- Arthur Tivoli”s Tivoliland 2
- Matt Fore’s Comedy Routines
- LL Pub’s World’s Greatest Magic – Anniversary Waltz
- John Bannon’s Bullets After Dark (2 DVD Set)
Alright . . . is there some sort of magician’s code out there that states that every time you take a pen back from a spectator, you are supposed to say, “That’s how I got it!” That line, first of all, isn’t that funny, and second of all it’s used so much and sooooooo incorrectly that I cringe every time I hear it. I think 3 of the four DVDs this line was used at least once, and in the Anniversary Waltz DVD it was used multiple times. In EVERY case, the timing, delivery, intonation, inflection, everything was way off, and it just became a stupid line mumbled beneath the breath of the spectator Ok. I feel better now.
Arthur Tivoli’s Tivoliland 2 (MSRP: $32.00)
“That’s how I got it . . . ” Yes he used that freakin’ line! However, all is forgiven since this was a pretty solid DVD. You get three full sets of performances. Each are done live at a restaurant.
Let me get the complaints out of the way first. The DVD gives you the choice of viewing in French or English. I, of course, chose English.
During the performance, you hear a voice-over person speaking English, and you can faintly hear Mr. Tivoli speaking French to his audience, but the sound on his voice was pretty much turned down all the way. In the explanation section, however, you basically are hearing both Tivoli and the English-speaking voice-over guy talking at the same time at the same volume. I actually could not sit through some of the explanations because it was so hard to listen and very annoying.
Set One:
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Set Two:
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Set Three:
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As for the routines, Russia is pretty lame and just seemed like a bunch of stuff thrown together. During the effect Silver Thread, which is a nice coin production, he does a really crappy flurry sequence (isn’t crappy flurry redundant?). His rope routine was decent, but just kind of dies off at the end.
That said, the rest of the stuff is pretty darn solid. Each act resets right in front of the audience. His ring and rope routine is beautiful. The effect called Diamond is a really visual production of a diamond. There are a few card tricks on the DVD. However, what’s great about his card effects is that all of them use blank face decks. Rather than having a card chosen, a spectator makes a drawing on one of the blank faces. Then that card becomes the “selection” that is used for the routine.
His rising deck effect has a clever novel presentational idea. There is a lot of solid material on this DVD. The only thing that I don’t like about the material is that there is a lot of stuff to carry in your pockets, and he actually brings a small wooden box to the table with even more stuff in it. However, the majority of the routines are very magical and fun to watch. GEM.
Matt Fore’s Comedy Routines (MSRP: $34.95)
When you buy a DVD called “Comedy Routines” you expect that the author/performer of said DVD is an expert on comedy. In my opinion, Mr. Fore is far from an expert. Unless the definition of an expert is someone who uses the same hackneyed lines that every single other magician on the planet uses. I’ll take that pen back. That’s how I got it . . . really . . . that one again?
Mr. Fore’s a super nice guy and is an ok performer, but he’s way too rambly and is a “let me tell you what I’m gonna do” kind of performer. His entire presentation is him telling you what he’s gonna do . . . “Ok what were gonna do is this . . . then we’re gonna take this and do that . . . then we’ll move this over here.” ARGHHHHHHHHH Let me outta here! If you’re looking for some new comedy ideas, this probably isn’t the best place to look. If you’re looking to learn how to do some tricks, this isn’t the best place to look. He uses mostly marketed props (other people’s props) and doesn’t not really teach much of anything regarding method.
There are a few exceptions, but mostly you see him perform a less than decent performance at a distance in front of a live audience recorded with a tripod and know close up. Then you go behind the scenes where he tells you “that trick used this prop, and you saw the presentation already so that’s it.”
Much of his “comedy” is at the expense of the audience members and he tends to wander around the stage quite a bit. In many of the effects, he walks back and forth between two or three tables on the stage that are not next to each other. There’s a lot of turning his back on his audience, etc. He’s just not a polished performer. I have a hard time with someone as unpolished as he is portraying himself as an expert on comedy.
Of course there were moments where the audience laughed even if the joke was hackneyed and he did have a few tips that the working pro may find useful. There is a lot of material on the DVD and you see him perform the following effects:
- Cut and Restored Tie
- Silk To Egg
- Burnt Money
- Coin in Bottle
- Arm Chopper
- Card Duck
- Chinese Sticks
- Mutilated Parasol
- Chair Suspension
- Sucker Sliding Disk (like a die box)
. . . and a couple of other things. I will say, that he has a pretty decent handling for the Coin in Bottle and Silk to Egg . . . a couple of really good utility moves. He also did have a couple of funny gags in the Arm Chopper routine. The Chair Suspension was, in my opinion, the best thing on the DVD. He had some really great gags and lines. The presentation was pretty solid. All in all, if you’re looking for a solid study of comedy magic, get the three-pack Michael Finney set from L&L Publishing and pass on this.Because there are a couple of decent moments in this DVD, I can’t fully call it rubble, so will give the official “mostly rubble” label of “Grubble.”
World’s Greatest Magic – Anniversary Waltz (MSRP: $20.00)
It’s always fascinating to see another person’s point of view on any one subject. It’s interesting to see how different people can see the same thing in different ways. That’s one of the cool things about the “World’s Greatest Magic” series by L&L Publishing. While on one hand it feels like a way to recycle product and make a few quick sales, on the other hand it’s good to have all the best minds on the same plot.
If you read more reviews from me regarding the “World’s Greatest Magic” series, you will find that they all start with these first few sentences so that each review will have the same background and foundation. So on to this particular DVD: Anniversary Waltz.
“That’s How I got it!!!!!!!!!” Really . . . all of you just had to use that stupid joke. I’m gonna barf. Now that that’s done, if the card fusion plot intrigues you at all, then this is worth your while, especially at the asking price. However, let me point out a few things.
First, the crediting isn’t very thorough. Each magician seems to give credit to a different source for being the creator of the plot. Some of the versions require a very involved set up, and most of the performers don’t explain some of the moves that they are using. Granted the moves they “skip over” are pretty common ones, Riffle Force, Cross-cut Force and a few others. Some of the versions were frankly pretty lame in their performance and had no patter. I think, presentationally (I know that’s not a word) speaking, Doc Eason’s was the best. However Garrett Thomas’s handling had a couple of really nice “convincer” moves. I also especially like Jean-Jacques Sanvert’s version. It’s a bit of a setup, but the cards can easily be palmed in. Also, the handling is a bit tricky, but there are some beautiful magic moments.
I think my least favorite is Carl Andrews’s version. There is a huge descrepancy in the handling that is too obvious to overlook. On the other hand, however, he did get a strong reaction from his audience and his version does not require any special cards.
Etienne Pradier’s version was tough to see and was over way too fast. The performance was very unfocused and scatter-brained. Also, he leaned way over the table placing his body right over the food on the table. I didn’t really find his version all that compelling. Overall, however, the DVD is good quality and there are some great ideas and even utility moves that you’ll learn. It’s a gem folks.
John Bannon’s Bullets After Dark (MSRP: $35.00)
I’ve been A fan of John Bannon for a long time. His effects from Impossiblia and Smoke and Mirrors are some of the first things that I ever studied in magic. This is a two DVD set that has a lot of great footage. There are some excellent effects and some great interview segments. Bannon has such a laid-back style and he’s so down-to-earth and likeable that it’s just fun to watch him perform.
You’ll find no knuckle-busting moves on this set, but what you will find is simple and effective magic that’s easy to perform. The “Origami Concept” and “Mr. Fantasy” stuff is killer. I was fooled by it on the video and in person by another magician. I really liked the interview segments. I wish there were more because you really get to see what’s inside of Bannon’s head and why he thinks the way he does about magic. He had a few opinions that I suspect rub some magicians the wrong way. I didn’t entirely agree with them all, but they were very thought provoking.
Bannon also had a few great lines to open some of the effects that I thought were very clever. Simply put, Bannon is a thinker. He thinks about magic; thinks about plot, premise, performance, effect and so much more. Even if you don’t watch the tricks, get this DVD (especially at the asking price) for the chance to see why he does what he does. Knowing why others do what they do is often the impetus for developing your own methods and philosophy about magic. Of the group listed here, this is by far the best value for the money, and to top it all off, he’s the only guy that didn’t say “That’s How I got it.” ABSOLUTE GEM!!
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Jeff,
I couldn’t agree more with the line “That’s how I got it!”
Having said that…here is a funny little bit you can add to it to make the line funnier and hit them with some Carrot Top delivery.
Have a pen that matches it exactly attached to a chain inside your inside pocket. Have the chain safety pinned to a note that says property of…then insert your corporate sponser or bank name. Take the pen back and put it in your inside pocket, then partially pull the “chained” pen part way out. It should look like you are holding the same pen. Then say…”Besides, thats how I got it!”
Pull the pen out slowly at first, then let the note dangle.
I used this a few times, however, I never waited for the spectator to hold onto the pen. I would just mention that I needed to get the pen back because I worked hard to steal it. As I mention stealing it, I switch pens…
Wait, no review of a Sankey Product? Did you run out of stuff to review?
@Donny – I’ve seen that Pen-Chain gag before. I’ve considered doing that. Even so, I’d still leave out the line.
@Sal – Hey man. I’ve got a ton of Sankey stuff to review. My pile of DVDs to review is literally almost 100 DVDs. It’s insane.
Great reviews, do you have an opinion on any of the Chris Capehart DVDs? I was thinking about picking one up but I wasn’t sure. Thanks
I think the line in question is okay to use. Just because WE have heard it 1000 times doesn’t mean your specs have. The old line ‘if you haven’t seen it, its new to you’ applies here. But like the any gag has to be delivered with the proper tone and timing. It seems I have heard Gregory Wilson use it, although I can’t recall on what dvd it was. If we are going to discuss lines that should be retired lets not forget ‘no, the clean hand’ and ‘want to change your mind, or are you happy with the one you have?’
@Brandon – I haven’t seen them yet. However, I’ll see if I can get my hands on a set and review them.
@OZ – I mostly agree with you. I am tired, as well, with those other lines you mentioned. However, my real beef isn’t the line itself as much as it is the delivery.
They were mere words spoken. They had no context, no meaning, no intonation, etc. It was almost as if those who use the line were trained thusly:
Whenever you pick up a pen that you have loaned to a spectator, you are to say the following words verbatim: “That’s how I got it.”
I don’t even think that these guys know what it means, or why they’re saying it. It’s just not that funny in the first place, let alone when delivered in the wrong context, which, by the way, is how it’s delivered about 99.99% of the time.