Criss Angel Mindfreak (2005– )

Criss Angel shows us a new way of magic. He shows that doing magic, is not only making some good tricks on TV. He's kicking ass! Watch this mind master doing his magic all around the world.... See full summary »

Creator:

Criss Angel

Stars:

Criss Angel, Luigi Francis Shorty Rossi, Banachek

1 nomination.

Cast

Series cast summary:
Criss Angel	...	Himself (94 episodes, 2005-2010)
Luigi Francis Shorty Rossi	...	Luigi (33 episodes, 2005-2009)

Storyline

Criss Angel shows us a new way of magic. He shows that doing magic, is not only making some good tricks on TV. He's kicking ass! Watch this mind master doing his magic all around the world... and try to discover the secrets within his mind.

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Plot Keywords:

magic | magician | variety | performer name in title | non fiction

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Genres:

Reality-TV

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Details

Official Sites:

A&E TV [us] Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 July 2005 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Five Lives of Criss Angel Mindfreak

Filming Locations:

Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Angel Productions Incorporated, TVX

Technical Specs

Runtime:

30 min

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Connections

Spoofed in The Simpsons: A Totally Fun Thing Bart Will Never Do Again (2012)

User Reviews

A good program - and best of its kind

I'm no expert on the subject of "magic," but I believe the term "smoke and mirrors" goes back to the 1800's and perhaps a lot farther.

If you watch, say, David Copperfield, whether live or on television special (I've seen him in both), there still is a lot of "smoke," undoubtedly mirrors as well - and the state-of-the-art in the manufacture and use of these today would be far advanced from earlier times. You know the huge spinning saw blade isn't going to cut through him, but it looks like it does. We know this is an "illusion," and the practitioners in this area of show business use this term themselves, including Mr. Angel.

There's some video on-line, purportedly produced by Criss himself, indicating the levitation technique. And while one program showed him levitating high above the ground, from one Las Vegas building to another, he still takes the elevator and stairs to his suite, steps onto and off of his RV, etc.

Whatever, I enjoy his programs - the prolonged séance scene wasn't that entertaining, and (for me) some of his more extravagant bits (e.g. from the boat) are my less-favorite.

I enjoy most some of his bits with cards, jewelry, other personal items, and some of the bits levitating others - especially when done on a crowded street, restaurant, etc. How did he not only toss a deck of cards from the sidewalk, with his subject's card then appearing stuck to the adjacent plate glass restaurant window (ON THE INSIDE, ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE GLASS, YET)?? Hell, I don't know, but that's the whole idea and I enjoyed it.

Some suggest the use of confederates from the "bystanders," and some camera trickery. This thought has crossed my mind sometimes, and some people's reactions and patter, and some occasional camera shots suggest this. But many observers are youngsters, ordinary street folk, and others, where, for a variety of reasons, it doesn't seem they could be "acting." A lot of it is simply great sleight-of-hand. And we know misdirection is usually involved, expertly, at some point(s).

I've spent a lot of prolonged time in Spain on business, and have seen a man there who does CLOSE-UP magic, standing by a table with patrons seated there, and he does it WITH ONE HAND ONLY. Colleagues of mine have seen him live, and been participants, and none can deduce how he does what he does.

Angel's interlocking a couple's wedding rings at a dinner table in a Vegas restaurant, having an older lady's ring reappear within an ice cube, and before a large crowd in a mall, throw a deck of cards scattered on the floor, and then having the "selected card" rise from the pile, were all entertaining bits.

His sleight-of-hand is superb, and his demeanor is entertaining.

Does he possess truly "magical powers?" I doubt it. But, who cares? It's an entertaining half-hour, and watching 2/3/4 of his episodes back-to-back is entertaining, and doesn't seem "over-long," if you have the time.

Finally, where physical prowess is needed, this man's superb conditioning is admirable and fascinating to see, too.

Just enjoy his talent and quirky, likable persona. A good program.