Max Maven's VideoMind Phase Two: Close-Up Mentalism
Available From MagicTricks.co.uk
Price/Costs £29.99
Product Description
This DVD features Close-Up Mentalism, perhaps the most intimate form of entertainment that can be presented in public. It requires a delicate interplay in order to achieve a balance between the charming and the disquieting. This is material designed for very small groups, or even working one - on - one.
The Review
Shape-Up
"One card has been removed from an ESP deck. A person is invited to deal through the rest of the pack, turning cards face-up one by one and stopping at any time. The stopped-at symbol is the same as one on the card that was previously set aside."
I watched this and was gobsmacked. I had an ideas of the method, but nothing really too substantial. This is a beautiful effect. It really is. The thinking behind it is ingenious. Simple, direct and with no sleights at all. Combining a few old principles, this really is a stunner. And yes, they can stop anywhere they like and yes, this will work every time. Some set-up necessary, but still a very nice effect indeed.
Changeling
"A pleasingly simple routine using a handful of ordinary coins, in which the mentalist successfully predicts precisely how many coins will be selected by the spectator."
A nice effect, that's for sure. Not quite as good as the previous one, but again an old principle is put to good use here. Two old principles in actual fact. My only gripe with this would be carrying it around as it requires several loose coins. But oh well.
Isolation
"The participant chooses which of several unprepared magazines will be used. That is opened to a random page, from which a random word is noted while the performer's head is turned away. In a convincing telepathic display, the mentalist extracts the word from the person's mind."
This is my least favourite effect in the DVD. Without giving too much away, I will say that the selection process will take some motivating and isn't completely hands-off from you. Don't get me wrong, it is reasonably clean and quite original, and is available as a separate effect from Hank Lee's website I do believe.
And as for the "convincing telepathic display" that is up to you - don't expect anything really detailed here, just do it as you please.
Not entirely impromptu - though if you carried around the necessaries you might be able to get away with using someone else's magazines, although ideally you would use your own.
Key to the Future
"An amiable variation on the classic "Seven Keys to Baldpate" effect using an ungimmicked padlock and several keys, only one of which can open the lock. This time it is the spectator whose psychic abilities are tested. Will the working key be located - and will the performer know the outcome in advance?"
This is another one that got me excited whilst reading the description on the back of the box/case-thingy but in a similar way to the Isolation effect I was somewhat disappointed by the actual effect itself.
However, that said I do like this a lot - it is much better than Isolation IMHO. Know this upfront: the effect is not that of the original classic - it is a twist on it in which it is really your psychic powers that are being tested in trying to influence someone to open the lock at a certain time. Don't really want to say too much more about it, suffice to say that this is another great effect. Everything is beautifully done with this, I reckon that it could be a magician-fooler. It certainly fooled me anyway, but I don't know about others. Your spectators and audiences will, like most of the things on here, have no clue anyway, and that's what really matters isn't it?
I really like the presenation used in this one too.
Symbalance
"A standard pack of ESP symbol cards is employed along with two participants. The mentalist divines the first person's thought-of-design. He then discerns the second person's symbol with an offbeat demonstration of "tactile intuition"."
Another one of my favourites that also fooled me when I saw it done. I was amazed! Some set-up required, but to be able to have two spectators each select an ESP symbol and mix it in with some other cards, and then to have you tell them what their symbol is and then find the other one too is a great effect. What's more it is completely hands-off from the magician/mentalist/performer with the exception of when you pluck the second spectator's ESP card from the other's pocket! You really will be pleased with this, and the thinking behind it is amazing. This and Shape Up and Positive Negative are worth the price of the DVD alone.
Positive Negative
"A lesson in spectator management, in the form of an engaging bit of prognostic pantomime with a baffling payoff. Better yet, it's completely impromptu - you can do it at a moment's notice, using borrowed items."
Hmm...not quite sure where abouts the "lesson in spectator management" comes in, although I guess seeing Max perform this is a lesson in itself...oh well, never mind - the effect more than makes up for i! That, this effect, a take on a Becker one, is great. Very small prop/item to carry around and if you don't have it make it yourself right there on the spot. This gets great reactions and is a brilliant piece of magic and mentalism. The method - more specifically Maven's twist on it - is ingenious, although I have heard of some people having problems with it. If you are one such person, PM me with proof of your ownership of this DVD and I shall give you my tips
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The Hawk
"Another impossible card routine from the "Birds of Prey" series. Two spectators select and replace cards while the performer's back is turned. They also shuffle the deck. Nevertheless, the mentalist deals through the face-down pack and stops on one selection, then tops that by promptly naming the other."
This one blew me away too. The method is yet another impossibly brilliant one, and although it does take some getting your head around and used to, it is great and realtively simple and straightforward once you have grasped it and gotten the hang of it.
And no, the cards aren't marked either
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This is the perfect closer IMHO. Actually, this itself is almost worth the price of the DVD alone. My only gripe with this is that I can think of another entirely more simple way - although gimmicked - of achieving this. That aside, this is another great one too.
Closing Comments
This is one hell of a DVD. Although you would be hard-pushed to find entirely new and original concept and ideas and principles on here (there are a few, but the majority are Maven's takes on old classic principles) every effect is incredible spectacular. This is stunning and hard-hitting close-up mentalism for the most part. So don't come looking for entirely new methods, but do come for the ingenious spins and twists that Maven puts on them. For the price, it is a tad expensive; around £20.00 to £25.00 is more around the mark, but hey-ho. Only one really impromptu piece, but don't let that put you off either.
Recommended.
8/10.
