EI8HT
Wong, Mark
Inside Magic Productions
The DVD contains eight card tricks, as well as tips on how to present these routines. The best part about this DVD is that most of the effects are easy to learn and perform.
Ambitious Aces
Four aces are shown. The spectator selects either the red or the black aces. The selected cards are then placed onto the bottom of the four card packet. Miraculously, the selected aces always keep rising to the top. As a final ending, the selected cards are placed onto the table and the cards switch places from the spectator's hands.
Apparition
A card is freely selected and shuffled into the deck by the spectator. Another coloured deck is used to find the selected card. The performer then deals down cards face up, telling the spectator to think about their card and shout stop in their head when they see their card. Perfomer find the selected card under such impossible locations.
However, the performer says that the selected card has a different color back. Just as everyone thinks the entire trick is over, the performer shows again that the selected card reverts to the normal color!
BoomerBand
Card is selected by a spectator and lost into the deck. A rubber band is tied around the deck to make sure that nothing can escape. Suddenly, at the performer's command, the selected card shoots out of the tightly banded deck and does a nice boomerang towards the performers other hand.
Claymore
A "prediction" card is placed on the table face down. Spectator then selects and signs a card from the deck, and lost back into the deck. Performer calls out attention to the prediction card which is actually the signed card!
Equator
Extremely visual sandwich effect. The selected card vanishes from the top of the pack and appear in between the two face-up jokers in the middle of the deck.
In Your Face
Card is selected and lost back into the deck. The performer seemingly pulls out the selected card from the middle of the deck with a deft flick of the wrists!
Pick-Pocket
A card is selected, signed and shuffled into the deck. Performer places a joker into the spectators pocket and starts looking for the selected card in the deck. Signed card is lost and all the while, that card has been sitting in the pocket the entire time!
SCP (Spring Card Production)
A card is selected, signed and shuffled into the deck. Performer springs the face up deck. A FACE DOWN card (which is the selected card) is produced from the MIDDLE of the deck! Finally, performer changes the entire deck into a different coloured back from the selected card.
Reviews
(Top ▲)
The DVD Menu was confusing, with no “Play All” option, and the chapters are put in the middle of explanations, rather than the beginning or the end. That said, the filming, editing, and graphics are all top notch. The teaching is definitely above average with on screen highlighting and text.
I really liked a four ace card production with a rubber band. I also liked a card prediction that was very clever, but unjustified. This could be usable with some justification in your scripting.
Apparition starts as a very simple plot, but gets confusing by the end.
My favorite trick is called “Pick Pocket” which is bold, and will require audience management skills, but I could see myself working on this.
There is also an effect called “Ambitious Aces” which was previously published in John Carney’s book, “Carneycopia.” I’m sure the effect was independently created, but a little bit of extra research could have paid off and saved some embarrassment.
Overall, I don’t feel any of the ideas are ‘done’ but I think there are enough ideas here to warrant the asking price.
Three And A Half Stars.
(Top ▲)
Eight effects from a clever guy named Mark Wong. Overall I like this DVD.. There are a lot of unique and original methods, moves, sleights, etc. found on this DVD. Everything is taught in extreme (the term "Ad Naseum" comes to mind) detail. Maybe too much detail. My biggest complaint on this one is that quite often, the method taught is NOT the method used in the performance. This is a bummer because there are few cases where the method taught is inferior to the method presented, but that method is not taught. That's a big deal in my mind.
With the exception of the above mentioned flaw, watch the trailer and if you like what you see, you'll be happy with your purchase. This stuff ain't easy and will take some effort on your part which is usually a good thing. I do take issue with one part of the ad copy:
Ad Copy: Ei8th is a stunning and brilliant collection of some of the most baffling card tricks ever invented!
Really . . . "ever invented!"? Over-hyped for sure.
Effects:
Let's look at each effect. You can read the effect in the ad copy. Below is my brief commentary.
Ambitious Aces (3 Stars)
This is one of those that I mentioned earlier. The demo version is different from what's taught. The demo is better. The taught version is "Ok" but not as magical looking as the presenation shown.
Apparition (2.5 Stars)
This effect is a bit long-winded and not nearly as revolutionary as some of the other material.
BoomerBand (2.5 Stars)
A minor modification of a pretty well-known (maybe even "standard") rubber band and deck effect. This has a nice visual element to it, but again it's a minor variation.
Claymore (3.5 Stars)
An interesting take on the open prediction style of effect. It's kind of combination of open prediction and a "paradox" card style plot. This one's pretty good and pretty doable.
Equator (4 Stars)
This is a straight forward sandwich effect with no funny add-ons, etc. It's pretty clean though a bit angle-sensitive. If you can do a one-handed top palm, you can pretty much add this to your repertoire instantly. The appearance of the selected card between the two jokers is pretty magical feeling.
In Your Face (4.5 Stars)
I really like this effect, and it's probably the easiest and possible the strongest effect on the DVD. It's very visual . . . a bare-handed (and empty-handed) production of a chosen card. The one draw back is that the card cannot be examined.
Pick-Pocket (2 Stars)
This one is a bit risky. In the performance section on the DVD Mark Wong literally had to push the spectator's hand away, several times, because of the structure of the routine. Had he not pushed him away, the effect would have failed. The handling and the gimmick used for this lend themselves to suspicion, and you run a huge risk of getting caught.
SCP (Spring Card Production) (4 Stars)
The only reason I did not give this one 5 stars is because the method for the color change that is taught is different from the one actually used in the performance . . . annoying. But I can't deny the power and beauty of the effect as taught (even though it doesn't match the method used in performance). This is a very difficult move to master, but it's so beautiful. During the springing of the cards from hand to hand, one card flips over and lands face-down sticking out of the now squared deck.
Final Thoughts
The overall effect rating is 3.25 . . . not bad when you consider that at least 2 effects are pretty low scoring. Considering the price, the number of annoying things (i.e., the missing explanations), it's safe to say that though I'd be ok Without You (Thank Youy Harry Nilsson) Mr. Ei8ht DVD, I do feel it's a worthwhile purchase just to get a look at some interesting ideas and moves.
Final Verdict:
3 Stars with a Stone Status of gem (little "g").