Disc 8
Belly Button
Well...first, I didn’t get any buttons with my set – so maybe this trick is the Ultimate Ripoff – anyhow, it won’t be hard to buy buttons and set this one up. It is an interesting effect, and if done with tact, could have a lasting impression on people. The one thing I was disappointed in. From watching the performance, I thought it was attached to the outside, and then became attached to the inside – not just loose in their clothes. However, even with this small difference in effect, the strength of this effect is that it happens in their personal space. It can also become it’s weakness, very fast, in the wrong hands. Not a worker, but a good effect to carry around with you, if it matches your style. 8/10
SOS
This has some strong moments in it, and the concept of using the odd card to force during a face up and face down spread is clever – however, I am not sure the structure of the routine is stronger. The order is – matching prediction, the cards all turning face down, and then revelation of a different colour back. The presentation makes the colour change a switch, rather than a change, and the order doesn’t seem to build from weak to strong. It was more strong, weak, strong (not that the triumph phase is weak, just weaker to the other revelations). Anyhow, I think that there are other versions, including the original that are much stronger than this. Gregory Wilson’s use, to introduce two decks, from Card Stunts, is awesome as well. I won’t name my favourite, but there are gems. That being said – the clever use of the Marlo tilt will get you thinking, and this method shouldn’t be dismissed. It is not going to replace my colour changing deck, but if I didn’t have a better one, I may consider this one. 8/10
Muscle Bend
I really didn’t like this. I always hated the concept of bending metal objects. I would love someone to hand you are crowbar, or something of that stature, and say:
Audience: “BEND THIS THEN – get the dents out of my car”
Magician: “Oh, my powers only work on objects that can be bend with human strength”!?
Truly, this effects takes the magic of the coin bend out of the audiences hands, and puts it in your elbow pit (for a lack of term) – I think this trick IS the elbow pit, perhaps the arm pit of magic. The only cool thing – I learnt I don’t need to spend money on a Superman gimmick by Roy Kueppers, as they teach you a way that ANY...door hin, err...knob will use. 7/10
Unstable Label
This is not a worker – it takes much set up – but will be one of those things you can set up, if you have the moment, to leave a lasting piece of magic. Usually, I like stuff like this – but this effect just doesn’t do it for me...I am sure it will kill, I just don’t see it as being part of something I am thinking about enough to make it part of my arsenal...arse, haha. 7/10
Easter Eggs – and it is about time this word made sense to that particular time of year
Ultimate Ripoff - Paul Harris Performance and Explanation
I never liked this version – people will always ask you to put the last piece on – if you can claim that you can put ¾ together, why not 100% of it – for a single card torn and restored, it is good – but I would rather not do it, then leave my audience unfulfilled by not restoring it completely. If you claim you can do something, you should be able to do it fully. 5/10
Flash Fold - Paul Harris Performance and Explanation
I really like the Michael Close version of this effect – he has really motivated all the moments that occur and made it more magical, and interactive. Close presents it in a way that allows the audience to be the magician, and put thing in their hands to create perceived success. This is a great effect, but I urge you to watch Close do it, and what he adds.
Click on SOS (Son of Stunner). This will bring you to the Performance/Explanation/Phootnote page. Put the cursor on "Performance" then click the right arrow on your DVD remote. This will highlight a purple-tinted mushroom in the picture of the girl. Click it and watch and enjoy PH's Flash Fold. 9/10
Paper Propeller - John Bodine Performance and Explanation
At first I thought – Wheeee...a friggin propeller piece of paper – only stoners will like this..I know, because I started to think it was neat. Not gonna lie, I can see myself playing with this in a group setting. Not magic, but a magical experience.
Ammar Interview #2
Not one of his better interviews, as Ammar is a wealth of knowledge, but a good lesson in appreciating what we have in magic and life. Actually, I hear kids sometimes on this site, talk about how hard it is for them to get playing cards – and I look over at my stack and collection totalling 500 or more, and realize how lucky I am. Perhaps a mail out for those in need is in order.
PH Reel Magic Interview
This was a great interview – it really sums up why PH’s stuff is full of non-working material. He really believes in the organic situation of magic, rather than the magician as a performance worker. The discussion on mastery vs. astonishment is a good one – but I wish that we could discuss astonishment WITH mastery. I agreed with some of what PH said, and disagreed with the rest, no in-between, however, great thoughts for us to mull over. I would love to see some threads on the topics in this interview.
Conclusion
Well, ONE DVD left – and the journey is over – I didn’t find anything for me on this DVD either, but the PH interview put things in perspective. Most of this magic is for people that want to do magic for others to give them a gift, not make a living. I had a feeling, but oddly, there is usually a few workers in Paul’s work – and that is exactly what I found – a few workers. If I were new to magic, this DVD set would be worthwhile, not only would I get all this magic to show friends, but a few pieces that would go into my working material as I grew as a magician. There are many chances to learn in-depth theory, sleights and understand the impact of magic.
Going into the last disc, I am not unhappy, but I am not sure this was my best investment in magic, FOR ME – but I can see how it would be to a youth.
That being said – I have one more disc to watch – then I might put this up for sale at a good price, not because I hate it – but because I think a younger magician might get more out of it than I will in the long run.