If you don't know what "taking a double" means or you don't know an Ambitious Card Routine (ACR)
then you're probably not ready for this DVD. I would suggest purchasing Born to Perform Card Magic
with Oz Pearlman which will provide you with a foundation in card magic and also teach you a basic
ACR. Then buy this DVD! Even if you are a beginner the performances on this DVD will inspire you to
learn.
For the newbie magician, an ACR consists of a very simple plot; place a signed card
in the middle of the deck and it magically rises to the top of the deck. Each sequence in the ACR
seems more impossible than the one before. Like the famous Cups and Balls routine, magicians have
created many variations and climaxes over the years.
Degree of Difficulty
Moderate to
Impossible. This DVD is targeted to someone with intermediate card handling skills. I would still
recommend this to a beginner because there is so much to learn including the psychology of magic.
The DVD does teach the basic routine so you can learn the ACR from this DVD. However, this is
squarely aimed at the magician who is looking to interject some new life into their ACR.
One note on Tommy Wonder's climax sequence with the ring box. His sleight for bending a card
into eighths in about 1.5 seconds will blow you away - he warns you that it will take a minimum of
50 decks of cards to achieve and perhaps as many as 200 decks to perfect the move!
Teaching
The teaching is outstanding. My favorites are Regal, Ammar and Tommy Wonder. Wonder's ACR is
brilliant and he goes through the routine in detail. The real jewel here is Wonder's focus on the
psychology. I just can't say enough good things about Wonder. Sadly, Tommy Wonder died in 2006.
Wonder's routine has a very slow, deliberate pace and he really does a great job of teaching
why. Clearly he has perfected the timing, humor and subtle narrative that delights the spectators.
Thirty plus years of perfecting the ACR and he reveals it in wonderful detail. It's a good contrast
to Lorayne's lightening fast routine.
Card tricks do not get better than this.
Production Quality
Solid production values. There is some old video footage that is
limited by the age of the taping technology. The newer footage is top notch. The DVD menuing is
excellent.
Ok, I've already gushed enough over this DVD. The performances and teaching are
simply superb.
You must watch this!
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