David Blaine: Drowned Alive

[jake44np]

Re: David Blaine: Drowned Alive

I agree with Jim Rome, David Blaine is one step below a mime!

[CMH]

Re: David Blaine: Drowned Alive

His street magic is amazing, unexplainable in many accounts (although the floating is explainable and has been shown). These stunts do not interest me at all... give the average joe months to train and he can do all of these stunts as well.

Can you find enough people that want to do it?

That's the point. David Blaine didn't just say, "oh I can do that or will try!" He went and did it.

Easy to talk about how it can be done. Much harder to actually have the guts to do it.

[BGarrett7]

Re: David Blaine: Drowned Alive

Much harder to actually have the guts to do it.

The guts to do what, put yourself in a "can't lose" situation? I could go into the bathroom right now and attempt to hold my breath for nine minutes and no one would give a crap if I failed or succeeded. It's not like he was in any actual physical danger here. Do you really think that ABC would allow him to put his body in any scenario where he could possibly die on national tv? Please. If even the slightest thing went wrong with this, there would be a swarm of EMTs and doctors on him quicker than you could blink your eyes at it. The worst possible scenario was exactly what happened, he gets a huge chunk of mainstream media attention again and he fails to achieve the unachievable. Did he really need to soak himself in the fishbowl for a week to risk this stunt? Not at all. It was merely a distraction and an out if he happened to not achieve the world record. It wasn't just Blaine walking up to a huge tank and attempting to hold his breath under water for nine minutes, if he failed at that, he would come out looking much worse than he did. No, he had to do something to give him an excuse for if he did, in fact, fail. And if he was able to pull it off? Oh, great, good job, Dave. You achieved something that everyone will have forgotten about by the end of the work week, neat. But he didn't, and no one really cares. It will get some press today and be completely blown over by Thursday morning once all the media outlets have reported on it.

Bottom line: I'm sure there are a good number of people who would put themselves into a situation like this. No real harm is going to occur. You get an assload of publicity and media coverage. The best that could happen is you get a world record and a pat on the back. And the worst is you fail and everyone forgets about it in a week, which they would anyway. The difference in all those willing people and Blaine? Money and a recognizable face.

[deeman11747]

Re: David Blaine: Drowned Alive

The guts to do what, put yourself in a "can't lose" situation? I could go into the bathroom right now and attempt to hold my breath for nine minutes and no one would give a crap if I failed or succeeded. It's not like he was in any actual physical danger here. Do you really think that ABC would allow him to put his body in any scenario where he could possibly die on national tv? Please. If even the slightest thing went wrong with this, there would be a swarm of EMTs and doctors on him quicker than you could blink your eyes at it. The worst possible scenario was exactly what happened, he gets a huge chunk of mainstream media attention again and he fails to achieve the unachievable. Did he really need to soak himself in the fishbowl for a week to risk this stunt? Not at all. It was merely a distraction and an out if he happened to not achieve the world record. It wasn't just Blaine walking up to a huge tank and attempting to hold his breath under water for nine minutes, if he failed at that, he would come out looking much worse than he did. No, he had to do something to give him an excuse for if he did, in fact, fail. And if he was able to pull it off? Oh, great, good job, Dave. You achieved something that everyone will have forgotten about by the end of the work week, neat. But he didn't, and no one really cares. It will get some press today and be completely blown over by Thursday morning once all the media outlets have reported on it.

Bottom line: I'm sure there are a good number of people who would put themselves into a situation like this. No real harm is going to occur. You get an assload of publicity and media coverage. The best that could happen is you get a world record and a pat on the back. And the worst is you fail and everyone forgets about it in a week, which they would anyway. The difference in all those willing people and Blaine? Money and a recognizable face.

Thats quite a bit of negativity right there. I think your missing the point though. Sure, anyone COULD do what he did and put themselves in a no lose situation. But no one WOULD do it except for him. Do you really wanna live underwater for a week? I assume not. I bet you could if you really tried, but you arent going to because you dont want to put in the training required to do it along with the attempt. No one does. But he did, and I'm sure he couldve had serious damage done to him if something went wrong, but saying that what he did wasnt extraordinary, than I dont know what to tell you.

[BGarrett7]

Re: David Blaine: Drowned Alive

But he did, and I'm sure he couldve had serious damage done to him if something went wrong, but saying that what he did wasnt extraordinary, than I dont know what to tell you.

I'm not saying it wasn't a neat achievement. Holding your breath for any extended amount of time is certainly something of note. As is having your body contained in a fishbowl for an entire week. But it really isn't something, as you said, that couldn't be achieved without the proper amount of training and coaching. Does Blaine have to be in top physical condition and have some genetics working in his favor? Totally. But I'm sure there are a number of people who could duplicate this stunt. The only difference, like I said, is that Blaine has the cash and the mainstream appeal to put it all together.

As for something going wrong, what, conceivably, could have went wrong with the scenario he was in? There were EMTs and doctors on hand, along with people in scuba gear to go in and get him if he was unable to achieve the goal, get the handcuffs off, something. The only real danger he was putting himself in wasn't from the actual attempt to break the world record for underwater breath-holding, it was from being submerged in water for seven days. And even then, there are stories of people who have survived out at sea for just as long, and that was in saltwater.

[deeman11747]

Re: David Blaine: Drowned Alive

Does Blaine have to be in top physical condition and have some genetics working in his favor? Totally. But I'm sure there are a number of people who could duplicate this stunt. The only difference, like I said, is that Blaine has the cash and the mainstream appeal to put it all together.

But you could say that about anything. I bet with the right amount of training and good genetics, an average 30 year old man could become an unbelievable guitar player. But since doesnt have the cash or appeal that Jimi Hendrix had, he'd never make any serious money off of it.

[BGarrett7]

Re: David Blaine: Drowned Alive

But you could say that about anything. I bet with the right amount of training and good genetics, an average 30 year old man could become an unbelievable guitar player. But since doesnt have the cash or appeal that Jimi Hendrix had, he'd never make any serious money off of it.

Which, in a way, proves both my point and the one that Yankee_Pride was trying to make.

[deeman11747]

Re: David Blaine: Drowned Alive

Which, in a way, proves both my point and the one that Yankee_Pride was trying to make.

I wasnt disagreeing with you... I was just saying that you cant have your viewpoint apply to just him and nothing else. Its just how the world works unfortunately.

[Blzer]

Re: David Blaine: Drowned Alive

I wasnt disagreeing with you... I was just saying that you cant have your viewpoint apply to just him and nothing else. Its just how the world works unfortunately.

Just like... how people classify all of these models to be the most beautiful women in the world, and I pass by five women more beautiful than them every day?

Because I also tend to agree on all accounts, also. If you're well-known, you're better off getting an ovation for whatever kind of achievement you pull off.


I still think this guy's crazy good at what he does, though.

[mjb2124]

Re: David Blaine: Drowned Alive

Thats quite a bit of negativity right there. I think your missing the point though. Sure, anyone COULD do what he did and put themselves in a no lose situation. But no one WOULD do it except for him. Do you really wanna live underwater for a week?

This is assuming he actually DID live underwater for a week. Never underestimate the chance that this was an illusion and he wasn't in fact in the fish bowl the entire time.

Blaine is one heck of a talented illusionist as many have seen in his card tricks and levitation. I wouldn't doubt that this wasn't another one of his illusions.

[deeman11747]

Re: David Blaine: Drowned Alive

This is assuming he actually DID live underwater for a week. Never underestimate the chance that this was an illusion and he wasn't in fact in the fish bowl the entire time.

True. I just dont see how with people walking by him 24/7 he could pull anything like that.

[mjb2124]

Re: David Blaine: Drowned Alive

True. I just dont see how with people walking by him 24/7 he could pull anything like that.

Nor do I, but I also don't see how he could pull off a card trick where the card the person chose ends up in that person's beer bottle. Or the one where the card the person chose ended up on the inside of a restaurant window while they were standing outside.

If you haven't seen those, then it might not make sense, but those tricks were impressive.

All I know is the guy is one heck of a magician/illusionist. I also saw him hold 2 cards faceup, flip them from one hand to the other with a slight move of his thumb, but never saw the cards actually move. Only reason I knew they moved was that they were faceup and I saw what each card was. I just didn't see them move.....if that makes sense. Tough to explain.

[Blzer]

Re: David Blaine: Drowned Alive

Nor do I, but I also don't see how he could pull off a card trick where the card the person chose ends up in that person's beer bottle. Or the one where the card the person chose ended up on the inside of a restaurant window while they were standing outside.

If you haven't seen those, then it might not make sense, but those tricks were impressive.

All I know is the guy is one heck of a magician/illusionist. I also saw him hold 2 cards faceup, flip them from one hand to the other with a slight move of his thumb, but never saw the cards actually move. Only reason I knew they moved was that they were faceup and I saw what each card was. I just didn't see them move.....if that makes sense. Tough to explain.

I saw that one (bolded). Didn't see the other ones, though.

What was funny about the one that I saw, though, was that it was cool enough that he slammed all of the cards onto the window, only for that one to still be hanging there. I figured "Meh, there must be SOME way for that to happen... like, her touching the card triggers some sticky thing." But then I found out that the trick wasn't in the card itself, but that it was on the other side of the window! That was amazing!


That night, stupid and... well, yeah... stupid as I was, I tried it out for myself. Not only did I fail, but I lost a few cards inside my heater after they hit glass.

[SLAYER]

Re: David Blaine: Drowned Alive

I prefer David Blaine's street tricks over his stunts, even though it's obvious when a plant (person "in on it" put in the crowd) is used. Such as the tooth pulling/spit back into mouth trick, but the fun is in the illusion, not picking it apart.

I also agree that the "7 days underwater stunt" could've been a part of his illusion, but I don't know how he could've pulled that one off.

[dave360]

Re: David Blaine: Drowned Alive

I prefer David Blaine's street tricks over his stunts, even though it's obvious when a plant (person "in on it" put in the crowd) is used. Such as the tooth pulling/spit back into mouth trick, but the fun is in the illusion, not picking it apart.

I also agree that the "7 days underwater stunt" could've been a part of his illusion, but I don't know how he could've pulled that one off.

I think pretty much everyone enjoys his street magic more than this stuff. I can remember his first ABC special years ago. It was called "David Blaine Street Magician" I was amazed with him then and have kept up with most everything he did. I'd say just from the look of his hands and feet that he's been in the water the majority of time. That looked disgusting.