Ever since I was a little kid, I've been fascinated with magic. Growing up, becoming a magician was right there on the list along with juggler, puppeteer, special effects artist, actor and stuntman. I learned a few magic tricks, worked puppets, juggled and performed in tons of plays, but never really got good enough to turn any of them into a career. The closest I came was working for several years as an effects artist for a local haunted attraction. Stuntman was completely out of the question because it turned out that I had a fear of just about everything from heights to speeding cars. So instead I write about them all. But getting back to magic, I used to buy every magic book I could find (this was way before the internet reared its ugly, yet helpful, head) and poured over them until I knew everything there was to know about Houdini and Blackstone (both Sr. and Jr.). I watched every special on magic that aired and as the years went by my interest moved on to the likes of David Copperfield, whom I still consider to be one of the greatest living illusionists (and one heck of a showman). After that it seemed like the world of Magic began to change.

About 5 or 6 years ago, however, magic went back into the streets when performers like David Blaine and Criss Angel made the scene. Each had their own particular style, Blaine coming across more like a quiet shaman, while Angel took on the looks and attitude of your average rock star. What they both had in common was that their close-up illusions were done mostly outdoors and offered up to large audiences through the 'magic' of television. It was up to the viewer to decide if what they saw was exactly what was seen by the performer's 'victims' or if there was a little camera trickery involved. I preferred to think these guys were just really that good.

They also stretched their own boundaries by attempting stunts that would normally not be possible by the average human. Blaine's were presented in a series of specials a few years ago, while Angel had the opportunity to create a 'reality' series for A&E. The first season of the series, "Mindfreak" was released on DVD last year, which gave me my first opportunity to see just what this guy had to offer.

My first impression of Angel was that (as I mentioned before) he looked more like a rock star than a magician. But while is image elevated him above that of most mortals, his laid back attitude and Jersey boy made him seem more like your average best buddy from high school. But you can still tell that there is something a little different about him. Something about the look in his eye… well that and the fact that he goes to great lengths to let you see what great shape he's in (you know the type… open shirts and the like).

It seems the reason he keeps himself in such great shape, aside from the fact that it helps attract the ladies, is that along with performing his illusions he also attempts dangerous stunts that push the limits of the human condition. As evident as this was in the first season, with the recent release of the second season Angel continues to push himself beyond the limits of what seems possible.

Each of these episodes shows Angel going through the preparations for each stunt, but is also peppered with some of the street illusions that he performs. Admittedly as impressive as the big stunts are, the smaller illusions are what really draw me to this series. This isn’t to say that seeing Angel float between two buildings or escape from a straitjacket at the bottom of the ocean doesn’t blow the mind, but I tend to be more impressed by the smaller, quieter feats.

Each of the 21 episodes available offer some of the most amazing illusions I have ever seen. Some of them have even been making the Internet circuit, such as the cutting of a woman in half… in the middle of a park… and her top half runs off. Admittedly, I think it's pretty obvious how this illusion was done, but it still looks pretty unsettling. Angel also rubs noses with 'celebrities' throughout the season. He tries to read their minds in one episode and teams up with a few others for a séance in the season finale. Of course I use the term celebrities lightly. We're talking people like Ice Cube, Mark McGrath, Deborah Gibson and Carrot Top. Not really celebrities per se, just people who have somehow kept their names in the spotlight. Sadly, he also meets up with Three 6 Mafia… you know… the group that embarrassingly won an Academy Award for Best Song at the last Oscar telecast. (We all know that even the nomination was the result of a typo. Sorry guys… you really su**.)

The 3-disc set also includes commentary by Angel on two of the episodes as well as a very humorous interview sequence which includes the great Penn & Teller, Jeff McBride and other illusionists. He also teaches viewers a couple of quick little illusions, though I really can’t consider this an extra feature because the same sequences show up in some of the episodes. There's even a couple of featurettes showing some of the gifts that Angel has been given and a couple of bizarre scenes of him making kind of a fool of himself.

All in all I was extremely impressed by Angel's abilities as an illusionist and aside from the MTV style of camera work that gives my eyes a workout, I'm still enjoying the series.

Episodes:
Building Float
Vanish
In Two
Walk on Water
Animal Magic
Easy Rider
Party
Bike Jump Vanish
Chad's Story
Celebrity Minds
Metamorphosis
Back to School
Sucker
Prophecy
Motorcycle Roulette
Military Salute
Straitjacket Keelhaul
Shark Cage Escape
Magician of the Year
My Secret Cabaret
Celebrity Seance

Starring: Criss Angel
Extras: Commentary with Criss Angel on "Building Float" and "In Two" Episodes, Teach a Trick, Interviews, Practical Jokes, Criss angel Special Gifts, Criss Uncensored
Specifications: Full Screen, Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround Sound
Studio: Arts & Entertainment
Release Date: 12/19/2006
Region 1
MPAA Rating: NR
Website

We'll give Criss Angel Mindfreak: Season 2 a B+.