Random I-Tunes Song of The Moment: Under the Bridge by The Red Hot Chili Peppers

Rock Paper Lies Review

One DVD, 2 PDFs, 23 minutes, 25 bucks and one Rock Paper Lies Review. Is it gem or is it rubble? Stay tuned to find out.

Rock Paper Lies Review: Effect

Two spectators play a game of Rock, Paper, Scissors while you are turned away. Next, they each choose (secretly) to be either a liar or a truth teller. They can choose to be either role they'd like, and they can both be the same role, or they can both be different. It's a free choice. This can all be done with you out of the room.

You are able to come back in the room and impossibly reveal which role each of them played, who won the game of Rock, Paper, Scissors, and which object (i.e., rock, paper or scissors) each of the played. This can be done 100% with no props. It's all just an oral conversation, nothing more.

Rock Paper Lies Review: Method

The method uses a clever principle that allows you to determine all of the information. It's based on a Banachek effect and is used here with not only Banachek's permission but his endorsement. What Jay Di Biase has done to the original effect takes this to a very clever and deceptive new level. This is definitely an improvement on the original version. It takes a little bit of mental agility, but very little. I'd say that this is a very simple concept that even beginners can grasp.

Rock Paper Lies Review: Ad Copy Integrity

The ad trailer and written copy is 100% accurate. Believe it or not. Take a moment to read it and watch it. The only point of clarity I'll make is the claim that through body language you are able to discern everything. Of course, this is not the actual method. This is just the presentational premise that they are using. I do not feel that this is a dishonest claim, but I just wanted to make sure you were clear on what the statement meant.

Rock Paper Lies Review: Product Quality

The product quality is the only weakness in this project. While the video production quality is done well (i.e., good lighting, audio, cinematography, etc.), the teaching segment was a little bit of disappointing. While it's true, all the info needed to understand the method is there. However, this concept is the type of thing that could have been tripled in value with a simple graphic overlay or a quick little sketch on a whiteboard, etc.

The instructions were simply spoken by Jay Di Biase to an in-studio person standing next to him.. They were sort of rushed over and not enough time was given to fully teaching the concept. He did walk through an example or two with her (the in-studio person), but it was so quick that it was hard to "catch" it all. You'll definitely have to rewind. The concept is simple enough that you'll still be able to learn it. However, an extra few minutes of pre-film scripting and a few extra minutes in the editing studio to put a few graphics on the screen would have doubled the training value, possibly tripled it.

He also mentions a couple of variations from Antonio Cacace. I say "mentions" because that's about all he did. They were not taught, just quickly glossed over. Again, a couple of rewinds, and you'll get it. With the DVD, you get two PDFs. The both have the same contents, printable graphics, but they are two different sizes (i.e., one PDF has large graphic printouts, and the other has small graphic printouts).

These are images to use for doing this in a more formal setting. One is a graphic that shows the spectators (for the few who don't know this) how to play Rock, Paper, Scissors. The other graphics are printouts that can be used as sort of cue cards to let the rest of the audience secretly be aware of who won the game, who's lying, who's telling the truth, etc. These are cards that the spectators playing the game will show the audience to let them know what's going on.

They're simple, elegant and beautifully designed. Speaking of PDFs, my feeling is that this product would have been much better suited for print. I think it would have been clearer and easier to follow. However, all that aside, after watching the DVD (maybe more than once), you'll be able to do this effect.

Rock Paper Lies Review: Final Thoughts

I'm considering printing out the smaller cards mentioned above, laminating them and putting them in a wallet for my close up presentation I came up with. Either way, the effect is now in my repertoire (currently without the cards). If you like Banachek's liar logic problem and/or you like the idea of propless mentalism, this is a solid effect that fits right in with what you like. You'll be happy with your purchase, and you'll be able to perform this any time, any where.

Final Verdict:
4 Stars with a Stone Status of gem.

Available at your Favorite Magic Dealer. Dealer's see Murphy's Magic for details.