Random I-Tunes Song of The Moment: Back Home Again By Cinderella

Well . . . I've got some pretty heavy mixed feelings/thoughts about this one. The question I basically have to answer for all of my reviews is If you (the reader) like this effect, will you be happy with your purchase?

I rarely try to judge the effect because everyone has different taste. I will, however, comment on the fact that I think it is stupid to put a lit firecracker looking object in a spectator's hand. I would never do this effect the way it is taught. However, with some modifications, I would use this. In fact I have a presentational idea that I'm working on as we speak - one of my changes would be that the spectator would NOT be holding the dynamite stick.

However, let's take a look at a few things:

• Advertisement Copy
• Method
• Product/Production Quality

Advertisement Copy

The ad copy claims this is safe. Although the "dynamite" is essentially a red tube with some flash string in it, I wouldn't call this safe. If you watched the demo, you saw how frightened people were when holding onto the "dynamite." The often dropped it or threw it or panicked in some way, shape or form. I think that you're risking someone throwing the stick, falling, being scared and getting hurt from their frightened reaction. The actual prop itself is pretty safe, but when putting it in the hands of the unknowing spectator, it suddenly becomes a lot more dangerous.

Second, it claims that it "resets in seconds." This is technically true. However, the reset involves threading a new fuse (not supplied) onto an end cap and reloading it into the stick of dynamite. This is not the kind of thing you can do as you're walking from one table to the next. Further, when ad copy mentions reset time, it kind of implies that you'll be repeating the effect multiple times in on night.

I'm not sure that this is the kind of effect for the type of venues where you're repeating multiple times in a night. For a set show or maybe once or twice at the end of the night maybe . . . to me this is more a stage or parlor type of thing . . . a one off.

Third, it claims "two different outcomes." I'm not sure what the heck that means.

Finally, the box claims that you can "learn it in 5 minutes." If that's the case, don't you find it a bit odd that the DVD is over 35 minutes long. It took longer (a lot longer) than 5 minutes just to explain how the effect works. So learning it in five minutes is a dishonest claim.

Method

The method itself uses a fuse that you must supply (more on that later) for the ignition part. It uses a sap trap (a little thing that pops a small red cap much like the hammer of a cap gun) for the bang part. Two methods are mentioned for using the sap trap. One is a very smart method for setting of the trap and is explained well. The other method however is to place the sap trap inside the dynamite stick. But you're never shown how to trigger the mechanism or how to use it. It makes absolutely no sense.

Further, in the demo, you'll notice on the signed card performance a note on the screen says that an alternate fuse method is used. What that is, how you get it or what it does, etc. is not discussed at all anywhere on the DVD.

Finally, for the reveal, as you saw in the demo, the card is found inside the dynamite stick. Unless you plan on having a whole stack of dups, you'll have to reuse that card every time you perform it.

Even with all these issues, the overall method is pretty sound.

Product/Production Quality

For $40 bucks you get a less than stellar DVD and all the props (except for the fuse) that you need to perform the effect. As mentioned, there are two types of fuses you can use. One is a very common thing you can get from your favorite magic dealer. The other one however, is never discussed at all. It's just mentioned that it exists. The problem I have with this is that I would prefer to use the other method because of the way it appears to burn in the demo. However, I don't know what the fuse is or where to get it.

The DVD quality is poor, and it's a shrunk down window screen with no speaking. It's all text with all three languages (English, French and Spanish) shown on the same screen at the same time. Then it cuts to close ups showing the moves with background music. The video portion of the explanation is actually pretty good. It's well lit and very clear.

Final Thoughts

As mentioned above, the teaching was lacking. Things were not covered (e.g., one of the fuses, how to use one of the sap trap methods). So here's the bottom line, if you like the effect, I think you'll be happy with the method (barring the missing fuse and sap trap items mentioned). You'll be able to perform the first demo shown in the trailer as is with no problem. The props themselves are well made and will easily do what the ad copy claims once you supply your own fuse.

For the lack of instruction on the second fuse and second sap trap usage, some points were lost. For inaccurate ad claims, some points were lost. I mentioned that I would do this effect with some modifications. However, the one major, major problem is that I would need to use the second type of fuse, but I have no idea what it is or where to get it. Many of you may find yourself in this exact situation.

Final Verdict:
2.5 Stars with a Stone Status of Grubble (a gem that is surrounded by a lot of rubble)