|
|
Nico Zottos Elite user 486 Posts |
Hey guys. I was sent this DVD by papercrane to review. Let me start by saying that I don't know anyone at papercrane personally and my review is completely honest. Now before I begin, 4 out of the 7 effects are card revelations. While that's good, I don't know if making the majority of the DVD card revelations was a good idea (Although they are very cool methods for doing so, so I'm not complaining.) Anyways, we shall begin.
The Ad Copy: Steal This DVD is a collection of 7 effects from the mind of Eric Ross which are sure to stun even the most perceptive spectators. On this DVD, Eric utilizes everything from playing cards to rubber bands to a needle and thread. All the effects are taught in great detail with multiple real life performances on the streets of New Orleans. :: Think Ink :: A card is chosen and placed back in the deck. A notebook is introduced and a blank page is ripped out. The paper is dipped into a glass of water (or any beverage) and the selected card appears on the paper in bright color. The piece of paper can be examined before during and after the effect and kept as an unbelievable souvenir. :: Linkage :: Two rubber bands are shown and examined. The bands are held very openly and with no funny moves the bands link. This has got to be one of the most visual rubber band links to date. :: Breathe :: This one is spooky. A card is chosen and placed back in the deck. Inspired by how Superman could freeze things with his breath, you blow onto a nearby window and their selection appears in the fog. The greatest thing about this one is that no gimmicks are required. :: Xplode :: So visual and so unexpected. A card is selected and lost in the deck. When the first attempt to find the card fails, you instruct the audience to picture their card on the back of another playing card. With a flick the card explodes to reveal their selected card. :: Wager :: This is a card and bill transpo that gets screams! A bill is borrowed, folded and placed into the spectators hand. A card is then chosen from the deck. Upon inspection of the deck their card has vanished and a dollar bill is in its place. When they open their hand it is revealed that they are now holding their selected card. :: Book Smart :: Mentalism meets magic in a new and fun way. A spectator selects a page from a book, inspects it and notes the page number. A card is then chosen and placed back in the deck. The spectator is instructed to burn that card into their mind. Startled, you say, "I told you to burn it into your mind, not the book." When you go to the selected page... their selected card is now burnt into the page. :: The Infection :: This truly bizarre effect allows you to thread your ear piercing with a needle and thread and allow a spectator to rip the thread straight through your ear. This is a beautiful performance piece that will make you stand out from the common trickster. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Think Ink - This is a really good idea. It is similar to Watermark by Mathieu Bich and Liquify by Richard Sanders and Bill Abbott in effect. The methods are completely different. The thing that sets this apart from the other effects for me is that the prediction appears in color and really stands out. There are no angle problems with this and set up time is less than a minute. The gimmick needed is easily bought for a few dollars at most retail stores and can be carried around with you so you can set up extra on the go. This can be done with a borrowed deck and is completely examinable. This is my favorite from the DVD. Linkage - This is yet another linking band effect. A lot of them have been coming out lately and I have to say, this one is pretty cool. The method Mr. Ross teaches can be modified slightly to have a completely examinable effect. This was mentioned on a different thread. Other than that, this is really workable. No extra gimmicks, no bad angles and its a very direct effect. Definitely workable. Breathe - This is a card revelation on a window. It's an interesting idea but I don't think I will be using this one. There are a lot of, in my opinion, better ways to reveal a card. That being said, I also am not sure how well this will work in warmer climate regions because you need to fog up a window. This may be something you do on occasion but I feel this was the weakest in the DVD. Xplode - This is a card revelation on the back of a card. Its a neat idea but my only concern is that when you flick the card, the pieces go flying and land on the floor. I feel that spectators are smart enough to piece together the method for this. don't get me wrong, this is a really nice visual effect but I just think it might be a little obvious. The angles for this are okay. Mostly just perform for people in front of you and you should be fine. The gimmick takes about 5 minutes to make and you don't need a new one unless it wears out or you want a different card. Mr. Ross uses a blank card in this effect to help make the gimmick but in my opinion, its a waste and it just complicates the construction when you can easily do it with a regular card and no tracing. Wager - This is another favorite from the DVD. Its a very clean trick and very simple to do. The gimmick takes about 5-7 minutes to make. You will need a special card to complete the gimmick, but only if you want to end looking completely clean. If you don't have this card or don't want to ruin one, you don't need to. It just allows you to show the back of the folded card. There are hardly any angle issues for this and theres no sleights in this at all. Its almost self working. This is a really cool effect. Book Smart - This is an awesome concept. The way its used on the DVD is a card revelation but I don't think that is the strongest way to use it. I think a card revelation in a book is kinda lame to be honest. It takes a little time to construct but its worth it. At the end of the explanation Mr. Ross gives us some bonus ideas. One of them is that you have the spectator stop on a page, they tear it out, you make it vanish and it is restored back in the book. This, to me, is the strongest use of the concept. Altogether its a really neat idea and also has no angle problems. The Infection - This was released a while ago by itself. Im not into the whole geek magic type thing nor do I have ear piercings but for people that do, I can see how this would be cool. Theres definitely a gross factor when you pull the string through your ear. There arent a lot of angle issues, mostly just secret moves you need to get done quickly. For those of you that like these types of effects, I definitely recommend trying it out. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Well that's it. That is my review of Steal This DVD by Eric Ross. Overall I would give this a good recommendation if you are into cards because that's what this DVD is all about pretty much. If you would like to purchase Steal This DVD or view the Demo, please visit http://www.papercranemagic.com/ . I hope this review helps some of you out and if there are any questions feel free to ask. Thanks! Nico Zottos |
ted french Inner circle Columbus Ohio 1946 Posts |
Do you like easy effects that kill? Of course you do, I can think of two effects that make this DVD a helluva bargain. 1. Think Ink- the gimmick(easily found at many stores) does everything and is a very magical effect in the sense that the spectator will see something happening. There are other effects like this on the market sold on their own but this is hands down the best method for the lazy magician. I speak for myself here. 2. Wager- for the simple reason that I have seen this perfomed and it kills. Simple gimmick and simple routine. I think their is merit in all the effects on the DVD but these 2 are a lot of fun to play with and will make magicians very happy.
P3
practice practice perform. |
Dan Bernier Inner circle Canada 2298 Posts |
Okay, enough with the word, "Kills". (lol) It sounds like something a 12 year old would say to describe something. Can we not come up with a better descriptive word than, "It kills".
Don't take offense to what I said Sean. I think this is the first time I've heard you say it. I suppose I've heard it so much now, that it's become redundant and absolutely meaningless when reviewing a trick. I consider the word used when a lack of any real thought has gone into describing the real results one gets when performing a trick. But, I agree with everything else you said. By the way, I was looking through Papercranemagic website and noticed that I have purchased everything on there except the extra's that were already on previous DVD's. How do I get a coupon for a discount on the next release?
"If you're going to walk in the rain, don't complain about getting wet!"
|
ted french Inner circle Columbus Ohio 1946 Posts |
Gospel, I agree the word is overused I never realised it until you mentioned it. It's sad because it's a great word and coming from a musical background its a very common phrase. Jerry Lee Lewis was nicknamed the killer because his effect on audiences. I think when you hear something like "it kills" or "its a worker" or the many other magic marketing cliches its a red flag and the product probabaly isn't that great. Now having said that I think this DVD is killer lol.
P3
practice practice perform. |
Dan Bernier Inner circle Canada 2298 Posts |
LOL!!
:) No red flags for "Steal This DVD" by Eric Ross. Another thumbs up for Papercrane Magic. By the way, very good review Nico Zottos. Nicely done!
"If you're going to walk in the rain, don't complain about getting wet!"
|
Craig Petty V.I.P. UK 2298 Posts |
Hi Guys,
Myself and David Penn reviewed this DVD on the latest edition of the Wizard Product Review. Check out the link below and let us know what you think! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwmHwvHKZk4 Thanks Craig |
Miraclemakers Special user INA 685 Posts |
Just watch the DVD, Not Bad, but too many card revelations......
|
Jean-Luc.R. Inner circle QUEBEC - CANADA 1488 Posts |
This DVD is sold 99 cents right now at Penguin Magic
|
1KJ Inner circle Warning: We will run out of new tricks in 4385 Posts |
Why does this show up as the number two entry in the "new arrivals" in Penguin? Has something changed?
|
The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » Dvd, Video tape, Audio tape & Compact discs. » » Review: Steal This DVD by Eric Ross (0 Likes) |
[ Top of Page ] |
All content & postings Copyright © 2001-2024 Steve Brooks. All Rights Reserved. This page was created in 0.05 seconds requiring 5 database queries. |
The views and comments expressed on The Magic Café are not necessarily those of The Magic Café, Steve Brooks, or Steve Brooks Magic. > Privacy Statement < |