First blush impression after watching DVD:
Torn & Fuzed This is one of those times that
the method is cooler than the trick itself. You could have given me a hundred guesses on the method
and I would have been wrong a hundred times. Very clever thinking. Unfortunately the effect leaves
something to be desired. In a perfect world, youd tear off the foil exposing the gum, then grab red
foil from a different pack and reseal it with the odd color. Not sure fuzing has quite same impact
or even makes much sense. But the method...
Push Through Another very clever effect. If
you gave me one guess on how this one was done, Id get it right. Yeah, I (and Im sure many of you)
have a pretty good idea from watching the demo how this must work, but none-the-less, very smart
thinking. I imagine there could be some room condition issues here, but I like.
MentalGum
Super clever. Not sure if Id really work this hard to regularly perform this, and it is
angle-sensitive, but I love the effect and the thinking.
Marked- I figured this might be a
dry erase marker trick. I was wrong. I like. Super simple and smart. I was afraid the demo might not
be fair, but it actually is. Unquestionably my favorite effect on the DVD. And probably the only one
I would perform with any regularity.
Overall, I love this DVD and wish there were more
releases like it. It reminds me of how Jay Sankey and Paul Harris used to think. And its exactly
the kind of stuff youd find in Paul's AOA books. My most creative (though not always most
practical) thinking took place years ago when I filmed Catapult! I had more time to screw around and
experiment back then. Clearly these guys have that kind of time. Im jealous. Watching this makes me
want to pick up a pack of mints and stare at it until it gives.
Very inspiring stuff,
here. Nice job guys.
5 of 6 magicians found this helpful.
Sticky has been my favorite magic purchase in quite some time. I am a Hypnotist, so I love magic
that can be presented as influencing the thoughts of others. So I bought this for the Marked and the
Mental Gum presentations but the Torn & Fused and the Push Through presentations also blew me away.
On to the review:
Dvd quality and production. It is pretty good...I never expect
George Lucas type directing when it comes to Magic DVD's the camera work was decent and the sound
quality was pretty good. The outside performances are in German but you will understand what is
going on because Kevin explains it so well on the inside performance. 8.5/10
Torn & Fused:
Very clever I wasn't thinking "Why didn't I think of that" because I don't think I ever would have.
I was thinking "how did they think of using that product to do that. The set up is easy. The
handling is pretty straight forward. It should not take more than a couple minutes of practice to
get the one move down. Score 9.5/10
Push Through: I know its a funny thing to say about a
trick using gum but this is pure eye candy! The method is incredible. It's a forehead slapper
because you can't believe your eyes just deceived you like they did. 9/10
Marked: Mentalism
at its finest. Uses an incredibly easy method so you can concentrate on presentation. A one time set
up and you can do this anytime anywhere. You can even use a spectators new pack of gum. 10/10
Mental Gum: This is the main trick I bought the DVD for and it does not disappoint. The method
is fantastic, The set up is easy and extremely clever.10/10
You can tell that Kevin and
Olli put a lot of thought into this DVD and asked themselves the questions that we as magicians
would have asked. They have taken their time and created some really organic pieces of astonishment.
47/50 is incredible for a DVD and I am impressed.
5 of 6 magicians found this helpful.
I love these tricks. The best ones (in my opinion) are the mentalism effects. Both effects are so
easy and clever and the best part about it is that the spectator does all the magic (in the eyes of
the audience)! I love any effect where you help a spectator realize and connect with the magic
within them. Very powerful and it will get huge reactions (because they applaud for themselves).
Very entertaining watching a magician perform in German. Great quality dvd. Highly
recommended.
Great work gents!
4 of 5 magicians found this helpful.
This was a great purchase. All four routines are easy to perform. You wont be disappointed.
3 of 4 magicians found this helpful.
It is nice to see that multiple tricks that using a chewing gum is included in a single DVD.
Although none of them are impromptu, the preparation is not hard and the handling is easy. Most
importantly, the effects look very cool and organic.
The DVD is well produced, all tricks
include studio and live performances and the teaching is very clear and easy to follow. Highly
recommended.
3 of 4 magicians found this helpful.
This was well worth the money. The tricks taught are all very easy to do (with superb methods, well
taught and the effects are both organic and commercial with little reset involved
3 of 4 magicians found this helpful.
Just recieved Sticky and I can say that I am extremely happy with my purchase.
You would
never be able to guess how Torn and fuzed is done no matter how many times you watch the video or
see an actual performance. I really like this effect. It can used with a variety of gum packs that I
have already found thta have different and unique back designs. Even though this is my least
favorite trick on the DVD it is very creatively done Kevin.
When I first tried Push
Through I didn't think it would look this visual.. Easiest trick to perform on the DVD and it really
looks like pure magic in front of the spectator. I think many people will figure out how it was done
however. Just my thought.
Mental Gum is fantastic. There is the angle issue. Not great for
a large group, buy easy to pull off for 2-3 people. A little bit of management is needed here. The
reason I really enjoy it is that the gum can be popped out of the pack after you have revealed the
marking on it. Really nice work Kevin. This will fry peoples mind. Nice mentalism touch here.
Marked is a fantastic gimmick. You are very creative in coming up with this. Just a small amount
of practice needed on where to postion the pack and create the magic. I think that this will be
performed the most by myself to friends and family. You can even use their borrowed pack of blister
gum. Best trick on the video by far.
Thanks for a great DVD. Cant wait to see what you
come up with next.
Magicmalk
3 of 4 magicians found this helpful.
I already have several blister gum tricks in my back pocket that I perform every week. This one
only expands that routine so that the couple that I have make sense in a full walk up based on a gum
pack alone.
I gave it 4.5 stars because it is priced to high for the depth of teaching $25
would be more reasonable. You are going to have to think CONCEPTS here. The magic theory is great.
The routines are too short and lacking in punch, so you will have to take the concept and make it
great.
Which isn't hard to do, you'll just have to do it yourself.
The prediction
piece is the best one. I have handed the pack out with the gimmick in place to my toughest critics
and they did not discover what i did to choose their square...so easy, I wish I would have thought
of it and made $35 a pop on it...
Buy it if you want to learn some great concepts to add to
your gum routines.
2 of 2 magicians found this helpful.
This is a really cool DVD it was helpful and the gimmicks are very easy to make
1 of 1 magicians found this helpful.
Kevin Schaller and Oliver Smith are clever young men. Very clever young men. They have devised
various ways for an apparently ordinary Trident pack of gum to become a vehicle for killer magic
and/ or mentalism effects.
This is one of those DVDs where the secrets are every bit as
satisfying as the effects you see on the trailer. My favourite? Hard to choose but probably Mental
Gum. This inexplicable effect will kill spectators and the secret is seriously clever.
Schaller does a lovely job of clearly explaining the secrets, set-up and presentation.
I'm very excited to perform each of these...oh and look out for the extra effect on your My
Penguin section after purchase.
Loses a star because:
- 5 stars should only be assigned
to perfection. Can such a thing be achieved?
- I bought this as a special offer, but 30 dollars
full price is quite hefty
1 of 1 magicians found this helpful.