***

<div class="text-justify">

<center>![image.png](https://ipfs.busy.org/ipfs/QmSpgtpebi9rkHXfbwPw1RJ5rPwnKTEXEQGywk5F49pDYy)
</center>

2 days ago when I was browsing Youtube I found a video about a mysterious CIA document that can be found on its official website [here.](https://www.cia.gov/library/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP96-00788R001900760001-9.pdf) This document is a report from a session between one CIA officer and a person that supposedly has remote viewing powers. In the document, we can see how this person describes the planet Mars 1 million years in the past but without him knowing what he is actually describing. He saw all sorts of crazy things like huge buildings and very tall beings that were dying. The curious thing is that this document, titled "Marx exploration", is published on the official CIA's website.

When I began to read about this document I found a comment about this magician called James Randi and how he was known for busting fake people that claimed to have powers, and this is how I decided to watch his documentary named "An Honest Liar".

I was expecting a much more controversial documentary with more secrets being shared with the viewers, but it turned out to be very conservative and with only 2-3 big controversies regarding other "magicians".

![image.png](https://ipfs.busy.org/ipfs/QmV3XfLmgjqK8jV7GpyZHvUgy3hGiystWwcDMuEctYPzZU)

Among the fake people that Randi exposed we have a fake prophet that claims to be in direct contact with the Lord and pretends to heal people by simply yelling at them and touching them. His poor victims were so excited that every time they visited him they paid him as much money as they could. The conman was earning millions by lying to people about his fake powers.

Another person with fake powers was Uri Geller. There was one time when Randi informed the producer of a show how to prepare the test in a way that would prove if Uri was a fake one, and indeed, Uri was unable to perform the test. However, despite this little failure, this person's career continued as if nothing happened.  

What I didn't like about the documentary was that a considerable portion of it was dedicated to a personal drama with his boyfriend. I found that of little interest because I just wanted to see more about his methods for exposing people with fake powers.

On the other hand, one of the most epic things Randi did in his life, was a major plan to troll some scientists with the goal of making them believe that these type of powers was real. He joined forces with 2 young students and taught them a lot of tricks that they would later perform when being tested by the scientists. The funniest part is they succeded in their trolling attempt but eventually announced they were simply using tricks, no supernatural power whatsoever.

![image.png](https://ipfs.busy.org/ipfs/QmdfjoMUu3yVaCw9KHmBfcZULe8BmyYwF1G7vvZ32RgNtt)

I learned a few things watching this documentary, but honestly, I was expecting to watch much more secret tricks and methods of exposure.

#### The best
* It teaches the viewer some of the techniques Randi used to catch fakes.
* There is one huge fraudster that was completely busted.


#### The worst
* I was hoping to find more frauds busted.
* It has a little bit of personal drama.

More information: https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/262481-an-honest-liar
Review: AA
In numbers: 6/10

</div>