4/5
No Pain, No Blaine
6 Episodes. Starring: David Blaine. On: National Geographic, Hulu & Disney +.
Do not try this at home, or all around the watching world. When I first saw David Blaine, as a young teen, in that Peugeot GTI commercial, I was compelled. Did he really just throw a deck of cards at a car window, and the one chosen was on the other side of the glass (check those glass breaking, robbery skits, like the Cheez-It ones)? I had to try that for myself, when all my friends were drunk at a house party, and I had my boy slap a random card on the window from outside...you could clearly see his arm. Hey, at least it wasn't my awful cup and ball, disappearing trick, where you can obviously see the paper cup crumble as I pick everything up. Yeah, I watched the Masked Magician. This one, won't reveal his secrets, though. Even in a beautiful moment, when the cameras leave, and he shows how to do a signature trick to a group of kids in a South African magic school that's taught all races and faces together since apartheid. Inspirational.
Through countless specials, we've seen American magician David Blaine buried alive, be encased in ice in Times Square, and even in a box above London's epic Embankment for an experiment without food...he obviously hasn't rented in the Big Smoke before. Now, Blaine goes truly out his comfort zone for 'Do Not Attempt'. Streaming now on Hulu, Disney Plus, and National Geographic, like the fellow celebrity Gordon Ramsay ('Uncharted'), Chris Hemsworth ('Limitless') and Will Smith ('Welcome To Earth'...genius name) looks spanning the globe. 11 countries, 5 continents and 3 calendars, this six-part special (we hope has a second season) takes us to Brazil, South East Asia, India, the Arctic Circle, South Africa and Japan. Not to mention countless cities, which Blaine embraces like he does the black t-shirt department of your local clothing outlet. This man has done so much himself, wowing the world. Yet, seeing his real and raw reactions to the real life magicians he meets on the streets is a joy to behold. Reacting with more wows than Owen Wilson, bleeped out words than an episode of 'The Bear' and runaways like all those who used to be decked out by his card tricks.
And those old tricks in the finale episode here in Tokyo, Japan, will remind you of why you fell back in love with magic...and his art. At 50, David is still a Goliath in this industry. Wowing the next generations away from their smartphones...yet, his work is perfect for this TikTok time. Whether swallowing samurai swords, or lighting himself on fire (you really just going to walk to that jump, Dave?), Blaine plays through the pain, but shows you it's not a game. Especially when we start cracking bottles over our heads. Again, don't be a Jackass like Johnny Knoxville, this is for your home entertainment, not experiments. Kissing more snakes than your latest Tinder date, a beard of bees bigger than your Bumble hive, more Black Mambas than 24 and number 8 jerseys in Los Angeles, there's so much to be in awe of here. Case in point, when a make-up artist in the Far East makes a mask of David's face fresher than the rising sun. Yet, we're running our mouths too much, like those eating glass. We shouldn't spoil the rest of this, or we'll be a drag like that race. As the thread of this pulled trick brings all the old favourites back as well as a whole new world David shows us on Disney. Each city and country, given a title card that throws back to his 'Mysterious Stranger' ones in tribute to his muse Houdini, by the book. Even greater than 'The Mandalorian' concept art in closing credit. Just attempt to watch something bolder and better. TIM DAVID HARVEY.
Further Filming: 'Welcome To Earth', 'Limitless-With Chris Hemsworth', 'The World According To Jeff Goldblum'.
No comments:
Post a Comment