Magic Tricks

Leipzig Would Have Loved This! (4/5):
This is a great effect using the old "Switch or Deal" Rouse. The downside is that you have to carry around an extra packet of 26 cards, and there's a discrepancy move that I have a hard time believing will fly for a real audience. However, I'm willing to be wrong about that. I'm still considering using this effect if I can come up with a way around the discrepancy. I really like the impact. Basically, the spectator shuffles a packet of cards. Yet the order of the "randomly shuffled" packet matches that of the other packet. It's very powerful.

Three-Packet Triumph (3/5):
I've got mixed feelings brothers and sisters. This is super visual and pretty and looks real, but you have to have a table. I can't remember the last time I was able to perform with a table. If you are a performer with such luxuries as tables and close up pads, then you'll want to check this out for sure.

Logic Faced Triumph (4/5):
This is nice because you don't need a table, and it's a magician fooler. However, it's a bit more technically demanding, but probably worth it.

Spade Shuffle (3/5):
Malone rushed through this, but it's a deceptive looking display even though the shuffle is a bit fidgety. Also, it requires a table which most people don't have when performing. One thing about watching Mr. Malone that is a bit frustrating is that sometimes he just rambles and talks a mile a minute. He needs to take a breath once in a while and slow down. This particular routine he was annoying in spades (pardon the fully intended pun). I love Bill Malone, but man . . . when he rambles on and on, it can be pretty darn annoying. After this disk, I had to take a break from watching him, so I won't be reviewing disks 5 and 6 for a few more days.

Face-Up Aces (4/5):
This is one of the few unpublished Marlo effects. It's pretty visual. It's a simple effect where the aces suddenly appear face up on the deck. It needs some motivation, but is pretty to watch.

The Unexpected Prediction (5/5):
I LOVE this one. This is Marlo's take on Vernon's The Trick That Can't be explained. It's handled a bit differently and nowhere does Malone mention Vernon's effect, so I'm not sure who the chicken is and who the egg is, but either way, there's enough extra stuff here that even hard students of the Vernon effect will find something here. Particularly the ending. I love the twist at the end, and Malone pulled it off perfectly. I really believed he screwed up. It was a beautiful moment.

Mutliple Bluff Rise (4/5):
This is a nice and relatively easy card rise that looks like the card is rising from the center of the deck. It mimics a Krenzel move where the card really does rise out of the center - That Krenzel guy is crazy! There's also a beautiful color change added to this as well. The card rises, then in a blink, it's a different card . . . Beautiful!

The Ace of Spades Trick (4/5):
This is basically the old routine where you keep on forcing the same card on the spectator. However, for some reason, the impact on the audience was much more powerful than I would have ever expected. Considering the fact that during the explanation, Malone admitted that he messed up a couple of times during the performance, I'm even more blown away. During the explanation, he showed what it was supposed to look like. Believe me; this will nail just about anybody you show it to. It takes some seriously sensitive fingers, but it's within' reach.

Follow the Leader/Buffaloed (5/5):
This is basically a self-working effect that take some presentational skills and a little bit of guts, but man it looks freakin' impossible. Very pretty, and super, super clever.

School For Gamblers (3/5):
This is a cheat expose style routine. It's a show off piece, but requires some serious work. You need a table for a bunch of table shuffles, and you have to be able to do some heavy duty false dealing. He also rambled a lot . . . again . . . which is starting to drive me a bit crazy! As always, however, there were a ton of great card control tips. I've said this before, but in case you ignored me last time, when Malone handles a deck of cards you really feel like and believe that he is truly mixing up the deck all the while, he has more control over the cards than Demeter has over fertility. That's a lot boys and girls.

Quick Cull Miracle (2/5):
Decent effect, but way way way too fidgety.