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Marvins Amazing Magic Tricks


The Effect They say " A magic set packed full of impressive, quality Magic Made Easy props and directions covering every type of magic, 250 easy-to-perform magic tricks guaranteed to amaze, impress and entertain - this is the ultimate introduction to the world of magic."

I say. Not too bad a description




Cost £19.99 from Toys r Us



Difficulty
(1=easy to do, 2=No sleights, but not so easy, 3=Some sleights used,
4=Advanced sleights used, 5=Suitable for experienced magicians only)

Surprisingly 1 to 3



Review: OK, not an item you would have expected to get a review in a serious forum. However, there have been a number of posts in the past asking about magic for childrenand this is just what this is.

My Grand daughter is 10 and has always been interested in my magic. How it is done, show me how to do etc, etc. She is on a visit to us at the moment so I decided this was a good time to get her started. This set more or less does what it says on the tin. It provides a number of easy to more difficult tricks that can get a child working with magic easilly but can also introduce them to a wider world of tricks which will require some application to learn

The box makes extravegant claims about the number of tricks included. Many of them are variations on how to work a Svengali deck, but the instruction book does offer some detail such as how to do a DL.

Included is a basic Marvins Magic quality Cups and Balls which is a perfectly acceptable starter for this effect. If you know what to look for the Yellow cup is a bit translucent and can show a give away shadow but hell, this if magic for kids by kids. I have added my own steal to the book routine and for a ten year old novice this is working pretty well.

There are a good number of other gimmick tricks of varying quality in terms of product and effect but again they are pretty good for a child to perform.

If I had a major criticism it would be that the only card effect is a Svengali deck which is such a one trick pony, in that once you have revealed the key you can't really use it again with that audience, that I think it would have been better replaced with a stripper deck.

It has a perfectly respectable Magic Colouring book which was the first trick my grand daughter picked up and which she already has a patter for.

All in all I am not disappointed with the set and she is delighted with it. There may be more intelectual ways of introducung a 10 year old to magic but I don't think they would be more enjoyable for the child and because of that I suspect that for many children they would not offer enough quick fix to encourage them to progress to more complicated stuff.



Overall: As I say above, it does what it says on the tin

Quality 6/10
Value 8/10. I wouldn't want the hassle of buying all the bits and pieces and piutting the set together myself!

I actually bought this for niece, and it is a great starter set. I recommend it, for children of course.

I remember when I started off in magic with Marvins. I think I used to think that was the only place I could buy magic from!

Some of my first tricks were Marvins and I still have a couple of them.

These sets make great gifts and some of the finest names in magic today started their performing careers demonstrating Marvins sets. I can't think of a better way to start off the next generation of magicians than with a Marvins set.

Highly recommended!

As an update, by the time my grand daughter went home, a week after she got the set she was able to do a magic show for family members with cups and balls, magic colouring book, mind reading dice, svengali deck and the magic vase where she sleeved the ball out of her own imagination. I saw what she did because I was watching closely but nobody else had any idea.

I am well pleased with what she got out of this and I think I have a next generation magician well and truly hooked!

I have to 100% agree with the last comment by dat8962, The first magic set from marvins I got was the cup and balls, it amazed everyone, and the instructions were VERY clear and easy to understand. I have since moved on to more proffesional products, but for the price and ideas (ie the actual box being part of the illusion / magic) they are great

Mr. Johnny Wizz wrote:...and the magic vase where she sleeved the ball out of her own imagination. I saw what she did because I was watching closely but nobody else had any idea.

Good deal! Makes you puff out your chest, eh, Grandpa?

Mike.

IMHO I think its great for younger generations to be learning these classic effects and tricks rather than a load of flavour of the month stuff from certain websites.

Marvin's Magic is good when it comes to introducing children to magic, but I'm not overly impressed with their offerings for "older" children. For example, their Dynamic Coins trick is far inferior to Tenyo's version. The gimmick is more obvious and it just isn't as well made. However, I guess this is because my eye is slightly more trained than your average layman, so it's obvious to me. But I would still only rate them for kids only.

Magical Trevor wrote:

the actual box being part of the illusion / magic

I'd actually forgotten about that and I have a set of these still in the original box Makes it even greater value.

Wills wrote:

I think its great for younger generations to be learning these classic effects and tricks rather than a load of flavour of the month stuff from certain websites.

I wonder which web site you're on about ? Wait a minute..... it's coming thought Agree again!

Bicycle808 wrote:

Dynamic Coins trick is far inferior to Tenyo's version. The gimmick is more obvious and it just isn't as well made. However, I guess this is because my eye is slightly more trained than your average layman,

I see what you're getting at and perhaps you've answered your own question in that your eye is more trained than a lay person. I frequently use my Marvins DC's as I don't have a Tenyo set and find that any flaw is easily overcome through the handling and presentation.

What's great about Marvins sets and kids is that they are not only taught the trick, they're a well selected set of tricks that allow you to also learn the art of performance. Not many others can boast the same, particularly if they come from a certain web site.