David Blaine: What's the story on him?

OK, so they aired his "Street Magic" show again this weekend and it still amazes me (as well it should!). I know he's eccentric and all, but does anyone know much about his tricks, or what's going on with it all? Looks supernatural to me, and I mean the bad kind.

Best!
Wes

 

Care to elaborate? I can't figure it out from just the show.
I understand that trick can be bought from a (his?) web site.

Of course it's not just that trick. How about guessing a card people just think of? Or flinging a deck of cards and the one they chose sticks to a glass window, from the inside! There's something very scary happening there, and the reaction of the people confirms it.

Wes

 

Thanks for the link.
Although he does it well, I'm surprised he'd stoop to doing that one.
That was done years ago by cheap eastern mystics trying to impress western audiences about their religion. I saw a video in Sunday School exposing it.
He has such better tricks why bother with that one?

Still, I can't explain the other ones.....naturally.

Wes

 

Thanks Wayne, interesting links! They explain how the ones were done on the TV show, there was someone on the inside of the glass when he sprayed the cards (it was a restaurant) and the levitation they did show was "re-enacted" so I think you're description was correct. Of course there's still so many others, but check out this story about when he went to go get the deal to do the show:

The president gathered other execs in his main office and the show began. Harbert proceeded to select a card and tear a corner from it as proof that there could be no duplicate. He then shuffled the card into the deck. David took the cards, looked, and suddenly tossed them into the air, scattering them all over the private office. When the cards settled, Blaine casually looked over at the window in the office. Although the office was several stories up and the window unopenable – frozen for many years – there, stuck to the other side of the double paned glass, was Harbert’s seven of diamonds with the missing corner he now held in his hand.

And so on.....

Wes

 

A good question, thanks.

I would first say that I believe there are people in the world with special magical powers.
I would next say it is possible he is one of them.
It is also true that some of his tricks are easy to explain, so when he bothers with them it is inconsistent with someone having special powers. So I agree and have said as much.
Yet the problem is when you see a show, and judge only based on that information and "camera angle" you conclude some pretty radical things. For example, had they shown the levitation as he actually did it one could probably have figured it out, but as I said, they re-enacted it and embelished it. But guessing a card people merely think of is pretty spooky. Yet perhaps it's also explained by purchasing the trick for a mere $20.

I mean did you see the trick where he bends a card, places it in the middle of the deck, then in plain view, someone snaps their finger and it's now on the top? That's pretty scary. Hence people always run away from him.

Just wondering if anyone else know more about him.

Thanks again for all the links!

Wes

 

Easy to say, but think of the logistics!
The trick is easier to solve than THAT problem!
Unless of course you're spiderman....

Wes

 

Good post Robin, I appreciate the insight.

One must take issue with the producers of the show then. To re-enact things as they did NOT happen is rediculous. To leave failed tricks on the cutting room floor is a bit more expected. Still, there's a lot there I still don't understand and hasn't been explained away yet, but I guess I'll leave it at that. Obviously several tricks have pretty benign explanations, so perhaps the others would follow.

On a side note, I too had seen that episode where the magician exposed numerous tricks and did you see the "disappearing airplane" one? Disgusting! They have an outdoor studio audience "in on it" and put the camera on a cart on tracks, video the airplane on the tarmack, cover it(the camera) up and roll it over and point the camera somewhere else and "Violia! No airplane!!!" That someone would stoop that low is no different than hiring actors to act as strangers. Sick!

Judging by David Blaine's latest "tricks" he doesn't seem to be hitting new highs, that's for sure.

Best!
Wes