Criss Angel - Trick Secret Revealed

DVD Josh · 06-27-07, 05:53 PM

For those who don't know him, Criss Angel has a show called Mindfreak on A&E. He's an illusionist, and a pretty decent one. I enjoy magic and illusion so I enjoy the show, but to me, the impressiveness is in the delivery, not that he can actually make something disappear.

He recently did a trick where he makes a go-cart disappear in smoke. However, when I saw the broadcast, it was incredibly easy to see how he did it. We all know one of the illusionists best tools is misdirection, so I'm always scanning the background for clues.

I came across this deconstruction of the trick which shows how simple this trick was, and how the use of misdirection and viewing angles aid the illusionist.

http://www.duggmirror.com/television...picture_story/

As you can see, this one was pretty easy to figure out and pull off.

devilshalo · 06-27-07, 05:58 PM

Yeah, but show me how he floated from the top of the Luxor down to the floor. Some of the hand redirection - like on last night with the dove, is pretty simple.

kvrdave · 06-27-07, 05:59 PM

C-Mart · 06-27-07, 06:01 PM

It was very easy to see how he did that one. Pathetic excuse for a magician.

Minor Threat · 06-27-07, 06:02 PM

Yaylol.....

GoVegan · 06-27-07, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by C-Mart

It was very easy to see how he did that one. Pathetic excuse for a magician.

Yeah, his outfit distracts you away from the fact that he's not actually sitting on a real rainbow.

Oraphus · 06-27-07, 06:12 PM

that one was pretty obvious.. didn't need a "deconstruction" for that one.

How about the floating one... is that all just a camera trick or is there more involved?

Jeremy517 · 06-27-07, 06:15 PM

That qualifies as magic?

Thor Simpson · 06-27-07, 06:22 PM

I don't care what you guys say, that was real.

Mopower · 06-27-07, 06:24 PM

No you guys don't get it. It was the go kart that was fake.

Seantn · 06-27-07, 07:49 PM

No, the smoke was fake, it was all an illusion in your mind. The go-kart ran on carrot juice, and Chris Angel is a robot.

jdodd · 06-27-07, 07:52 PM

I think it was one of them hollygrams.

Thor Simpson · 06-27-07, 07:53 PM

I'll also add that I didn't even see the effect take place. It looked to me like he drove behind a wall that had a few guys standing around it spraying smoke. I didn't for a second think that anything had disappeared. Maybe I should have watched more of the build-up but fast forwarding to the performace, it looked exactly like what it was. To me at least.

4KRG · 06-27-07, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thor Simpson

I don't care what you guys say, that was real.

I once saw this guy on the internet get eaten by a hippo, that was real too. No one missed him though...

PopcornTreeCt · 06-27-07, 07:59 PM

That one was pretty bad but some of his other tricks are pretty amazing.

Thor Simpson · 06-27-07, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4KRG

I once saw this guy on the internet get eaten by a hippo, that was real too. No one missed him though...

I can't even find the gif of that. Hopefully it's archived somewhere on this planet.

The Cow · 06-27-07, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoVegan

Yeah, his outfit distracts you away from the fact that he's not actually sitting on a real rainbow.

It's not so much the outfits. It's the hair and porno mustache that sell the story. Bow-chicka-bow-wow.

(and Josh, Criss gives away a lot of his illusions, that's part of his schtick. they are all over YouTube and on his DVDs, he's been around a coupla years)

dvdsteve2000 · 06-27-07, 09:02 PM

There's a ton of 'how he did it's' on youtube. I saw the 'climb through a pane of glass', disappear off of a table, and a few others. What really burst my Criss Angel bubbles was when they showed how the audience was in on his tricks.

Deftones · 06-27-07, 09:22 PM

Ok, I saw this episode. It was pretty easy to figure that out when you watched it.

However, he did the same "trick" in his brand new Lambo out at some race track in Pahrump, NV. Obviously, it was done in the same manner. But, it's harder to figure that one out as he was on a race track. So, there's no hole. I figure it's a mirror trick, but I couldn't tell for sure on that episode.

Howiefan · 06-27-07, 09:39 PM

Tricks are for whores. It's called an illusion.

darkside · 06-27-07, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dvdsteve2000

There's a ton of 'how he did it's' on youtube. I saw the 'climb through a pane of glass', disappear off of a table, and a few others. What really burst my Criss Angel bubbles was when they showed how the audience was in on his tricks.

This always sucks, but Blaine uses the same methods.

Fok · 06-28-07, 12:30 AM

I find Criss Angel too gay, instead of trying to be all fancy, just do the trick

AGuyNamedMike · 06-28-07, 07:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Howiefan

Tricks are for whores. It's called an illusion.

Illusionist, prostitute, is there much of a difference philosophically when you delve into the psychology of the provider and buyer?

AGuyNamedMike · 06-28-07, 08:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fok

I find Criss Angel too gay, instead of trying to be all fancy, just do the trick

Gayer than Doug Henning (who wasn't gay either)? Do you mean "friend of Dorothy" gay or "I'm 14 and I don't think this guy is very cool" gay?

Mrs. Danger · 06-28-07, 09:44 AM

I was more impressed when Penn and Teller made a submarine disappear.

06-27-07, 05:53 PM	#1
DVD Josh DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: In My Own Little World Posts: 18,282	Criss Angel - Trick Secret Revealed For those who don't know him, Criss Angel has a show called Mindfreak on A&E. He's an illusionist, and a pretty decent one. I enjoy magic and illusion so I enjoy the show, but to me, the impressiveness is in the delivery, not that he can actually make something disappear. He recently did a trick where he makes a go-cart disappear in smoke. However, when I saw the broadcast, it was incredibly easy to see how he did it. We all know one of the illusionists best tools is misdirection, so I'm always scanning the background for clues. I came across this deconstruction of the trick which shows how simple this trick was, and how the use of misdirection and viewing angles aid the illusionist. http://www.duggmirror.com/television...picture_story/ As you can see, this one was pretty easy to figure out and pull off. __________________ Why the hell must you continually question my hyperbole? - Mordred If you hear hoofbeats, think Horse, not Zebra. - mdc3000 *DVDTALK GOLD TRADER*

06-27-07, 05:58 PM	#2
devilshalo DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Somewhere between Heaven and Hell Posts: 19,645	Yeah, but show me how he floated from the top of the Luxor down to the floor. Some of the hand redirection - like on last night with the dove, is pretty simple. __________________ I get paid to talk. I don't have an M.D. or Law Degree. I have a bachelors in kickin' ass and taking names. You know that guy who can pick up any girl? I'm him... on crack. - Nick Naylor XBox Live Gamertag: DevHalo

06-27-07, 05:59 PM	#3
kvrdave DVD Talk God Join Date: Aug 1999 Location: Pacific NW Posts: 66,693	__________________ Of all tyrannies a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victim may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron’s cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated, but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience. - C.S. Lewis

06-27-07, 06:01 PM	#4
C-Mart DVD Talk Platinum Edition Join Date: Aug 1999 Location: Beaumont, CA Posts: 3,580	It was very easy to see how he did that one. Pathetic excuse for a magician. __________________ "How deliciously white trash, Mommy! I want a mullet!" -Stewie “All the hospitals in the world won’t do you any good if you’re dead before you get there.” -Hassinger Wii Friend Code: 4417 3367 3281 1070 PSN: chadmart My Countdown Counting down to: 360° Tour! Rock On!

06-27-07, 06:02 PM	#5
Minor Threat DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: - Flex your head - Posts: 12,218	Yaylol..... __________________ "I think they go by username, so you're probably not a very high priority at the moment." - dork "Kansas chokes every year. I don't see why this year will be any different. Go Davidson." - Michael Corvin - Kansas University 2008 National Champions!!!!!

06-27-07, 06:12 PM	#7
Oraphus DVD Talk Special Edition Join Date: Nov 1999 Location: Hell - see you when you get here. Posts: 1,579	that one was pretty obvious.. didn't need a "deconstruction" for that one. How about the floating one... is that all just a camera trick or is there more involved? __________________ -It takes a big man to cry, but it takes a bigger man to laugh at that man.

06-27-07, 06:15 PM	#8
Jeremy517 DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Newberg, OR Posts: 14,193	That qualifies as magic?

06-27-07, 06:22 PM	#9
Thor Simpson DVD Talk Hero Join Date: Apr 1999 Location: BWG's Mom Posts: 27,602	I don't care what you guys say, that was real. __________________ "So they got a warrant and moved in. " - JasonF

06-27-07, 06:24 PM	#10
Mopower DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: The Janitor's closet in Kinnick Stadium Posts: 15,385	No you guys don't get it. It was the go kart that was fake. __________________ http://www.twitter.com/andrewveedub

06-27-07, 07:49 PM	#11
Seantn DVD Talk Limited Edition Join Date: Dec 2001 Posts: 5,526	No, the smoke was fake, it was all an illusion in your mind. The go-kart ran on carrot juice, and Chris Angel is a robot. __________________ "Why don't you get a blog where you can tell others to get a blog?" - Parcher

06-27-07, 07:52 PM	#12
jdodd DVD Talk Ultimate Edition Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 4,034	I think it was one of them hollygrams.

06-27-07, 07:53 PM	#13
Thor Simpson DVD Talk Hero Join Date: Apr 1999 Location: BWG's Mom Posts: 27,602	I'll also add that I didn't even see the effect take place. It looked to me like he drove behind a wall that had a few guys standing around it spraying smoke. I didn't for a second think that anything had disappeared. Maybe I should have watched more of the build-up but fast forwarding to the performace, it looked exactly like what it was. To me at least. __________________ "So they got a warrant and moved in. " - JasonF

06-27-07, 07:59 PM	#15
PopcornTreeCt DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 15,194	That one was pretty bad but some of his other tricks are pretty amazing. __________________

06-27-07, 09:02 PM	#18
dvdsteve2000 DVD Talk Limited Edition Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Home of the 2009 Stanley Cup & Vince Lombardi trophy!!! Posts: 5,740	There's a ton of 'how he did it's' on youtube. I saw the 'climb through a pane of glass', disappear off of a table, and a few others. What really burst my Criss Angel bubbles was when they showed how the audience was in on his tricks. __________________ XBOX 360 GAMERTAG: Snippy DePini: My old tag, (R.I.P.), SOFA KIN WHAT: Ex-Interim Tag: WiiTards Suck ACHIEVEMENT POINTS: 22,240/74,270 (29.94%) 360 BLOG

06-27-07, 09:22 PM	#19
Deftones DVD Talk Hero Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: Arizona Posts: 44,827	Ok, I saw this episode. It was pretty easy to figure that out when you watched it. However, he did the same "trick" in his brand new Lambo out at some race track in Pahrump, NV. Obviously, it was done in the same manner. But, it's harder to figure that one out as he was on a race track. So, there's no hole. I figure it's a mirror trick, but I couldn't tell for sure on that episode. __________________ John Henson: McDonald's has dumped Kobe Bryant as their spokesperson and have replaced him with Yao Ming. Apparently McDonald's prefers Yao because he is a bigger international star, and he doesn't rape so much. "You are everything that's wrong with this forum".---SleepyW

06-27-07, 09:39 PM	#20
Howiefan DVD Talk Special Edition Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Ottawa, Canada Posts: 1,085	Tricks are for whores. It's called an illusion.

06-28-07, 12:30 AM	#22
Fok DVD Talk Limited Edition Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Canada, BC Posts: 6,343	I find Criss Angel too gay, instead of trying to be all fancy, just do the trick

06-28-07, 09:44 AM	#25
Mrs. Danger DVD Talk Hall of Fame Join Date: May 2005 Location: With Nick Danger Posts: 9,527	I was more impressed when Penn and Teller made a submarine disappear. __________________ I could eat a can of Kodak, and puke a better movie than that. http://www.cafepress.com/unseengallery