Random I-Tunes Song Of The Moment: Her Name is Alice By Shinedown

Let's get the easy stuff out of the way first. Production quality: unbeatable . . . it's Big Blind Media. They're pretty much the best produced magic DVDs in the industry. Ollie Mealing: Nice guy; excellent technician and creator of a very clever switch that has a lot of potential. Unfortunately we don't see much of said potential on this said DVD.

The Skip Switch (5 stars)

The first thing we're taught is the move itself. It's taught extremely well and it's a very powerful switch, if you have a use for it. The first effect we're shown is an excellent use for it, but that's about where it stops. After seeing that this was a BBM production, I was excited. Then after learning the Switch, I was even more excited. Then after seeing the first effect using the move, I was even further excited. Then . . . well . . . from there, it just went all pear shaped as they say.

Edit The Equation (4.5 stars)

This is, to my mind, the best effect on the DVD. It's a really simple plot and logical and easy to follow. Don't get used to it, however. It's the only effect on the DVD that is logical and easy to follow.

In Hindsight (2 stars)

This routine, like pretty much all of the rest of the routines is confusing to follow, not a clear plot and uses too many cards. It would take a pretty lengthy paragraph to explain what the effect is.

Thirteen (3.5 stars)

This effect is the second best on the DVD, but only because of a really cool visual moment that has application elsewhere, but alas, like the majority of this material, it has overly contrived handling and bunch of extra cards that just add to the lack of clarity.

Hyenas (1 stars)

No magic happens forever . . . hard to follow and confusing plot . . . just not a clear effect. Although I will say that this has a clever application of Bill Simon's Business Card Prophecy move that could be applied in other routines.

Optimistic Mix (2 stars)

Way too much is going on here. Things are cluttered, and because of the awkwardness of the handling required, the required bottom deal needed is very NOT deceptive at all.

Home Skip Home (1 stars)

Too much procedure and 'random cards' . . . too much to follow and not a clean/clear effect. Ends with a kicker that makes the routine worse, not better.

Defence (1.5 stars)

Again, more confusing back and forth meaningless procedure that just doesn't feel like magic, sleight of hand or even entertainment.

Foolish Tourist (2 stars)

Not very magical . . . confusing transposition that is over handled.

Special Delivery (1 stars)

I'm not sure what it is about this DVD, but this is just more of the same. Over handled, busy, not very clear 'effects.'

Mirage (2 stars)

Has one nice visual moment, but . . . more of the same back and forth meaninglessness.

Palmers Revenge (2.5 stars)

This one's a little better than the previous ones, but it's pretty much the same old stuff.

There seems to be a constant theme in all of these tricks . . . it goes like this: let's get some random cards and put them over here, and your card over there . . . oh your card is really over there, and over here is this other card . . . or over here is this other random card . . .

Mealing's attempt to be smooth and flashy with the cards ultimately made things so much more confusing. Most of the routines were very hard to follow and extremely unclear. And seriously, ever single time he displayed a card between two other cards (i.e. every routine), he has the annoying habit of flicking the card every time!

Many of his gestures seem like he was sort of attempting to be showy or clever or cool . . . all they did was annoy and confuse. Just about every routine was extremely over handled and way too contrived. As The Oracle from The Matrix would say, 'I hate giving bad news to good people.'

Clearly Ollie Mealing is a nice guy. A smart guy, and a clever guy. But this is one of those cases of over thinking. In my opinion, a compilation DVD of several mixed effects that included one or two effects using The Skip Switch would have been much more bang for your buck (assuming the other effects on this imaginary DVD were good).

If you average all of the effects together, you get a 2.33 star rating.

Bottom line, you get one really good routine and the needed move to perform the routine for $25.00. Personally I don't think the routine and move is worth the cost. So . . .

As much as it pains me to give bad news to good people . . .

Final Verdict:
2.5 stars with a Stone Status of Grubble (mostly, mostly, mostly, mostly, mostly rubble, but a teeny bit of gem . . . with a little g).