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This is a collection of card tricks by Gerry Griffin compiled in a 3 DVD set.

The premise: This is being advertised as a compilation of extremely visual and entertaining card tricks involving the four Sevens (some people reveal the aces, some people reveal the kings, Gerry is famous for revealing the Sevens). The set comprises 22 routines (including the 2 bonus).

Price: £26 (€38.5) to £45 (€67) (the whole set); £13 (€19) to £18 (€27) (each DVD)

REVIEW

Image quality: Standard DVD quality, good angles and camera work.

Content: What a load of garbage! This has to be the worst set of DVDs to ever see the light of the day.

If you look at the 22 routines, you'll be lucky to pick 5 original ones: all the others are sheer reruns or basically the same trick being done in a slightly different manner. If you watch the set from top to bottom, you'll spend most of your time watching the Sevens' backs changing colours and old card-twisting routines.

Also, pretty much all the tricks require some kind of setup: extra Sevens, double backed cards, DF cards, deck pre-arrangements... And none of this gaffs is supplied with the DVDs! Gerry's solution? "Oh, just glue two cards together and you'll be fine..." Oh, please! As for cleanup, forget it! Gerry must carry around 10 different decks all the time, because the majority of the tricks leave you with an extra set of 7s or a stack of gaffed cards in the middle of the deck, which you can't use to perform a different trick right after.

The problem is that the tricks themselves aren't worth the effort. There's nothing stunning nor visually amazing to learn here, only boring old tricks that you could learn for half the price or come up with yourself. Even Gerry's audience (2 women with the IQ of an hamster) seems to be bored during his presentation.

As for Gerry, he must be the most boring magician in the Universe. His presentation is flat and old-fashioned, soaking in lame jokes and laughable fade-out lines. Although he's pretty slick and elegant with a deck of cards, you'll notice that he doesn't perform many of the necessary sleights that well. However, he is a good teacher and the explanations are very clear and understandable (if you manage to stay awake, that is).

CONCLUSION

Save your money and stay away from this DVD set.

lol that's pretty harsh. Thanks for the tip. I did manage to find his "40 Ways to Force a Card" DVD very handy though. As you said, his explanations are really very clear and easy to follow.

lol that's pretty harsh

Actually, I've heard the same about this DVD compilation. I've seen the promo's for the set and whilst they look petty good, even they looked repetative if you watch a few times.

I don't think Gerry has bettered Queens out of Control.

Cool, I won't waste my money on it then. Thanks for the info, guys!

CumQuaT wrote:lol that's pretty harsh. Thanks for the tip. I did manage to find his "40 Ways to Force a Card" DVD very handy though. As you said, his explanations are really very clear and easy to follow.

Yeah I caught a look at that DVD. Couldn't believe it when he spilled the cards all over while teaching one of the forces. He just nervously picked them up as though nothing had happened. And they didn't even bother to redo that one explanation?

Its funny how a mans reputation as a good performing magician and teacher can be changed by doing routines that Magic Makers wanted. Gerry had no say in the editing or video style. In this business a good agent can get you good booking and the opposite is true of a bad agent. MM is the bad agent and I would not care how much they offered I would not associate myself with them. Give Gerry a break.





regards
Al

The Effect

Volume 1: Learn How to Perform Impossible Card Magic

Do you want to learn the card techniques and routines that dazzle the best in magic? Seven amazing routines are performed and revealed in detail by card expert Gerry Griffin.

* Gerry's Red Hot Sevens - One at a time, the Four Lucky Sevens are shown to have blue backs, but in the end, they are all RED HOT!
* Technicolor Sevens - The Lucky Sevens are popped out of the deck and placed into the middle only to magically appear on the top with a change in appearance.
* Shaken, but not Stirred - A new deck is shuffled and the aces are cut to the top only to be taken over by Sevens as the shuffled deck hasn't been stirred.
* Swivel Spin Pop Shot - A flashy cutting of the Lucky Seven, using four eye-popping moves including Gerry's own Blind Swivel Cut.
* SEVENS: With A Twist - Four Aces are placed on the top of the deck, one by one they twist into the Lucky Sevens.
* Ribbon Change - Blue back Sevens are placed within a blue deck only to change their appearance before your very eyes.
* A Lesson In Cheating - Gerry teaches how the Lucky Sevens can hide at the top and bottom of the deck as well as his own coat pockets.

Special Bonus Feature: Behind the Magic

Volume Two: Learn Card Magic That Will Fool Them All

Do you want to learn card magic that will impress the best in magic? Gerry Griffin is back in action teaching SEVEN more expert routines that are sure to amaze...

* Turn Over Pop - One at a time, the Four Lucky Sevens pop to life, before your very eyes.
* Gerry's Lucky Sevens - Come and find out how the Sevens stand out in a crowd, that's why they are Gerry's Lucky Sevens.
* Seven Seconds - A Simple routine that anyone can do. Even in Seven Seconds!
* Gerry's Luck is Turned - Gerry shows us how his luck got turned during a poker game with the help of his Lucky Sevens.
* FAN-Tastic Sevens - See how the Sevens pop from the deck, just to show how FAN-Tastic they are.
* Gerry's Luckiest Seven - Gerry tells us which of the Sevens is his Luckiest even though they are all special in their own way.
* SEVENS: Undercover -Go on a Top Secret "undercover" mission with the Seven's as they rise to the occasion. Unreal!

Special Bonus Feature: Behind the Magic

Volume Three: Gerry Takes You Backstage Revealing His Best Magic

Do you want to learn card tricks that fool magicians? Gerry's back and this time he's taking you with him, backstage that is...

* SEVENS: Unshuffled - After the deck is well mixed Gerry cuts to the Sevens as the Sevens "Unshuffle" the deck.
* Surprise SEVENS - Gerry proves how Lucky the Sevens are as he lets a spectator randomly cut right to his Lucky Sevens.
* Sevens Switched at Berth - Gerry shows a spectator how two cards can be switched right in her hands only to find out the Sevens do all the switching. Big Deal - Watch as a spectator deals cards on to Gerry's Big Lucky Seven only to find out Sevens always unite no matter what their size.
* Drunken Shuffle - The Lucky Sevens come to the rescue as Gerry's cards go thru a "Drunken Shuffle."
* Ambush - Join Gerry as he sneaks up and tries to Ambush his Lucky Sevens.

PLUS: Two Incredible Bonus Routines

Cost
Was a freebie for me. Online shops have the set for about $90 USD. I seriously, seriously hope that no one has ever paid full retail for this mess.

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)

Range from 1 to 3.


Review
The above reviews pretty much sum things up. I did want to add that a handful of the tricks require gaffes which are not included. For anyone paying $90, that's just another smack in the face. Most of the tricks require advance setup and almost all will leave you dirty. I suppose it wouldn't be that big of a deal if the effects routine together but they don't. Gerry Griffin's presentation and teaching are very dry. He uses very little expression, whether it be in his voice or with his face.

On the positive side, the camera angles are where they need to be and the menus are easy to navigate.

Overall
Extremely overpriced at $90 but this wouldn't be a good deal at $20 either. I guess the 3 DVDs are meant to make this look like a big production to justify the price tag. The DVDs are not that long and I imagine it could be condensed to one disc with a $15-$20 price tag. Even then, stay far away.