Random I-Tunes Song of The Moment: Night Songs by Cinderella

Imagine that you just discovered the double lift. Then you decide to make a DVD about all the possibilities with the double lift. First you show that you can change a king into a queen. Then you go into the explanation where you explain and show that the effect was accomplished with the double lift. Then you show that you can change a nine into a 4. Then you go into the explanation where you show that the effect was - surprise - done with a double lift.

Then you get a little creative and show that a 3 turns into a blank face card. Then you do the explanation section where you teach the unbelievable method of using a double lift.

You get the idea? Well this DVD is a coin DVD, not a card DVD, thus the method is not a double lift. However, every single effect uses the same method. There really is no reason to 'explain' the method after each performance of the effect. It would have been better to show an effect (performance) or two, then teach the method and the general principle. Then continue showing various effects you can accomplish with the principle.

On occasion if the effect required a slight variation on the principle then - and only then - a further explanation could be used. It was just overkill. Going back to my double lift example, it was like each explanation for each effect he was assuming we'd never heard of a double lift.

Additionally, the DVD was - other than repetitive music in the foreground - silent with subtext in either German or English for your convenience. Yep, no speaking. Plus you get to stare at some unknown person's dimly lit and grainy looking hands for the entire length of the film. The subtitles were extremely small, and blended in way too well with the background, so they were darn near impossible to read. Add to that the fact that they stayed on the screen just long enough for you to read the first word or two, and then they we're gone.

Most of the tricks had absolutely no meaning. For example, one effect was that you draw a 3 on a the president's head (on a 50 cent piece) then magically change it to an 8. Another effect was that you draw a 4 on the president's head and you magically turn it into an 8 . . . really !? Come on!

During a few of the performance segments as he did a shuttle pass to switch in a borrowed coin for a prepared coin, the borrowed quarter magically becomes a prepared 50 cent piece . . . really!? Come on!

The menu had an annoying feature . . . whenever you clicked on anything, there was a full second delay before anything happened.

Finally, what about the basic idea? Actually, the idea alone is a 3.5 to 4 out of 5. However, the prep work is a bit of a pain. It's not instantly reset-able (if you're not strolling, this is fine), and the effect is pretty quick and just about over before it starts. However, with some thinking and a little creativity, you may be able to salvage a principle that you may want to incorporate into one of your coin routines . . . thus . . .

Final Verdict:
2.5 Stars with a Stone Status of grubble (a whole lot of rubble along with some gem)