If you've read my reviews, you know that I'm not afraid to "share" my opinion, and I really try to call a spade a spade. I'm pretty critical of the products I review. Because of that (and other reasons) I truly respect the opinion of other reviewers, and have no problem with other reviewers having a different opinion from me.

I've recently read one such review, and I'm going to (point by point) offer my counter opinion and also point out where Joe and I agree.

Disclaimer: The review was written by a friend of mine (Joe Diamond) and the review is written about a product of another friend of mine (Cameron Francis). However, when all is said and done, I think you'll agree that I've been very fair in my assessment of both the reviewer and the reviewee.

Let's start by having you read Joe's perspective on Cameron's DVD: Click for Joe's Review

Ok . . . are back?

I'll first point out where Joe and I disagree (and agree in some cases). Then I'll review each effect on the DVD and give my final assessment. Just keep in mind that when all is said and done you're merely reading the opinion of two different guys.

Let's start with this line from Joe's Review:

Unfortunately, this DVD had many of the same problems that Cameron's previous efforts had. Unclear effects, choppy sleights and handlings, and unfunny jokes rule the day on the 90 minute disc. Cameron is not a strong or personal performer, and he keeps cracking unfunny jokes, both in front of the camera and with live spectators.

My Counter Points:

Joe says: "Unclear effects"

Jeff says:I actually felt that most of the effects were very clear. They were either transpos, changes or find a card plots for the most part. Very direct. There may be one or two that are a little convoluted, but most of them were very clear.

Joe says: "choppy sleights and handling"

Jeff says: Many of the effects were sleight free or just had a count/display type of handling. Most of the time, the handling was limited to openly looking through the deck and removing a few cards. Again, in one or two cases, I would agree that there was a little bit of fidgety handling, but most of the time I felt that that was not the case.

Joe says: "Unfunny Jokes"

Jeff says: Of course, "funny" is always a matter of opinion, but in this case, I didn't feel that Cameron was cracking any jokes (funny or otherwise). I felt that he was playing most of the effects pretty straight and didn't "crack" any jokes. He just delivered his lines and presentation. And the presentations that weren't "played straight" were not "joke cracking" presentations, they were just comedic or funny presentations.

Joe says: "The DVD case promises that the deck can even be incomplete. This is true provided the missing cards aren't aces, kings, jacks, or jokers."

Jeff says:vTo me this is an unfair criticism of Cameron and/or the project. While it's true that many of the effects use Kings or Jacks or Aces or Jokers, in every case, Cameron clearly points out that you can use any four of a kind. It doesn't have to be the Kings/Jacks/etc.

Joe says: "The effects are just variations of better effects that have come before."

Jeff says: This is actually true, and Cameron very clearly states this and credits the originals very well. These days, what isn't a variation of something old? As far as the old ones being "better" than Cameron's, I think in some cases that may be true and in others it is not. Sometimes it doesn't have to be better or worse, it can just be different. For example, my version of Vernon's Triumph is a very different handling that I use for standing-only strolling settings. It's not better or worse than Vernon's. It's just different for a different need/venue setting.

Joe says: "Cameron is not a strong or personal performer"

Jeff says: There is some truth here. Cameron has a tendency to do a lot of telling you what he's going to do and then telling you what he's doing and then telling you what he's done. I've mentioned this to Cameron before both publicly and privately. Having said that, I think this DVD shows some improvements in that area.

Joe says: "'Getting Even' is a version of 'Out of this World' with two spectators, eight red cards, and eights black cards. Not only does this variation add a move to a classic 'moveless' trick, it waters down the effect and makes it less impressive. See Jon Armstrong's 'Out of this Blah Blah' for a small packet version that has zero moves and looks much more impressive."

Jeff says: I'm familiar with Armstrong's effect, and I like it, but that doesn't mean that Cameron's is bad. I actually like Cameron's for a few reasons that you'll see when you read the trick reviews below.

Joe says: "I showed a lay person friend of mine Cameron's performance of 'The P***ing Contest' to get a lay person's point of view. Not only did she not understand the effect, she asked why he was being goofy like that, because it wasn't funny, and made him seem uncomfortable. Finally, I'll add her exact words which are almost identical to something Eugene Burger once wrote, 'It didn't look like a magic trick, it looked like he was just moving cards around in weird ways.' Interesting."

Jeff says:To me, this presentation made perfect sense. It was a great story and very funny and entertaining. Joe's friend's comment doesn't make sense to me. If you watch the trick for 2 seconds, it's clear why he's being goofy. He's imitating the characters from the story he's telling. Cameron looked completely comfortable in front of the camera. To me, the plot was very clear and the magic moments were clear. I'll grant that Joe's friend likely didn't "get" the humor, but not "getting" something doesn't mean it isn't good and/or funny. I too will quote Eugene Burger in saying that Cameron is not playing for "lowest common denominator in the room." Many of Eugene's effects play out so that only a small percentage of the people watching "get" the premise or presentation. That doesn't mean it's not good.

Joe says: "The final verdict is that if you want to learn REAL, commercial, usable, impromptu card magic, the classic books like Royal Road to Card Magic,and the Card College series are the REAL ultimate resources."

Jeff says:Of course that's true. And I'd be willing to bet that Cameron would 100% agree with that statement. However, the existence of those books does not negate the value of other products.

With that said, let's look at each effect. As I break down each effect and comment on the pros and cons, I think you'll find that I'm by no means taking sides here. I'm merely trying to make sure that the DVD and Cameron get a fair shake just like everything else I review.

Trick Reviews

A few of the effects have a lot of talking with nothing happening before getting to the effect. In those cases I think that it does take a little too long to get to the magic. However, even in those cases, the effect is still pretty solid. Ace Thang is one that starts a little slow but is still a great effect in the end.

I've mentioned this many times before . . . I don't dock a product for tricks I don't like, and I don't dock a product for bad performances. I'll certainly comment on both, but my review is strictly about the quality of the product itself (bang for buck and production qualities), how practical and legitimate the methods are and how much the product lives up to the ad hype. If you don't like the presentation, don't use it. Create your own. If I don't like the trick, it's not fair for me to say it's a bad trick. Everyone has different preferences and styles. So focusing on the methods and practicality of each effect, below you'll find my commentary and a star rating on each effect (1 to 5 - five is best).

Ace Thang (3.5)

This has a great premise and a real presentational concept with a lot of potential. However, this one out of everything else on the DVD has a lot of running through the deck and repositioning cards in front of the spectator before any magic can happen.

Sly Cheese (3.5)

Pretty solid quickie that is a good follow up from Ace Thang. Nothing Earth Shattering but still solid.

Interchangeling (4.5)

Cameron teaches (and credits) an excellent force that I was unfamiliar with. Additionally, this effect is very clean with a clear plot and a clear effect. You clearly place 3 Jacks in three pockets (yours or the spectator's). Spectator picks a card (say a five). All of the Jacks become fives while in your (or the spectator's) pockets.

Hofwich (2.5)

This one's a little fidgety to get set up. This particular effect has a little bit of convoluted plot that's very similar to others out there. There is, however, a very good "mixing" technique taught that has a lot of uses.

Zombieland (4.5)

This effect has a fun presentation that's logical and is an entertaining story with a lot of potential along with a very convincing display sequence.

Instinct (3)

This is a relatively standard effect that has a nice plot and premise and is easy to get into.

Killer Trifecta (4)

A Good solid three card selection routine ending with a vanishing deck. Very simple and a very good way to end a set of card tricks.

Elevation (3)

This is a nice transpo that has some pretty moments, but a little bit of fluff in the middle that is needed to "sell" the false condition that you are trying to portray to your audience. I'd likely want to streamline this part of the effect before performing it.

Wilder (4)

This one is a great trick, but it took a hit because this one can only be done with Jokers. You have to create the appearance of a lot more jokers than you really have in the deck. In the explanation, Cameron says to use Aces if no Jokers exist, but that actually won't work because that would require you to show a deck that supposedly has multiple Aces of Spades (or whatever Ace). It's a very good handling of the wild card plot and it clearly fooled India (the spectator). As long as you have a deck with Jokers, you're good to go. It's a solid effect.

Uppers (3)

Cameron seems to have an endless supply of deceptively convincing display sequences. This is another effect that proves this thesis. However, there seems to be sort of two disconnected plots happening at once. They come together in the end and can easily be better connected with the proper scripting or presentation.

P***ing Contest (4.5)

This is one that Joe's friend claimed to be non-magical and non-funny. I think nothing could be further from the truth. It was hilarious, clever and clear. It has tons of entertainment potential and a solid premise.

Getting Even (4.5)

A little bit of procedure at the beginning before getting into the effect, but the overall plot and premise is excellent and has a lot of presentational potential. Again, a common theme with Cameron's effects . . . the premise allows for some excellent presentional ideas. This is one of those types of effects that allows a true connection between you and an audience member or between two audience members. It has excellent theatrical potential.

Selected Assembly (4)

This is a clean sort of assembly/sort of transpo. This is another one that Joe was not a fan of. He didn't like the idea of saying "I couldn't find your card, so let's do an Ace trick." Frankly I don't care for that either, so I get that. However, if that's a line or an angle that doesn't work for me I won't use it. I still think that the trick is solid and magical.

In Summary

The average of the tricks alone is 3.7. Solid production quality, lot's of material but shouldn't have used the word "Ultimate" in the title. Though $35 is a bit on the high side of the pricing scale (I've seen BBM do two disk sets for the same price), it's still a solid product with a lot of great material. If you're looking for a few good tricks or ideas for impromptu magic, you'll be happy with your purchase.

Final Verdict:
3.5 stars with a Stone Status of Gem!