David Blaine - Never Ceases to Amaze

[Motorboat Cruiser]

Does anyone remember Doug Henning, the sort of flower-child magician who always smiled? He was such an opposite of David Blaine and, IMO, far more talented. He always stressed that what he performed were simply illusions, not "tricks" and I liked the honesty. He was an incredible sleight of hand magician and was a master of "close-up" magic. Best of all, he didn't have the attitude of Blaine that I find very annoying. Blaine's not a bad magician but he is pretty full of himself.

I always loved magic and wanted to be a magician after watching Henning but my stubby monkey hands never had the dexterity that was required. ::sigh::

And as far as I'm concerned, the best magician out there is a guy named Ricky Jay. Simply baffling. If you ever get a chance to see him, do it. His shows always sell out almost immediately but he is wonderful.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Anyone see the David Blaine South Park? Basically, he started a cult based on his ability to "levitate". I was only marginally aware of him at that point, enough to know that I didn't really like him. Since then, I've for some reason seen him more, and now I totally get that episode. I mean, it's a bit of an exageration, but somehow I get the feeling he really would be happy to get a cult of people who really believe he can levitate.

No, he's not a bad magician at all, but he's not the greatest of all time, which is what he seems to think. Nor does he actually perform paranormal acts, which is what he seems to want people to think.

[flippyshark]

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

No, he's not a bad magician at all, but he's not the greatest of all time, which is what he seems to think. Nor does he actually perform paranormal acts, which is what he seems to want people to think.

On this one, I'm not so sure. I think he's playing the real/unreal line pretty cagily, just to keep people wondering, but I think he avoids making outright claims of any real powers. He even sells "how to" videos at ellusionist.com. (And he obviously knows that this same site sells instructions on how to do the levitations he does when seen live. Anyone can do them. Well, I can do them badly.)

Loudmouthed fraudbuster Penn Jillette has no problems with David Blaine. On his radio show (Radio Penn) he devoted an entire episode to Blaine, and that didn't even come up. So I take that to mean Blaine hasn't overtly pretended any higher powers and is not really seeking a cult. Penn would have been all over that. (Penn has nothing but harsh things to say about Kreskin, who does the same kinds of mentalist tricks, but most certainly wants you to believe.)

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by flippyshark

On this one, I'm not so sure. I think he's playing the real/unreal line pretty cagily, just to keep people wondering, but I think he avoids making outright claims of any real powers. He even sells "how to" videos at ellusionist.com. (And he obviously knows that this same site sells instructions on how to do the levitations he does when seen live. Anyone can do them. Well, I can do them badly.)

Loudmouthed fraudbuster Penn Jillette has no problems with David Blaine. On his radio show (Radio Penn) he devoted an entire episode to Blaine, and that didn't even come up. So I take that to mean Blaine hasn't overtly pretended any higher powers and is not really seeking a cult. Penn would have been all over that. (Penn has nothing but harsh things to say about Kreskin, who does the same kinds of mentalist tricks, but most certainly wants you to believe.)

Ever watch the special that they show all the time? He does the levitation thing, and then he acts like the effort drains him...lying on the ground, acting hurt, and telling people to call for help. Feh.

[Moonliner]

Wow! This guy is a certified genius, I mean really just the other day I was thinking to myself "Man, what will this guy do for an encore?" After the excitement of watching a grown man float in water for days, followed by the action packed finale of a grown man holding his breath... What could he do to top THAT? Now we know. He's going to the zoo.

[xharryb]

I can't stand this idiot, but that's mostly just that I don't find him at all entertaining but do find him completely overhyped. That being said, a discussion about him invariably arose on another board after his latest brilliant idea failed. If you believe what several posters in that discussion said he isn't well respected in the magic community as most of his "magic" happens in post-production. They could just be jealous of the attention he recieves, but since I don't care for him anyway, I'll allow those folks to give me one more reason not to care about him.

[Freaky Tiki]

Originally Posted by Moonliner

He's going to the zoo.

He's chaperoning a elementary school field trip.

[alphabassettgrrl]

Originally Posted by Motorboat Cruiser

Does anyone remember Doug Henning, the sort of flower-child magician who always smiled? He was such an opposite of David Blaine and, IMO, far more talented. He always stressed that what he performed were simply illusions, not "tricks" and I liked the honesty. He was an incredible sleight of hand magician and was a master of "close-up" magic.

I do remember the name, Doug Henning, though I never saw anything he did. I'm with you, I like honesty, that it's illusions. It is, it's slight-of-hand. Tricking the eye and getting you to look where he wants you to look. I know what it is and it's fun.

I haven't been impressed with David Blaine at all. Boring.