talkmagic.co.uk

The Effect

That is what is promised:

Blank is a collection of some of the most powerful card effects you have ever seen all of which use blank cards in some capacity.  Al the routines are commercial and practical - each and every effect has been tried, tested and perfected in the real world under the toughest conditions imaginable. From packet tricks to full deck routines there is something on this DVD for everyone.

Included on this DVD is a full explanation of Face Off, the routine that Craig has used to close his close up card set for years and is a real magician fooler.

As a special bonus all the blank cards that you need to perform these effects have been included in with the DVD.  Now there really is no excuse to start learning these routines immediately.

Cost

£17.99

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)

3 (all sleights are basics like P**m, DL, El****y C***t, Color changes etc.)

Review

Misprint - Possibly the most visual packet trick you will ever see.  Four cards blank on both sides become printed in slow motion.  First the back print one by one and then the faces.  At the end of the routine the cards become blank again and then vanish into nothing.
This is the first trick you see in the demonstration. It's very visiual, but I don't like it too much. It's obvious that the cards are somehow gaffed. Maybe interesting for layman and good to show on youtube. Craig has a story to present it, but it's not the trick I would like to present. 3/5

Face Off - The routine that has become an underground sensation.  Probably the cleanest version of Anniversary Waltz you will ever see.  Two signed cards fuse together into one card whilst in the spectator's hands.  As an added bonus this is a total magician fooler.
At least it fooled me. This is really impossilbe. For me it's the best trick on the DVD. If it fooles magicians it fools layman for shure, doesn't it? 5/5

The Spade Trick - A signed card is lost in the deck.  A double blank card prints front and back to match the spectator's card.  Strong visual magic with a kicker nobody will see coming
No opinion on this.

Mistique - A table hoppers dream.  Everything is examinable before and after and this routine can be performed anytime, anywhere.  A signed card gets replicated four times until the magician has four duplicates of the signed card. To end the magician proves that everything was an illusion and the signed card has been in his pocket from the beginning.
It' ok. 3/5

Speed Camera Cards - This routine is what you get when you combine a clever plot, great visuals and a killer presentation.  A multi phase sandwich routine that delivers kicker after kicker right in front of the spectators eyes.  A real reputation maker.
This is the 2nd routine you can see in the demo. Actually this is the routine why I bought the DVD. You'll need s.th. for the finale which costs about 30 PBD (I'm shure you know what I mean if you watch the demo) or you do the routine without the wallet. 5/5

Wild Blank - Four blank cards are shown and in the blink of an eye change to match a card selected from a deck.  This routine hits them hard.
This is a very quick one but the cards are not examinable afterwards. 4/5

Clone Card - Three cards are chosen and one by one a blank card magically changes to match the selections.  For the finale the magician attempts to clone the entire deck with hilarious results.
I think that even layman will be able to understand how the changes are done. This trick ain't as good as the rest of the DVD 2/5

Doctor Who Card Trick - If you perform for children close up this one routine is worth its weight in gold.  Adults and children love the plot and the ending of the routine creates an impossible object that everyone cannot help but to be blown away by.
This is the easter egg. It's supposed to be a trick for children, but I think it'll work exellent for sleightly drunk and/or relaxed people in a bar (which is probably the same) etc. This trick is really fun, you can adapt the story to Star Wars or whatever you like and it is really not challanging the spectator like many card tricks do (I'm so clever I can find your card bla bla you can't catch me bla bla). 5/5

BONUS ROUTINES

Wipeout - Four cards are named and removed from a deck and then turn completely blank front and back.  This is followed with the rest of the deck turning blank in slow motion in the spectator's hands.  The best part?  No rough and smooth and an instant reset.
This is a really nice trick, where 3 cards, than the rest of the deck and then then chosen card turns completely blank. 4/5

Back To The Factory - This is a reputation making effect that will leave your audiences stunned.  A killer version of the Brother John Hammond Dream Cards plot, the routines delivers magical moment after magical moment right up to the ending where the entire pack turns blank and is instantly examinable.
I really enjoyed watching this routine, but I don't think I want to present it, because the very last move is "dangerous". 4/5

SLEIGHTS
In the sleight section Craig shows you (a bit brief) the 10 basic moves you'll need for the routines. His explation of the DL is far too short, but this is not ment to be a DVD for absolute beginners.

GAFFS
The gaffs seem to be normal bicycle quality. For the 2 bonus effects you need additional gaff decks which are not included (but not really expensive or hard to get).

Overall
4/5
If you have a faible for blank cards you can buy this!

Brought this off the man himself at Blackpool.

Right down to business.

Just watch this today and all I can say is there is some strong stuff on this DVD.
If you are into card magic then this DVD is for you.
Craig does some wonderful tricks using blank cards, I especially like Speed Camera trick and the doctor who trick (which is an easter egg on the DVD)
I could go on more about this DVD but it has all been said in a great review by Alraune.

The slights on it are easy to do and most magicains will already know them or use them.

Great DVD Craig keep them coming.