David Blaine

David Blaine: Showman

This DVD is David's first two TV specials - and an impressive DVD debut it is too. Unless you have been living in a box for the last couple of years you will, of course, know that the first show was David doing 'Street Magic' and levitating all over the place - while the second show was a few more tricks in the streets with the added bonus of seeing David lay down for a while (this is called being buried alive by the publicity machine - but I think that that is stretching the truth slightly).

On May 19, 1997, Blaine's first television special, David Blaine: Street Magic, introduced his unique brand of street magic to the world when it aired on the ABC network. With its strong focus on spectators' reactions and showmanship, Street Magic revolutionized the way magic is performed and portrayed on television.

The simple device of a lone stranger walking into any location and grabbing people at random is a clever idea and Blaine uses it to the maximum. And although things do look genuinely 'impromptu', as a magician watching the show first time round there were a couple of times when I just felt like I was being 'had' and things were not quite as legit as I was being led to believe. As the first special progressed to the climax (the now famous levitation) I was left feeling cheated as my suspicions were confirmed that some (although not the majority) of the effects were just set up for the camera.

Blaine's second TV special featured on this DVD is his Burried Alive stunt. The tricks are good and this time even though there is some obvious setting up of effects - the reactions to the real mind-benders are genuine. As for the burried alive stunt - I can't help but feel that the name of the stunt should mesan that Blain is genuninely burried and not just laying in a glass box. It is very nice that the audience can still see him and wave at him - but that isn't quite being Buried us it.

Although some people say that Mr Blaine's magic is more style than content I believe that as a 'central presence' he holds the cool art direction and editing together with ease. The magic is impressive and the stunt is OK - but nothing special. He is, after all, dragged off to hospital afterwards - so no superhuman powers there then. Still - with out takes, TV appearances, bonus footage and more - this is a good value DVD.

David Blaine: Mystifier

On November 27, 2000, Blaine began a stunt called "Frozen in Time", which was covered on a TV special. Blaine stood encased in a massive block of ice located in Times Square, New York.

In this DVD, David does even more 'Street Magic' and then stands up for a while (again the publicity machine goes into overdrive and tries to make us believe that this is 'frozen in a block of ice'). Again the magic effects are cool but the stunt just left me cold (pun intended). When I first heard that he would be frozen in ice I stupidly thought that he would actually be FROZEN IN ICE and not merely standing in the middle of block of ice - not even touching it! Still, sometimes magic is about wondering 'How?' and sometimes magic is about wondering 'Why?'.

If I have sounded to negative about this DVD then I'm sorry as it is jammed packed with valuable extras including a commentary track from the man himself which is actually quite interesting. If you like Street Magic then buy it - you will not be disappointed with the magic!

David Blaine: Above the Below

Before David started his epic endurance test, it appeared that he could do no wrong. About a week into the stunt and things didn't look too good. This had nothing to do with David's lack of food or his confinement - but rather the great British public had got bored with 'the bloke in a box'. What was he doing? Why was he doing it? Unfortunately the best answer the not so chatty Blaine had ever given was "I'm doing it for my art". Which of course to the average person means "I'm absolutely bonkers"

In this DVD you can witness the full story of David's 44 day incarceration in a Plexiglas box, suspended close to Tower Bridge in London as filmed by director Harmony Korine. Although there is extra footage and incite into the whole affair there is little to really hold the attention other than 'a guy in a box' and bonus 'a guy recovering after being in a box'.

It would also appear that Channel 4 were a little nervous about this DVD release (with release date delays) and have decided to boost the the magic content and stunt quota by adding footage of David's 'Vertigo' stunt last year. Well - if you have my earlier reviews on Blaine then you will understand when I say I was disappointed by the lack of magic and (like almost everyone else now) bored by the stunts.