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DVD : Criss Angel - Mindfreak - The Complete Season Two |
- Real Magic??I know someone that was at Vandenburg AFB when MindFreak did their episode there. That's the only case where I've known someone that's been around for Criss Angel's illusions. She said everything was exactly as advertised "What you see is what you get." I'm half convinced the man is using real magic; not the "magic" an illusionist would use but the real thing. Mind-blowing whether it's actually an illusion or real magic. I've been to a David Copperfield performance and I have to say I love the way Angel does his performances on the street impresses beyond Copperfield or anyone else. Own seasons 1 and 2, looking forward to season 3! Criss Angel, if you read through these reviews, looks like you're barely sleeping. Don't crash and burn without needed rest. We can't continue to be impacted on that "emotional level" if you don't give your body a break once in a while. Love to catch a live performance someday...care to come to Misawa AB, Japan?
Rating:
- Puuullleeeeeze!Okay, so Criss Angel has style ... but only if you're 13 years old and think that torn jeans, nail polish, and wearing your hat backwards is so cool. But as a magician, he has no substance. The lack of any disclaimers about trick photography, phony camera angles, bogus audiences, and prefabricated set-ups is a dead giveaway. He is a great TV magician ... the important word being TV. Anyone who thinks that Criss Angel is a true magician probably also believes that an aquarium is the same as the ocean. If you're interested in the real thing, I have one word of advice for you ... SLYDINI!
Rating:
- Criss Angel -- Captivating and TantalizingI already wrote a review for Season 1 of this show. My foray into Criss Angel's world continued into Season 2. What can I say with the typewritten word to convey what it is I want to convey in this review? You see, I could tell you how great and mystifying Criss Angel is from a standpoint of viewing him as a stuntman, illusionist, and mentalist. I could tell you specifics of him walking on water, levitating, getting cut in half (in the open, not behind a box) or doing some cool motorcycle tricks. All of that is cool, but that isn't what makes this show special in my eyes, and it certainly isn't the sole thing that makes Criss stand apart.
I have never seen Criss' demonstrations live, and I am a bit of a skeptic, so I could sit here and freeze individual frames in the show, trying to figure out how he does what he does. Is it real? Is it an illusion? Is it fancy camera editing? Please . . .
I hope one day to see him do his thing in front of my - hopefully, unbelieving, mindfreaked - eyes. I'm not here to pick his demonstrations apart. While I do have a sense of wonderment about how he does things, I'm not about figuring him out, either. What I am after is to be entertained, and he has done that - albeit in a slightly different way - for Season 2.
The mesmerizing demonstrations are still there, although it appears that Criss has scaled back a little bit (and I emphasize little) on dancing with the devil by not performing as many death-wish stunts as he did in Season 1. What I think is a little different here is that I dare to think that we are seeing more than Criss Angel - we are seeing Christopher Nicholas Sarantakos. I think we are starting to see the Person behind the Illusionist.
What I mean here is that, not only have I managed to become mindfreaked with Season 2, but I been tickled with the laughing fits. The humor in Season 1 was only hinted at (as in the episode, Chicken. Try that one on for a little light-heartedness - it's one of my favorite episodes from Season 1). Some of the extras on the disc provide this humor, as do the episodes themselves. We are introduced to Crissy, one butt-ugly chick, to provide some comic relief and some nightmares as well. This dressing-up-to-look-ridiculous-and- be-as-obnoxious-as-I-can trend continues with Season 3 when we are introduced to other lovable characters in the Angel archives, but that's another review altogether.
What makes this man stand out to me is what I see behind the magic. I one episode, entitled Chad's Story, Criss makes a young magician's dream come true by coaching him and giving him a chance to perform with Lance Burton. Chad's story is truly tragic, as he had cancer when he was a very young child, and even died on a few occasions. His father taught him magic to keep his mind off the pain of his illness. Chad overcame his illness and was considered cured, only to lose his father to cancer shortly thereafter. Those who know anything about Criss Angel, aka Christopher Sarantakos, knows that he had lost his father to stomach cancer years ago. He took care of his father when he couldn't take care of himself, or even eat any kind of food. His father died in his arms, and something in Criss changed after that. He claims it made him fearless and gave him the inspiration to do what he does.
You know, Criss Angel is a new guy for me. I just discovered him months ago. I have had favorite celebrities over the years. I don't put them on a pedestal, and I'm not attracted to the kinds who do give off the "diva" act. If I became famous for one of my talents, would that mean I was less of a human? Would my personable qualities go away? I don't think so. Fame changes people, but life does, too.
Don't judge a book by its cover. People are multi-layered. Sometimes what you see isn't everything you're going to get, but just a fraction of it. Granted, if Criss had come out in his full Goth-garb like he was sporting pre-Mindfreak days, I might have run for the hills. I'm glad I found him when I did. He's a little less Goth these days and more rock-n-roller, but people will still form their opinions.
Chad's Story was proof there is more than one side. In that episode, what he said to Chad is what you have cannot be sold and cannot be bought. He was talking about personality. When people want to know what makes Criss freak my mind so much, I don't just point to the demonstrations. I point to how kids are magnetically drawn to him. I point to how he handles animals and how they seem to love him. I point to how he hugs his mom or how close he is to his brothers. I point to how he interacts with people and seems to charm them and make them feel at ease. I point to an almost childlike enthusiasm (Check out Bike Jump Vanish. He's like a kid on that bike). Criss is crazy, but he's not creepy. He's got a sick sense of humor at times, but it's funny. He's not only talented, but terribly intelligent. His mind is always clicking. He's a light and an inspiration. There's something warm and personal about him. Maybe I'm wrong and he's mindfreaked us all by inserting subliminal messages throughout the episodes. Maybe we've all been hypnotized into submission. I suppose it's possible, but I don't think so.
Season 2, like Season 1 and Season 3, is one big roller-coaster ride - all good fun. Now, I think I'm going to go out and confront my fears.
ARE YOU READY????
Rating:
- Criss Angels Magic Awesome Entertainment!Highly recommend this set! Criss Angel is awesome! Every episode will blow your mind with his illusions and magic!
Rating:
- How the h***?I don't know how he does it. The man is the best I have ever seen. I don't think he is human. But he is beyond words amazing at what he does.
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