Criss Angel Mindfreak-The Complete Season One (2005)

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General		Extras
Category	TV Series	Main Menu Audio & Animation Custom Play-Interactive Illusions Through Your TV Screen Interviews-Cast-Inside The Mind Of Criss Angel Gallery-Photo Biographies-Cast-Criss Angel DVD-ROM Extras-3 Mindfreaks
Rating
Year Of Production	2005
Running Time	330:00
RSDL / Flipper	Dual Layered Dual Disc Set	Cast & Crew
Start Up	Menu
Region Coding	4	Directed By	Criss Angel
Studio Distributor	Umbrella Entertainment	Starring	Criss Angel Lance Burton Rob Zombie Mandy Moore The Amazing Johnathan Various Others...
Case	Amaray-Transparent-Dual
RPI	$34.95	Music	Criss Angel Micky James

    "WARNING: The stunts and illusions performed on this program were designed and tested by Criss Angel, a highly-trained professional. These demonstrations are extremely dangerous and should not be attempted by anyone, anywhere, at any time". (The disclaimer that begins each episode).

    Probably like many people, I first encountered Criss Angel unintentionally on late night television. While surfing through channels, I stumbled across a program fronted by this "rock star" illusionist. He was performing to a mesmerised crowd on a city street and within a minute or so of my viewing, I was the same. I quickly flicked through the TV guide to find the name of the program - it was Criss Angel Mindfreak.

    Criss Angel (yes, it's a stage name) began his love of magic at the age of six and is now one of the world's most well known, awarded and respected illusionists. Criss has the appearance of a rock star (Paul Stanley from Kiss comes to mind) and together with his high level of fitness ensures that he looks at least ten years younger than his actual age of forty. His ability to interact well with any size audience is also a major asset and is no doubt a large part of his success as a performer.

    Criss Angel's career came to prominence when he performed World Of Illusion in 1998, which then led to a long running, off Broadway show aptly titled, Criss Angel Mindfreak. From there, it was only natural that Criss' amazing talents and his hypnotic persona would lead him to television. The first season of Criss Angel Mindfreak was filmed in and around The Aladdin Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas and premiered on US television in July 2005.

    The premise for the program is really quite simple. Each episode features a main attraction in the form of a big and dangerous stunt. We also get to see the build up and preparation for each event, which includes short interviews with Criss' family and various members of his support group. Smaller segments of Criss' brilliant street magic are incorporated around these major acts and this makes up the content of each program. Each episode has a running time of approximately twenty-one minutes, which fits nicely into a thirty-minute timeslot for commercial television.

Disc One:

Episode One - Burned Alive

    Criss' mum is turning 70, so to celebrate he decides to set himself on fire, becoming a human candle - with a twist finale. Street magic in this episode includes Vanishing From Under A Bin, The Korn Doll and Ring In The Ice Cube.

Episode Two - Levitation

    This episode is dedicated to the age-old act of so many magicians. Criss performs various levitation acts in bars, parks and even on a busy Las Vegas boulevard. Street magic in this episode includes Butterfly In The Napkin and The Queen Of Diamonds.

Episode Three - Wine Barrel Escape

    Fellow magician, Lance Burton is on hand to witness this one. In a homage to Harry Houdini, Criss Angel is suspended 80 feet above the ground, locked inside in a wine barrel full of water. He has just 2 minutes to unlock himself and escape, before he plummets to his death. Street magic in this episode includes Déjà vu, Water Into Beer and Card On The Windscreen.

Episode Four - SUV Nail Bed

    Lying on a bed of nails, Criss must also take one third of the weight of a Hummer 4WD. Street magic in this episode includes Pins & Cotton, Pen In The Glass and The Obedient Frisbee.

Episode Five - Body Suspension

    Criss has his back strategically pierced to facilitate his body being suspended above the Valley Of Fire by a helicopter. This episode is not for the squeamish. There is no street magic in this episode.

Episode Six - Buried Alive

    With special guest Rob Zombie witnessing proceedings, Criss is shackled and buried nine feet underground in a coffin. With six feet of dirt sitting on top of him, he must free himself and find a way to the surface. Street magic in this episode includes Jumping At Shadows and Face Your Phobia.

Episode Seven - Hellstromism

    Criss tests his ability to read peoples muscular movements (Hellstromism). To win himself a $100,000, 2005 Dodge Viper he must find the keys, which are planted somewhere within a six acre car yard. If he fails, he must pay out the same amount of money. Street magic in this episode includes Numbers In Hand and Stick Figure.

Episode Eight - Superhuman

    Can a man weighing 164 pounds lift a car? Criss Angel gives it a try. Street magic in this episode includes The Push Over, Bending Cutlery and Push the Palm.

Disc Two:

Episode Nine - Building Walk

    To the astonishment of bystanders on a busy Las Vegas strip, Criss Angel literally walks down the wall of The Aladdin Hotel. Street magic in this episode includes A Quarter In The Can, Chain Through The Neck and Walking Through A Window.

Episode Ten - Blind

    Criss is joined by special guest, Mandy Moore, who bravely lets Criss drive her new Mercedes blind-folded. Street magic in this episode includes Knife In The Card and Guessing Game With Mandy Moore.

Episode Eleven - Oasis

    This is one of Criss' bigger stunts. He is placed inside a small, sealed clear tube, which is locked from the outside. This tube is then lowered inside a larger clear tank, filled with water. Criss has very little room for movement and has a distorted view of the outside world. He has thirty-three hours to find a way to escape while in full view of hundreds of people in Bryant Park, New York. Street magic in this episode includes The Rope Test.

Episode Twelve - C-4 Crate

    Criss wants to experience the force of an explosion. What other way is there, but to be placed inside a small packing crate with a decent amount of explosives. Street magic in this episode includes Under The Skin, Eye Thread and Card In A Bottle.

Episode Thirteen - Radio Prediction

    This seems like a good way to promote the Mindfeak program; Criss goes on breakfast radio and makes a prediction. Street magic in this episode includes Card Reading, Page 145 and Supermarket Prediction.

Episode Fourteen - Chicken

    The friendly rivalry between Criss Angel and The Amazing Jonathan is highlighted with a game of chicken. Criss wants Jonathan to drive a car directly at him at high speed, while he stands in front of a brick wall - who will keep their nerve? Street magic in this episode includes Knife Test, Pickpocket and Follow The Coins.

Episode Fifteen - Tesla Strike

    Criss is keen to experience being struck by lightning. Wearing a special chain suit he takes on a Tesla Coil, which outputs an amazing three million volts of electricity. However, things don't quite go to plan. The only street magic in this episode is Ring Through Glass.

Video

    Criss Angel Mindfreak was shot on video and the transfer appears faithful to the source.

    The program is presented fullscreen in the correct aspect ratio of 1.33:1, which is not 16x9 enhanced.

    As you'd expect from a recent television production, the degree of sharpness and clarity is quite decent. Blacks were clean and shadow detail was generally excellent.

    There were no adverse issues with colour. They appeared natural and nicely balanced.

    There were no MPEG artefacts in the transfer. Film-to-video artefacts didn't present with anything of significance and film artefacts were non-existent.

    Unfortunately, there are no subtitles available on either disc.

    Both discs are DVD9, dual layer discs. The layer change on both discs occurs between episodes, so there is no disruption.

Video Ratings Summary

Sharpness
Shadow Detail
Colour
Grain/Pixelization
Film-To-Video Artefacts
Film Artefacts
Overall

Audio

    There is only one audio track available on this set. English Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo (192Kb/s).

    Dialogue quality was outstanding throughout and audio sync appeared accurate.

    Criss Angel is also a very keen musician. The original music for the series is credited to Criss and Micky James. Keeping with his persona, the theme music is a blast of heavy metal, which suits the mood and image of the show really well.

    Apart from the music on the main menu, the surrounds and subwoofer were not used.

Audio Ratings Summary

Dialogue
Audio Sync
Clicks/Pops/Dropouts
Surround Channel Use
Subwoofer
Overall

    The extras are all contained on disc two. Although not totally extensive, the selection of extras should please the fans.

Menu

    The main menu is nicely animated, is 16x9 enhanced and features a music sample from the program.

Interactive Illusions - Card Force (0:46), Mental Yarn (2:10) & Book Test (1:11)

     A collection of three interactive acts of magic (four actual tricks) that worked well on me. The first act is titled Card Force. Criss quickly fans through a deck of cards and asks us to select any card we see. He then attempts to quess which card was selected - this trick is done twice. Next is Mental Yarn. After selecting a number between one and ten, Criss has us associate a description to the chosen number and then an object to that description. He then attempts to guess the object that has been chosen. The last act is called Book Test. While quickly fanning through an English dictionary, Criss asks us to select any word that was seen during the fanning. He then attempts to name your chosen word.

    Naturally, these tricks will only work once and a second viewing will help reveal the method behind the act. But it is great to try these on other people and see their reaction.

Inside The Mind Of Criss Angel Interviews (11:45)

    This all too brief interview has Criss discussing his life, his motivations and his inspirations.

Photo Gallery

    A standard gallery of eighteen photos.

Biography

    Eight pages of text information on the career of Criss Angel.

3 Mindfreaks - DVD-ROM

    This PDF file contains instructions on three basic magic acts - they are, Ashes 2 Ashes, Toothpick Vanish and Aces Anytime. All three acts have been lifted from Criss Angel's 2005 book, 55 Mindfreaks.

    The R1 edition of Criss Angel Mindfreak: The Complete Season One appears to be almost identical to this R4 release. Both are two-disc presentations, with matching cover art. The only exception is the R1 edition has the addition of an audio commentary by Criss Angel on two episodes, Burned Alive and Body Suspension. Although this would be a welcome inclusion on the local version, it's not really worth the hassle of buying from overseas.

    What more can I say, Criss Angel Mindfreak: The Complete Season One is fantastic entertainment - enjoy.

    The video and audio transfers are very good.

    Although not totally extensive, the selection of extras should please the fans.

Video
Audio
Extras
Plot
Overall