Criss Angel Mindfreak-The Complete Season Two (2005)

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General		Extras
Category	TV Series	Audio Commentary-Criss Angel on two episodes Featurette-Teach a Trick Interviews-Cast-Penn & Teller, Jeff McBride and Todd Robbins Unseen Footage-Practical Jokes Unseen Footage-Criss Angel Special Gifts Unseen Footage-Criss Angel "Uncensored"
Rating
Year Of Production	2005
Running Time	462:00
RSDL / Flipper	Dual Layered Multi Disc Set (3)	Cast & Crew
Start Up	Menu
Region Coding	4	Directed By	Criss Angel Michael Yanovich
Studio Distributor	Umbrella Entertainment	Starring	Criss Angel Vince Neil The Amazing Jonathan Ice Cube Robin Leach Penn & Teller Lance Burton Deborah Gibson Mark McGrath Carrot Top Three 6 Mafia
Case	Amaray-Transparent-Dual
RPI	$39.95	Music	Criss Angel Micky James

Master illusionist, Criss Angel is back with the second season of the popular, Criss Angel: Mindfreak. If you're unfamiliar with the program, click here to read my review of the first season.

The second season literally picks up where the first left off. In each episode Criss performs one main act or demonstration, as he calls them. These occur in or around The Aladdin Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas and are usually performed in front on a large, enthusiastic audience.

As with the first season, each episode is integrated with brief interviews with Criss and various members of his entourage. It's obvious that these are contrived pieces to help build the tension and highlight the seemingly dangerous aspect of each illusion. We also get to see selected behind-the-scenes footage of the Criss Angel enterprise.

For me though, the highlight of each episode isn't necessarily the main demonstrations, but the street magic that Criss performs in the streets, parks and buildings of Las Vegas. These illusions are performed in front of gathered crowds (although some of the participants are obviously planted) and adds significantly to the overall entertainment value of the program.

Like the first season, each episode has a running time of approximately twenty-one minutes, which fits nicely into a thirty minute timeslot for commercial television. The twenty-one episodes that make up the second season of Criss Angel: Mindfreak are well presented in this three-disc set.

Disc One:

Episode One - Building Float

With a large crowd gathered below, Criss attempts to levitate and float between two buildings. Street magic in this episode includes Light Bulb Float and a couple of levitation acts.

Episode Two - Vanish

In front of a big crowd, Criss performs on busy Fremont St in Las Vegas. This time he makes a woman simply vanish from behind a screen. Street magic includes Disappearing Girl, Rolled up Manhole, Cat in a Box, Vanishing Motorcycle.

Episode Three - In Two

A small group have assembled backstage at the Aladdin to witness Criss get sawn in two. But this time, there are no boxes or screens to hide anything. Street magic includes Balanced on a Fence, Bite the Button, Rejoin the Dollar and Pull Apart Woman.

Episode Four - Walk On Water

With people swimming in the massive pool at The Aladdin, Criss walks on the water from one side to the other. Street magic includes Vanish on the Table, Vanish under the Blanket, Magic Mirror and Kiss the Mannequin.

Episode Five - Animal Magic

In homage to Siegfried and Roy, Criss will make an Asian Elephant vanish in front of a crowd of on-lookers. Street magic includes Bugs, Spider in the Cap and Doves from Nowhere.

Episode Six - Easy Rider

The Amazing Jonathan drops by to witness Criss escape from a locked coffin a split second before a speeding car hits and destroys it. Street magic includes Catch a Card, Card on the Pool Table and Card in The Mouth.

Episode Seven - Party

This episode doesn't have a key demonstration. It features Criss performing to club and bar patrons. Magic here includes, Don't Smoke, Moving Chips, Phone in the Beer Bottle, Champagne for Everyone, Dancing Napkins and A Helping Hand.

Disc Two:

Episode Eight - 100 Foot Motorcycle Jump Vanish

Renowned stunt rider, Trigger Gumm helps Criss prepare to perform a 100 foot motorcycle jump - with a twist. Street magic includes Reading Ice Cube's Mind, Bottle through the Table and Butterfly Tattoo.

Episode Nine - Chad's Story

Chad Juros is an aspiring magician. He has also battled cancer for most of his life. After hearing his story, Criss decides to bring Chad to Las Vegas, where he will coach him to perform on stage in front of a large theatre audience. Street magic includes Orange, lemon, egg and a bird, Ring inside the Egg, The Great Crate Escape.

Episode Ten - Celebrity Minds

Criss performs some mind reading demonstrations with a few celebrities including Vince Neil, Ice Cube and Robin Leach. He also tries out his powers of hypnosis on an unsuspecting public.

Episode Eleven - Metamorphosis

Criss performs his trademark illusion of metamorphosis in front of a huge crowd in Fremont St, Las Vegas. Street magic includes Pick a Girl, Real-Life Art and Paper in the Glass.

Episode Twelve - Back To School

Criss goes back to visit his old high school in New York. He finds four average students and helps train their minds to enable them to pick up a car. Street magic includes Life as Art, Yearbook Face, Vanishing Bike and Mindread the Word.

Episode Thirteen - Sucker

This episode is dedicated to exposing the scams, which have fleeced many people of their money over the years. Criss demonstrates how these acts are done including Pickpockets, The 3 Shell Game, Physic Healing and The Balls & Cups. To finish the episode, Criss will pass his body through the armour plate of an armoured van.

Episode Fourteen - Prophecy

In front of a large crowd, Criss attempts to predict the outcome of a short-track speedway race. Other magic includes Mindreading with Mark McGrath , Pick a Card, Panties Colour and Phone Number.

Disc Three:

Episode Fifteen - Motorcycle Roulette

With a celebrity standing behind one of three paper frames, Criss will guess which frame he isn't standing behind. He then rides his motorcycle at top speed through one of the frames, hopefully avoiding the celebrity. Other magic includes Stick Figure, Riding Blind and Vanishing Motorcycle.

Episode Sixteen - Military Salute

In a tribute to the US military, Criss visits Vandenberg Air Base and makes a Hummer appear from nowhere. Other magic includes Shoot the Card, Polaroid Premonition, Guess the Card and Girl in a Bag.

Episode Seventeen - Straightjacket Keelhaul

Criss attempts to escape from a straightjacket while being towed behind a boat. Other magic includes Vanishing Feet, Soft Spot, Believe and Two of Diamonds.

Episode Eighteen - Shark Cage Escape

Criss must escape from a locked shark cage, while manacled underwater. Other magic includes Under the Sheet, Linked Rings and Burn the Bill.

Episode Nineteen - Magician Of The Year

In honor of winning the 2005 Magician Of The Year Award, Criss attempts a major act of mentalism with the Henderson family. Other magic includes Voice from the Grave, Pick a Winner and Cap in the Bottle.

Episode Twenty - My Sweet Cabaret

While under the supervision of medical staff, Criss stops his pulse in five different parts of his body. This episode also includes bloopers and the street magic, Unripped Newspaper, Rejoin the Cotton and Cards in the Balloon.

Episode Twenty-One - Celebrity Séance

Criss has assembled a small group of minor celebrities at the "haunted" Amargosa Hotel. They all take part in activities to communicate with a young girl from the other side.

Video

If you own the previous season of Criss Angel: Mindfreak, you can expect much of the same in the way of transfers.

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

As with the first season, the degree of sharpness is quite respectable, which is consistent with most recently produced television productions. 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 were well controlled and film artefacts were non-existent.

There are no subtitles available on any of the discs.

All three DVD's are DVD9, dual layer discs. The layer change on the first disc occurs at 12:37 during the Walk On Water episode. The layer change on the second disc occurs at 12:24 during the Metamorphosis episode. The layer change on the third disc occurs at 21:03 during the Shark Cage Escape episode.

Video Ratings Summary

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

Audio

There is two audio tracks available on this set, English Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo (192Kb/s) and English Audio Commentary Dolby Digital 2.0 (192Kb/s).

Dialogue quality was outstanding throughout and audio sync appeared accurate.

The original music for the second season is credited to Criss Angel, Micky James, Klayton, Sully Erna and Nuno Bettencourt. Again, 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

Menu

The main menu is similar to the design and structure of the first season DVD. It is suitably animated and features a sample of the Mindfreak theme music.

Disc One Extras:

Audio Commentary - Criss Angel on episodes Building Float and In Two.

While he doesn't give away any secrets, this is an interesting commentary on both episodes. Criss gives more insight into the preparations for each of the illusions and demonstrations.

Disc Three Extras:

Teach A Trick (5:34)

During three episodes of season two, Criss teaches the viewer how to perform three tricks. This extra is simply those three tricks combined in one piece.

Interviews (6:31)

Criss has a brief and informal chat with magicians, Penn & Teller, Jeff McBride and Todd Robbins.

Practical Jokes (4:32)

Three behind-the-scenes practical jokes from the series, which are quite funny.

Criss Angel Special Gifts (3:25)

During this season of Mindfreak, Criss was presented with many gifts from various people. This extra highlights two of those gifts, a motorcycle and a casino chip set.

Criss Uncensored (1:02)

I'm not sure why this is called "uncensored" because there is really nothing here to censor. This is simply some behind-the-scenes footage of Criss with fellow magician, Lance Burton.

Apart from the NTSC transfer, the R1 edition of Criss Angel: Mindfreak, Season Two appears to be completely identical to this R4 edition. This even includes the same cover art, although the actual packaging appears slightly different between the two.

There seems no logical reason to have to track down the imported edition.

Sure, the contrived rhetoric can become just a little monotonous. But when you look past all of that, Criss Angel: Mindfreak is great entertainment and this second season is another treat.

The video and audio transfers are both fine.

The selection of extras provides some interest.

Video
Audio
Extras
Plot
Overall