FullReviews Index - page 2
Review: The Professional Repertoire of Etienne Pradier
Sometimes a trick or DVD just speaks to you. And this is the case for me with "The Professional Repertoire of Etienne Pradier." On this DVD, Pradier teaches excellent effects for walk around and strolling and the collection goes beyond the standards that you often find on most DVDs. I found some fresh new ideas here that are also thoroughly commercial.
Review: The Castle Routine by Ed Ellis
This DVD tips Ed Ellis' visual and entertaining 10-minute card routine that he performed at Hollywood's Magic Castle. He bills himself as the "world's fastest hands" and who's to argue? The routine is flashy, impressive and magical, and just about anyone can carry away some new moves and techniques.
Review: Master Card Routines by Chris Priest
A second winner from magician Chris Priest, this time it's his take on playing cards. I thoroughly liked Priest’s sponge ball routine as taught on his "Protons" DVD. This title offers his commercial and entertaining routines with playing cards that feature lots of audience interaction.
DVD Review: Uncovered by John Luka
On this DVD, John Luka teaches some key effects from his excellent book, "Uncovered (Secrets of the Serious Magician)." This is a first rate DVD that features visual and commercial effects that only require fundamental skills.
Review: Bob Does Hospitality - Act 1 by Bob Sheets
Act 1 in Bob Sheets' "Bob Does Hospitality" offers three effects to make up an entire ten-minute act. The closer, a card packet effect, is a great trick. The second is offbeat and the opener is something that almost all magicians already know how to perform.
Review: Branded by Tim Trono
You show a painful looking blister on your thumb. A spectator selects a card and concentrates on it while gazing into the flame from your lighter. You pinch the flame and the blister morphs into symbols that represent the chosen card. Tim Trono offers an innovative and practical method for the blister effect.
Review: Magic At The Edge (3 DVD SET) by Jeff McBride
A true magic master, Jeff McBride is a soaring authority on sleight of hand, conjuring methods and presentation. This three DVD set is notable not only for its collection of strong effects that require minimal props, but it's worth studying McBride's philosophy towards magic.
Review: Bob Does Hospitality - Act 3 by Bob Sheets
In his "Bob Does Hospitality" DVD set, which comes in three separate volumes, Sheets offers nine close-up effects, three per DVD, which are designed for strolling or table hopping. Act 3 covers the three ball trick and offers a great mind-reading/prediction effect with cards and color-changing deck.
Review: Cabaret Card Magic by Bill Abbott
Playing cards have the potential to pack small and play very big, and this is the premise behind Bill Abbott's Cabaret Card Magic. In this first rate book, Abbott shows how to entertain and mystify large audiences with card routines and provides themes and detailed scripts for some well known effects.
Review: Postmentalism by Alvo Stockman
Here's a prediction effect that has the potential to be very strong. A prediction that you send through the mail before an event is found to be correct when it arrives.
Review: Shellraiser by Troy Hooser
This DVD with the clever title teaches you how to perform near miracles with coins with an equally clever and well known gimmick. This is the instructional DVD that I would have wanted when I was starting out in my coin magic. And the routines here reflect much of what I do with coins today in my professional work.
Review: Stealing Pips by Oz Pearlman
A refreshingly different DVD on card magic that teaches innovative moves and then shows how to use them in excellent routines, Stealing Pips: The Card Magic of Oz is a winner. The DVD's routines are commercial and strong, and throughout, Oz Pearlman offers thorough instruction. Learn the moves and you'll be able to perform Pearlman's bafflers, and you'll also gain some new moves to apply to existing routines.
Review: Bob Does Hospitality - Act 2 by Bob Sheets
This is the second act in Bob Sheets' "Hospitality" DVDs. The three close up routines are designed to be easy to carry in your pockets and none are knuckle busters.
Review: My Precious by Haim Goldenberg
Four people place their finger rings into four coin purses as the magician looks away. The magician then takes out each ring and identifies its owner. This one is a bit of pseudo psychometry.
Review: Inside Thoughts by Haim Goldenberg
"Inside Thoughts" offers a gimmicked envelope that allows you to predict a good range of possibilities, up to nine, and with some work, 18. The predictions can be numbers, celebrities, colors or anything that you wish.
Review: The Enlightenment by Ben Harris
Here's a professional and well made gimmick that can make a freely selected card rise and float above the deck about an inch. The floating card is entirely under your control and the spectator can hold the deck as the levitation occurs.
Review: Wounded by Robert Smith
If you've ever wanted to bleed from the middle of your palms or cry tears of red blood, you may enjoy the freakout fest that is Robert Smith’s "Wounded." This one is definitely not for everyone and the DVD teaches clever methods that range from fairly conventional to outright outlandish.
Review: Time Machine and Touches by Kenton Knepper
Instead of a prediction in the vein of an Al Koran Medallion-style effect, Kenton Knepper has turned a prediction into a theme of time travel in the spirit of H.G. Wells. It is truly inspired and brilliant work.
Review: Colour Burn by David Forrest
Here's a stunning color change where you transform the back of a playing card from blue to red. The catch here is that spectators see the card change in stages.
Trick Review: Zero Gravity by Jay Sankey
Jay Sankey calls "Zero Gravity" the ideal opening effect when you walk up to a table. Indeed, he makes a compelling argument. The effect is fast and garners attention and there's no need to explain what just happened, it's quite apparent. Despite this, I find the effect to be offbeat and simply can't warm up to it.
Review: Accuracy by Andrew Gerard
As the name implies, "Accuracy" offers a solid, reliable mind reading effect. But with its method, you must be sure that you perform it under the right conditions. Furthermore, as written, this is a routine that you can perform for family and friends or may work in formal close-up shows under controlled conditions.
Trick Review: Wipe The Slate Clean by Chris Webb
This color change effect relies on a heavily and cleverly gimmicked card, but it takes work to make the gimmick pass the scrutiny of close-up crowds. And in the end, most of what you can do with the gaff can be accomplished with sleight of hand.
DVD Review: Into the Abyss by Oz Pearlman
This is the third Oz Pearlman DVD that I've reviewed and with this title, he's three for three with me. His Stealing Pips featured some amazing card magic while his 21st Century Phantom explained a stunning mentalism effect with an outrageous revelation. With "Into the Abyss," Pearlman offers another excellent DVD with three stunning close-up mentalism gems.
Review: Point Blank by Michael Ammar and Jordan Cotler
You bring out a deck of cards, shuffle it and spread it face-up on the table. The spectator can see all the cards and then freely selects one. You pick up the cards in the spread and then immediately show that they are all completely blank. You take back the spectator’s card, and then show that it has turned blank as well.
DVD Review: Protons by Chris Priest
Christ Priest offers a visual and stunning routine that uses sponge balls. Here you'll learn a powerful and commercial routine that slays and entertains lay spectators.