Does anyone know if the explainations on this new dvd is a lot better then the original one?

I heard they are a bit better.

Also that Brian have a ponytail.

Havent heard much more.

WHAT he got a ponytail?

Eww. He's not hot anymore.

I have it but I had no chance to watch it all. Brian's teaching is pretty good. I have both Show-Off VHS, Gen X DVD and the Heckler DVD. I'd have to say (so far) his instruction on this DVD is clear. Better than any of his other stuff. He talks during the explainations instead of that awful, monotonous voice over in Heckler and Gen X.

Yup. He does have a pony tail. He had one in the Heckler DVD as well.

I have the new Generation X dvd. The explanations in the video are atrocious. I haven't seen the original, but I find it hard to believe that the explanations could be any worse than the new one.
Some of the moves are explained pretty well, but most of them aren't at all.
I dunno, maybe it's just me.

I wouldn't recommend this dvd to beginners. Not to say your a beginner, I obviously don't know that. How long have you been practicing for?

Which one do you have, Generation X or Generation Extreme?

In Flames:

I've only been practicing card magic/flourishes/xcm for about 2 months, but I think I've progressed pretty quick and have familiarized myself with the art. I definitely know a good teaching dvd from a bad one.

The dvd I have is Generation eXtreme. I have several other dvd's and books, but I just thought most of the moves on the video weren't taught very well.

Don't get me wrong... I'll benefit from this dvd, just like many others will. But don't expect multiple camera angles and instructions that are rich with detail. Maybe my other dvd's and books spoiled me. Anyway, I do like the dvd and will learn from it, it'll just take a little more rewinding - which is ok.

What did you think of it?

Correction...

I actually had a chance to sit down and watch it. Maybe the instructions aren't that bad after all. I guess I didn't give it my full attention when I watched it the first time. So I apologize for unflattering review I gave it earlier.

Agreed.
I pretty much thought the same as you. I would have liked better angles ect. I'd say its about a 10-20% improvement over Generation X.

If anyone seen the Show Off videos and was able to learn from those. You wont have a problem learning from this. As far as Tudor and his less than stellar teaching. This is his best so far.

I have not seen Gen X so I can't compare. On its own, the teaching in Gen eXtreme is at best challenging to follow. With two hands on the deck, you need eXtreme dexterity in your toes to control the DVD player so that you can rewind, slow down, etc..

The camera angle also makes it difficult to follow. For many of the explanations, an over-the-shoulder or overhead view would have been beneficial.

Finally, some form of repetition during the teaching would have been helpful. Break down the move and then put it back together. For example: Break down the "Speed Cut" step by step, show it all together at half speed, then show it at performance speed. Throw in a different angle along the way. As it is, I am forced to search back to a non-indexed section of the DVD in order to see the Speed Cut at performance speed.

Anyway, I think Penguin dropped the ball on putting together a highly instructional DVD. Having said that, I think Brian Tudor has much gold in there that makes the effort worthwhile.

Its not penguin. Its brian who wants to teach like that. Penguin tried to get him to give better explanations. It sounds funny but that is brians version of better. The moves and the material is killer. The teaching is a little hard but hey, that's brian. You are correct though, a lot of those moves are gold. Its a nice dvd if you already have some skill. For the begginer, ohh..... stay as far away from this dvd as you can.

I watched Generation X and really didn't think the explanations were all that bad. Most of the stuff I knew how to do so there werent many truly needed explanations. (card controls, slip cuts, false shuffle, tenkai palm.)