Criss Angel – Mindfreak
– The Complete Season One (Stunts)
Picture: C+
Sound: C+ Extras: C+ Episodes: B
Just when you think magic is dead, when you think all the
crazy stunts someone could do has been done and that there was even a show that
ruined all these tricks, someone comes along and reinvigorates the entire
field. The performer Criss Angel is
that man, with his Rock aesthetic and big KISS-like or Prince-like hair, he is
the star of Mindfreak. This
would be classified today as reality TV, but far before the dreaded genre
surfaced, there were specials and variety show appearances celebrating and
showing magic and stunts involved with them.
Going back to the days of Houdini, Orson Welles, Sir
Arthur Conan Doyle and others at the turn of the previous centuries who made
all this so popular, fun and fascinating set in motion a form of underrated
entertainment still written off as gimmick entertainment too often. Mindfreak – The Complete Season One
offers 15 shows that show you all kinds of approaches (without revealing the
“how” of course) to various illusions and pulling off what seems
impossible. The shows in this double
DVD set are:
1) Burned
Alive
2) Levitation
3) Wine
Barrel Escape
4) SUV Nail
Bed
5) Body
Suspension
6) Buried
Alive
7) Hellstromism
8) Super Human
9) Building
Walk
10) Blind
11) Oasis
12) C4
13) Prediction
14) Chicken
15) Tesla Strike
This is not Jackass, though I could see a spoof
coming from that camp, but is instead an amazing show that goes the extras
distance. Before each main magic stunt,
there are plenty of terrific regular scale ones that are impressive enough to
make for entire shows in compilation, but Criss Angel makes them the warm up to
the big one! This is great
entertainment TV that is in the tradition of past such shows, yet is as timely
as ever. Yes, he may even become the
most important magician/stuntman of the early 21st Century. You just have to see it to believe it and
not let your initial skepticism that this would be just another cookie cutter
show. You will not be disappointed.
The 1.33 X 1 image was shot on professional NTSC videotape
and looks good for a brand new taping.
The Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo has no major surrounds, but sounds
good. Extras include commentary on two
shows, stills, text biography, 3 tricks you can do yourself with him through
the set (!), interview (12:13) with the star and interactive illusions through
your television screen. This is a fun
show and nice set. If you must get
magic and stunts on DVD, Criss Angel – Mindfreak – The Complete Season One
is your best bet to date.
- Nicholas Sheffo
