Price$35.00
Media TypeDVD
CategoryClose Up
Date AddedFeb 04, 2006
Miracles For Mortals Volume One
Geoff Williams
(Based on 2 reviews)
ELECTRICAL ARTLET - Boom box cord too short to reach the wall outlet? No problem; just draw an outlet on a pad of paper, plug in the cord and the music starts right up! Based on a Fantasio effect and used with his permission.
UPLOOPTED - A horizontal card levitation that looks UNBELIEVABLE!
THE "I HATE DAVID COPPERFIELD" TRICK - Based on "Close-Up Illusion" by Larry Jennings, a card VISIBLY MELTS through another. The visuals here go WAY BEYOND the original.
THE OMEGA BET - Based on the Karl Fulves effect, Bob Wagner has turned this into a KILLER piece of entertainment, a 5-phase whirlwind of fun for everyone in the room! A random spectator decides the final, and most impossible, bet of all. The routine uses my false overhand shuffle (which is quite easy but appears totally fair).
MORE ON "OIL & WATER" - Sam Schwartz's wondrous 3-phase, 8-card O & W routine with NO SLEIGHTS! NONE! Thanks to Sam for allowing me to include this gem with minor handling changes.
MIRACLE COIN VANISH - This gets GASPS from spectators. Looks like real magic. (Note: a jacket or sportcoat is required)
JUST A BIT MORE ULTIMATE THAN JOHN MENDOZA'S "ULTIMATE TORN & RESTORED CARD" - The name says it all. In an e-mail to me, Mr. Mendoza (a close-up DEITY) said he thinks more of this method (of his trick which appeared in "The Book of John") than any of the "piece-by-piece" restorations out there. You're clean at the first and clean at the end. As a bonus, it's SUPER EASY to do even though the card is SIGNED ON BOTH SIDES!
Volume One Bonus Effects:
INVISIBLE DECK FINESSE - Makes using an Invisible Deck more fun than ever (and the reset is DURING the routine).
FORKLIFT - Move silverware with your mind!
4-WAY COINCIDENCE - A reworking of a stunning prediction routine by John Murray from "Card Cavalcade 3" by Jerry Mentzer (included with Jerry's permission). Use a borrowed, thoroughly-shuffled deck. There's only one real "move" (which is laughably simple).
Running Time: Approximately 1hr 50min
Reviews
(Top ▲)
I don't know how much you guys trust me, but I'm tempted to say, "Stop Reading This Review, and Go Order Both Volumes Right NOW!" This should, in my opinion be your next magic purchase. It's $70 bones for both DVDs, but it's so worth it gang. I'm not going to cover every effect, but let me give you some highlights:
Here's some of the ad copy for Volume I:
Electrical Artlet
Boom box cord too short to reach the wall outlet? No problem; just draw an outlet on a pad of paper, plug in the cord and the music starts right up! Based on a Fantasio effect and used with his permission.
Uploopted
A horizontal card levitation that looks UNBELIEVABLE!
The "I Hate David Copperfield" Trick
Based on "Close-Up Illusion" by Larry Jennings, a card VISIBLY MELTS through another. The visuals here go WAY BEYOND the original.
The Omega Bet
Based on the Karl Fulves effect, Bob Wagner has turned this into a KILLER piece of entertainment, a 5-phase whirlwind of fun for everyone in the room! A random spectator decides the final, and most impossible, bet of all. The routine uses my false overhand shuffle (which is quite easy but appears totally fair).
More On "Oil & Water"
Sam Schwartz's wondrous 3-phase, 8-card O & W routine with NO SLEIGHTS! NONE! Thanks to Sam for allowing me to include this gem with minor handling changes.
Miracle Coin Vanish
This gets GASPS from spectators. Looks like real magic. (Note: a jacket or sportcoat is required)
Just A Bit More Ultimate Than John Mendoza'S "Ultimate Torn & Restored Card"
The name says it all. In an e-mail to me, Mr. Mendoza (a close-up DEITY) said he thinks more of this method (of his trick which appeared in "The Book of John") than any of the "piece-by-piece" restorations out there. You're clean at the first and clean at the end. As a bonus, it's SUPER EASY to do even though the card is SIGNED ON BOTH SIDES!
My Commentary on each effect
Electrical Artlet (Rating 7 out of 5) - This is beautiful. If you do a parlor style act, then do this effect. Period!
Uploopted (4/5)- I'm guessing you can guess the method by the name. However, it's a clever usage of this prop. I'm not a fan of this prop, but if you use it (and I know many of you do), then you'll get a kick out of this application.
The "I Hate David Copperfield" Trick (5/5) - Sorry Mr. Jennings, but this is a better version. I know - I'm a heretic, but it's true. Whether you currently do the Jennings effect or not, do this one!
The Omega Bet (4/5) - Yet another application of that freaky Gil***** principle. Seriously freaky. The routine is a little long and drawn out, but the concept is freakin' brilliant.
More On "Oil & Water" - Funny, I don't remember this one. I'm not a fan of this plot to start with, and the fact that I don't remember it likely means that it didn't really speak to me, and I'm too lazy to go back and watch it again.
Miracle Coin Vanish (4/5) - Fooled by a classic. I love it when that happens. This is a new handling on an ancient idea. Even if you suck at coins, you can do this. It's one of the cleanest and purest vanishes of a coin I've seen, and this is coming from the guy who created the S.S. Vanish. :)
Just A Bit More Ultimate Than John Mendoza's "Ultimate Torn & Restored Card" (7/5)- This is, HANDS DOWN, the best torn and restored card I've ever seen. The thinking, design, handling, presentation, everything is perfect.
This DVD set, by far, is one of best things I've reviewed in a long, long time. Miracles For Mortals: FREAKIN' GEM
Here's some of the ad copy for Volume I:
Electrical Artlet
Boom box cord too short to reach the wall outlet? No problem; just draw an outlet on a pad of paper, plug in the cord and the music starts right up! Based on a Fantasio effect and used with his permission.
Uploopted
A horizontal card levitation that looks UNBELIEVABLE!
The "I Hate David Copperfield" Trick
Based on "Close-Up Illusion" by Larry Jennings, a card VISIBLY MELTS through another. The visuals here go WAY BEYOND the original.
The Omega Bet
Based on the Karl Fulves effect, Bob Wagner has turned this into a KILLER piece of entertainment, a 5-phase whirlwind of fun for everyone in the room! A random spectator decides the final, and most impossible, bet of all. The routine uses my false overhand shuffle (which is quite easy but appears totally fair).
More On "Oil & Water"
Sam Schwartz's wondrous 3-phase, 8-card O & W routine with NO SLEIGHTS! NONE! Thanks to Sam for allowing me to include this gem with minor handling changes.
Miracle Coin Vanish
This gets GASPS from spectators. Looks like real magic. (Note: a jacket or sportcoat is required)
Just A Bit More Ultimate Than John Mendoza'S "Ultimate Torn & Restored Card"
The name says it all. In an e-mail to me, Mr. Mendoza (a close-up DEITY) said he thinks more of this method (of his trick which appeared in "The Book of John") than any of the "piece-by-piece" restorations out there. You're clean at the first and clean at the end. As a bonus, it's SUPER EASY to do even though the card is SIGNED ON BOTH SIDES!
My Commentary on each effect
Electrical Artlet (Rating 7 out of 5) - This is beautiful. If you do a parlor style act, then do this effect. Period!
Uploopted (4/5)- I'm guessing you can guess the method by the name. However, it's a clever usage of this prop. I'm not a fan of this prop, but if you use it (and I know many of you do), then you'll get a kick out of this application.
The "I Hate David Copperfield" Trick (5/5) - Sorry Mr. Jennings, but this is a better version. I know - I'm a heretic, but it's true. Whether you currently do the Jennings effect or not, do this one!
The Omega Bet (4/5) - Yet another application of that freaky Gil***** principle. Seriously freaky. The routine is a little long and drawn out, but the concept is freakin' brilliant.
More On "Oil & Water" - Funny, I don't remember this one. I'm not a fan of this plot to start with, and the fact that I don't remember it likely means that it didn't really speak to me, and I'm too lazy to go back and watch it again.
Miracle Coin Vanish (4/5) - Fooled by a classic. I love it when that happens. This is a new handling on an ancient idea. Even if you suck at coins, you can do this. It's one of the cleanest and purest vanishes of a coin I've seen, and this is coming from the guy who created the S.S. Vanish. :)
Just A Bit More Ultimate Than John Mendoza's "Ultimate Torn & Restored Card" (7/5)- This is, HANDS DOWN, the best torn and restored card I've ever seen. The thinking, design, handling, presentation, everything is perfect.
This DVD set, by far, is one of best things I've reviewed in a long, long time. Miracles For Mortals: FREAKIN' GEM
(Top ▲)
The talented Geoff Williams has adopted and adapted nine A-list effects by such diverse magical innovators as Fantasio, Karl Fulves, Larry Jennings, John Mendoza, John Murray, Sam Schwartz, and Bob Wagner. So why is Mr. Williams teaching them here? Because through real-world technical improvements and entertaining presentational upgrades, he has beaten every last ounce of “boring” out of them, resulting in a repertoire of powerful routines that are pretty much guaranteed to hook, hold and reward any audience. In a few cases, Geoff’s contributions can be properly considered variations (e.g., his eye-popping additions to Larry Jennings’ “Close-Up Illusion”), but where his work is more accurately classified as a “rendition,” he has secured permission from the originator to release the routine.
All in all, I have no doubt that anyone who buys this DVD will find material to use, as well as derive potentially fruitful inspiration from Geoff’s ability to turn two-dimensional magic tricks into three-dimensional performance pieces.
David Acer
All in all, I have no doubt that anyone who buys this DVD will find material to use, as well as derive potentially fruitful inspiration from Geoff’s ability to turn two-dimensional magic tricks into three-dimensional performance pieces.
David Acer