talkmagic.co.uk

I have not posted here in years, and to be honest, I feel quite guilty.

I will hopefully make up for it by posting a decent review. Now, I've searched several times, and have still not come up with a review for this, which I find hard to believe, but if there is one, let me know please.

The Effect

Taken directly from the site: http://www.theory11.com/tricks/tnr.php


A restoration. A reparation. A transformation. Just when you think the effect is over-- it hasn't even begun. A signature effect of International FISM winner Mathieu Bich for half a decade, this is a trick that defines visual magic. The restoration is a masterpiece of aesthetic perfection and technical fluidity. But what happens next will turn your mind inside out.

The motions are slow, methodical, logical, and smooth. If you were to take a card, rip it, and then restore it piece by piece-- this is EXACTLY what it would look like. Taught and performed by Chris Kenner in Las Vegas.


Cost

$24.95


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)

I'm gonna give this one a 2 to 3.


Review

Alright. When I first saw this, I was completely blown away. It looked like one of the best things I'd ever seen. I ordered it after reading a few of the reviews on the site, which were alarmingly positive. When it arrived at my house, I instantly popped in into my DVD player, and grabbed my cards.

The performed effect looks amazing. The restoration, and for that big finish, a complete card change. Wow. Chris Kenner, the teacher on this DVD, is decent. Probably the new Brad Christian seeing how theory11 is becoming the new E.

Here is my huge problem with this effect. The gimmick that is used in the trick is one of the smartest things I've ever seen. I really found the method more amazing than the trick. But when it got to the part when you learn to make it, see you later... I must have tried at least five times. I'll quote him here: "Right now, it seems kind of tedious, but I think I can make one in about five minutes."

I really find that hard to believe, Chris Kenner. I can't even make one...At all... And the ones I do finish don't work. And by "don't work," I mean it's not as up to par as it should be. The gimmick needs to be extremely exact.


Overall

Overall, it looks great. I like the trick. Not a fan of the actual method, though. I like the gimmick. Not a fan of the actual construction, though. So frankly, I'm torn (no pun intended). I really don't know how to rate this one just because it keeps yanking me this way and that way. For the value of the money spent, however, I don't think it's worth it.

I feel as if I'm depriving you if I don't include an overall rating, so I'll try.

Value For Money: 3/10

Gimmick: 10/10

Construction of gimmick: Good Luck.

Overall: 6/10

If you guys have any questions, I'll be more than happy to answer them. Drop me a PM if need be. Good to be back!

Thanks for the review I've been aware of this for a while but haven't really heard much reliable info (ie. impartial) on it. And nice to see you back by the way!

So, imagine you could make a decent gimmick in a short enough time to make it worth bothering, is the effect practical? How are the angles compared to other t+rs? Is the gimmick a one performance job or can it be used repeatedly? And why oh why does the card change at the end? To me this seems a bit odd unless you're using the effect as part of a transposition in which case it would be a tad awesome.

If I could make a decent one in a short enough time, I suppose the trick would be a little higher up on the scale, but all in all, it's still something you'd see on a street magic special.

The angles are probably the same. I wouldn't really know because I only have two torn-and-restored card tricks. But if anyone has John Lovick's Reparation (which I really, really recommend), the angles are the same for that.

Gimmick is used over and over again. Just have to manage a little upkeep on it.

Well, the routine taught on the trick is something similar to this: A magician asks a spectator to think of any card. He does, and while he is doing that, the magician goes through the deck, and pulls one card out. Let's say the ace of diamonds. He assures the spectator that this is his card. When it is revealed, however, it is not. In a fit of aggravation, the magician rips the card up. He then tries to change the pieces by waving the deck over it. It, again, doesn't work. He asks the spectator to pick a card and remember it. Let's say their card was the queen of clubs. It is then lost in the pack. The magician takes the ripped ace, and pieces it back together, showing each piece before doing so. After the whole card is restored, the magician says, "Impressive, but not the trick. What was your card?" The spectator would answer back, "The queen of clubs." And when the card is turned around, it is revealed to be the queen of clubs.

Im really thinking on buying this one... I really love it

Ah so there's a decent routine too, good good. I might get this at some point as the blurb is actually right for a change when it says 'if you were to tear up a card and then put it back together this is what it would look like' or somesuch.

I just bought it orderd the dvd+instant download so I got get started straight away.

I didnt have the correct tools to hand to make my first gimmick, so it was a little rough.

Watched the video once and then went and got supplys and made my first gimmick (with out the dvd to see what I had rememberd!)

All in all id give my gimmick a 8/10, Had a little play with it and the restoration effect does look pretty good.

All in all Id say it was worth the money, but it is a gimmicked TNR, dvd does explain how to start and end pretty clean, but I thinking about it there will be plenty of room to make it your own.

The only other TNR routine that I know is Torn, by Daniel Garcia which I have been playing with for quite a few weeks now and have it pretty smooth ,but needs a bit more work.

Why did i buy TNR,

Due to how simple the reviews made the effect sound, i decied it would be a good effect to do, so I had a different method of resotoring a card, plus the added bonus of being able to do the transposition at the end.


All in all I would rate it:
9/10 the effect (With the right presentation)
8/10 ease of making the gimmick, does need to be made almost perfect!
9/10 for price, around £18 for the dvd+instant download.