Criss Angel - Magician or Manipulator?

[Cedric Taylor]

Ok guys, I've been a big supporter of Criss' work over the years. I love his style his image. He's a great showman as well. With the recent exposure of his work, mainly via Leo, or Valentino as most of you all know (The Masked Magician). While I'm not supportive of his view on exposure, It has made me think twice about Criss' skill.

I would always consider Criss as a stage illusionist and not a street performer. He uses elaborate sets on his Mindfreak show, even when doing street magic. A true street performer will use a 1 helper at the maximum. A true street performer uses his skill of deception. Not over 100 stooges, and cords and sets. (Forgive the run ons) What kind of magician does magic that only works for T.V. and not in your face??? Most of his biggest work can't be done without a willing participant.

Not only do I question his skill, I now question those artist who's associated with such outlandish display. I know I may step on a few toes here, so I will not call any names; How can the T11 community talk down on Criss and his work, yet support and praise those who serve as "consultants" individually. In case you didn't get what I'm asking, I want to know how can we,(the T11 members) support those guys on an individual level, yet not like their collective product which is Mindfreak? I'll leave that for you guys to harp on....

In conclusion that leaves me asking, Criss Angel: Magician or Manipulator???

 

[Holyshnikes]

Chris Angel is not a joke. I absolutly hate him for the bogus things he does, but to be quite honest....if the illusion is real for the spectator, then that is what the performer is going for. In that aspect he may or may not be a great performer. I don't know honestly if video edits have anything to do with Chris's talent (or spectator reactions, as most people think other people are being fillmed for reaction and others for the actual trick). I would like to hear what some of the T11 artists think of Chris.

In my opinion he is neither manipulator or magician. I heard his Las Vegas show was terrible. I'll leave it at that.

 

[Randy]

He's an actor.

 

[AsherF]

I think his credibility would go up a bit more if he kept the lines more clear rather than blurring them as he is, when it comes to stage magic and street magic.

 

[Cedric Taylor]

I think his credibility would go up a bit more if he kept the lines more clear rather than blurring them as he is, when it comes to stage magic and street magic.

i agree.......

 

[ThinkingMan]

It's a Tuff One

This is a Tuff one. On one side his stage show is incredible. His older stage show on Broadway was actually even better than his current one and it was one of a kind, so original. He was magician of the year in 2005 and many other awards. You don't win those for nothing. I think all around he is a great stage performer and even a good street performer, but it seems like his last few seasons just keep involving more and more editing and obvious setup. This kinda stinks when it's so obvious, but he is so famous he can get away with it. Many magicians are just very jealous of him and should just get over it. They think they have better skills, which they don't and they probably never will be in his class, so they bash. I'm really in the middle on this and I think he has a major ego problem and the manipulating is now pushed to the extreme. On his last show he had them introduce him as "the best magician in the world ever". I'm sorry, but he is no Derren Brown, David Copperfield, David Berglas or Al Koran.
None of these people including David Blaine would have himself introduced this way. It makes you wonder. As for his consultants I think it's great that they work for him and it's also great for their career, so I would never look down on someone for working with him. It's a great opportunity and they should take advantage of it. Magic also really needs a good show and I'm sorry but Masters of Illusion is kinda lame. Looking forward to Blaine's next magic special.

 

[r.zhang]

I actually had a talk with someone at a magic shop about this who knew Criss personally. He brought up a very good point that Criss worked hard to get to where he is and continues to work hard. He does his show everyday, has his TV show, and travels a lot. He doesn't have much time to f*** around. I never liked Criss, but he really put things into perspective.

 

[Cedric Taylor]

I actually had a talk with someone at a magic shop about this who knew Criss personally. He brought up a very good point that Criss worked hard to get to where he is and continues to work hard. He does his show everyday, has his TV show, and travels a lot. He doesn't have much time to f*** around. I never liked Criss, but he really put things into perspective.

great point, however i think he should stick to the stage....he goes really hard on stage...i've seen his show, i just don't like the deception of T.V. magic he does, the fact that he portray his spectators to be real and if someone other than his paid stooge saw him do so, that would really be upsetting....

if the stuff he did involved a sweet "undetected" gimmick, i would like him even more...i don't like to bash, but at some point, i would like to see some sort of honesty....all magic tricks are fake...i get that...yet they all have a "catch"....a lot of the gimmicks or move are undetected, thats what make magic special.....

for example his extreme levitations are a big let down to i think all of his fans including myself.....thats just like me pretending to vanish someone right before your eyes and you see them walk right from behind a curtain....and hide somewhere....i play it off as if i'm great....i'm sure after editing it...that would be sweet....but to the normal, non participating spectator, you would ask yourself "what the hell is all the hype about"...thats my concern...

 

[SleightOfHand Crazed]

The first few seasons of MindFreak was awesome. For that, he is a talented magician. But for the last few seasons the magic was edited or paid audience?
Imagine u are in his shoes, having to come up with many many different magic each season of MindFreak, wouldn't you run out of tricks ? "Great magicians perform 3 tricks and performs them well. An amateur performs a 100 tricks and does none of them well. " He is after all a great magician that has made a mark in history and deserves respect. =)

Just my 2cents worth

Cheers

 

[KeoSilver]

I thought street magic was any random act of magic preferably on the street. I would consider illusions on the street, street magic. On the note of Criss Angel I think he accomplished bringing illusion to the street or at least to the street in front of a camera. I really do not have a problem with him other then I really do not like his CURRENT persona. I am sure his Broadway show was superb, also I love his industrial music he put out on several CDs I have them all, and then some.

 

[bloodstar]

Nowadays, profit > all. Who care about stage magic if you may have x10 times fan + money
I dun like Criss style but I LOVE his team, consulants They are awesome magicians

 

[Aviva]

woops i thought i posted in here instead of making a whole new thread.
http://forums.theory11.com/showthread.php?t=21823

 

[ajp500]

Criss angel=WWE(or other professional wrestlering programs)

Derron Brown=UFC(or other mixed matrial art shows)

 

[JustinWay13]

Cedric,
You have brought up an interesting subject. As a fellow magician I will have to say his work on the "streets", as he calls it, is more of a stage act. I think he is an excellent stage performer but has a mouth as rotten as 300 year old milk. His stage show is, from what I hear, is not that great because you usually go to a magic show for a good time. He uses foul language all the time, which is okay for adults but mainly kids love magic and I don't think he thought about that. Anyways, if I was a layman and thought of Criss Angel I would have to say I would believe everything I see on his TV program. (Assuming I wasn't a skeptic of coarse.)

So to break it down
as a magician- Stage Performer/Actor
as a Layman- street performer/illusionist

 

[TheAlchemistM]

Angel is great for the demographic he targets: the viewer at home. His show, his performances... it all looks very well after making it through editing.

I think that he made up his mind a long time ago about how he wants to perform his illusions and he's doing exactly that. It's also obvious from his lack of concern at the outcry and bare hatred towards him by some magicians that he doesn't care about being anything other than what he is: a stage magician who plays the role of a street magician.

He makes his money and he entertains teenagers. He never intended his illusions to be appreciated by more devout practitioners of the art.

I can't stand him. "What you see is what you get."

 

[Aviva]

"What you see is what you get."

"Criss always says "What you see is what you get" which actually means that everything you see on TV is exactly what it looks like in real life, which is not the case. But if you break it down literally, Criss suddenly is the most honest guy in the world. We get to see those illusions on TV, and that's all we will ever get, unless we would get paid someday."
-Mark Hilkemeijer

 

[TheAlchemistM]

HAHA! Nice.

 

[Slicke]

"Criss always says "What you see is what you get" which actually means that everything you see on TV is exactly what it looks like in real life, which is not the case. But if you break it down literally, Criss suddenly is the most honest guy in the world. We get to see those illusions on TV, and that's all we will ever get, unless we would get paid someday."
-Mark Hilkemeijer

Yeah , it hard to believe his "street illusions" after so many cuts for changing angles.

 

[cedwards90]

Well Criss Angel is the only magician to have his own successful TV series, he did what he had to do to make that happen. David Blaine tried it using simple street magic, didnt work.

 

[JetEyeNight]

Chris Angel is not a joke. I absolutly hate him for the bogus things he does, but to be quite honest....if the illusion is real for the spectator, then that is what the performer is going for. In that aspect he may or may not be a great performer. I don't know honestly if video edits have anything to do with Chris's talent (or spectator reactions, as most people think other people are being fillmed for reaction and others for the actual trick). I would like to hear what some of the T11 artists think of Chris.

In my opinion he is neither manipulator or magician. I heard his Las Vegas show was terrible. I'll leave it at that.

That's the thing!! There are NO real spectators on his show. They are ALL stooges. I've said it before I'll say it again. His show should be called Crossed Angels: Camera Tricks. CAMERA TRICKS!! CAMERA TRICKS!!

What you see is NOT what you get. Continuous shot cams are not continuous shots. People that he states he's never met before are indeed paid stooges. Fake reactions. Actors galore.

He's always saying "Fair?? Fair?" NO it's not fair Chris, it's BULLSH|T! Since season 1 he's been using camera tricks/stooges/camera editing. I used to be in awe of him before I saw him for what he really is..... An actor, not a magician. It's a scripted/edited with special effects TV show just like any sitcom, scifi tv show.