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HARVEY NERZOF’S ON-LINE MAGIC REVIEWS

February 2007

Thanks for downloading my reviews. Feel free to print, incinerate, or distribute them, but please don’t alter the contents. Enjoy!
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CONTENTS:

Introduction

Welcome to the HN Magic Reviews Ebook. It contains my reviews of several hundreds of magic tricks, props, books, videos, DVDs, CDs and accessories painfully gathered in more than 20 years of magic and mentalism.

If you are a performing magician, mentalist or stage hypnotist, you drawer is certainly full of items you have never used: this gimmick needs a coat, this prop is not examinable, that trick is for stage shows only, spectators can only watch from a restrictive angle, this secret device is too bulky, that one is too noisy, people can’t talk to each other at the end of the effect etc. etc. etc. These concerns certainly sound familiar – but you discover them only after the purchase. My reviews focus on the negative aspects of the magic products, the “dark side” of the tricks, in order to provide some constructive critics and help you in assessing whether the purchase is worthwhile or not, independently from the misleading magic ads.

Please note that I do not buy, trade or sell anything, I do not belong to any magic/mentalism/ hypnosis organization, I am not acquainted with any famous performer, and I do not accept ads, sponsors or affiliate links on my website (the ads you see are part of the free hosting deal, and are not under my control): this hopefully allows my opinions to be as “objective” as possible... take a quick look at my tiny best-of and at my large magical junkyard to see what I mean.

All the reviews are also posted in the wonderful Magic Café, which is a very well-managed discussion forum; however, due to the everincreasing difficulty in locating the reviews among one million messages, I decided to create this website to allow an easier consultation (and to satisfy that egocentric feeling). For your convenience, all the reviews include a link to the relevant pages of the Magic Café, should you wish to view or post further comments. If you wish to be informed about updates, new reviews etc. you may want to subscribe to my free newsletter as well.

Hopefully these reviews will be of some assistance in your magical journey, saving you time and money in locating the best effects for your own performances. Find out what’s right for you… and enjoy!

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List of Reviewed Items

Most recent items are on top of each category:

EXCELLENT:
HN Magic Review 117: SGM Vol 19: The Magic of Tom Mullica – Tom Mullica
HN Magic Review 114: Close-up Hypnosis Vol.1: Stop-Smoking Mentalism – Fabio Tabbo’
HN Magic Review 14: Real Mind Reading DVD / videotape – Docc Hilford
HN Magic Review 6: Wonder Words Volume 1, 2 and 3 – Kenton Knepper
HN Magic Review 2: Psychological Subtleties – Banachek

VERY GOOD:
HN Magic Review 103: An Evening at the Tom Foolery DVD / videotape- Tom Mullica
HN Magic Review 82: Building Blocks – Luke Jermay
HN Magic Review 80: The Extraction (booklet and gimmicks) – Mark Ghia / Kevin Dunn
HN Magic Review 78: Floating Bill – Michael Ammar
HN Magic Review 79: Card on Ceiling – Michael Ammar
HN Magic Review 75: Easy to Master Invisible Thread Miracles DVD / videotape Volume 1, 2 and 3 – Michael Ammar
HN Magic Review 71: ESR (Electronic Slow Rewinding Invisible Thread Reel) - Magic Shop M
HN Magic Review 55: Hypnoheat - Viking Magic
HN Magic Review 54: Sussurus Arcanus audiotape– Docc Hilford HN Magic Review 51: Classic Renditions DVD / videotape Vol. 3 – Michael Ammar
HN Magic Review 50: Classic Renditions DVD / videotape Vol. 2 – Michael Ammar

HN Magic Review 47: Band of the Hand – Docc Hilford
HN Magic Review 43: Folding Bunny Bill – Robert E. Neale HN Magic Review 25: Miracles of Suggestion – Kenton Knepper HN Magic Review 20: Weerd Enough – Kenton Knepper
HN Magic Review 12: Theater of the Mind – Barrie Richardson HN Magic Review 9: Peek Performances – Richard Busch
HN Magic Review 5: 7 Deceptions – Luke Jermay

GOOD:
HN Magic Review 112: Fickle Nickel – John Cornelius/ Ronnie Gann HN Magic Review 108: Killer Konceptions – Kenton Knepper HN Magic Review 107: Kolossal Killer – Kenton Knepper
HN Magic Review 106: Visual Impossible Penetration (VIP) - Mike Powers
HN Magic Review 100: Mini Rabbit From Hat - Dick Barry HN Magic Review 99: Holey Terror II – Mike Powers
HN Magic Review 98: Peek Encores – Richard Busch
HN Magic Review 92: The Stock holder – Gregory Wilson
HN Magic Review 89: The Cantrip Codex: a Guide for the Advanced Enigmatist - Tony Doc Shiels
HN Magic Review 87: Fortune and Fate – Anthony Lindan HN Magic Review 84: Linking Life Savers / Linking Polo Mints – Colin Gilbert
HN Magic Review 69: Paper Balls over the Head DVD / videotape – Tony Clark
HN Magic Review 68: Mobile Mentalism - Mark Strivings
HN Magic Review 66: Boomerang Rubber Band – Chris Kenner/Dan Garrett
HN Magic Review 64: Psychokinetic Pen (PK Pen) - Banachek HN Magic Review 63: Celebration of sides DVD / videotape – Robert Neale
HN Magic Review 61: Psychokinetic Touches (PK Touches) - Banachek HN Magic Review 60: Wonder Pen-a-tration – Doug Edwards HN Magic Review 38: Magic with rubber bands DVD / videotape Volume 1, 2 and 3 – Dan Harlan
HN Magic Review 37: Psychokinetic Silverware DVD / videotape – Banachek/Gerry Mc Cambridge
HN Magic Review 36: Easy to Master Money Miracles DVD / videotape Volume 1, 2 and 3 – Michael Ammar
HN Magic Review 35: Psychokinetic Time – Banachek
HN Magic Review 30: Jump! – John Kennedy
HN Magic Review 21: An Enchanted Evening – Kenton Knepper HN Magic Review 1: Dynamic Mysteries – Richard Osterlind

AVERAGE:
HN Magic Review 113: Ultimate Float Controller (UFC) - Stefan Schutzer
HN Magic Review 111: Bent Cent - Ray Koenig
HN Magic Review 102: Encyclopedia of Paper Money Magic – Mike Bornstein

HN Magic Review 101: Rising Dollar Bill – Mike Borstein HN Magic Review 96: Bottle Thru Table – Norm Nielsen / Tony Clark HN Magic Review 95: Mentalism Lecture Notes – Ian Rowland HN Magic Review 76: Flickers – T. Everett Bookings III
HN Magic Review 67: Expert Impromptu Magic Made Easy DVD / videotape Volume 1– Tom Mullica
HN Magic Review 59: Perfect Pen – John Cornelius
HN Magic Review 58: Perfect Holdout (gimmick+videotape)– Antonio Romero
HN Magic Review 57: Final Book Test – Elian Agaian
HN Magic Review 56: Exploding light bulb – Yigal Mesika HN Magic Review 48: Healed and Sealed – Anders Moden HN Magic Review 32: Sense of Touch – Ian Rowland
HN Magic Review 31: Zoom – Ben Harris
HN Magic Review 29: Finger Fantasies DVD / videotape – Meir Yedid HN Magic Review 24: 5 Minutes with a Pocket Handkerchief DVD / videotape – Quentin Reynolds
HN Magic Review 23: Kentonism – Kenton Knepper
HN Magic Review 17: The Paper Rose DVD / videotape – Docc Hilford HN Magic Review 10: The Raven set (gimmick + videotape) – Chuck Leach
HN Magic Review 8: Pure Effect - Derren Brown

BELOW AVERAGE:
HN Magic Review 109: Flashback - Larry Becker
HN Magic Review 105: Another Book - Karrell Fox
HN Magic Review 104: Cut and Restored Credit Card - Mark Leveridge HN Magic Review 77: Gellerism Revealed – Ben Harris
HN Magic Review 73: Mind and Matter – Stephen Minch
HN Magic Review 46: The Elevator (gimmick + cdrom) – Peter Loughran
HN Magic Review 44: Fat-free Mentalism – John Riggs
HN Magic Review 40: Unfaked Book Test – Val Andrews
HN Magic Review 39: Brain Control – S.W. Reilly
HN Magic Review 26: Creating Material and Making Performances Memorable – Kenton Knepper & Allen Zingg

HN Magic Review 13: Classics – Bruce Bernstein

WEAK:
HN Magic Review 97: Center Tear Bill – Craig R. Dickson HN Magic Review 94: Dishalicious - Daryl
HN Magic Review 91: Ah-ha! – David Harkey / Eric Anderson

HN Magic Review 88: The riddle of Chung Ling Soo, Chinese conjuror – Will Dexter
HN Magic Review 86: Elastrix vol.1 – Ed Mishell & Abraham Hurwitz HN Magic Review 81: Making Contact -Satori
HN Magic Review 72: The Web – Jim Pace
HN Magic Review 70: The X-pert Device – Neil Tobin
HN Magic Review 62: Linked for life – Andy Leviss
HN Magic Review 52: Penomenon – J. Mirage
HN Magic Review 49: Who wants one, say I – Tom Osborne HN Magic Review 41: Miracles from the Hip – Mark Striving HN Magic Review 34: Really Linked – Bernard Sim
HN Magic Review 33: The Joining – Jeff Pierce
HN Magic Review 27: Live In Lecture, M.I.M.E 1a – Kenton Knepper HN Magic Review 22: the X Book – Kenton Knepper
HN Magic Review 19: Rants into Rave – Kenton Knepper
HN Magic Review 18: Sorcerer Series 1,2 and 3 – Kenton Knepper HN Magic Review 7: Credit Card Fraud – Brad Manuel

JUNK:
HN Magic Review 118: Shocking – Vincenzo Ravina
HN Magic Review 116: A Ghost on the Table – T. Everett Bookings, III HN Magic Review 115: Zinger – Meir Yedid
HN Magic Review 110: The Self Levitation video/DVD – Ed Balducci / Michael Maxwell
HN Magic Review 93: Super Neck Cracker (Bone Crusher) – Tom Burgoon
HN Magic Review 90: Liquidizer – Klamm the Magic Man
HN Magic Review 85: Altered States – David Regal
HN Magic Review 83: Coin Holder – Tannen Magic
HN Magic Review 74: Clipped – John T. Sheets
HN Magic Review 65: Linking rubber bands – George Murray / Norm Nielsen
HN Magic Review 53: EM Pocket Charger – Mark Allen
HN Magic Review 45: Pocket Levitator – Andrew Mayne
HN Magic Review 42: Universal Holder - Alexander de Cova HN Magic Review 28: ImMAKulate Ring Flight – MAK Magic

HN Magic Review 16: How to Perform Impromptu Levitations DVD / videotape – Docc Hilford
HN Magic Review 15: Zero Gravity – Mike Bent
HN Magic Review 11: Excalibur gimmick – Daniel Miraskill HN Magic Review 4: Compact Key – Marvoyant
HN Magic Review 3: The Eighth Maneuver – Luke Jermay

EXCELLENT

This section contains, in my humble opinion, the best magic/mental/hypnotic stuff commercially available for professional performers. Alas, you will find very few items here…

HN Magic Review 117: SGM Vol 19: The Magic of Tom Mullica – Tom Mullica

AD:

Sorry I couldn’t find the ad. Basically it is a show with explanation by Tom Mullica, filmed at Stevens Magic Emporium in the early nineties.

REVIEW:

Freaking hilarious... Yes I know, the “magic” is very basic (don’t expect some new techniques, moves or gimmick here!), and you’ll probably never perform it: but who cares about the methods, the show is just FREAKING HILARIOUS and that’s what it is all about.

As opposed to the video “An Evening at the Tom Foolery”, Mullica sits down with Mark Stevens at the end of the show and explains some of the tricks (no, not the cigarette-eating stuff). There is one thing you will (re)learn for sure: humor is a fantastic form of misdirection. For example the first card trick in the show went wrong (the spectator forgot his card!), but nobody cared. And nobody cared about the modus operandi, the moves, the “how he did that” question… spectators are just too busy laughing.

OVERALL RATING: Excellent

Read/post comments:
http://www.themagiccafe.com/forums/viewtopic.php?topic=195087&for um=111&0

HN Magic Review 114: Close-up Hypnosis Vol.1: Stop-Smoking Mentalism – Fabio Tabbo’

AD:

"I was amazed by the depth and the quality of his thinking... I can't recall the last time I saw something explained so well, and backed up by such clarity of thought." - Michael Ammar

"I am fascinated with it... I pick it up often and just dive into wherever I open the book, and there is some fascinating reading here. Fabulous." - Doc Eason

"The work is not only a complete act, but a unique perspective in audience control, pacing, and staging. I was riveted." - Marc Salem

"I was fascinated by the intriguing and well thought-out writing style. Wonderful stuff. Can't wait for your future endeavors." - Banachek

"This wonderful book not only explains 'how' to present a very strong impromptu-looking demonstration, it also explains 'why' each specific movement or sentence is critical to the overall effect... Many wonderful ideas." Chuck Hickok

"A very detailed and informative thesis on the combined presentations of magic and hypnosis." - David Berglas

"In a nutshell, this effect can be done on stage, up close, informally, anytime, anywhere and is simply a miracle." Geoffrey Ronning

"A new level of thinking. Great stuff." - Lior Manor

"It is magic in a performance/motivational sense, yet magic also in the

ancient idea of using 'illusion to create truth' - one of our mottos. The cover of the book is a powerful spell..." - Kenton Knepper

"Actual wit and intelligence wrapped up in a lovingly and artfully prepared book... A wonderfully structured and thought-through routine, described with humor and style. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!" - Bruce Bernstein

"A unique concept, also helpful to people who are trying to change harmful habits." - John Riggs

"What a great thinking! Definitely a different book, recommended to the real worker." Guy Bavli

"A very thorough, well thought-out approach. Absolutely nothing has been left out. Well done!!" - Bill Palmer

"I find it both fascinating and wonderful." - TC Tahoe

" Stop Smoking Mentalism is certainly a unique book, where you can't fail to be stunned, beyond the presented effects, by the author's preparation and care in the research and study of the elected topic. A volume that will surely be cherished by mentalism fans, but that should also be read by everyone else to understand, learn and personalize the method of analysis and the creative process." - Tony Binarelli

“There seems little doubt that, once mastered, this piece will provide a convincing ‘YES!’ in response to the question ‘Can you hypnotize?’” - Genii Magazine

“The sheer depth of thought that has gone into this presentation sets a new standard in magical writing.” - The Magician Magazine

“A phenomenal work… More than just an incredibly effective trick and a staggeringly good effect, this a doctoral thesis on performing. StopSmoking Mentalism isn't just a keeper for anyone wanting a powerful demonstration of hypnotic ability; it's a requirement for anyone performing in front of living, breathing people.” - Visions

“This is a book every magician should read. I’m sure you’ve all heard that you should be prepared for all possibilities in every trick you perform, but how many of you have actually done it? I really mean ALL possibilities. If you want to really understand what this means, and you want an example of this amount of preparation, you really need to read this book. This is truly a case where every move, every word, every gesture, every movement, is well-thought out, analyzed, and fully described. If you’ve ever wondered how to improve what you already do, or how to improve your stage presence and performance, this book is a must reading.” The Linking Ring

Effect: A spectator is asked to participate in an experiment of stopsmoking hypnosis. She pretends to smoke an imaginary cigarette, and feels as if a real one was being used: she vividly visualizes its gray smoke, smells and tastes the tobacco, feels like coughing, etc... She then brings this invisible cigarette closer to her hand, causing a noticeable warming sensation; and when she finally decides to stub it out on her hand, she feels a sharp burn! You can present the effect under any conditions: it seems completely impromptu and gimmickless, with the performer away at all times.

REVIEW:

For once I have to agree with the hypes: wonderful, extreme, controversial, brilliant book from Underwords: I have never seen anything like it in more than 20 years in magic and mentalism.

The book is the first volume of a collection called “Close-up Hypnosis”, and (as the name implies) consists in a unique blend of hypnosis and magic: you’ll never find those gimmicks and physical manipulations in hypnosis books, and such attention to wording/scripts and psychological subtleties in magic or mentalism publications. The work is also very entertaining, and easy to understand.

Now, as usual, let’s focus on the negative sides:

1. the therapists (i.e. medical hypnotists) will complain about the sacrilegious mix of “real” hypnosis and magic;
2. the book is expensive;
3. you may have to pay a few more $$$ for the gimmick(s).

In any case, the effect is an impromptu killer, the book is wonderfully written and has a lot to teach (and I do mean it, A LOT to teach!!!!) apart from the described effects.

Certainly one of my best purchases in recent years.

OVERALL RATING: Excellent

Read/post comments:
http://www.themagiccafe.com/forums/viewtopic.php?topic=195084&forum=110 &7

HN Magic Review 14: Real Mind Reading video/ DVD – Docc Hilford

AD:

The mindreading demonstrations that Doc Hillford teaches you on this new video are so real that you'll be believing them yourself. This is an incredible suite of three effects, designed to be presented in an intimate close-up environment, such as a living room or after a good meal. This is Real Mind Reading.

With no phony psychobabble or mentalistic posing, Doc Hilford reads a person's mind not once but three times. He ascertains a playing card that is merely thought of (no deck used, not the AS). He receives a word projected from the person's mind. Last, he psychically duplicates a picture drawn by the person. Yes, there are other methods for these

effects, but not that can be used close-up, surrounded, and in close succession with the same person.

This is not just a set of effects. This is a carefully orchestrated suite of killer demonstrations that will make the reputations of those who use them. Want to impress a client or prospect? Want to seal that new trade

show deal? Want to never be at a loss again when someone wants a demonstration of what you can do? This tape is the answer.

It's astounding that material of this caliber can be made available so inexpensively, but it is. This is a limited edition tape, but you can have your own copy of Real Mind Reading for just $55.00.

REVIEW:

Great and expensive video from the late Brian Flora, one of the best I own. The tape includes a verbal card effect (also described in Kenton Knepper’s Killer Konceptions) – the introductory patter is definitely worth your consideration and can be applied to any of your psy-forces: I suggest you transcribe it and pay close attention to every single gesture and pause, because there is much more than what is actually explained.

The second effect is a Flashback-type booktest, performed with your own dictionary, while the last one (a DR design duplication) should definitely not be used as a closer…

OVERALL RATING: Excellent

Read/post comments:
http://www.themagiccafe.com/forums/viewtopic.php?topic=13376&foru m=111

HN Magic Review 6: Wonder Words 1, 2, 3 – Kenton Knepper

AD:

This is the classic set of audio and booklets that changed the face of magic and mentalism forever. Discover the true power of words and how words can change what people see, think, hear, and feel. Learn how words alone may be used as your only gimmick in a trick. Create miracles and do nothing – but use these "magic words" to produce miracles.

Wonder Words, Volume 1

Imagine being able to take control of the very thoughts, perceptions, and responses of your audience. Picture your audiences' amazement when they really can not explain the trick because the magic is done with words, not sleights or props. This is what Wonder Words will teach you. It is prestidigitation of the mind.

It's finally here, the audio book everyone has been waiting for now on CD! After lots of prodding from Larry Becker, Jeff Mc Bride, Docc Hilford, Dr. Juris, Lee Earle and many other pros, Kenton has agreed to part with the information that he has kept under tight wraps to all but a very select few.

Whether you're a magician or mentalist, Kentons' secrets will radically alter your work and the reaction to it. Revealed are the verbal tools used by top psychologists to influence and control clients' actions and attitudes. This is not a dissertation on hypnosis, this is Wonder Words -- The Art of Linguistic Deception.

Perhaps even more telling was the response at Docc Hilfords' Weerd Weekend. Wonder Words was a complete sell-out less than an hour after Kenton introduced it. Docc himself said "This is the new Fitzkee." Others said "One of the most significant works ever produced in magic," "This is going into the library at the Castle."

Even before it's official release, Jeff McBride praised Wonder Words saying, "You're a spell-weaver of words that can even make mimes speak...I'm living proof. Your material has dramatically transformed the way I'm doing my spell weaving these days!"

As important as this material is to your work, you're probably anxious to get a copy of your own. Finally you can...here's how. Just fill out the order form on the back of this sheet, mail it in and very soon you will know what few others know... The Art of Linguistic Deception.

Wonder Words, Volume 2

Yes, it's finally here! NOW on CD...AND at a LOWER PRICE too! If you didn't purchase Volume One and somehow missed all the reviews, you may not know what all the excitement is about. You wouldn't know

that Kenton's work has been compared to Fitzkee; you would be unaware that Jeff McBride, Michael Close, Doc Eason, Larry Becker, Lee Earle and lots more say that this is ground breaking material... a must for everyone's library.

Wonder Words Volume Two is subtitled "The Real Work" because it is exactly that. In Wonder Words Volume One Kenton began the journey....Volume Two turns that journey into a performance altering adventure. So what's the big deal?

For starters: Wouldn't it be great if people constantly talked about a trick they saw you perform when in fact you NEVER EVER did that trick at all? Just think of it! There is a secret way to simply tell a story and cause people to believe they actually SAW YOU PERFORM the trick, when all you did was TALK ABOUT IT! (No, it isn't "hypnosis").

In Volume One, you were (As Michael Close said) "Totally Blown Away" by how easy it was to greatly improve your performance by changing a few simple words. Volume Two -- The Real Work offers equally simple techniques that ach