I've looked for a review on these videos..unfortunately, I did find the video on amazon, with only one review.
I HIGHLY recommend this video. I have a tough time understanding british people due to their accent (I'm an american) I'm not sure if british people have the same problem with americans..
When I started out in magic when I was 10 years old (Just as old as he started) I bought the videos several years ago (Probably aroun 6 years ago.) At the time, my magic wasn't as developed, and alot of these tricks you can do, but not without some practice. I just looked at the videos again, and I can perform them all very well (Of course, I've praticed sponge ball sleight of hand for yeras, so this may be a reason why it's easier for me)
I dont' remember how much my parents paid, but at his website (
http://www.jawdroppers.com/anderson.html) they cost 60 dollars for 4 video tapes. Each one is around 100 minutes long, I believe.
However, you can go to amazon and buy one video each for less than 5 dollars (Look it up at amazon). This man is a legend in my eyes, I've never seen a better video explained in such detail. They are simple sleights anyone can do.
For example, the lap vanish. He explains that making the coin disappear by laping isn't a trick in itself; but rather, when you combine it with another action (i.e 'putting' the coin in the hand), it changes the psychology. (For example, instead of asking where the coin vanish, they will think "How did the coin in the hand vanish?") which is very important.
Again, it's not a trick in itself, but when you combine it with other effects it DOES become a trick. Very smart man.
My favorite is the business card trick. Here's how it goes:
There's no setup. It's very impromtu.
The effect:
Take's someone business card. Explain that you are going to make it disappear. The magician then takes out a pen or pencil, and taps the hand 3 times, saying the card will disappear. On the third tap, after he says tapping the hand 3 times will make the card disappear, instead of the card disappearing the pen/pencil disappears! He then explains, "Oops. I made the pen disappear!", the magician then shows the pencil or pen behind his ear. "Now, I'll close my hand again and this time, I will make it disappear.", The magician then taps his hand 3 times, and yes, the card disappears. Amazing.
This technique takes misdirection very well, and it requires pockets that are very accessable (i.e a magicians coat). However, I didn't need a magicans coat, I have shorts and it works fine. Just pcokets that are easily accessable.
For all you pro magicians out there, you probably know how this is done. Nevertheless, it's a simple yet baffling effect.
Another really good trick:
Take someone's business card, suppose the person is in marketing. Explain to the person that each time the specatlor folds the car, her profits double. Tell her that she loves to make money, so perhaps we could make some moneyt his way. The magician then tells the spectatlor to put the card on the table. The magican then asks for the spectaltor to put out her hand, palm up. The magician picks up the card, puts it in the spectator's hand, and to her surprise, when she open's up her hand, the business card changes to a 1 dollar bill! The bill is even in the shape of the card when it disappeared!