$30 bucks, 10 cards and an 8 minute DVD, so what's the big deal?

Effect

Simply stated, the spectator magically matches 5 red cards with their blue card counterparts. More complicatedly stated, 5 cards with a different symbol drawn in red ink (and with red backs) are shown. Then 5 blue backed cards with blue ink drawings are shown to have the exact same images as the red cards. The red cards are placed face up on the table. The blue cards are given to the spectator who mixes them. Then deals them face down onto 5 face up red cards in any order. The magician then reveals that the spectator placed each blue card with its red counterpart.

Method

Gimmicked cards and a very well known Monte move and one other well known move are all that you need to perform this. The method is super easy and within the reach of just about any performer. In fact, the method (both the move and the gimmick) and likely a version of the effect is or has been in your repertoire. One risk you are taking, however, is that the spectator is handling the gimmicked cards. If they drop them or . . . gulp . . . turn them over . . . oopsie . . .

If you're worried about that, you can handle the cards and just have the spectator tell you where to place them. Putting aside whether or not the spectator handles the gimmick, I still think that the two moves you do in the routine are not entirely un-suspicious. At the same time, however, if you watched the trailer and were fooled, then you've got a sense of how it'll play for spectators. If you are already aware of those techniques, then you probably recognized them in this routine and already have your own opinion about their effectiveness.

I will add, however, that having the ink for the drawings match the color of the "backs" of the cards is a nice touch that really helps sell the illusion and makes it less suspicious than other applications of this method.

Ad Copy Integrity

The ad copy is accurate. The effect plays out exactly as it claims, and they even show a legitimate performance in the trailer. In fact, anyone in the know, will immediately recognize the moves and the nature of the gimmicked cards just by watching the video teaser. The only place where I feel the ad copy is inaccurate is in that the cards you get are not like the cards in the video. The cards that came with my DVD are Bicycle Rider Backs. I would have much preferred the solid blue and solid red backed cards shown in the video trailer.

Product Quality

The cards are well made and look good, but as mentioned, the cards were not like the ones advertised. The DVD, on the other hand, while well produced, is only 8 minutes long. There are six items on the DVD menu (Introduction, Live Performance, What you Receive, Basic Handling, Alternative Handling & Final Thoughts). All of that from start to finish is 7 minutes and 54 seconds.

One of the "selling" points of the advertisement seems to be that this effect is all about the updated modern symbols and how meaningful they are. Yet nothing is taught about this on the DVD. In fact, there's more information about it on the back of the DVD cover than there is on the whole DVD.

Very little time or attention is given to full teaching the potential of this routine and how to properly and effectively perform it. You basically get two different handling ideas, and you are walked through them very briefly. Further, one of the suggestions made for the second handling option cannot be done. It was a particular way of handling the cards. Doing this would actually fully expose the gimmick to anyone standing anywhere near your left side.

Final Thoughts

This one's hard to call. Assuming you like the effect and aren't bothered with the method, I still have a couple of issues with this product. First, there is nothing original about this effect or method. The only thing different is the pictures on the cards. Those pictures supposedly allow for a more personal performance, yet you're not ever shown an example of that. Further, I really don't like that the cards are Bicycle backed. I think having the cards shown in the preview would have been better. But that's a personal preference, and now that you know what you're getting it's up to you to decide.

If you do like the effect, and you don't mind the Bicycle cards, and you don't mind not being given any depth of information for performance ideas, then you'll be happy with your purchase. The cards are well made, and the method is simple.

Final Verdict:

2.5 Stars with a Stone Status of Grubble (somewhere between a gem and rubble).