Random I-Tunes Song of the Moment: The Saga Begins By 'Weird Al' Yankovic
Worst DVD menu navigation EVER! Man . . . the menu is split half French and Half English. I couldn't find a 'Play All' button. When I selected the first chapter of the English section, it started playing with no speaking (just music in the background) with French Subtitles. Then the first chapter finishes and starts over, so I have to go back to the main menu and start over . . . eventually I got through all of the chapters. It seemed random, that some would have English subtitles, while others would have French subtitles.
When navigating through the menu, some of the stuff that's in the French section of the menu is labeled in English. Sometimes the English portion is on the right side of the page, other times it's on the left. The buttons on the navigation don't quite stay in a consistent location.
It was a freakin' nightmare, so how's the trick? Well, I was a bit annoyed that when I went through the DVD menu, I could never find a section that showed the performance, so I never got to see the effect, but rather only a walk through of how to set up your gimmicks and how to the trick - a walk through of the method.
Once I survived the menu excursion, and I tried to block it from my memory, I was able to attempt to analyze the effect with a relatively unbiased perspective, and believe me . . . that was not easy.
Before I discuss the actual effect, let me say this: whether you like the effect or not, the instructions are very thorough and detailed. You don't even need to read the subtitles. The video speaks for itself. Along with the DVD, you get a very well made gimmick. The effect itself is very clever. Have a card selected, examined and signed. Shuffle it back into the deck. Put it back in the card box. Place a sticker on the card box. Wave your hand over the sticker . . . it vanishes. Remove the cards from the deck. Let the spectators look through the deck and find that their signed card now has a sticker on the back of it.
If you like that effect, then this DVD will give you the props and the information you need to do it . . . assuming you can find the information as you wade through the jungle that is the menu.
As good of an effect as this is, a definite downer is that you have to somewhat dedicate this deck to the effect. Once the trick is over, you can use the deck for any other effect with no problem. You probably could use it for other effects before performing this effect too, but only very limited effects . . . certainly nothing that used the whole deck. If you don't mind that, and you're not afraid of the menu, and you like the effect, and you don't mind spending $40.00 you just may enjoy this.
For $40.00 you get the gimmick and the 30 minute long DVD. After taking all things into consideration . . .
Final Verdict:
2.5 stars with a Stone rating of gem with a very, very, very small 'g.'