December 17, 2009
Criss Angel - Mindfreak Collector's Edition
Howie Green READ TIME: 3 MIN.
Fans of TV's hottie magician Criss Angel can now have their favorite prestidigitator's complete TV series in one box set with the Criss Angel Mindfreak Collector's Edition. The new box set features all 4 seasons of his hit TV series, in addition to last season's The 5 Lives of Criss Angel and the Halloween special.
Also included in this overstuffed package are 6 never-released episodes, and the bonus features from all 4 seasons, all packed into a 15-DVD set (over 38 hours of viewing time), with clever packaging featuring a photo of Angel being sawed in half by a pop-up die-cut circular saw blade.
If you already have the individual season DVDs in your collection, you might want to consider this set for the never-released episodes which are well worth seeing. Angel has remade the image of magician and illusionist, and created a unique and appealing persona that is easy on the eyes and dazzling to watch. He has won numerous awards and gained a global following that has made him the favorite of the young and old, and continues to keep his Las Vegas shows sold out.
Whereas street magician David Blaine is kind of creepy and off-putting, Angel, despite is buff body and rock star good looks, is charming, down-to-earth, and as likable a guy as the world of magic has ever produced. His warmth and personality allow him to get up close and personal and practically seduce his willing victims, as he does some baffling bit of illusion that confounds his prey in every episode.
Even if you know how the illusions are created, watching Angel go through the set-up and execution is fun to see. What makes Angel interesting to watch is how he has removed all the corny and goofy affectations we all expect from magicians. He has no cape or top hat or any of the trappings that we are used to seeing magicians use; with his often overly-stylized hair and outfits, he usually looks like he just walked off the stage of a heavy metal rock concert and decided to do a few tricks for the folks backstage. In an entertainment genre where presentation is everything, Angel is in a field by himself, and he makes every other magician look silly by comparison
Angel is willing to occasionally let down the magic wall, and in several episodes and bonus features he explains how his illusions are created so that you can use his tricks on your friends. The bonus features on these discs are almost more fun to watch than the shows because you get to see Angel in a more casual setting with his guard down--or is it? Just when you think he is letting you see something secret and hidden, he pulls off another trick that makes you rethink everything you just watched. Damn him!
Angel's whole family is involved in his successful career, with his brother and mother making regular appearances, bolstering him with their support and enthusiasm. But don't let any of their awe-shucks casual attitudes fool you, because they are in on the tricks and are also part of the illusions.
All in all, this is a very entertaining and fun box set, and a must-see for any fan of magic or illusions.
Howie Green is a Boston-based artist and painter whose portrait of rapper Biggie Smalls appears on the album "Incredible". He is winner of Absolut Vodka's 25th Anniversary art competition and he painted 3 of the cows in the Boston Cow Parade. He recently painted a series of Pop Art Murals at the Dimock Center in Boston, MA and completed large art and mural installations in Delray Beach and Jacksonville, FL. He also recently painted the front entrance to Boston City Hall. His a multi-media designer and author of several books including "Jazz Fish Zen: Adventures in Mamboland" - and he once sang back-up for the opening act at a Shaun Cassidy concert in Madison Square Garden.
