Magic Moments.

So last night I found myself watching The Incredible Burt Wonderstone, with a cast such as Steve Carell, my  main man Steve Buscemi and Jim Carey I wondered why it hadn't received a lot of attention. Quite frankly it's because it's simply what I like to call a "time-filler", easy to watch but not remotely life-changing and if you choose to look at your phone for the majority of it, well you've not missed anything great. Quick plot summary: a magician fails to grasp the need to update his magic show due to his huge ego, loses his partner, gains a foe in a new-age magic street-performer, realises flaws, makes up with partner, they beat foe together with previously unseen magic act, it is just THAT predictable there was no need to write 'spoiler' for anyone.

The advert, for any of you who missed it.

I did find it somewhat thought provoking though, seeing the conflict between the old and new magic school. We are all to familiar with both, as everyone at some point has seen men in suits the Prince of Arabia wouldn't be caught dead in parading around smoky stages (and I'm not talking about a Kiss concert here), and thanks to David Blaine we've seen the new 'magic' which basically consists of one pushing their body past its limits in front of as many people as possible. I quite enjoyed seeing Carey take on the Blaine-esque role, forcing the audience to question why the hell do we see someone torturing themself as entertainment? I have to say 'shock magic' now does nothing for me, I don't want to see someone pulling a nail on a string out of their belly or walking bare-foot on broken glass. I've reached the point where I just want to be amused, not made to feel uncomfortable for what seems like an eternity. That's why I am currently enjoying ch4's Ben Earl: Trick Artist, I feel I'm maybe alone in that as many of the comments on videos are of how 'boring' it is as it's simply all illusions and pick-pocketing, but I am liking being slightly tickled. It's also somewhat refreshing to see a magician who's personable and approachable, I'm tired of these steely-eyed, distant men that stare and stare at a squirming audience member until dramatically whispering out their pin number. 

Ben Earl making people pee rainbows.

Anyhow, the film has made me hope that we may see a decline in the grotesque and a rise in artful deception. By all means, I'd rather you stole from me than have to sit and watch you stick a pin in your eye. 

Take my wallet, take my keys, 

just stop self-harming please!