TV Review: Criss Angel Mindfreak
Date:
Source: About.com --Wayne N. Kawamoto
Mindfreak (Mind “freak”)
n 1:Modern day mystifier who utilizes skills beyond
the category of magic. 2:the result of something incomprehensible.
3:supernatural. 4:Criss Angel.
Along with a barrage of surreal video, so began Criss
Angel Mindfreak, the long-awaited magic special starring
Criss Angel. If David Copperfield is often compared
to a rock star, Criss Angel would be Copperfield’s
dark, heavy metal equivalent. Angel is an excellent
and mesmerizing performer, and his show provided a good
magic event.
Throughout, the show emphasized an on-the-street style
that was popularized by David Blaine. As in the Blaine
magic specials, the use of spectators on a street creates
realistic, spontaneous-looking situations. Angel began
the show by crouching beneath an inverted trash can
that was held down by volunteers, and mysteriously reappearing
in another location.
For the Human Candle segment, Angel flies his mother
from New York to Las Vegas to celebrate her birthday.
And he lights himself on fire to commemorate the event.
What initially appears to be a physical challenge that
any Hollywood stuntman could perform results in a spectacular
payoff. With his mother watching and reacting, Angel
builds the impact.
In the streets, Angel performs an intriguing voodoo
effect where he burns a part of a doll and causes volunteers
to feel heat in their corresponding limb. And for more
fun, Angel lets volunteers punch a doll with a pin to
“punish” him. Other effects include a borrowed
ring revelation and a thought-of card that is identified
in a spectacular manner that is suitable for a magic
special.
For his finale, Angel follows Blaine’s flighty
footsteps and performs levitations in front of stunned
spectators in impromptu locations. While television
audiences may initially be jaded by levitations, they've
seen David Blaine do this before, Angel’s risings,
where he appears to ascend some three to four feet,
are far more impressive than Blaine’s.
Most intriguing, and the show’s closer, is an
amazing suspension of Angel himself and a volunteer
in a park and in the middle of Fremont Street in Las
Vegas. The cameras quickly pan around to show no noticeable
supports-an impressive-looking effect. This suspension
will probably be the topic of discussion around water
coolers everywhere.
Interview segments allow Angel to talk about the impact
of his magic and how it lets him connect with spectators.
I haven’t seen Angel’s first television special
in a long time, but it seems to me that he is wearing
less theatrical make-up these days, and, in interviews,
is trying to portray himself as more of an average,
affable guy that people can relate to. I think he is
intentionally toning the down the extreme elements.
Despite some great effects and Angel’s brooding
charisma, the show lacks the uplifting feel and impact
of Copperfield's best television specials. Perhaps it’s
difficult for a show to sustain its serious, dramatic
tone for an entire hour without any light moments to
counteract it.
Even David Blaine featured lots of light segments in
his shows to balance his straight-forward approach.
And, of course, Copperfield has long been known for
his comedy, and dramatic presentations based on love,
childhood innocence and expectations, music and other
themes. As we all know, Copperfield's approach is a
winner that has entertained millions and inspired countless
new magicians.
Overall, Criss Angel Mindfreak was baffling, mystifying
and mostly entertaining, which made it good for magic.
Is this the beginning of a series ala David Copperfield,
Lance Burton and David Blaine? It’s certainly a
decent start. And I’m hoping that it is.
Criss Angel Mindfreak aired on Wednesday, July 20,
2005 on A&E.
You can read the article here.
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