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Jeff Inner circle Orlando, FL 1238 Posts 
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Is it just me or has each of his specials had less and less magic and gotten worse with each one?
Honestly I found nothing of interest in this special at all. Had it not been for the worst watch steal in the world (so bad he even told you it was coming in the voice over) the watch effect could have been interesting, but wasn't. And what was with the falling down and walking funny bits, simply filler to kill time? I would not be surprised to hear that Blaine is working in a geek show in the near future. This is one vhs tape that I won't be keeping. Jeff
Available for order now:
http://www.thecardwarptour.com See new, used, and collectable magic and books for sale at: http://www.jeffpiercemagic.com |
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Platt Inner circle New York 2046 Posts
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Like I posted earlier. Weak. Very, very weak.
Sugar Rush is here! Freakishly visual magic. http://www.plattmagic.com
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Greg Arce Inner circle 6732 Posts
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Guys, guys... you are missing the point. His stuff is no longer about tricks... he has fooled the public into believing he is a mystic of sorts. Anything he does weird is seen as mystical and otherworldly.
I know you guys want him to go away, but check the ratings for this show when they come up. And I'll bet you all that he will have more specials to come. I love magic and I'm much better at it technically than he will ever be... but that doesn't change the fact that he is now considered a star and just appearing in public is enough. Keep doing your magic and having fun... his life has nothing to do with yours. You can continue to amaze those that meet you in person and they will come away believing that you are the real thing. Thank David for that. Greg
One of my favorite quotes: "A critic is a legless man who teaches running."
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Magique Hands Loyal user Lincoln, NE. 247 Posts
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Yeah... the watch steal might have come across as a little weak. But, the way he got the watch back (by reaching through the store front window), was QUITE strong, and SEEMED totally impromptu!!
Greg Acre... VERY NICELY SAID!! - - Troy
"If you go around sprinkling Woofle Dust on everything... people will think 'My... What an odd character." www.magicmafia.com
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Peter Loughran V.I.P. Ontario, Canada 2683 Posts
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I didn't think it was very magical either, but I did find it quite entertaining. All except for the Pole jump at the end.
I thought for sure after he landed in the boxes below, that he would have vanished, and perhaps reappeared in the crowd. Now that would have been cool. All in all I thought it was alright. P.
Brand New: - SNAKE BITE ILLUSION
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MAGICTOM Veteran user Dallas, Tx 354 Posts
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Well,
This was my first experience watching a Blaine special. I was extremely bored with the Pole Stunt... however, I did get a kick out of some of his tricks. The wine Glass breaking on the table, The watch steal and window penetration, and the beer can, were a few nice effects that obviously took a great deal of preparation in order to give them the impromptu image that they achieved. I credit David for pulling them off mechanically. But I was disappointed in the presentation of all of them, I had never heard him speak before and the monotone voice with poor patter made me want to change the channel. But who am I to criticize, He is by far famous, and the type of presentation he chooses to use fits his desired character image, (spooky, strange, mysterious) so I guess more power to him. As I previously stated, the Magic was interesting but I agree whole heartedly with Jeff about the walking funny and falling down bits, about as lame as the Pole Jump. BUT... He is on TV, He made 6 million last year, and He can sure gather a crowd..... so again, who am I to criticize..? Take it easy Tom Defrange 
No Man is his craft's master the first day!
J.B. Bobo |
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Chad Sanborn Inner circle my fingers hurt from typing, 2205 Posts
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I think Greg said it best...
"YOU ARE MISSING THE POINT!" Blaine does not want to be a "magician". He wants to be "something other". People want to believe in the paranormal. He is just playing the part they want him to play. All that silly walking and falling down, just add to his overall weirdness and make him more believable. After all, normal people don't walk like that and lay down in the steet. So he must be something other than normal. Hmmm.. Chad |
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A l a i n B e ll o n Veteran user 302 Posts
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I think Greg Arce's comments are in the right direction.
Blaine's stuff was all constructed to give a specific mystical image, not to kill time. Look at the references to religion. Look at the effects he does and compare them to messianic miracles. Look at his goofing around and compare it to the buddhist concept of enlightenment (a form of insanity). This clearly is performance art with a mystic-cult or religious-sect flavoring. He stays on the pole like priests of the middle ages; to bring him closer to god, or so he says. He "creates" beer where there was none left. He breaks a glass of wine. He walks on water. He falls dead and then walks off. He removes fears from a boy. He eats a serpent (Moses anyone?), just to "resurrect" it inside the backpack. Listen to his final words when he addresses the crowd at the end (he didn't use to do that before). I am sure you catch my drift now. These are all symbolic of his religious/messianic inclinations. He is just playing with alegories and analogies. What he wants to accomplish with all this is still a mystery. -Alain Bellon |
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Greg Arce Inner circle 6732 Posts
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Alain & Chad, you guys are on the money on this thing. Actually, David once said he wanted to be as famous as Jesus so it's no surprise that his team has taken the mystic route. He will continue to make his money until the next big thing hits... because unfortunately the public is a fickle creature... but in the meantime, all the power to him for getting himself in the forefront.
Greg
One of my favorite quotes: "A critic is a legless man who teaches running."
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dukenotes New user Winchester, KY 70 Posts
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Quote:
On 2002-05-23 14:26, Alain Bellon wrote: Wow Alain. Now that I think about it you are right on. I did think the final comments about the "believers" etc. was sort of weird, but now that I've thought about the symbolism of the other effects you have mentioned it's obvious Blaine is taking on some sort of religious persona. In his next special perhaps he will change water into wine??? Even his large scale stuff is similar to the resurection. He really plays it up every time like he's really out of it. This time he was actually acting a bit more "there" after the jump. I guess because he had a message to deliver. Duke 
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Greg Arce Inner circle 6732 Posts
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Duke, you are not far from the mark. Blaine was actually working on walking on water for awhile. He wanted to walk across the Hudson. I"m sure there are more "miracles'' to come.
Greg
One of my favorite quotes: "A critic is a legless man who teaches running."
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JBmagic Regular user New Jersey 110 Posts
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I think you guys are right... the more I think about it, the more right you are!
Heh... more power to him I guess! If I had thought of it, and had nerve enough to stand on a 90 foot pole, I'd have done it too! I would not, I repeat NOT even pretend to eat a snake though... I don't fear snakes, I just can't imagine them tasting very good raw... All I could think about was that they probably have sweat glands on there skin, which was excreting slimy sweat into his mouth... ACK!!! that's gotta be worse than eating my own cooking... well maybe...
Jay Buchanan
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Greg Arce Inner circle 6732 Posts
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Stop! You're making me hungry!
Greg
One of my favorite quotes: "A critic is a legless man who teaches running."
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John Smetana ???? - 2009 499 Posts
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During one of Blaine's interviews, for his last years special I believe, the blurb on the screen said "David Blaine - Mystifier." It seems to me that this description really says it all. By using it Blaine has effectively blurred the lines between magic/ mentalism/escapes/geek stunts/etc.
This must set the "specialists" teeth on edge since he moves easily from a card trick to a mental effect to pulling the head off a chicken without missing a beat and I'll bet that not one member of the audience says.. look at that he's mixing magic and mentalism. IMHO the most effective demonstrations of "mystery," those that truly astonish and create reputations, occur outside the context of formal or informal entertainment, even though they may be very entertaining. This, I believe is why Blaine created such a sensation in the first place. Over the long years of my life I have watched an untold number of magic/mentalism shows with laymen. In more cases than I care to count, after the show, someone in the group tells a story of the time.. some guy (not known as a magician or mentalist) in a bar/diner/etc.. etc... did this amazing thing that they've never forgotten. I think Blaine has effectively tapped into this concept, for now. Best thoughts, John Smetana  |
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hackmonkey Inner circle England 1093 Posts
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Alain you are a perceptive guy, that little walking in a puddle bit caught my attention too. My father is writing a book on drugs and religion, maybe Blaine should do a forward.
He thinks he's Jesus and seems stoned 80% of the time. No seriously, I found the special fun to watch. I thought the tricks he did (except the wine glass thing) were quite strong. The window trick actually had me amazed for about 20 mins. I think a lot of magicians who dismiss him, it's just a case of sour grapes. I hope he sticks around for awhile, I wonder how many tricks he will do in his next special???  |
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Jorge Gonzalvo New user Spain 71 Posts
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About all your posts. I have just seen the Blaine specials 2 days ago. Here in Spain, we have no opportunities to watch them, but in my opinion, the way of fooling people that uses Blaine, is nearly the way os thinking that people is stupid. I mean that magic is great and wonderful, everytime you don´t treat audience like if they were fool.
I think the first condition in performing magic is the respect to people in front of you. I don´t like that kind of magicians that make laugh of people (and not WITH people). Blaine´s magic is not newer, and amazing, so, why does he need to fool people with that kind of extrange things?... Don´t you think that people that say Blaine is a great powerful magician with great powers, is all the people with the minimum magical knoledgment?. Yes, I know, magic is for people with no-magic skills, but Blaine fools people in the street, and Copperfield fools all people in the street, and magicians also... Think about that... Anyway, I think here in Europe, everybody knows Copperfield , and a few of them knows Blaine... |
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volant New user Wisconsin 59 Posts
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Since this topic is about Blaine, I thought I mention he is in a new MTV ad for their award show. Jimmy Fallon(the show's host) is standing on the radio city music hall(think that is the name) sign platform wearing "Blaine-type" clothing, with a piece of ice over his private area. Blaine is in the audience saying something like "The ice isn't even real! It is a hologram! Boo! You suck! Boo!"
By the time you read this, you've already read it.
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techneeqs Regular user Ontario, Canada 105 Posts
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Jorge you said: " Yes, I know, magic is for people with no-magic skills, but Blaine fools people in the street, and Copperfield fools all people in the street, and magicians also..."
but you can't compair copperfield to blaine at all, blaine actualy does most the stuff by hiself. Mean while copperfield has to have special camera tricks, fake volentiers, and all that to make his magic work. I much rather watch Blaine then copperfield even if I know how Blaine is doing his stuff. |
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mattneufeld Regular user 119 Posts
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Whoa! Time out! Some serious, FACTUAL clarification is needed on several points here:
1. It is BLAINE, NOT Copperfield, who has been criticized, worldwide, for using television editing, special camera tricks, fake volentiers, and other deceitful (because it's all television-oriented) gimmicks in his specials. Again, it's Blaine who has used this stuff and who has been criticized worldwide for using it. 2. Copperfield is widely respected for his tasteful, classy, entertaining and audience-friendly shows. In no way, shape or form should Copperfield and Blaine ever be compared--they're completely different. Copperfield is light-years ahead of Blaine in performance, presentation and respect. 3. Blaine's television ratings have been crashing straight down for all his recent airings. And critics have equally trashed the shows. And so have magicians. 4. I do think giving Blaine's horribly acted and horribly paced shows any connection to religion is stretching it! That's an insult to religion! 5. Blaine's personality and amateurish acting tend to bring down the shows and bring up the ire in folks not because of jealousy or anything as petty as that, but because they are just badly written, performed and directed shows. And that brings down magic for everyone. 6. What Blaine needs to do is hook up with some better writers, producers and directors, look at how David Copperfield and other, classier magicians present themselves on television, forget the deceitful use of television camera gimmicks, just perform magic and none of this ridiculous street theater, speak clearly and concisely, wear some better clothes, and SMILE! I guarantee it--the ratings and the respect will come back with all of that! |
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Jorge Gonzalvo New user Spain 71 Posts
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Quote:
On 2002-08-26 17:58, mattneufeld wrote: That´s exactly what I´m thinking about the comparation between Coperfield and Blaine. Well said! In my opinion , Copperfield is a good reference to doing things right! Jorge |
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Posted: May 23, 2002 02:18 am 
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