http://youtube.com/watch?v=pE45QHIUfiM

Wow.. and that is on live national tv.

Do you think Criss is doing the right thing here? Would Harry Houdini do the same thing?

I believe that a magician who claims that he has 'real' paranormal powers is essentially cheating.

Not that he is using his supposed 'powers' to cheat people, but rather that claiming to be the real thing automatically brings audience involvement to a whole new level that the performer does not deserve otherwise.

Kinda hard to put into words, but it's just like toilet humor to get a cheap laugh in stand up comedy - they may laugh, but not because the joke is good.

Here, the audience reacts, but not because the magic is good.

I'm entertained. Although both parties are obviously fake, still Criss Angel shouldn't do that. Instead of judging the performance, he challenged him. Shouldn't magician appreciate each other acts? Its magician beating down a magician.

I'll give Criss Angel a million in quantity of something else if he can tell me which finger I'm pointing now. :lol: :lol:

I support Criss all the way for his act here.

- harapan. magic!

hey.

Cool. I think that video was incredibly out of context. Perhaps the wiki entry will help.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phenomenon_%28TV_series%29

I am assuming you read the article. If you notice the thing, Jim is the only person in the entire competition who claims to be paranormal. I think when the judges were expecting a magic trick and when this guy comes up and gives an explicitly "i channel spirits" thing. As a magician, I think it would be dishonest of jim. Or perhaps maybe he is truly deluded.

When I see Criss Angel's show as a whole, it is kind of obvious that he is performing magic tricks. The believers may believe but overall, I think he is explicit about his performance.

When comparing to Jim, all of his performances are supernaturally themed and he always insists its real (how ever much he insists he's a skeptic)

CSJ

Hmm, I like to correct csjoshi that he might not know that he is wrong, or not in the right track. Some people can be too obessed with the thought and skill that they thought that they are in it. Hmm..

But to each of its own, I don't believe in him anyway, there is so many way to predict the pick of the woman, but if he choose this way to present it. Thats fine to anyone. Anyone that choose to believe him is their own will, no one can force them to believe him.

Though I feel Criss Angel is too much in the show, and he did display some form of idea that he is doing acts based on spiritual, but he also address that its all illusion. But I still think he is still not the best person to potray that. I think that in terms of mentalism acts, Derren brown is still the best to justify this kind of illusion, not because I admire him, but he always declare his stand of illusion act before any act that he did.

But end to end, I still feel its up to individual to believe or dun believe. Look at his other acts, he got a prediction that he took 4 days ago and he show in a video form. I will say he is good, but good in the wrong way. :)

The first thing which caught my attention a few seconds through the video was.. Uri Geller <_<
Well, I didn't know it was his show so that surprised me to see Criss and Uri together, I mean.. nevermind.
What Criss did was wrong, he could have just asked Jim to prove himself (for having the powers he claimed to have) off air, by asking him to maybe participate in James Randi's Million Dollar Challenge!
There's a right place and time for everything, buddy.
I never liked Criss anyway, he's always so 'over'. :mellow:
To be fair, Jim was wrong for claiming to be 'the real thing' but Criss was wrong for challenging him.

I don't think Chris was wrong to challenge him to predict whats in the envelope.

I do feel he made a very fundamental error as a magician, especially as a mentalist - an illogical display of ability. The audience isn't stupid, they know if you can read minds and/or predict the future you'd be earning billions in the stock market. Since this fellow sells himself as the real thing, there should be no reason why he cannot predict whats in the envelope.

That aside, the guy's act was quite a piece of sh*t. "Channel" a dead spirit to find a little yellow toy car. Err... Umm... :blink:

I guess that's what I REALLY want to do instead of ripping visa numbers from people's minds or predicting 4D numbers right?

Well, I personally thinks that there is NO such thing of 'real' paranormal powers. Although Jim used this in the magic competition, it is a free choice that audience choose not to believe it. If he claims to be so called real powers and I am the judge, I will definitely eliminate him and give him low points based on the judgement. It is the presentation that makes magic believable not through so called "real powers".

As for Criss, I find that he should not challenge him for the million dollar thing. Even though Criss doesn't believe him about his act, he should not use this as a form of challenge in front of live audience to so called "disgrace" him.

Moreover, when comes to the presentation of Jim, I thinks that his act s**ks big time and looks very FAKE. These are just my opinions after seeing the act. :)

This is what I call "A pot calling a kettle black".

Point 1.

Criss Angel stepped over the line of good behavior. Challenging Jim and Uri was bad taste. If he don't like Uri, he shouldn't even be on that show. Either that or Uri shouldn't be on that show.


Point 2.

Jim wasn't doing a "gimme $10,000 and I'll contact your dead grandmother" act.
It was for entertainment. Why the need to bust him? While I do not agree with Jim's claim, i felt it was all in the line of entertainment.

Does Criss Angel use a disclaimer " Criss Angel uses Camera Tricks and Studio editing and paid actors to do these illusions and not entirely sleight of hand and cannot be performed in a real world condition BUT ONLY ON TV"?

No because its for entertainment.

That means, Criss Angel is even not purely a magician, needing to depend on his use for camera tricks and armies of stooges to make him look good , so do we go bust him every chance we get?

Maybe I should.

Jim all the way. And I thought it was a great act.

I thought the bit about the writing needs to be read from a mirror is a very clever touch. Very good presentational idea.

I am personally not a fan for those overly supernatural or seance themed acts at all, because of personal convictions.
But i think it rather ironic for Criss to be debunking him, in public no less. He has resorted to some pretty sneaky and controversial methods, and he has claimed quite a few "ghosts" and "energy" himself.
How would it be if someone ask him on public TV:
"I will give you my sister and 100 billion dollars of my own money if you will just levitate right now, just 20 cm off the ground. And please don't go stand near the chair, cos we all know what that's about. Or if you could just step on this basin of water."
The behaviour is, simply put, unbecoming. And worse, he obviously planned it cos he prepared the envelope.

If his concern was that people are going to think this guy is the real thing, he could have used his comments part to emphasis that it's all only for entertainment, about as real as he can walk on water.
He could have easily cleared any doubts that it's really all just entertainment without resorting to that.
As Jeff said, this is a reality TV contest for magicians/mentalists, not exactly Maggie & Me kind of "you call me, i call your grandma" stuff.

I'm no fan of Uri either, especially with the "finding oil fields" stint he did back in the 80s. But a little respect for a fellow judge? Basic magician's code yah?

Nice discussion topic thou. B)

Its a LIVE show isn't it? Maybe its just for the publicity of the show? Criss Angel kept his cool but Jim spoiled his own image.

Jim's performance is nice and got the audience on his side. All those powers that he claimed that he has is essential for his act.

Criss is good in his shows too. Did you notice the envelope that Criss took out? It might be a clue that he has already prepared it before the show to challenge Jim.

But overall, both are in the entertainment line. Why would they want to break each other's rice bowl?

So I think it's just for the publicity of the show. I believe if its a real challenge, both parties would definitely take it one step further.

I do support Criss but from my point of view, it's just purely for entertainment purpose.

If you view what Jim has posted here, he makes me feels that he is just an idiot who wants people to challenge him. He said: "magicians like to copy or fake the performances of psychics as a way of proving the validity of their own ability. Kind of like a child begging for attention.".

What do you think?

Woah, amazing video.

Honestly I seriously do respect Criss for doing what he did and I might do the same thing he did if i had the chance.

But that was seriously bad behaviour on his part.

Claiming your connected to ghosts and stuffs? Theres retribution, I wonder how many sleepless nights hes going to have in the future. (Hes a really bad actor also)

Yes Magicdow, I totally agree "pot calling the kettle black".

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Z9QV-XdcaxI&watch_response


Hear their responses, I really felt what Criss made sense, a lot of sense.
The other guy was just crapping. And yes, Jim is a Con man, hes cheating peoples money as hes not giving people the real thing.


Notice all the comments by Jim were persornal attacks on Criss.

I think Criss Angel can have other better ways to handle the situation.

Like what Aloy suggested, he could have just tell the audience that it was just for entertainment.

Maybe Criss himself was offended by Jim's comment on magicians.

Rage can easily consume someone and will often result in highly confrontational behavior.

Or maybe the whole fight between Criss and Jim is just for entertainment too? Reminds me of those WWE shows.

Jim can only challenge people to do this and that. Who knows whether he really is a psychic? Even if he is, he should just keep his cool and prove it. Why kick up so big fuss and talk bad about Criss Angel everywhere? If not, just wait for the scientists to find out about psychics and such supernatural stuff. That will be way long.

I believe Jim is not a real psychic. He is just an entertainer that plays the role of a psychic. On his website you can book him for entertainment shows.

Anybody knows who is the sponsor of this show? who is behind the screen?
If yes, what are they best at? Hype? hmm... figure it out

Anyway, guess they are both ruining each other...gonna be a tight fight, whether is planned or not, it still worth watching,sometimes we do need dramas, to challenge the truth of magic instead of self claimed supernatural power and the moral behind it

I dont know the truth but if Jim claimed that he has the power in other sources such as the chatroom mentioned by Criss, he should be by any means exposed in public, so nobody falls for the fraud.

Criss, on the other hand, can just gently ask him , is this an illusion/trick, or you claim to have the 'real power'. If he insisted that he is able to contact the deceased, only then should he expose him

If anybody has watch the latest UK movie, MAGICIANS, they should get the moral of the story. Watch it, very educational.
It has a scene similiar to what Jim did, and the movie presented the moral of the story very well.

Yup! I really respect that guy in the movie, especially the way he ended his show.

Who knows, maybe Jim will have a similar "ending" to his show in the future? ;)

Maybe we are all superficial.

Maybe what Jim Callahan claims are just for the publicity for himself. Should I remind everyone that this is a "public voting" reality show? If he is doing what the rest of the participants are doing, where is his selling point? How can he get those votes?

I'm sure he has got all the attention he needs now. The second video is just publicity for the show. The producers are milking it. Give Jim a break. I applauded for his courage to come up with such an act. I wouldn't say the same for anybody else.


:off: I'm always amused when magicians points a finger at someone and say he is not the "REAL" thing.

What's the real thing? I've yet to see anything real.

If you can change a face of a card, would you have to cover with your hands? Why not just snap your fingers and let the Magic happens?

There is no magic on this planet, maybe there is on Pluto, but definitely not on Earth.

Well, thats because what we are doing is not real, isn't it? And magicians are suppose to admit that. But some people don't, and thats mostly bad.

Yes we are all superficial.

So i assume your saying you have true powers to change cards.

So bigbadwolf, your saying, if you enter a competition, immediately after your done with your act, you pull out a parang and start charging towards the judges like a mad dog brandishing it infront of them like a psyhopath and bellowing "let me win you bloody Bast*r*ds or ill thrust this through you throat" followed by very very wicked laughter. Then security comes and drags you away. That way, you dont even have to say "remember guys peoples choice, im bigbadwolf contestant number 44". Im sure your going to be remembered the most by every one, even the judges will take special notice of you.

Or it could be, Hi my name is bigbadwolf, im the disciple of satun, fear me!! I have the ability to change cards by snapping my wrists and cracking my neck. But then you just do an earnase colour change. I magically changed the card with the powers of the devil when i danced with him in the moonlight! I

Thats your selling point i suppose. You might even get famous overnight when your face hit the headlines on the papers tommorrow.

The real thing= snapping your fingers and the card changes.

The illusion= snapping your fingers as magical geusture after doing a funny move and the "magic" happens.

Im for Criss angels stand, i have a real big problem with people who go out there and claim to have supernatural abilities without trickary. Your using tricks which i have been doing since 14 years of age to pass it off as supernatual.

Dont lie, were magicians and we all know how magic is.
By using magic and passing it off as claiming your a person with supernatural powers, aint that a con man?

Firstly sheeke, read my post again. This time with both eyes open. Thanks.

Wrong assumption. When did I mentioned I could do real magic? I wrote "IF there is real magic, all I need will be snapping my fingers for it to change."

What I meant is, Jim Callahan could be using a different approach to portray his supernatural ability. (Note to sheeke, check out the word in bold before retorting). Instead of bending metals and doing Russian Roulette, he chose this approach. This different approach was meant to be presented through his routine, NOT being challenged by Criss Angel. I don't think Jim was expecting that challenge either.

Yes, I know you are an Angel groupie.

Again, Jim may claims the ridiculous. But I will give him the benefit of doubt that he may be doing all these to get the attention he needs for the competition. (not the senseless challenge and comments he is getting from Criss Angel and his groupies)

What did I lie about? Quote me please.

Chill. :unsure:

:)

Face it. Jim is a jerk. Look at how he reacted to Criss' comments and challenge. Uri kept his cool (at least I didn't hear him say anything), but Jim, really lost his posture. Even if he was real, his reaction sure gave him away.

You bigbadwolf better wash your eyes with dettol and knock your brain before reading my post.


Yes its definately a different approach, DEFINATELY im sure even a blind old man can see that. So in that case, Bigbadwolf when you commit a murder and get charged you argue. I stabbed that guy deep into his neck with a fork. I didden use a parang to stab him. Yes he died, but i used a fork not a parang. And you get charged for life in jail. You plead for leniency because you read in the papers before, another guy who used a parang to hack a man to death get 40 years in jail. Please judge, i used a fork (different approach) not a parang, please give me 10 years lesser. And he didden expect that the judge not only said that he was not repentant but also asking for more trouble.


Yup, Mr fan of Jim. I know you dearly want to hear his ridiculous blabbering as much as he wants to hear yours.


He claims the ridiculous cant you tell? If he could really communicate with raymond, and for doing that gets a million dollars, who in the right mind woulden do it. What more prove to the world that hes powers are true. He must be nuts not to accept the challenge if he really had such powers. I guess your mind is almost similar to his.

Lie, did i say that you lied? That statment was general. If you want to take it personal im fine.

So your saying if your paying for a 50 dollars cheese cake, and they give you a coating of cheese on the cake but inside they dont put the orginal thick filling, instead they stuff a thick flour and lots of colouring and atrifical flavouring that tastes and look like cheese. Youll going to be happy if you found out.( Paying audience finding out that jim has no powers and everything is just acting) Anyway, even if such a thing happens to you i dont think you will be able to taste the difference.

woah. aggression.

sheeke: check your PM

Yea, right.. Ill reply once i get back from uni today.
For now, reflect how you showed aggression.

I hope we can discuss this topic in a civil manner. We don't want this topic to get locked.

Hmmm. Seriously, I can't believe a lame show that shouldn't exist in the first place gets so heated discussion. It must be TV...

I suppose Jim should know that such challenges come when one decides to take that presentational stand.

You claim it real, you'll be asked to prove it. This is what Jim got, he sure deserved it.

Maybe he could ask Criss to put that envelope into the "box sealed with salt" (whatever. lol.) and he perform the same possession again to write out the contents which in turn can only be read by placing it near a mirror.

Jim could have reacted better. Geez.

And to the rest of you. ITS A TV SHOW!!! I can't believe you guys can get to a point of alleged display of aggression.

Please, put a stop to it. Ugliness of humankind displayed over a TV show through a forum topic.

PLEASE!!

Did anyone catch the finale?

Is CA gonna live up to his promise and pay Uri the 1 million since Uri got what's written in the envelope right (in a not so direct way).

Or was that staged to make Uri look good?

i personally feel angel should not talk so much=)we are all magician we should be work together happily,of cause angel know what jim is doing so why must he say those thing haha=)once again that is how i personally feel