Magic Castle Performance Live by Ed Ellis

Perhaps more of a companion to his last DVD, The Castle Routine by Ed Ellis , this DVD, Magic Castle Performance Live!, allows you to see Ellis' entire close-up act, as he performed it at Hollywood's Magic Castle .

It's an impressive, flashy and sleight-heavy act that's appropriate for someone who bills himself as "World's Fastest Hands." If you want to learn his act, you'll have to refer to Volume 5 as here, it's performance only. But it's always a pleasure to watch Ellis in action.

The best part of this DVD is billed Single Card Style. Here, Ellis teaches you 30 ways to handle a single card that includes flourishes and ways to produce and deal them. The techniques, which range from easy to advanced, include throwing cards in the air, spinning and turning them in your hands, and more. Ellis offers thorough instructions. The practice will be up to you.

I liked the various moves and found some that I want to learn and use. The only downside is that the DVD doesn't offer a menu to choose the technique you want to learn. In a throwback to old VHS video days, you have to fast forward until you find the technique that you want to study.

In Card From Shoe, Ellis teaches you how to produce a spectator's signed and selected card from your shoe. There's also a Beginner's Section where Ellis teaches fundamental card moves that include: "The Tilt," "Elmsley Count," and "Double Lift."

If you're at a stage where you are learning these, Ellis offers excellent advice. However, I think that most who will be purchasing this DVD are probably beyond the instruction here.

If you're a fan of the card work and style of Ed Ellis, you’ll probably find lots to like on this DVD, particularly with his section that teaches you way to handle single cards in a flashy manner.

MSRP: (US) $25

If you have any questions about this or any other product that we have reviewed, please feel free to post a message on our forum by clicking here. (You don't have to register to visit our forum, simply click on the link for "Guest Access.")

Dealers can purchase from Murphy's Magic Supplies, Inc.