World’s Greatest, Flash Paper, Gypsy Monte

L&L Publishing’s World’s Greatest Magic – Cannibal Cards (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: Cannibal Cards.

This is a routine that requires you to have a bit of a fun personality, so it makes sense that a guy like Bill Malone or Juan Tammariz or even Michael Ammar would have a spot on this DVD, but Larry Jennings? Michael Skinner? Eugene Burger? These guys are all killer magicians, but it’s hard to tell a goofy story about cannibals and pygmies in an cardboard jungle when you are a serious and stiff as Larry Jennings was… then references to “gastric juices…” yucky!

I found Eugene’s presentation a decent variation and rather interesting, but the presentation just appeared to be something out of his element. It felt very contrived. But again, his take on it was much different from the standard plot, so it’s definitely worth watching.

My favorite, no big surprise, was Bill Malone’s. He added a few little flourishes and his amazing personality to make it super flashy and fun performance piece. Michael Ammar’s was my second favorite… It was just a simple straight-forward fun handling.

I also liked a few really cool touches that Juan Tamariz added to his presentation… the guy, as crazy as he is, is a brilliant thinker.

Overall, if you’re interested in the collector’s theme, you need to take a serious look at the cannibal cards handling of the collector’s theme. If you’re going to look at the cannibal cards theme, then this is a good source and recommended simply for Bill Malone’s handling. It lost a point for having old rough footage of a very stiff and borderline cranky Larry Jennings. GEM

L&L Publishing’s World’s Greatest Magic – Collins Aces (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: Collins’ Aces. Let’s look at each performer’s version for a brief moment.

Martin Lewis:
Of the group, Martin’s or Elmsley’s were my least favorite… I know… burn me as a heretic! Martin’s was pretty straight forward, not a lot of interesting interaction with the audience, just sort of a “look at what I can do” demonstration. He did have a couple of comedy moments, however, that were worth sitting through his performance. The spelling ending is not my favorite way to end this, but it’s the most popular way that magicians seem to do this effect (although not part of the original Collins’ routine). However, during Martin’s performance, the audience cheered the most on this part of the routine. Chalk one up to Jeff not thinking like a lay person.

Bill Malone:
Of the group, Malone and Wagner were my most favorite. It’s tough to say which one is better. Both were much more entertaining than the others on the DVD. Bill’s is loaded with fancy flinging and false shuffles and color changes, cards flying out of the deck… it builds nicely and it super entertaining.

Although Malone essentially does Lewis’ version of Collins’ effect, he actually makes the spelling part of this routine very entertaining and fun to watch. The addition of his personality and the fancy-ness of it makes this a real show piece. It’s performances like this that make it clear why Bill Malone is such a huge success. Probably the most valuable thing, however, to learn from Malone’s routine is not the technique, but rather the fact that he truly has made this his own.

J.C. Wagner:
What can I say… I love J.C. Wagner. I’ve been a huge fan of his for many, many years. His performance of this effect is exactly why. First, unique to this version on the DVD, he doesn’t change the Ace to another card, but the card itself actually vanishes. In other words, the other routines have 1 Ace and 3 indifferent cards; Then when the Ace vanishes, you have 4 indifferent cards. With J.C. you end up with only 3 indifferent cards. The forth one (the Ace) is gone.

Also, he has a bit of a different ending which dispenses with the spelling. It’s very clever and entertaining. The whole routine is like a combo of Collins’ aces, Open Traveler, and an Ace Assembly. His style is just so low-key and laid back… It’s very casual magic. I really like it, so I’ll admit that my review of his section of the DVD may be slightly biased. Plus he didn’t spell. Thank you.

Michael Ammar:
I do enjoy watching Michael Ammar perform. He’s a magician I respect greatly, and a guy who has really put a lot of thought into his performances and his work. Unfortunately, this was not an example of that Michael Ammar. His handling was certainly fine, but it felt very scripted a bit stiff. It was also identical (nearly) to Martin Lewis’s handling and performance, including some of the lines. It would have been a good move to leave out either Ammar’s or Lewis’ because they were essentially the same. Ammar’s was a bit more entertaining, so Lewis would have been cut had I produced this DVD.

Alex Elmsley:
This one was the worst of the bunch. Sorry guys. I love Elmsley as much as the next guy, but this was super dry and very un-entertaining. You know when you’re hangin’ with your buddies who know that you’re a magician… one of your buddies says, “Hey, I know a card trick.” You know you’re in for the 21 card trick, but you just hang in there and humor the poor guy. That’s how I felt while watching Elmsley perform. To be fair, he did have a couple of moments during the “spelling” part that were funny.

And to his credit, he threw in an overhand shuffle and a faro and still was able to pull off the spelling… that’s pretty intense card work, but overall, this was probably my least favorite performance.

James Swain:
Not bad… He seemed a bit nervous. I’m really disappointed with his Explanation. In the performance he used a four Ace production that he did not explain. Also, the final Ace was vanished in a packet of Kings rather than just indifferent cards. He didn’t cover that as well. Finally, during the four Ace production, it appeared as though he messed up and produced the wrong card. He recovered nicely, but I wasn’t sure if it was intentional or not.

His ending was decent. You end up with a poker deal, but it does require some bottom dealing… not a fan of that. Although, his ending could be done without bottom dealing, but it would require you to force a packet on the spectator… not bad… and he didn’t spell!

Final Thoughts:
Long story short… Wagner and Malone saved the day on this one. Otherwise I’d be telling you to skip it, but it’s worth getting just to see their handling and presentation. I’m only giving a 3 star because for $20.00 bucks you’re getting 2 good performances and a few decent ideas from the others. gem

R. Paul Wilson’s Gypsy Monte 2003 (MRSP: $14.95):
Color Monte. Come on, admit it. You used to own a set of those cards with the rub-away painted on blue diamond, red diamond and green pile of $14.00. No really . . . admit it. I’m not moving on until you admit it. I’ll wait. See? That wasn’t so bad now was it? Of course most of us have also tried our hand at a non-goofy-card version, say an Ace of Spades, Queen of Hearts and a (apparently two) Joker. Well R. Paul Wilson has come up with what is, in my opinion, hands down the best version of this effect. Using Tarot cards, he tells the story of the person who “invented the game.”

The story is compelling, fascinating, and even a wee bit creepy (see what I did there . . . wee bit . . . it’s a Scottish Thing). I first saw Mr. Wilson perform this on his Knock ‘em Dead video.

Not only is the presentation and the final kicker incredible, but the handling of the cards has been streamlined by Mr. Wilson as well. It’s just all around a smooth concept and presentation and handling. I bought a Tarot deck just for the purpose of performing this effect. The cards used in the presentation are “Ace of Coins”, “The Fool”, and the “Death” card.

The problem I had with my Tarot deck is that the cards were so similar looking that when “Death” made its appearance, it was hardly noticeable. So much for a stunning kicker. The Cards Wilson used had a stark contrast which added further to the effect. Well when I found out that he sold this effect as a separate marketed item that came with the cards, I jumped at the chance to purchase one.

I bought it, and darn it. I was totally bummed. The cards are nowhere near as stark in their contrast as the ones used on the Knock ‘em Dead video.

In addition, the cards are laminated or something so they stick together making it very hard to perform the required moves. Included in the package for $14.95, you get 3 “Death” cards, 1 “Fool” and 1 “Wheel of Fortune” (rather than “Ace of Coins”). You also get a nicely printed 1 page (only one side) of instructions with no photos. Finally, you get some extra ideas on how to switch out the cards and end with 3 “Death” cards.

I was really hoping for the same cards Wilson used in the Knock ‘em Dead video. Obviously I set myself up for disappointment based on my own expectations. However, even if the cards were perfectly identical to the ones on the video, they are still too sticky.

As great as this routine is, I would recommend that you NOT buy it, but rather purchase the Knock ‘em Dead video for only $20 bucks more. You get the handling and presentation live (rather than just written). Plus you get a bunch of other really great effects.

Although the effect is one of the best out there, the quality of the props is too poor for me to recommend purchasing this effect. We get a 1 star rating. If the effect weren’t available elsewhere I’d give it a 3 star rating because it would be worth purchasing just to get the routine, but since it’s available on the Knock ‘em Dead video, there is absolutely no reason to purchase this product. Rubble.

Black’s Magic’s How to Make Flash Paper (MSRP $24.95):
I got this one out of Morbid Curiousity. Hmmmmmmmm. I’ve always wondered how the heck they make that wacky stuff… Don’t waste your time or money… unless you’re actually a chemist or a mad scientist, just spend the five whole dollars it takes to buy a pad of flash paper.

First of all, the whole DVD was warning after warning about how dangerous this is. Secondly, you have to have a well ventilated area that is larger than your average joe will have.

I’ll be right back… There I’m back… I was gone, what 4 minutes? I just ordered some flash paper, and I didn’t have to don 500 pounds of latex and protective equipment. I didn’t have to go get a bunch of chemicals that likely only your neighborhood terroist (or crack house) has. In fact, I didn’t even have to get up from my computer.

Trust me gang… Premade flash paper is cheaper, faster, easier and safer. At the end of the DVD, you’ll see a performance that combines flash paper with another product from Black’s Magic… It’s almost like this DVD was a really long commercial to get you to buy this other effect.

However, to be completely fair, the production quality and thoroughness of this DVD are top notch. If you truly want to make your own flash paper and are over 18, it’s worth the mere $24.00 investment to get this. My guess, however, is that most people don’t really want to make flash paper, they’re just curious how it’s made, thus: grubble.

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