Price$19.95
Media TypeDVD
CategoryClose Up
Date AddedJul 08, 2007
Magic With Dice
Various
L&L Publishing
(Based on 1 review)
Magic With Dice (World's Greatest Magic)
Imagine the best magic, the best magicians, and the best producers all in one place.Imagine no more...
If you could have one set of magic DVDs, this would be it! This benchmark collection features just about all of magic's most enduring and classic effects and routines. It's a fabulous compendium with many of the top masters in the world of magic teaching their handlings and routines for some of magic's classics. Linking rings, sponge balls, metal bending, cups and balls, thumb tips, Zombie, color-changing knives, and many, many more topics are all gathered in this one terrific DVD reference set. Each volume covers a specific subject and features new, old, and sometimes rare footage by some of the top video producers in magic.
No one knows who invented dice though the oldest known dice were discovered as part of a 5000-year old backgammon set. Dice used as conjuring props is of decidedly more recent vintage with one of the earliest records being Hofzinser who used mispotted dice to force a number as early as 1842. However, the allure of these simple six-sided cubes have not escaped the attention of magicians in intervening years.
In this unprecedented collection, you'll find completely different approaches to conjuring with dice. John Mendoza begins by performing and then explaining Senator Crandall's classic dice stacking routine. Daryl is up next with a Chink-A-Chink routine that requires only four dice and a cup - a wonderfully visual assembly and no fifth die is required! Steve Dacri also offers a dice assembly routine (and if you don't know how it's done, it's a real fooler) while Mark Leveridge's Wild Dice is an eye-popping combination of the Three-Shell Game and the Cups and Balls. Daryl follows with the classic Sack's Dice Routine and if you take the time to learn it, you'll never leave the house without a pair of dice. Finally, everything you always wanted to know about dice stacking is ably demonstrated and taught by James Zachary. In The Art of Dice Stacking, the video companion to his seminal book, Zack Stacks, you'll learn how to create a stack fourteen dice high, in addition to dice cup final loads, taking the stacks down one die at a time, and lots more.
Dice are intriguing and romantic props that guarantee spectator interest and these routines represent the best dice magic ever created.
- Dice Stacking Routine - John Mendoza
- Four Dice Chink-A-Chink - Daryl
- Dice Routine - Steve Dacri
- Wild Dice - Mark Leveridge
- Sack's Dice Routine - Daryl
- The Art of Dice Stacking / Zack Stacks - James Zachary
Reviews
(Top ▲)
It's always fascinating to see another person's point of view on any one subject. It's interesting to see how different people can see the same thing in different ways. That's one of the cool things about the "World's Greatest Magic" (WGM) series by L&L Publishing. While on one hand it feels like a way to recycle product and make a few quick sales, on the other hand it's good to have all the best minds on the same plot.
If you read more reviews from me regarding the "World's Greatest Magic" series, you will find that they all start with these first few sentences so that each review will have the same background and foundation. So on to this particular DVD: Magic With Dice.
For $20 bucks you get 5 performers and 6 effects.
I'll briefly cover each one, but before I do, allow me to rant. I'm seeing way too many cups and balls routines or chop cup routines, where the only thing that matters is the final load, and everything else in between is the magician bumbling through a fast paced flurry of meaningless moves, displays and "patter." This has got to stop. We get the same thing here on this DVD with the dice stacking routines and the quasi three shell game. In fact, in the explanation of Mark Leveridge's effect, he says that the stuff leading up to the end is "just preamble . . . it's all about the final load." I couldn't disagree more.
Sure, the load is the kicker, but just because something is "The Most Important" doesn't mean that everything else Not Important. Care should be given to the moments and moves and presentation leading up to the final load, and not a single performer on this DVD lived up to that worthy goal.
John Mendoza (Rating: 1.5)
Just like the aforementioned poorly performed palaver in a crappy cups and balls routine, Mendoza's dice stacking routine is a meaningless mixture of moves made without making eye contact with his audience. Sure the final loads are great, but the routine is weak. He did however have a couple of good points about what kind of effect to open a set with once you get into the explanations.
Daryl - Chink a Chink (4.5) and Sack's Dice Routine (3)
We are treated with 2 effects by Daryl on this set. Daryl is definitely the star of the DVD. His interaction and connection with the audience was by far the best. He was fun, entertaining, and had a measure of meaning in his presentations. First we get Daryl performing Bob Farrell's Four Dice "Chink-A-Chink". It only uses four dice and one dice cup. The props are logical and make sense, and the effect and routine are clear and well performed and well taught. Daryl also suggests another logical approach to the effect: Four Sugar Cubes and a Coffee cup. Very Smart.
Later in the DVD Daryl performs Dr. Sack's Dice Routine. This is basically the old paddle-move-dice-thing that you've probably known for years. This is a multi-phase routine that has potential, but mostly felt like a exhibition or almost a flurry of watch-the-number-on-the-dice-change . . . now-watch-it-change-again . . . and-again-and-again, etc.
It's not bad and was pretty entertaining thanks to Daryl and his performance prowess.
Steve Darci (2)
This routine is another Chink-A-Chink with a nice little extra something that requires a special prop that Darci does not tell us how to acquire. The routine was not very entertaining, and Darci's extremely long and femininely manicured nails were quite a distraction from the routine. He was pretty funny in a couple of moments, and the final moment of the routine is pretty.
However, the routine felt rushed, and in fact during the presentation, Darci sort of bragged about the fact that he turned this routine into a quick one minute routine. There's nothing wrong with a one minute routine, unless it's a one minute routine with 3 minutes of magic crammed into it . . . kind of like this effect. I also don't like the final display on the final die that travels . . . it was anti-climatic and less visual than the rest of the routine. There's potential here, but it's really no different than a typical Chink-A-Chink routine.
Mark Leveridge (3)
This routine was pretty decent, but again it had that whole only-the-final-load-matters attitude going on. Also, the initial placement of the props on the table is a bit suspicious looking. But overall, I liked the idea and the routine, and even the method. It's kind of a three shell game meets cups and balls using matchboxes and dice.
Jim Zachary (0)
Folks . . . I think this is a first. I don't think I've ever given out a 0 before. Jim Zachary seems like a nice enough guy, but a performer he is not. He seemed bored to be there and like he was just going through the motions of his dice stacking routine. His loads and unloads were ridiculously obvious. His "presentation" - if you can even call it that - was completely lame, boring and almost irritating. He's a good dice stacker, but there are plenty of other places to learn that.
Although Daryl's first routine and Mark Leveridge's routine are worthy of consideration I just don't think I can quite give this a Gem status.
Final Verdict: 1.5 Stars with a Stone Status of Rubble.
If you read more reviews from me regarding the "World's Greatest Magic" series, you will find that they all start with these first few sentences so that each review will have the same background and foundation. So on to this particular DVD: Magic With Dice.
For $20 bucks you get 5 performers and 6 effects.
I'll briefly cover each one, but before I do, allow me to rant. I'm seeing way too many cups and balls routines or chop cup routines, where the only thing that matters is the final load, and everything else in between is the magician bumbling through a fast paced flurry of meaningless moves, displays and "patter." This has got to stop. We get the same thing here on this DVD with the dice stacking routines and the quasi three shell game. In fact, in the explanation of Mark Leveridge's effect, he says that the stuff leading up to the end is "just preamble . . . it's all about the final load." I couldn't disagree more.
Sure, the load is the kicker, but just because something is "The Most Important" doesn't mean that everything else Not Important. Care should be given to the moments and moves and presentation leading up to the final load, and not a single performer on this DVD lived up to that worthy goal.
John Mendoza (Rating: 1.5)
Just like the aforementioned poorly performed palaver in a crappy cups and balls routine, Mendoza's dice stacking routine is a meaningless mixture of moves made without making eye contact with his audience. Sure the final loads are great, but the routine is weak. He did however have a couple of good points about what kind of effect to open a set with once you get into the explanations.
Daryl - Chink a Chink (4.5) and Sack's Dice Routine (3)
We are treated with 2 effects by Daryl on this set. Daryl is definitely the star of the DVD. His interaction and connection with the audience was by far the best. He was fun, entertaining, and had a measure of meaning in his presentations. First we get Daryl performing Bob Farrell's Four Dice "Chink-A-Chink". It only uses four dice and one dice cup. The props are logical and make sense, and the effect and routine are clear and well performed and well taught. Daryl also suggests another logical approach to the effect: Four Sugar Cubes and a Coffee cup. Very Smart.
Later in the DVD Daryl performs Dr. Sack's Dice Routine. This is basically the old paddle-move-dice-thing that you've probably known for years. This is a multi-phase routine that has potential, but mostly felt like a exhibition or almost a flurry of watch-the-number-on-the-dice-change . . . now-watch-it-change-again . . . and-again-and-again, etc.
It's not bad and was pretty entertaining thanks to Daryl and his performance prowess.
Steve Darci (2)
This routine is another Chink-A-Chink with a nice little extra something that requires a special prop that Darci does not tell us how to acquire. The routine was not very entertaining, and Darci's extremely long and femininely manicured nails were quite a distraction from the routine. He was pretty funny in a couple of moments, and the final moment of the routine is pretty.
However, the routine felt rushed, and in fact during the presentation, Darci sort of bragged about the fact that he turned this routine into a quick one minute routine. There's nothing wrong with a one minute routine, unless it's a one minute routine with 3 minutes of magic crammed into it . . . kind of like this effect. I also don't like the final display on the final die that travels . . . it was anti-climatic and less visual than the rest of the routine. There's potential here, but it's really no different than a typical Chink-A-Chink routine.
Mark Leveridge (3)
This routine was pretty decent, but again it had that whole only-the-final-load-matters attitude going on. Also, the initial placement of the props on the table is a bit suspicious looking. But overall, I liked the idea and the routine, and even the method. It's kind of a three shell game meets cups and balls using matchboxes and dice.
Jim Zachary (0)
Folks . . . I think this is a first. I don't think I've ever given out a 0 before. Jim Zachary seems like a nice enough guy, but a performer he is not. He seemed bored to be there and like he was just going through the motions of his dice stacking routine. His loads and unloads were ridiculously obvious. His "presentation" - if you can even call it that - was completely lame, boring and almost irritating. He's a good dice stacker, but there are plenty of other places to learn that.
Although Daryl's first routine and Mark Leveridge's routine are worthy of consideration I just don't think I can quite give this a Gem status.
Final Verdict: 1.5 Stars with a Stone Status of Rubble.