lot of hidden biblical ideas in this show. as for criss angel being responsible for the "cults" etc,.. not his problem. that's like POD being responsible for the christians who protest their christian music. no explanation needs to be given. like someone mentioned on here somewhat earlier, if he told them it was fake - it was an illusion, they wouldn't believe him anyways. ROFL! just enjoy the show kids. best of luck and creativity to all you artists out there (of some form of art even though lots of people won't like it! and lots will!).
-remedyweapon