Random I-Tunes Song of The Moment: Burnin' Sky by Bad Company

Wow! Am I really that lucky? The perfect song for an effect called Combustion. The bottom line is this: You're paying about $30 bucks for a lesson in chemistry. You will be taught in depth how to make the stuff needed to give the chemical reaction it takes to get the match to light while the spectator is holding it.

The DVD is a bit poorly lit, but lit well enough to see what you need to learn how to do this. The stuff you need to make this happen is all readily available without a problem. I'll likely never take the time to get the stuff and put it all together, so I'll have to put my faith in the fact that the chemistry works the way they claim. I have no problem making that leap of faith for the review.

There is no question that the effect looks extremely magical and that the audience reactions should be pretty intense. The only question you have to ask yourself is whether or not you would actually perform this effect. If you don't think you'd perform it, don't bother. There are some effects, products that I would have no problem buying even if I wouldn't actually perform the effect simply because of the knowledge of the method, or theory, etc. behind it is valuable to me.

This effect, however, is very unlikely something worth having if you're not going to do the effect. If you're curious about the chemistry involved, get it. If you want to do the effect and are willing to spend a few hours gathering the stuff and doing the chemistry, prepping the matches, etc., definitely get it.

Whether I like this effect or not (I do) has no bearing on the final verdict. The question is whether or not the ad copy is accurate (it totally is 100%), and whether or not the method is practical and doable. Though the prep work is very involved, once you've done that, that actual working, in performance, method is very practical and easy. Two last things I should point out is (1) that you don't have 100% control over when the match will light. You have an approximate window. So you'll need to be able to riff a little and be good on your feet. And (2), there were (rightfully so) many disclaimers about handling the chemicals, prepared matches and so forth. If handling the potential for chemical contamination to oneself is as risky as they suggest, I personally would not leave the match with the spectator to keep. I'd hate for them to get the chemical residue on themselves.

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