How does Chris Angel Mind Freak crawl through a glass window?

Question

"magic" is so stupid

Answer 1

Are you referring to the one where he crawls through the glass window of a storefront? (http://youtube.com/watch?v=Ekj0LkSod6k )

Here's some stipulations to note:
- that storefront isn't some random storefront he just happened upon...it's not even a real storefront, but one that was carefully built and rigged for the trick.
- the "eyewitnesses" are all in on it. The only real audience is the TV audience.

Imagine the glass as being long enough to extend a couple of feet below the sill. In that portion below the sill is a hole large enough for Criss to crawl through.

The glass actually slides up and down a vertical frame (think of a guillotine) that extends into the section of wall above the window. The illusion of the glass not moving is kept by keeping the glass reasonably clean, and attaching an object to the window (the "OPEN" sign) in such a way that it looks like the object is attached to the glass, but actually it's connected to another part of the window that doesn't move (like the window frame).

While the "volunteers" hold up the paper (the nice big piece of paper that "just happened" to be in the dumpster) in front of the glass, the glass slides up so that the hole in the glass is now above the sill. Criss crawls through, the glass slides shut behind him. Voila.

Japanese magician Cyril Takayama did something that was smaller in scale but was arguably more sophisticated. (http://youtube.com/watch?v=t2-Moa7qq8Y ) I'm referring to the saltshaker portion of the trick. The principle is the same; the table is rigged--you can hear the glass sliding under the force of Cyril's left palm at 2:21-22, with the hole located under his hand/wrist. Again, it's something that real up-close witnesses would notice, but the fact is, all those giggling people around him are in on the trick.

In short (and in response to the person below), there is NOTHING supernatural about what Criss Angel and other illusionists do. They basically use every trick in the book (pun intended) to pull off their illusions--a bit of science, a lot of engineering, some old-fashioned misdirection and sleight-of-hand, some physical conditioning (for which they can be commended), careful and skillful video work (both at the camera and on the editors), LOTS of practice (this IS their line of work, after all--it's what they put their equivalent of our 9-to-5's into), and very importantly, a complicit live audience (at least the ones who are close enough to see the trickery at work). Anyone with a smidgen of cleverness can view an episode of Mindfreak and explain how Criss Angel can pull off each trick, or at least poke holes in what's being presented and note where and when the shenanigans were probably being pulled off.

Criss Angel himself has revealed the trickery behind some of his illusions (http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6616406655978150142 ), and there are some tricks that can be convincingly explained even to the "believers"--is it REALLY easier to believe that those tricks that *don't* have a more definitive explanation are the result of supernatural power, rather than a more sophisticated version of the trickery that you KNOW he employs in his other illusions?

Answer 2

No I dont think he is. I caught him in something that cant be real. He did an episode where he would hand these people a paper and once they read it they would become hypnotized and fall asleep..... I am in the military and due to my security clearance I am not allowed to be hypnotized. So with that if someone in my case was walking and got one of these papers well his show would be in some trouble and possible a legal problem. Obviously he had to coordinate this before the show. Anyways his show is still interesting to think a person could do all this so I still watch it.

Answer 3

* HOW does he WALK down the side of a tall building?
* HOW does he lie on a bed of long nails, while letting a big heavy truck that weighs a couple of tons drive on top of him?
* HOW does he manage to LEVITATE himself and others?
* HOW does he turn a glass of water into a glass of beer, just by the touch of his hand?
* HOW does he walk on top of water?
* HOW does he take a quarter, and transport it inside of an UNOPENED can of soda that moments before had nothing in it but ordinary soda?????????

I'm no gullible fool, but I DO think this guy has GENUINE supernatural powers. There is NO logical explanation for what he can do. He's utterly AMAZING!!!!!!!!

Answer 4

Those magicians are possessed!!!!!!! If you think Chris is weird look it David Blane he can lift himself off the ground like a ghost.

Answer 5

yea! That was so cool! I love that show! OMG! Its is so awesome. Did you see the one where he got buried alive? He is so hot!

Answer 6

ahhh.... the magic of television and special effects..... you gotta really hand it to those guys when they go about fooling people like that....

Answer 7

MMMMMMMMMMMMMMAGIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 8

Magic. Duh?