I've got some good news and some bad news. The good news is that if you're a coin worker and want some killer moves and ideas, then Dean Dill's Coin Magic 2000 is perfect. Bad news is I don't know if you can find this video anywhere. It's VHS only as far as I know, and it's hard to come by.

You get 8 effects on this video. All of them are coin assembly type effects, and for $35.00 that's a little pricey. But it's good solid material. All of it requires a table, so if you working table-less settings you'll want to pass on this. If you do table hopping, you may still have a problem. A lot of the material is more geared for a set rather than repeat performances. The coins through table routine, however could be done strolling and is quite good.

Production Quality: The sound is excellent and for the most part the video is good quality. It's a little dark in a few areas, and there was only one camera which wasn't always at the best position or zoom to get the full affect of the effect.

Call Shot: The opening effect is a combination of some shadow coins ideas and a bare handed matrix. There are some very visually stunning moments in this effect. One part of the effect, however is a bit confusing, and I can see a spectator being a little unclear as to what the effect is. As Vernon said, 'Confusion is not magic.' Overall however, this is a nice piece.

During the explanation, Dean was very detailed and thorough, but maybe a little too much. There were quite a few moments where I really wanted to hit the fast forward button - a little too long and drawn out. This effect is mostly gem with a little rubble' we'll call it a rem.

Transmission Impossible: This is a variation of Call Shot which I think is much better. It's a very clean bare handed matrix that is super clean and super visual. During the explanation when you learn how it's done, you realize just how brilliant Dean is. This is a very cleverly constructed combination of gimmicks and handling. This ones a gem.

Journey Matrix: This is the only coin matrix that uses playing cards. The handling, timing and misdirection of this effect is beautiful. One of the problems I've always had with coin matrix effects is the beginning business where you cover and uncover cards in order to get things 'set up.' Dean's version here is cleanly constructed and avoids any superfluous handling. Brilliant effect. Definite GEM!

Journey Matrix Backfire: This is just what you think it is' Journey Matrix with an instant 'reset' kicker at the end where the four coins instantly appear back under the four cards. Frankly I felt it was a bit anti-climatic. I liked this effect much better without the backfire. Also, I felt his presentation on this was a little bit sort of hum-drum, kind of like he was bored. Little bit gem, mostly rubble' grubble.

Coins Through Table: I don't do much coin work. Of the few coin effects I do, most of it is more in the hands stuff that can be done strolling without a table, so I've never really done a coins through table routine in the real world. I've played around with many versions of it, and have a few that I liked. This one would be at the top of the list of ones I would possibly do. Three coins pass through the table and land audibly into a coffee cup under the table. Visually stunning, and audibly stunning. Brilliant GEM!

Dinner Napkin: WOW! This is a two phase routine which is basically a coin matrix on a dinner napkin using the four corners of the napkin as cover rather than playing cards. This is a very simple and very deceptive routine. Although he doesn't mention it, this routine can be done with a borrowed handful of coins and the dinner napkin at the table (ungimmicked). This would be perfect if you were at a restaurant eating with some friends. GEM!

Roth's Child: I love the title of this trick. Very clever. It's an in the hands coins across routine. It was actually very hard to see in the performance. The lighting was bad, and the camera wasn't in close enough. However, you still can see enough to get the gist of it. During the explanation, he also gives some alternate handling ideas. This is a decent routine and doesn't use any gimmicks. Rem.

Peter Mui's Brainstorm: This is an instant bare-handed assembly of four coins. Four coins place into the standard matrix pattern. Then in the blink of an eye, they have all gathered together in one corner. This is pretty solid, but a bit angly. The method was partially exposed during the performance. This is not Dean's effect but rather an effect of a friend of his - Peter Mui. During the explanation, however, Dean shows a bare-handed matrix that is his own creation that he would use to preface Peter Mui's effect. Dean's preface is a very visual and very clever idea. Gem.

Closing Effect: Just before rolling the credits, Dean performs a silent routine to music that he does not teach. The routine was stunning, and surprisingly moving. It absolutely astonished me. I made me feel like a child again.

It started with a couple of matrix style coins across pieces, but ended with a complete bare-handed production of 16 coins. He literally waved his empty hands over the table and two coins appeared. Then he showed his hands completely empty and did it again until a total of 16 coins appeared on the table out of nowhere. U.N.R.E.A.L.!

It was absolutely beautiful, and I have no idea how it was accomplished, and more importantly, it was so inspiring that I actually do NOT want to know. I would rather be astonished.

Final Thoughts: Many of Dean's presentations are a bit dry as far as the patter goes' a lot of I'll place this here and take this then do that, etc. However, dean is a very skilled coin worker and his technique and slieght of hand is very fluid, smooth and deliberate. Almost every single pro I've ever seen who does coin magic is very rushed' even some of the greatest' Roth, Ammar, Sankey, Gertner and others. Dean however, is so slow (in a good way) and smooth that it's hard to accuse him of doing any funny or suspicious moves. For that alone, this DVD is a Gem.

I honestly don't know how hard this may be to get a hold of, but it was distributed by Murphy's Magic, so likely your local/favorite magic dealer can help you get your hands on a copy. It's worth the investment.

Final Verdict:
5 Stars with a Stone Status of TOTAL GEM!