Title: The One 2.0
Creator: Anthony Stan
Publisher: Magic Smile Productions
MSRP: $ 25
Skill Level: Intermediate
DVD Run time: 44:33

Type of effect: card to impossible location

Manufacturer's Write Up:
 
From the mind of Anthony Stan all the way from France, The One 2.0 allows you to realize real miracles. With this method, you can switch a folded card in a cleanest and simplest way.

Imagine a folded card on the table (under a glass for example) or in the spectator's hand. This card will not move until the revelation and will remain visible during the trick.
A freely and signed card is lost in the deck. When the folded card is opened, the spectator sees that it's exactly his signed card!!! It looks simply impossible.

You can realize this incredible effect at any time and with any deck of cards.
You need only a deck of cards, no box and no envelope.
Nothing to add or to remove from the deck of cards, you are always ready!

Anthony teaches in detail how to realize this effect in an impromptu way or with a gimmick. Other applications are also explained (Any Number And Any Card, Transposition, Bonus...). The method can be used with other objects: business card, paper with prediction, banknote...

How accurate is the ad copy? I don't agree that it's "easy" to do. There are a few sleights involved that are not necessarily "easy" for everyone. Even if you take Anthony's advice to make one of the sleights "easier" then you have to be able to force that card.

What's in the box? DVD and two gaff cards

Key points:
 
A devastating effect which you can realize at any time and with only a deck of cards.
The spectator can open the card himself.
Easy to do
Instantly reset
Multiple applications and bonus
DVD in English and French (Gimmick included)
 
How are the production values: Good angles, well microphone, Anthony Stan speaks with a French accent, so it can be a little hard to follow.

Is it well taught: Anthony gives you several versions of this effect, depending on your style and preference, but he does not pause and "teach you" how to do any sleights. So forces, controls, the double lift etc, are all things you will need to know prior to going into this effect.
 
That said, Anthony spends over 30 minutes on various principle and twisting variations of this effect, including a Transpo two card Monte, A lighter reveal, A color change, a suit jacket switch,
 
Storage? Does it "pack flat?" All you need is a deck of cards (and a little something exra)
 
Does it "play big?" since 'card to orange' the impossible location card trick hits like a ton of bricks and Anthony's version is no exception.
 
How practical is this in the real world? (can it really be done?) all You need to be able to do is control a card to the bottom and the mercury card fold​
 
How original is this idea? It's a neat idea, it felt a lot like a Jay Sankey effect married to the old "card in can" effect

Overall score: 9/10
 
+ If you want to see my full review with even more of my opinions and ideas you can visit this link: https://youtu.be/yjd_j1wF-7s

Title: Thought Wave Extreme
Creator: Gary Jones & Mark Bendell
Publisher: Alakazam Magic
MSRP: $ 36.35
Skill Level: beginner
DVD Run time: 25:46 minutes

Type of effect: prediction style card effect

Manufacturer's Write Up:

Gary Jones is very well known for creating 100% commercial routines, which play as well to the Lay Spectator as they do to magicians. Thought Wave Extreme is no exception!

With Thought Wave Extreme Gary and Mark has taken a principle and given it a new lease of life with an incredible double hit mind reading card routine.

Effect

You start by writing a prediction (sight unseen) on a business card, Post- it note etc. The card is folded and placed on full view on the table.

A small card which contains 52 different symbols is examined by your spectator who then merely thinks of any one of the symbols (this is a totally free choice).

You now write something on another card and once again fold it and place it in full view. At this point you have committed to two predictions without your spectator giving you any information or saying a single word.

You now ask your spectator to draw his symbol on the outside of the first piece of paper. The second prediction is now placed onto the spectators hand and they name aloud the first playing card that comes in to their mind (absolutely no force) they now write their thought of card on your second prediction.

You draw attention to a deck of cards which has been on the table since the start of the effect. The cards are removed and shown to have images drawn on the back of each one. You remove their freely named card and the card with the freely chosen image on its back.

I bet you can see where this is going!! Your spectator now opens your first prediction (the one they have drawn their image on) and it reads the 5 of clubs. When they turn over the card it is in fact the 5 of clubs!! You now state that the second prediction was even harder as the spectator could name any card. When they open prediction number 2 they see you have drawn a clock. They turn over their freely named card only to reveal a clock on the back!!!

This really is a 100% commercial routine that has been well thought out and packs a very big double punch!
 
How accurate is the ad copy? Spot on accurate

What's in the box? Complete With High Quality Special Deck, Plastic Symbol Card and full instructional DVD.

Key points: No Memory Work, Instant Reset, No Switching of Predictions in any way, No Sleight Of Hand Totally Self Working
 
How are the production values: this is pretty much Peter Nardi and David Loosley talking in a room. It's well edited and well layed out, easy to follow. This is a well put together DVD
 
Is it well made: the deck of cards is top notch and brought to you by the good people down at Phoenix playing cards - and it's engineered with German perfection

Is it well taught: Yes it is, it's a little under 30 minutes, but Peter Nardi is a great teacher and he really gives you all that you need to know. (but listen closely when David Loosley says to "take your time.")
 
My thoughts (what I personally liked/disliked): I loved that this combined my two favorites of mentalism and card magic. I loved that this is both high impact and self-working.
 
Storage? Does it "pack flat?"  all you need is the deck of cards a pen and something to write on.
 
Does it "play big?" I think so, I think free choice mentalism is about as powerful as you can get in magic.
 
How practical is this in the real world? (can it really be done?) yes, this is a player. This is real world magic.
 
How original is this idea? Nobody else believes me, but "for me" this trick is very similar to DeTour DeForce by John Bannon

Overall score: 10/10
 
+ If you want to see my full review with even more of my opinions and ideas you can visit this link: https://youtu.be/gAjs7GXdU18

Title: The Experience
Creator: Peter Turner
Publisher: World Magic Shop
MSRP: $35
Skill Level: Intermediate
DVD Run time: 1 hour 22 minutes

Type of effect: Mentalism Lecture

Manufacturer's Write Up:

Peter Turner has very quickly established himself as one of the world's leading mentalists.

Due to his forward thinking and ability to design a beautiful premise behind a routine, he is in constant demand as a creative consultant, lecturer and entertainer.

This DVD will give you access to a fulfilling EXPERIENCE in which Peter reveals the techniques and his personal philosophies behind ACAAN, PIN CODE DIVINATIONS & UNEXPLAINED PHENOMENA.

Most of the material uses very little or is entirely prop-less meaning that you can add these as stand alone routines or use them to enhance your existing material. Sit back... relax... enjoy THE EXPERIENCE
 
How accurate is the ad copy? spot on accurate

What's in the box? DVD only
 
How are the production values: filmed like a live lecture, it's not meant to be shiny and polished.

Filmed at LADS 15 "Lectures and Dealers" September 2015 
Peter was a lecturer along with
Morgan Strebler
Sean Heydon
& Arron Jones 

Tricks Taught:
1. Phone Lock - UNLOCK
2. Birthday Guess
3. encyclopedia of stage hypnosis - impromptu stage hypnosis
4. Two card choice- truth and lie
5. Any card to any number
6. And there are some number tricks with a phone calculator

Peter talks about
verbal acrobatics - dual linguistics
discussion of the berglass effect
How has Magic changed your life
The importance of consulting with someone
and answering the heckler who says, "If you're a mind reader what am I thinking of right now?" (I loved his response)

Is it well taught: Peter follows a train of thought, but he's a very organic teacher and he allows the moments to flow into each other. He tries to cover all of his material, but at the same time really tries to answer the questions of the audience.
 
My thoughts (what I personally liked/disliked): I loved his stories, examples and theory even much more than the tricks itself and I think that's the benefit of getting something like this.
 
How practical is this in the real world? (can it really be done?) like most of Peter's work this is really geared to stage mentalism.  These are not tricks that work as well on your friends.

Overall score: 10/10
 
+ If you want to see my full review with even more of my opinions and ideas you can visit this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fU5z9D2TuSo

Title: Eclectica
Creator: John Carey
Publisher: RSVP
MSRP: $ 30
Skill Level: intermediate
DVD Run time: 1 hour and 55 min

Type of effect: DVD of Close up Magic

Manufacturer's Write Up:

John Carey is back with a brand new collection of powerful and practical card and close up magic. Streamlined in a way he has become respected for, John shares 15 commercial effects on this new DVD!

No pipe dreams, just very strong doable effects with cards, a coin and even a commercial sponge ball routine!
 
How accurate is the ad copy? Spot on accurate

What's in the box? DVD

Key points: Everything uses a normal deck of cards (aside from the coin and sponge ball routines) but nothing extra to buy or build.
 
How are the production values: Well done, nice non-distracting set, two lovely assistants, good camera angles, well microphoned and all shot in HD.
 
How is the teaching? John is a good teacher, but he's not really patient. What I mean is most of the performance videos are longer than his explanations. He doesn't hold your hand through every sleight. John also is great at crediting his inspiration and pointing you to great resources. A couple of the effects didn't have live performances, 2s company, spitsville and mental sandwich, so it would have been nice to see the routines.

Is it well taught: John speaks quietly but carries a big stick. The DVD is nice and long, John covers a lot of ground and the live performances are great, but John goes over the moves fast, and routines fast, he doesn't hold your hand through these.
 
My thoughts (what I personally liked/disliked): This is a great DVD jammed packed with a lot of good quality magic.
 
Storage? Does it "pack flat?" uses only a pack of cards
 
How practical is this in the real world? (can it really be done?) these are all real world workers
 
Overall score: 10/10
 
+ If you want to see my full review with even more of my opinions and ideas you can visit this link: https://youtu.be/jWOd9cqVIVI
 
 
 

Title: I.D.D. 
Creator: Chris Rawlins 
Publisher: Vanishing Inc.
MSRP: $10
Skill Level: beginner
DVD Run time: 20:26 minutes

Type of effect: Drawing duplication

Manufacturer's Write Up:

Chris Rawlins is back with an offbeat and amazing solution to the classic drawing duplication. As in the classic effect, someone is invited to walk away from the group and draw any shape or thing she likes. You are able to duplicate what she drew with uncanny accuracy. 

What makes this cool and so very different from what has come before is that you are NOT glimpsing information and then re-drawing it. You are not FORCING the spectator to draw something predetermined. Nor do you rely on any kind of pre-show at all. Instead, you rely on something so basic but also so unsuspecting that we think this will fool you. It fooled us! What you see in the trailer is EXACTLY what it looks like in real life. Nothing has been doctored or left out. 

How accurate is the ad copy? It's true without giving too much away, as with most magic advertising, they always tell you what it isn't to draw you away from what it is.

What's in the box? DVD only

Key points: The DVD teaches the entire routine, which is easy to perform and easy to make. 
 
How are the production values: lacking, poor choice of venue, no microphones for the actors, even though it had a nice surprise from Luke Jermay at the end, with only 20 minutes of instruction, I felt.... wanting more.
 
Is it well made: You get to build the gimmick yourself and it will come at a much higher expense. Expect to spend another $20 or so building this.

Is it well taught: Chris gives you what you need to know, but I still would have appreciated something more. More content, more tips, more "live" performances. The lady in the add draws an anchor and I can't believe THAT was her choice.
 
My thoughts (what I personally liked/disliked): I liked the creative approach, I didn't like the complexity of the gimmick or the "system" the gimmick uses.
 
Storage? Does it "pack flat?" It's a pack of blank business cards and a pen
 
Does it "play big?" mentalism always plays big and a drawing duplication is a classic. I think done well, this trick has a lot of potential.
 
How practical is this in the real world? (can it really be done?) here is where the wheel hits the road. Personally I don't believe this effect will "hit" 100% of the time, or even 90%. Sure you can have "outs" but you can't have an out for every possible combination. In a real world scenario I am going to pick a drawing duplication that works 100% of the time.

Overall score: 8/10
 
+ If you want to see my full review with even more of my opinions and ideas you can visit this link: https://youtu.be/uksQGGQrRjw​