The Effect
http://www.alakazam.co.uk/cgi-bin/sh000001.pl?REFPAGE=http%3a%2f%2fwww%2ealakazam%2eco%2euk%2facatalog%2fsearch%2ehtml&WD=magical%20truly%20magic%20rope%20flip%27s&PN=DVDs_49%2ehtml%23a647#a647
Cost
£28.99
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)
The routines vary in difficulty but nothing more than a 3 here with most being 1 to 2 in difficulty.
Review
I came across this title on the Alakazam site by chance and having a strong interest in rope magic it was one that kicked in the CUPS.
This is one of those DVD's where there's something for almost everyone that's looking to learn some magic using rope. There are some classics included in the routines, such as the equal and unequal ropes (professors nightmare), Cutting rope without scissors etc. to keep the beginners happy and there are some nice variations on other moves such as a rope restoration from the pocket, in the middle or the rope that will keep the intermediate level rope magician happy.
I don't think that there is that much if on the DVD that is original but it's just that it's all put together quite well and in the same place, if you know what I mean.
Lots of the moves can be found on other rope magic DVD's but what interests me is the variations of these moves that are used by different magicians. As an example, both Jahn Gallos (in his Ring & Rope DVD routine) and Flip use a pocket restoration but both use a different technique in executing it. Richard Sanders (in his Fibre Optics DVD) and Flip both use a continous loop effect but again, the variations between the two presentations are interesting.
OK, so you have to be into your ropes but I can't be the only one out there can I?
If you're trying to develop your own rope routines instead of just performing a copy of the presentation from the DVD then there is enough material here to get and keep the old grey matter occupied. I particularly liked the long rope production from the short rope in Flip's own routine (routine 1) and will definately use this.
Flip's teaching is fairly easy to follow and he covers everything in sufficient detail with moves being covered by multipple camera angles. All very good. Also, all of the misdirection is covered in good detail and much of this can be put to use in other areas of magic I'm sure.
Routine Four, Halloween costume routine is pants. If the Dutch find this funny then the less said the better.
Routine Five, ring on the rope routine uncommonly uses a 10" ring from a linking ring set. Doesn't look as good as Jahn Gallo's ring & rope that uses the smaller Ninja ring size but there are some nice penetrations and again, it's presented totally differently anyway.
Overall
Overall, I liked most of this DVD and although it's over priced in my opinion by about £10 but I'm still pleased that I bought it.
If you're looking for a rope magic title that teaches a wide variety of moves and a few different routines then this is worth serious consideration as there's quite a lot on this DVD, particularly for the beginner. Some other rope titles just teach you what's needed for that single routine so typically you won't get as much.
If you're already working with rope or want to move up a notch then you'll have to decide on the value that you'll get from this title.
7/10
