I've been plugging this new DVD magazine since its inception, I just
love it and can't get enough of it.

This is volume 4 for April 2008. Also, the magazine is now BI-
MONTHLY. It's available from your favorite magic dealer for $10 per
issue.

Even though I love Reel Magic, my review is going to include warts and
all. There are a couple real stinkers in this issue, but overall it's
well worth the price tag.

First and formost I want to give a standing ovation to the Mark Wilson
interview by Wayne Kawamoto. Mark talks about the irreparable damage
that magicians like Chris Angel have done to televised magic shows. In
addition Mark states that he can take any actor and turn him into a a
world famous magician in one week...IF THEY WILL BE USING CAMERA
TRICKS! Nuff said.

John Lovick interviews Bill Malone. Who doesn't love Bill Malone?
Bill talks about how he got his start in magic almost by accident. He
became friends with some of the greatest close-up magician the art has
ever produced including Marlo and Skinner. If you've never seen him
perform Sam the Bellhop this is your chance, it's on this DVD
(performance only). He also performs and teaches a great sponge ball
routine in the magic section.

Andrew Pinard has an outstanding interview with Todd Robbins,
professional con man and carney. Mr. Robbins new book MODERN CON MAN
is abailable over on Amazon.co for just over $11 bucks (I just ordered
a copy along with a new copy of THE BIG CON by David Maurer-- this
book was the text book that Bruce Geller used to write all of the
Mission Impossible episodes from the '60s).

Simon Lovell's rant this month dealt with the Dan & Dave type of card
flourishes. I don't always see eye to eye with Simon, but this month
he is dead on. These flourishes are NOT magic, they are juggling. So
you've grown 3 extra arms and can cut the deck into 27
sections...BFD!!! This is the kind of stuff that drove "Sybil" to the
nuthouse to begin with! Two very big thumbs up this month Simon.

Jon Armstrong and Garrett Thomas have their articles packed with
useful information as usual. The oe dealing with palming is worth 5
times the price of this DVD.

There are 4 tricks performed and taught:

-Bill Malone's THINKING MAN'S SPONGE BALL ROUTINE. Lots and LOTS of
tricks and moves taught here. Could have been a DVD by itself.

-Lonnie Chevrie's STAB IN THE DARK. An impossible card stab routine
where the spectator stabs the card --much more effective than the
magician done it.

-Justin Miller's 3 CARD MELODY. I loved this trick! 3 signed cards
are found by the performer as only a pro could do. This will take
some practice but it's time well spent if you like showing off. I
think what sold me on the trick was Justin's personality, if Paul
Harris has a twin brother I'd say it was Justin Miller.

Cameron Fracis's CAGEY. Very creative card trick, reminds me of
something Jay Sankey would invent. Magician has spectator pick and
sign a card. Magician takes another card with the name HOUDINI drawn
on it, then draws bars all over the card thus imprisoning Houdini.
After the magic the name Houdini escapes from the bars, thats right an
empty cell. But wait, the spectator's card is found reversed in the
center of the deck...with bars drawn all over it! I didn't see this
coming and still haven't watched the explanation --I want to try and
figure this one out on my own. This magician, Cameron Francis, has a
3 DVD set out titled OMEGA MUTATION.

Tricks-of-the-Trade (TRICK REVIEWS) by David Regal. Ok, I've saved
the WORST for last (this is NOT going to be a slam on David Regal,
just the tricks he reviews). I usually enjoy this section very much,
but this month Mr. Regal reviews what has to be some of the worst
tricks I think I've ever seen. And get this, he said all the rest of
the tricks were outright CRAP!!! If these 3 or 4 tricks were the best
of the bunch I can only imagine what was left.

For example some guy is selling a $30 DVD where he shakes a glass of
water and it turns into beer, even tastes like beer. How hard would
it be to secret some "beer powder" in your hand somewhere? I don't
know if this is the method, but beer powder is available from the joke
shop for about a buck...this guys refills are $20.

Another one is a tee shirt Jay Sankey is selling that folds over like
the back cover of a Mad magazine to reveal a forced card. I think it
can be folded 6 ways for 6 different force cards.

Yet another trick was a vanishing quarter from the knee. Who needs to
spend $35 for a trick you can find in a library book? I don't care
what new and improved method you're using, it still looks exactly like
that trick. Give me a break.

Lastly there was this new i-Vanish. A half dollar is apparently
absorbed into the eye. This s combined with the tired old fork into
the eye coffee creamer stunt. Watch the performance a few times, I'll
bet you can tell where the coin logically vanishes to. I can think of
ten ways to perform this without spending $35 for the DVD.

And thus ends my review of Reel Magic Quarterly for April 2008.

Aside from the Tricks-of-the-Trade reviews, this DVD is well worth the
$10 price tag. And who knows, if you watch those reviews enough you
can probably figure out those tricks and save yourself over $100...or
invent your own methods and REALLY fool people!

-Leary-