Random I-Tunes Song of The Moment: Orion By Metallica

Man it's hot in here! Lit... I believe we saw this very effect on the last Blaine special. Let me start with my one gripe about this effect, then I'll go on with the review. At the beginning of the DVD, one of the Dans states that this is an original effect. He is mistaken. Jay Sankey came up with this premise years ago. In the credits, they mention other magicians who have 'independently played around with this concept' but no mention of Sankey.

That aside, this is a killer product and definitely worth consideration. I really dig the artistic style in which it was shot. A lot of black and white footage which gave it a bit of a cool feel. During the explanation portions of the DVD, there would be flashbacks to the performance section so that you could see the move, you just learned, in action. The performances, of course, were out on the streets.

For $35.00, you get, with the DVD, 14 specially printed cards and a handful of effects taught to you. Refills of 14 per pack are only $10 bucks. One of my concerns was that I wasn't sure I'd be able to find matchbooks that matched the plain white faux matchbook that comes with the DVD. Right about when I started having that concern, one of the Dans stepped into save the day with exactly how to get matching matches... whew!

There are a couple of different match tricks taught on the DVD. For me, the self lighting matchbooks (an addition by Andrew Girard) is entirely worth the price. You literally can hand an open match book to a spectator to hold. As they hold it, the whole freakin' thing bursts into flames! It's just too darn cool.

Several different ideas regarding the handling and performance are offered. Overall, this DVD is pretty typical, production-quality wise, of most of the DVDs by young guys: Super hip and fresh editing and effects, but relatively poor quality filming in the living-room-apartment-doubling-as-a-production-studio.

I definitely recommend this, if for nothing else, the self lighting match book. 1/2 point lost for not crediting one of the pioneers of this effect... Jay Sankey.

Final Verdict:
4.5 Stars with a Stone Status of GEM!