Owen - if we ever meet be prepared to get a big bear hug that just may snap your spine in two . . . in a good way. Why? Because the ad copy is 100% accurate.

This DVD was produced by Big Blind Media (a.k.a. Owen Packard). The ad copy is not only 100% accurate, but they even went the extra mile in telling you that one of the routines employs a gimmicked wallet not supplied. If only all magic producers were this honest in their ad copy . . . we could have whirled peas. Five stars for the ad copy. Congratulations to Steve Haynes, Owen Packard, et al. for their classy candor and integrity.

Production Quality

Owen - if we ever meet be prepared to get a chest bump that'll break 3 ribs . . . in a good way. Why? Because the production quality is superb. I probably don't need to say too much about the production quality. If you've ever watched a BBM production, you know. Top notch lighting, sound, editing, menu, everything. Between segments we're treated to fun little moments added in during editing . . . very fun and super easy to watch. Five stars for production quality.

Teaching Quality

Owen - if we ever meet be prepared to get a locker room bum slap (in a manly way extremely heterosexual way) that'll make it hard for you sit for at least a week . . . in a good way. Why? Because the teaching segments were excellent.

The combination of David Forrest and Owen Packard is chemistry and comedy and hilarity all rolled up into a very educational and well taught DVD. Every detail is covered clearly and entertainingly. No detail is left out. Five stars for the teach quality.

Method

Owen - if we ever meet be prepared to get your leg humped by my female french poodle, Owen Jr. . . . in a good way. Why? Because she thinks your left shin is sexy.

If Steve Haynes isn't actually a genius, this concept should easily get him inducted into the club as an honorary member. The technique is simple and can be used in a huge variety of effects as we'll see below in the effects section. In 2003-ish, Jay Sankey released an effect called Uberchange on his 2 DVD set, Revolutionary Card Magic. This effect used the exact same concept, but it was applied in a different way. It was sort of used in an opposite way to this. Unfortunately Jay was not mentioned in the crediting.

Understand, however, that Steve Haynes, as mentioned in the ad copy, has been toying with this for 17 years, so it certainly predates Jay's effect. Thus it's very likely that Haynes is the originator, but for the sake of heading in the direction of completeness, I thought I'd mention the Sankey similarity.

Obviously I can't reveal the method. Let me just say that it allows you to very easily to some very impossible things. My hat's off to Mr. Haynes. Five Star method.

Effects

Owen - if we ever meet be prepared to get punched in the face so hard that you'll need reconstructive surgery and will end up looking like Cher when they're done . . . in a good way. Why? Because I'm violent when I show love.

This is the "signature effect" that you'll see in the trailer. It is as clean as it looks. The spectator signs two cards and puts one in her wallet/purse/pocket. You clearly show that you have the other signed card. It magically appears in your wallet. Then in an instant you now have the card that WAS in her purse, and in her purse is now the one that you were just holding. No duplicate signatures and you NEVER touch her wallet/purse/pocket, etc. You never go near them. This is the only method that requires a little something extra (a gimmicked wallet and a little something you can pick up at any stationary store). At the end, everything (except your gimmicked wallet) is examinable.

Quite possibly the most visual card through glass table you'll ever see. It happens face up with a signed card. You actually see the card melt through the table. It looks like real magic. The only issue I had with this one was that they said you could do this through a window or a glass door. However, due to the method used, I'm not sure how you would logistically do it. They never really explained how. Either way, if you find yourself somewhere with a glass table top . . . this is one of the most visual things you can do.

A very clean and sneaky, no palm method of Francis Carlyle's Homing Card. For the uninitiated, it's signed card to pocket . . . twice. The original Carlyle version was super clean and pretty easy. This version is very clever and completely eliminates the need to palm a card. In some respects it's cleaner than the Carlyle version; in other respects it's less clean. There are trade offs, but all in all this method is a worthy competitor no doubt. There are certainly some elements that are better than the original.

This is essentially another card to pocket routine that's instantly reset (unlike the above). This one requires that you dedicate an entire deck to this effect. The effect is that any name card is removed from the deck and signed on the face and back. The card is lost in the deck. However, instantly with empty hands you remove a card from your pocket which turns out to be the signed card. It's very clean and very easy.

This employs the principle on your business cards rather than your playing cards. The plot and premise are classic (sawing a woman in half). However, the handling on this one is a bit fidgety. Were I to do this effect, I would try to work out a different handling. It's not terrible, but it's not as clean as everything else on the DVD.

This is essentially the same effect at the Casanova Closer but it does not require the gimmicked wallet nor does it require the extra something that you can buy at your stationary store. You can do it with your regular wallet. The handling is not quite as smooth as the other version, but this one has other virtues that the other does not. As with most things there are trade offs, but either way, this effect is very easy and pretty clean.

Final Thoughts

Owen - if we ever meet be prepared to get your beard hairs ripped from you face . . . in a good way. Why? Because I need them to make a sweater for Owen Jr. . . . she gets cold.

The ad copy is honest; the method is easy, commercial and legit; the production quality is top notch; the teaching segments were super clear. What else does a DVD need for me to give it a top rating.

Final Verdict:
5 Stars with a Stone Status of complete and total GEM.