Just finished watching the movie. Twice.
First the Feature Film (magicians' version) on
Disc 1, then the Layman's Cut on Disc 2.
I would recommend watching the Layman's Cut first
in order to fully appreciate and enjoy the film. The Layman's Cut has all the magic, minus the
explanations of course. Although they did incorporate the explanations within the story in the
feature film as seamlessly as they could, it does seem to put a little drag on the pace and
storyline that won't be found at all in the Layman's Cut.
With the Layman's Cut, you get a
generous helping of pure entertainment; It moves along at a brisk clip, dry and subtle humor
sprinkled throughout (with an occasional gut-buster), and a wonderfully written story line,
exquisitely shot,(considering their budget) and a GREAT ending.
I would have enjoyed this
film even if there wasn't a single real trick in the thing at all!
But that being said, the
card tricks are fantastic. My favorite is Glenn West's "Color-Changing Deck" routine. His "Wide-Open
Travelers" is also a masterpiece, but to be honest, I think very few will be able to pull it off
anywhere near the way Glenn does (it's hard), and it's not one of those things that you can get away
with doing, "almost as good."
On the other side of the coin, you've got Ben Train's,
"Training Wheels" - a beautiful little eye-popper you can do right off the bat, as well as
Westfall's, "Hold'em Seductively", a commercial and highly visual take of Harris' "Seductive Switch"
embedded in an entertaining as hell Texas Hold'em Plot. Then there's Jeff Hinchliffe's, "Oil and
Water", another you can do right "out of the box." Really well thought out.
For the faro
guys, you've got Ben's "Detour on 51st Street", a real gem, presented as a demonstration of
incredible "Shuffle Tracking", as well as Hinchliffe's total butt-kicker, "Harmony". Probably one of
the most exquisite demonstrations of full deck control with Triumph embedded into it that you're
ever gonna see. (The latter however, is one reserved for the real faro shufflers out there, not the
"I can pull off one or two in a pinch" type guys like myself.)
This film (and it's a real
film - not just another "magic video") is a work of art on so many levels that I can't possibly do
justice to it if I were to attempt to discuss everything that deserves attention. (Even if I were
qualified to discuss film making at any level.)
All I know, is that if you don't buy it, at
least make sure that you see it. You're gonna love it!
Jack
Don't Miss This One
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