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Finally, having Penn's approval that Criss Angel does REALLY use plants and camera tricks makes me feel better.

@doordieace5high

6 жыл бұрын

Geriy To quote a good friend (and fellow magician), "Criss Angel is the Justin Bieber of magic; however we aren't supposed to really bad-mouth any other magician." Honestly, he's okay, but it's obvious that what Penn is saying is true about a lot of made-for-tv magicians. At least David Blaine, on the other hand, shows which stunts are real and which ones are not (out of what he does).

@dynamitedingo8183

5 жыл бұрын

dude the guys shows his tricks in the shows

@draku_desu

3 жыл бұрын

@@burntburgies9801 Not anymore, and not by the time you wrote this. David Blaine has switched into doing daredevil "tricks" which aren't really tricks, he's doing what Penn may describe as juggling, he puts his life at risk doing stunts that push his body to its absolute limits. He did use plants when he got first to TV but that hasn't been his thing for a long time. Now, I believe there's an interview where Penn says he talks very frequently with David Blaine, and he fully knows what Blaine does, maybe he enjoys what he does or not, but he certainly does not like Blaine's tricks which he did state on that same interview, not because they are not amazing (which they are) but because they are extremely dangerous and if any person tried doing that at home, the'd be risking their lives.

@memeperor_

3 жыл бұрын

@@doordieace5high david blaine is not human so is he really playing within the rules?

@smallone2351

3 жыл бұрын

@@draku_desu Those "tricks" are not juggling

If Angel is a good magician then Spielberg must be the greatest magician who ever lived.

@quierovacaciones

3 жыл бұрын

based, since 2015

@BladeOfLight16

3 жыл бұрын

Everyone who can use photoshop decently would be a great magician.

@furrykef

2 жыл бұрын

I don't think Penn would disagree with you, LorddGray. I certainly don't. It's not the same kind of magic, but it's certainly _a_ kind of it.

I've always wondered why Criss Angel was considered a magician.

@JKolman1179

9 жыл бұрын

MegaSnake1000 That's not entirely fair. I've seen Criss perform live before he got big. He used to work out of the basement of the old WWF New York restaurant doing closeup magic and it was very good. Once he went on TV, things changed.

@michaelviselli6658

9 жыл бұрын

MegaSnake1000 I've seen Criss Angel perform live and it was okay. He had a decent bird-pull routine, but other than that it was a bunch of on-stage effect mechanics which were not that impressive.

@WalterLiddy

8 жыл бұрын

JKolman1179 Ok, but he's clearly who's being referred to. He uses plants and editing and camera tricks, and his 'magic' is really lame as a result. He's the first magician I can think of where I always am able to figure out how he did it.

@Katalyzt

8 жыл бұрын

+MegaSnake1000 I have been wonder that myself. ;O) Katalyzt

@clownsechonk

8 жыл бұрын

+anthony smith - so does justin bieber lol - he is not really a musician :P

Is there anybody that doesn't like Penn & Teller? Seriously, I don't see how it would be possible for anybody to dislike them. Such a great guy and fantastic magician.

@Parkerio-ho7yy

6 жыл бұрын

Macie Jay in two years late but what are you doing here, Macie.

@brutalerik87

6 жыл бұрын

Macie Jay totally agree.

@natedogg265

6 жыл бұрын

That's just a stupid thing to say. He's libertarian. That means plenty of people don't like him by default.

@cuddlebunny6415

6 жыл бұрын

Wha da quaaaan?! MJ, u lik da magiks?

@MitchellTF

6 жыл бұрын

...The guys who were on the wrong end of his show. PROBABLY have a bit of an issue...

I absolutely love Penn and Teller. I may not agree politically, but their view on magic and art is spot on and I think they're two of the most honorable magicians I know.

@l8rgator

3 жыл бұрын

I don't agree with them many times, but I understand, and learn from them, and it helps me better define and refine my own views. Why can't politics always be like that all the time?

@mastereon895

3 жыл бұрын

@@l8rgator Because these two discuss their views, others scream them

@joshman35

3 жыл бұрын

commie bastard

Good to see someone saying real thing.

Yesterday i saw Criss Angel on TV, he "magicly" made a cruise ship appear in front of an audience. Im like ...... really? He even made a "random" spectator teleport onto the cruise ship. She is just waving like nothing happened. Its just so silly that it doesnt make it magic anymore. Also he was walking and a "random" again spectator stops him to perform. And he is standing next to a bowl of lobsters and picks up one lobsters that have the spectators chosen card taped on its belly. Makes me frustrated to watch, its obvious its setup.

@Submersed24

8 жыл бұрын

And 50% of the show is Chris picking up chicks, or some interview with his mom or uncle on why they think hes so awesome.

Derren Brown showed everybody how you can "just show the time it works" but he told everybody what he was doing. He started off flipping a coin and "making" it land on heads 10 times in a row and then did something even more elaborate. I love mentalism, even when it's explained how it's done it's still amazing.

@DeadTelevision

7 жыл бұрын

Derren Brown is great. Penn and Teller love him too

I love Penn Jillette. I know some people think he's obnoxious and he can be but he has a very good kind hart at the center of everything.

I could listen to Penn Jillette every day.

@friedpaper2034

3 жыл бұрын

Who v

If you are ever in Las Vegas, and you have the opportunity, go see Penn and Teller's show. They put on a fantastic live show, and to show appreciation for their fans, they hang out in the lobby to take a pick and sign an autograph for every audience member that wants one. Great show, classy performers.

@MatthewCaligari

7 жыл бұрын

Zotman5 Great post! Penn & Teller are all about the fans! Where most big name magicians are straight in the limo the second the show is over, Penn & Teller actually hang out with the fans! After all, if it wasn't for the fans, there would be no Penn & Teller.

I love the way Penn is proud of not having anyone injured. It honestly is great to know someone cares.

Penn Jillette is a brilliant man, and always on point! ^_^

a simple a reasonable part of considering something a "magic trick" is that it has to be able to be performed live in front of an audience

@Matthew.Morcos

3 жыл бұрын

Nah. Definitely in a completely different category like teller said, but still magic imo

Penn Jillette is the true Magician

@ralfprog3936

10 жыл бұрын

"Penn & Teller are the true Magicians"

@DanOfAwsome

9 жыл бұрын

ahem...

@repinswatson6452

7 жыл бұрын

Ralf Prog They don't have to be paired up to be true magicians. they are great by themselves saying otherwise diminishes their value.

When a magician uses a camera trick even once, he loses all credibility. I was immensely disappointed when David Copperfield used it in his "escape from the exploding building" trick (even though he allegedly only used it then and never again), especially since it was so obvious and cheap - I was a kid when I first saw it, and the very first thought that popped in my head was "how do we know this 'live feed' is really 'live'". At the time I actually refused to believe the obvious- that was the frikking David Copperfield, right? He wouldn't succumb to techniques available to every doofus with a camera, surely? Imagine my disappointment when, years later, I learned that yep, that was the trick. Roll the tape, pretend it's "live". Woo frikking hoo. This is why I simply cannot enjoy Criss Angel or Blaine or Dynamo. I know it's just a show, I know I'm supposed to be entertained, I know all magic tricks are basically a lie of sorts but... it just feels cheap. I cannot enjoy something if I know anyone can do it - there is no skill in cutting away to actors pretending to be amazed bystanders, or splicing dozens of takes and pretending it was one continuous shot. That's not magic.. that's editing. And if I want to entertain myself while watching video edit tricks, I'll rather watch someone who's really talented at it, like Zach King or the like.

@JustinCoasters

8 жыл бұрын

But alot of Copperfield's tricks have not used camera tricks. I've seen him live.

@DrMcFly28

8 жыл бұрын

+Justin An Allegedly that was the only time he did. Which makes it even worse... why stake your reputation for a cheap trick?

@hughjorgan7211

7 жыл бұрын

good comments. I've seen Copperfield, Angel, and other great entertainers live many times. But Lance Burton remains the one who impressed me the most...his close-up tricks were amazing. Let's face it, we all know they're tricks. But it remains good entertainment.

@deka0014

7 жыл бұрын

McFly derren brown is another one

@MatthewCaligari

7 жыл бұрын

McFly Copperfield is all about camera tricks, mirrors, etc. He's all shit and glitter. When I was a kid he was "amazing" but these days he's nothing more than a label/brand. So many better magician's than him, but sadly he will go down as the best since Houdini.

Went to see Penn and Teller at the RIO in Las Vegas, one of the best shows of my life! since a young age I have admired them do shows and to finally see them live!......the icing on the cake though ladies and gents.....................They stick around after the show to take pictures un till everyone has left! that is what makes them real showmen because of the love they have for all the people who travel to see them! some over 6,000 miles. saw Copperfield who once off the stage is not seen again which bugged me and was not keen on the Chris Angel show as seemed very repetitive. But the Penn & Teller show really dazzles you! screw the slots of Vegas...Get to the Rio for these guys!

@MasteringHow-To

8 жыл бұрын

Omg. I just posted a comment like this. I just saw them last Sat. I have a great picture with Penn. how amazing are they? So down to earth and so real. I raised my hand to go on stage.. He called me. I got so red I put my hand down. He made fun of me hahaha

@MasteringHow-To

8 жыл бұрын

Also they thanked all the camera guys... The help the ticket holders. Everyone. They are amazing guys. I'm so happy I saw them

@BL4K

8 жыл бұрын

I'm going to see them again next month 😁 you should of gone up man!

I agree with this so much. I don't really enjoy camera effects, I want to see someone who is performing and really doing a great job entertaining.

I always think thats beautiful. I love knowing Pen and Teller will never be harmed in their performances.

Reminds me of that xkcd comic where a guy and a girl are on a first date, and he tells her to think of a number between 1 and 100, guesses it correctly, and he thinks "it only works 1% of the time but when it does it's awesome"

Did Penn just try to tell me that Jackie Chan movies are a "violation of humanity" because Jackie risks his body and gets seriously hurt?

@SavageGreywolf

3 жыл бұрын

Jackie Chan is still using editing tricks and gimmicks to look like he's doing superhuman things. The fact that he does his own stunts and really knows how to fight doesn't change the fact that it's Hollywood magic. He's not actually decking someone with a ladder or a potted plant, at least not if things go right. What Penn means is he and Teller would never do the bullet catch trick if there was any chance whatsoever of someone ACTUALLY getting shot. By the same merit, Jackie Chan certainly would never do, for instance, a leap in his movies that if he missed it would mean he would actually fall to his death- and he's said things like that in interviews before. It's about not making the audience complicit in the potential for serious harm or death. Think less about Jackie Chan and more about Evel Knievel in regards to what Penn is putting down here. Also understand that Penn comes from the carnie tradition: what he views as dangerous is much further than your definition for sure. I don't think Penn would have much of a problem with a trapeze act, for example.

@RealJKal

3 жыл бұрын

jackie chan has never been hurt more than broken bones or cuts

For some real camera magic, I think I'd rather watch The Avengers than Criss Angel.

@NetAndyCz

5 жыл бұрын

I think Doctor Strange was really good when it comes to CGI magic. Poor Potter is very unconvincing now.

I had front row seats for a Penn and Teller show in Vegas. I loved the show but sitting that close allowed me to figure out a few of the tricks they do. Granted, I have loved magic since I was a child and do understand some of the concepts used in these tricks. It took the mystery out of some of the show. I still loved the show but I wish I had sat a few rows back.

How refreshing - getting away from the noise and the distractions and finding intelligent discussion. Thank you, Big Think!

I have no respect to Criss Angel and Dynamo...staged situations,camera tricks and actors... However I do respect David Blaine....

@clownsechonk

8 жыл бұрын

+Ade BiH - David Blaines version of magic is... I will bored you for 72 hours lol

@clownsechonk

8 жыл бұрын

Martin Landart - I always feel he is more of a daredevil than anything. People lump him in with magicians, but his major works are things like being in the block of ice. I admit I have not looked into him much past the boring shit he does that gets all the publicity, the best thing he did was get trolled by Triumph the Insult Comic Dog lol

@michaelnoble77

8 жыл бұрын

+clownsec honk You do realize most of those so-called "endurance" feats are just tricks, right?

@clownsechonk

8 жыл бұрын

Michael N - Obviously, but boring as fuck. I don't need to wait 3 days for a shitty punchline that's not even impressive, when others can pull off an amazing feat in 5 minutes.

@scottjones9973

8 жыл бұрын

+Ade BiH Yep. David Blaine did some close up magic on me once and that guy is LEGIT. He hid my card under my watch.

Penn and Teller are the best illusionists around. The only magic show I would ever spend my hard earned cash on. They don't treat their audience like brain damaged gerbils.

Love all your videos Penn...great career - keep it up!

Well said. Good magic is interesting, GREAT magic is art. Continuing with the analogy: You can have a favourite musician (mine's Elton John), or song, and listen to an album many times over, you'll never NOT like it. But after the 500th time, you're no longer putting it on "repeat". Then after seeing Elton's Live Acoustic (only him) Performance and hearing an improvised version of a favourite song, you gain a new appreciation and perspective on an old favourite.

"Did somebody say, Angel!?" "No!" "Oh..."

Awesome talk, tbh. Makes Criss Angel sound a lot more bogus than even I thought he was.

Penn is a great addition to this channel, very insightful

This is just another reason that Penn and Teller are among my favorite people in the world right now. Right next to James Randi. Very intelligent people who make THE most valid arguments about what they do. The world is a better place for having them in it. I actually remember Penn and Teller doing a show at my elementary school way back when. I didn't appreciate it back then, which is a shame. Wish I could see them again today with the admiration I've formed for them.

As ever Mr Jillette speaks the truth. Nothing beats the experience of a live magic performance. I'd even go so far as saying the new style of magical performer has already become a ludicrous stereotype.

I was at the Clearwater Beach building demolition escape Angel did here in FL a while back, and can't speak for his close/street tricks or anything else he didn't show, plus I saw him earlier in the day, casually, where he was fairly "cool" and laid back (though a guest in town, obviously), but the realization that what occurred was an elaborate camera trick - more of a prank or joke, essentially - was so massively disappointing compared to what his marketing portrayed up til then from where we were, it severely lowered my respect for most such performances which I might see on tv by anyone, to the point I just don't bother. That's not a positive addition to the field, I don't think, maybe never a good idea to try even if it's big looking.

I live in Vegas and seen Criss do random upclose magic and his show. His show is so-so, but the upclose stuff is amazing. Penn and Teller's show is awesome

You are being VERY kind. I think "Camera" Magic is worthless and I cringe at the thought that people may actually think what they are doing uses any sort of talent or skill. They should rename it to "Special Effects Tricks" or "Pretend Magic Tricks". As soon as you allow "Camera" tricks (like throwing a blanket over the camera for a while so you can't see anything and then trying to be impressed that something changed), then you might as well do Green Screens and do teleporting, by having someone go from 1 side of the world, to another in 1 second, because of video editing. Once you consider that, I mean you might as well just do all your magic through cartoon animations, so that you have 100% control of what you see. The worst "TV Camera Magic" trick I saw, was when they put an orange flag with a graphic of a tank on it, in front of the entire camera so that it was basically like saying "close your eyes while I do the magic part", then when they took the blindfold off the camera, there was a tank. The trick they used is even worse! They rolled the camera to a similar looking location, that had a tank. Well, how would you do that in front of an audience? You can't, it isn't magic.

Penn is the only celebrity I'd one day wish to just have an evening at a quiet restaurant and talk. Just such an intelligent man, and as is the ONLY atheist I've ever heard that actually makes sense. Not because of what he believes or sees... but because he has true respect for others who have different opinions, and absolutely appreciates different points of views. Always love hearing him. Thanks Mr. Gillette.

@razieltaung4845

8 жыл бұрын

Jillette*

@meattrademark1335

8 жыл бұрын

+Michael Reynolds Pretty sure there's at least one word missing from that first sentence. That second sentence is also, what? At least you misspelled his name at the end!

@repinswatson6452

7 жыл бұрын

Raziel Taung Nazi

@CoalDiamondandhisawesomeness

6 жыл бұрын

Michael Reynolds I wouldn't say the ONLY atheist that makes sense.

@michaelreynolds3592

6 жыл бұрын

Meat Trademark ... well.. I let a year pass. And yup... I still give zero fucks.

walter white send pizza to the roof at the very 1st shoot :D

Exactly! I have been discussing this with numerous magicians. Even Jay Sankey and I have had this discussion on twitter. Glad to hear you have the same views

I've seen Penn and Teller live - excellent show. When I watch Chris Angel on TV, not only am I not entertained, but clearly most of his stuff doesn't work except from a very specific camera angle.

The greatest magic trick is making 1080p disappear.

Has anyone seen Chris Angels floating Shaq trick...............my god it was embarrassing.

@SethGlover

10 жыл бұрын

HAHAHAHHAHA I watched it thanks for citing it

@imusam999

10 жыл бұрын

I caught it. It was... Hell, I don't know _what_ it was. Here's something else I'm not sure I understand: He actually named the show “Criss Angel BeLIEve.” He capitalized LIE. Why would he do that? It's almost as if he's making fun of his fans. Like he's saying: "I can lie straight to your face and you'll _still_ believe me, you poor, stupid bastards"

@canadianbeeph

10 жыл бұрын

lol first thing that popped in my head. "Criss Angel is who hes talking about"

@convincinglies1

10 жыл бұрын

how bout when he jumped that raptor vehicle over a cliff and appeared in a cage held from a helicopter? that was just pathetic, his editors fucked up major

I remember one where they had an elephant in the middle of a large parking lot, 10 people lifted up circular drapes to hide it, then dropped it, and it vanished.... after they changed the camera before the reveal. It's so obvious the camera change was pivotal to the "trick" working, and yet many people refuse to believe they'd stoop that low

I've only seen one magician live, and that is Ed Alonzo. Even though he presents his act as more a a comedy-magic hybrid, I was far more impressed with his show than any that I have seen on TV.

I've always said the best magic trick ever would be if someone could throw a deck of cards in the air and have it land in a perfect house of cards

David Blaine actually does those stunts though. they're feats of endurance/strength

@michaelnoble77

8 жыл бұрын

Seem like tricks to me - plenty of stuff online about how they could be done.

@stephenwithaph1566

8 жыл бұрын

+Michael N David Blaine held his breath under water for 17 minutes live filmed. He got a ted talk explaining what he had to do to go through being able to do that. Lots of pain, lots of endurance, and tons of dedication. He is far past doing lame camera tricks.

@michaelnoble77

8 жыл бұрын

Stephen Sollod I saw the TED talk, and while it's technically possible I'd still bet on it being a trick. Did you know that Houdini had a very similar trick that he claimed was "real" but was actually a trick?

@Gnomefro

8 жыл бұрын

+Michael N While I wouldn't trust David Blaine further than I can throw a building, his breath holding apparently is real, but was accomplished while breathing pure oxygen in advance and his record has been soundly beaten by freedivers later. The current record apparently is over 22 minutes. Without pure oxygen exceptional people can do about 11 minutes.

@Bob-zx7io

8 жыл бұрын

How do you rule out trickery? Oh, he gave a TED talk and said he didn't use a trick so he must be telling the truth.

The thing is, I think with things like that that are of a physical nature, it really doesn't involve illusion so much as it is technique. One of the best examples is when you see people who walk on hot coals. If you try to run or power walk on the coals, thinking you can avoid injury be clearing them fast, you would get burned pretty good because of how much pressure your putting on the coals. Walking calmly over them doesn't apply as much weight so you are not pushing into the coals.

I completely agreed... up until the end. I am a Buster Keaton Fan as well as a Jackie Chan fan...imho the fact that they got hurt, does not make it better, but it doesn't subtract from the success of trying until they got it right ( the juggler in me speaking). In fact, what I absolutely love about Jackie Chan is that he reveals that it took many tries...and it does not diminish from that idea that it was only done in one take. But I honestly don't want to watch acts that I might see a person get hurt, funny as my own show ( from my past) most the people that watched it wanted to see me get hurt.

I like this guy. He is so much smarter then me, but he doesn't seem like he is not better then anyone else.

@VhrenzAbasta

8 жыл бұрын

at least he knows the difference between "then" and "than"

Hey Penn go to the joe rogan podcast someday!

@vectorvictor6181

4 жыл бұрын

Wow great magic trick it worked.

Woo! LIVE performance!

In a sense, this is the same thing that happens with modern recorded music. You're seldom hearing one take of any of the instruments or vocals in many genres of music, instead you're hearing up spliced of pieces of all of the best takes of individual song sections, riffs, or even individual notes. Live magic is like live music, it is a performance, and it is interesting because of the potential for it to go wrong.

Criss Angel is the Dane Cook of magic.

@onemorerep6597

5 жыл бұрын

crankysmurf damn dude that’s like the most wicked burn on here.

Penn & Teller are the absolute best. Period. Great performance, comedians, people.

Right On!

he tweeted me back today!!!!

I completely agree. That's why Chris Angel, David Blaine, and now Dynamo are so lame.

@ridhvikgopal8912

4 жыл бұрын

David Blaine performs regular close up magic on camera... Criss Angel performs magic for a TV audience there’s a difference. One guy spend his time and effort improving his endurance, slight of hand and misdirection.. the other guy uses video editing l.

I seem to remember Chris being on a radio show whit Penn back in the day filled with nothing but praise. I suppose this is him licking his wounds after the A&E specials. I personally liked the A&E specials because me and my drunk friends could always figure out how he did his tricks. You know, because even stupid drunk we could figure it out.

Always enjoy hearing Penn's outspoken views.

'To me, to them, to herp, derp, durrr...' What a bunch of bullshit. What Criss does is not magic, period.

@Lucitaur

9 жыл бұрын

***** Yeah, but that's kinda cowardly. I thought that big think is here to challenge stuff, and make you think... big.

@fatemahaider2410

9 жыл бұрын

Lucitaur Big Think is still very politically correct. Like TED. I like them both, but you aren't allowed to be ENTIRELY honest. The message is still what he wants to convey, just not the honest emphasis he would normally put on it.

@Lucitaur

9 жыл бұрын

Evan O'Hara If they are going to be politically correct, they should rename their channel to just 'think'.

@danielappleton153

9 жыл бұрын

Criss Angel, David Copperfield - Illusionists. That apparently have shiteloads of money or else are funded by agencies so they can pull of their high - tech, high profile stuff.

He's right ya know.... but you cant say Criss isnt a magician... he does have sleight of hand skills.. but Camera tricks are like a disgrace to me...

@AstronomyWales

8 жыл бұрын

Just an FYI it's spelled slight.

@chriswhitman6940

8 жыл бұрын

Richard Roberts FYI it's sleight which means cunning or dexterous, not slight which means small. Grammar Nazi impaled on his own uneducated bayonet.

@AstronomyWales

8 жыл бұрын

Chris Whitman Calm down fella. OK so I was wrong. I thought I was right and I thought I'd correct it in a pleasant way. I'm learning myself and I've been corrected. By the way I'm not uneducated, although I do have a learning disability. I just don't know everything about everything.

@GamerXian

8 жыл бұрын

Sleight... I should know, Im a magician .-. xD

@AstronomyWales

8 жыл бұрын

GamerXian I am very sorry. Good luck with the magic.

Derren Brown is a mentalist and actually either Penn or one of the guys on his podcast said they like him a fair bit. I used to be obsessed with his NLP videos awhile back.

2024 here. I love that Penn always states his views very clearly, and then equally clearly states you don't have to agree with that view

The greatest magic trick I ever saw was when Big Think went from being good enough to have the likes of Penn and Stephen Fry on it, to becoming a mouthpiece for feminists and social justice warriors. I just don't know how they managed to pull that off, it's magic.

@FernieCanto

8 жыл бұрын

+6oodfella Whine me a river.

@ThingsWeSaidToday

8 жыл бұрын

+6oodfella yes let's not invite people that want to change society to help the marginalized.

@FernieCanto

8 жыл бұрын

Miriam Gross No, let's not invite those who think marginalization even exists; after all, everyone is equal, all opportunities are evenly distributed to all members of the human species, and anyone who presents any evidence against that is a dirty SJW liberal communist.

@bromixsr

8 жыл бұрын

+Miriam Gross I see your point. Let's invite people who use censorship, falsities, misdirection, and outright bigotry to tell other people they aren't strong enough to take care of their own lives. Hmm, sounds like religion to me.

@TheTrueValkyrie66

8 жыл бұрын

+Fernie Canto That statement would be relevant if SJWs ever actually presented any actual, verifiable, valid, non-falsified evidence, but they don't.

Burned Chris A and David B.

@mistzi-gameplaysandmore9759

7 жыл бұрын

Mixey which tricks was TV tricks from David Blaine sorry I just started doing and researching magic

@ocdoman

7 жыл бұрын

David B does real illusions though and not camera tricks. There is a big difference!

@JohnathanBlades

7 жыл бұрын

This is untrue

@steve24822

7 жыл бұрын

David Blaine does do Camera Tricks. His levitation trick, in one of his early videos was a camera trick.

@JohnathanBlades

7 жыл бұрын

yesss

Usually it involves slight of hand or illusion, take for example Penn&Teller's saw-blade trick, they make you see the basic trick, lady gets in a box, saw goes through, lady is OK. Then they show you what is "actually happening" behind the trick, and use a fake part of her body, and saw it in half, and go all crazy and act like she was just killed. You only see one lady enter the box, but there is in fact another one in the second box acting for her feet.

I love this guy, he's so nice

I get criss angel, but can someone explain how david blaine is bullshit? Seems legit to me. Examples?

@oxicricket

9 жыл бұрын

David Blaine isn't bullshit however the thing about magic on camera is if you mess up a move, as David does more often than most magicians that perform live, you can just pan the camera to a different angle so no one sees that you've messed up the move. So it's not bullshit it's just he isn't as talented at slight of hand as a lot of other magicians

@DanOfAwsome

9 жыл бұрын

they all do editing. criss, dynamo, blaine. there are videos exposing them.

@andyt2k

9 жыл бұрын

sitting in a box isn't magic

@DanOfAwsome

9 жыл бұрын

andyt2k Care to elaborate?

@andyt2k

9 жыл бұрын

Dan Cosme david blaine sat in a box as a trick, that's not magic

What Penn said "show us the time it works" is the same with faith healers. They pick and choose what they show on their religious shows and just show the time "God" performs a miracle and heals them. Of course it is total bull shit, but the same principle for this type of magic can be used for religion, faith healers, psychics, all non reason, non science bull shit.

I love Penn and Teller. They are such a class act, and teally classy guys individually. I would live to see them in Vegas next time I'm out there!

He makes a good point about people having different perceptions of what's "good" magic. Stuff that seems obvious to Penn is bewildering magic to me, in the same way that "tricks" with a tennis ball that seem obvious to me, must be like bewildering magic to my dog.

Derren Brown is another example of someone who substitutes simply lying (about the things magicians are supposed to be honest about) for actual skill. His mind control tricks are absolutely pathetic. He simply brings in a stooge and has them pretend that he's influencing their thoughts.

@CavanBooth1

8 жыл бұрын

As a magician, I must disagree. It is an urban myth that magicians use stooges, that is hardly the case. Some do, like Criss Angel and sometimes Blaine but Derren Brown (as far as I am aware) does not use stooges or planted actors to that extent. I think he did once but apologised years later for it. But as I say, stooges are uncommon!

@porflepopnecker4376

8 жыл бұрын

Stooges are very common in magic and are often used by such magicians as Criss Angel and sometimes David Blaine. But in order to make people think this is untrue, magicians often go on public forums and say that it is an "urban myth."

@EGarrett01

8 жыл бұрын

Guy Booth, I said Derren Brown uses stooges. Not all magicians. Pay attention and make honest replies.

@CavanBooth1

8 жыл бұрын

EGarrett01 Obviously I don't know if Derren does or does not. All I was saying was that it is uncommon which is why I doubt Derren does.

@EGarrett01

8 жыл бұрын

Watch his video where he puts the guy into the "zombie video game." He literally touches the guy's forehead and the guy "passes out into a trance." It's fucking embarrassing.

If Penn can explain David Blaine's ice-pick through the hand/arm tricks...or possibly do them, I'd consider his word credible. But until then, he sounds like a washed-up Vegas performer who's clinging to that 15th minute.

@Kenz305

10 жыл бұрын

He's had several TV shows, He turned Johnathan Ross into Vanna White, and he has his own theatre in Vegas. All of this accomplished without claiming he has supernatural powers. David Blaine sits in a refrigerator for a week and neglects to tell you that he took bathroom breaks every hour. Yeah, he's a real wizard.

@jeffbatt2000

10 жыл бұрын

You do realize that Penn & Teller are MUCH more successful magicians than David Blaine, right?

@BACKinBLACK1080

10 жыл бұрын

Rex Batt Yes, right...and Blaine is much more successful as an illusionist.

@kraig800i

10 жыл бұрын

It sounds no different to the Penn and teller stunt of teller stabbing the knife through Penn's hand to pick the card. Not too sure if he's ever explained it.

@NetAndyCz

5 жыл бұрын

There is no magic needed, it is like sword swallowing, he just does that. He did that multiple times so the tissue is like a scar, no veins inside. Might use some artificial skin but there are magicians through the history who did piercing tricks before, so why bother faking it when it can be done for real?

Flawless captions

That says a lot about his character regarding no one has ever gotten injured.

I loved your "is that the 7 of diamonds" example you gave because recently I watched a video of Jibreezy where he put what looked like red foam balls in the hands of people in the street and asked them to name an animal. I would have named a praying mantis probably but in the 3 examples the people named, then discovered, a dog shaped red foam when opening their hands...

I'd like to just hang out with Penn and Teller for some good conversation. They're both really great guys.

They're on good terms with each other. Listen to the interviews they do together.

I love Penn he always speaks from his hart.

I'm pretty sure that the first people I saw pretending to be really hurt by a trick, were Penn and Teller!

"it all depends on your definition of 'flubbed'"

I love Penn's philosophic points...he should make a show about his points.

Everyone should see the Penn and Teller live show in Las Vegas. I did recently and it was fantastic.

Imagine if he did this after the movie "now you see me" was released..

I always knew there was a reason I like Penn. I'm a theater person, and people are always astounded when I say that I'm no enamored with Movies. It's for exactly the same reason as Penn has said- it's easy to do an emotionally taxing scene 50 times, and get ONE good take. It's also easy to memorize lines when you're only going to be doing that scene one day. I mainly like movies for their stories. I'm not saying that all movie actors are crap. Thanks, Penn

Stage magic or close up magic and visual storytelling build on the same fundamental process: Control of Perspective. Every shot and edit point is a director, camerman, and editor choosing what your viewpoint will be. It is much more difficult to control the viewer's eye in real life, but that is the crux of magic. Many directors and people in film and TV have some background in magic. Of course, unless you can recognize it in them and call them on it, they almost never reveal it.

Very well said. Smart smart man and a great and REAL magician

you rock penn! amazing magician one of my all time favorites

hell yeah.. love pen and teller

Well said VERY WELL SAID

I understand what Penn is saying, and even though I'm no expert, I also thought it was easy to see that most of Criss Angel's TV performances were accomplished with edits and actors (you can even clearly see some times that people in the "amazing shots" are actors imitating the "real" street people that are seen in the opening and closing shots). So I agree that it's not really "performance" magic. That said, magic is about entertaining people by performing illusions. So if it works, it works.

@SubconsciousGatherer Penn once said: "the biggest break through done in our lifetime was David Blaine's 'Street Magic,' where his idea was to do really simple tricks but to concentrate... to turn the camera around on the people watching instead of the people doing. So to make the audience watch the audience, which that first special 'Street Magic,' is the best TV magic special ever done and really, really does break new ground."

This is a man who knows his goddamn craft, and appreciates its flaws and loopholes as well as its majesty and the skill involved in it..

Derren is considered by many even better live than on telly. DB and Teller are also friends; not sure about DB and Penn though. Once read a quote about DB by Penn and he didn't sound like a big fan at all but this WAS years ago.

I've said exactly this for many years. This is not magic. Seeing someone float across from building to building on tv where the camera carefully does not show the helicopter or crane right above him is NOT magic.

I would like to expand on that. Technology that is advanced further than most of the population understands (or suspects it to) is indistinguishable form magic. That is because most people would then be unable to describe the process taking place in order to explain the [magic] trick at hand.

Derren brown did a series showing how a lot of this stuff was done, in one trick he flipped a coin and had it come up heads 10 times in a row, and it looked like it was the first go, but he showed that actually it took close to 10 hours and they just showed the 1 take where it worked. He did another one where he said he could predict horse races and all he did was make different predictions to loads of different people while making them think they were the only one until he got a run of correct predictions.

There is a TED talk where David Blaine explains how he was able to legitimately perform that (he did it with pure oxygen and that is acknowledged in the record). It is actually a very good and emotional talk.. though it is in that awkward David Blaine half-talking voice.

I'm intrigued by Penn's stance on violence in media. I'd love to ask him what his opinion is about movies that use the same tricks of the trade to safely portray violence but actually do end up hurting or killing someone accidentally and continue the film regardless (The Crow for example).