Illusionist Criss Angel emerges

August 27, 2002 9:00 AM

Illusionist Criss Angel emerges from his 24-hour sojourn in a Chinese water torture cabinet in NYC's Times Square. Should an endurance contest really be considered magic? Where are you, David Copperfield?
posted by dr_dank (17 comments total)

I found him! He's right here.
posted by madprops at 9:08 AM on August 27, 2002

Should magic really be considered magic?
posted by joemaller at 9:22 AM on August 27, 2002

Well, the guy did escape from shackles, so there was some 'magic' involved (in the Houdini sense). I'd call this eXtreme Illusionism.
posted by madprops at 9:27 AM on August 27, 2002

Obviously a David Blaine follower.
posted by o2b at 9:32 AM on August 27, 2002

I think it's pretty good that 'magic' in whatever form has kind of survived so long. People pulling bunches of flowers out of their sleeves was always going to get lame quickly. These kind of stunts are pretty cool, if a little stoopid.
posted by RokkitNite at 9:39 AM on August 27, 2002

Magic is going the way of the dodo. Slight of hand is interesting at best but when you get into stunts like these its just lame. Anyone who has seen how a magic trick works can contest that the most likely explanation is almost always right.

There is no longer "magic" only deceitful tricks. (but "Magic the gathering is still cool. right?)
posted by Dr_Octavius at 9:49 AM on August 27, 2002

Put him back in.
posted by Samsonov14 at 9:52 AM on August 27, 2002

This is a travesty to all Blaintologists :)!
posted by freakystyley at 9:55 AM on August 27, 2002

The New York City tap water the illusionist was submerged in turned a milky color over the 24 hours, the result of salt and other body fluids.

*shudder*
posted by stbalbach at 10:47 AM on August 27, 2002

David Copperfield is soooooo lame. Along with Siegfried & Roy, I call for an end now to the "wind-blown hair" illusionists. Death to the infidels!
posted by owillis at 10:51 AM on August 27, 2002

I, for one, welcome David Blaine as our supreme overlord!
posted by Dr_Octavius at 11:00 AM on August 27, 2002

I remember when my favorite industrial band, Circle of Dust, teamed up with Angel and did audio for his performances. Hmm, the good ol' days.
posted by tomplus2 at 11:04 AM on August 27, 2002

Criss Angel is the G. G. Allin of magic/illusion. Scroll half way to the 58 photo body suspension spread -- not for the faint of heart.
posted by pedantic at 11:10 AM on August 27, 2002

I understand where these Blaine-type feats of endurance are coming from: there's certainly a tie to Houdini's escape feats. With Houdini, it wasn't about "magic"; rather, it was the exhibition of an exceptional skill. Still, I don't see the appeal of these recent feats of endurance. Houdini's feats were always suspenseful, often since there was a chance he might drown. Staying locked in a cabinet or a block of ice for 24 hours, on the other hand, really doesn't have much suspense built in. It's more of a side-show freak stunt, and not particularly interesting.
posted by mr_roboto at 11:21 AM on August 27, 2002

None of the magicians/illusionists named in this thread have anything on The Amazing Johnathan.
posted by pemulis at 12:07 PM on August 27, 2002

il·lu·sion n. an illusory feat; considered magical by naive observers...thereby I declare Evel Kneivel to be my favorite illusionist.
posted by oh posey at 12:12 PM on August 27, 2002

Now I'd have stopped by Times Square if he'd do the 24 hours without the air hose.
posted by Vidiot at 5:56 PM on August 27, 2002