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Mago Gregorio Elite user Paris, France 473 Posts |
I just received the new release from Michel Close Devious 1&2 and the set looks very interesting. Michael presents one the great routines from his repertoire and has always showed very precise explanations of the moves involved in the tricks but also the "why" of the trick, going through the path that leads to the magic thing. For those like me who liked the e-book Closely Guarded Secrets, this set is a good opportunity to watch M Close performing live these very powerful tricks.
Here is the "oficial" presentation : VOLUME 1 Set 1 (From the Houdini Lounge) The Trick Lance Burton Showed Me - A great version of the six-card repeat that demonstrates what happens when you never stop thinking about a trick. A Presentation for the Plants Magnetized Cards - A hilarious presentation for one of the great close-up/parlor routines. The Luckiest Cards in Las Vegas - One of Michael's favorite routines, and one of the most baffling. This is a true reputation maker. Set 2 (Some Closely Guarded Secrets) The Dumbest Casino in the World - A logical and deceptive version of The Chicago Opener, with a presentation and method that you've never seen before. The Shuffles Routine - One of the workhorses of Michael's repertoire, and a routine he has used for more than forty years. Full of laughs and subtle touches. Set 3 (With a Little Extra Work) Now That's a Coincidence - An impossible coincidence that gives you a tactical advantage in a very sneaky way. The Trick that Fooled Houdini...and His Whole *** Family - Michael has taken in magicians around the world with this little gem. The secret will make you laugh out loud. Running Time Approximately: 2hr 11mins Volume TWO Set 1 (For Casual Performances) The Way of the Duck - A fresh presentation for an amazing revelation of two freely selected cards. The Matching Miracle - An Ed Marlo routine streamlined by Harry Riser. Harry's Faro Trick - Harry Riser had forgotten about this amazing card discovery. It was published in M-U-M, but has never appeared on video. Set 2 (G.C. Extravaganza) Red See Passover - Michael's presentation and handling of Simon Aronson's great effect. A Handling for Dean and Weber's A New World - Michael's approach allows for an effect that no other version can duplicate. Dancers at the End of Time - A classic from Workers 2. Brother John Hamman's Underground Transposition takes a side trip through the Twilight Zone. Set 3 (A Lesson in Routining) Sideswiped - Another great Simon Aronson effect. The Bammo Deck Walloper - Michael's handling of this effect is so good, it fooled Bob Farmer, who (along with Gerald Kirchner) created it. Set 4 (Magician Foolers) Vernon Would Have Liked This - A very natural and elegant handling of an Ambitious Card effect. Bedwell Meets Findley - An unusual combination of moves produces a stunning card control. The Stewart James Prank - A lesson in how to punk your pals. Running Time Approximately: 2hr 07mins http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1SyVGLgH......embedded Review to come |
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Kjellstrom Inner circle Sweden, Scandinavia, Europe 5203 Posts |
I received this set a few days ago and I can ONLY say wow.
If you like card magic then this is a must have. Strong is not enough when it comes to Mr Close, this is rock hard - killing card magic. If you like faro shuffle effects then you will find several superb routines THAT you will use, sure. In most DVDs I think you will find one or two things you don't really like but in this DVD set I think you will like everything seen on your screen. |
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Review King Eternal Order 14446 Posts |
I'm watching Volume 1 today and will report back.
Chris
"Of all words of tongue and pen,
the saddest are, "It might have been" ..........John Greenleaf Whittier |
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korttihai_82 Inner circle Finland 1880 Posts |
Some great material here. However most of the material was allready on his latest Ebook Closely Guarded secrets but it was nice to actually see them performed and explained completely on video. I allready used few of these things on my working repertoire and I am considering adding few more. Young finger flingers wont find anything from this set but for workers this is worth way more.
Only complain I would have is the filler "magician foolers". To be honest, they were far from foolers. However one of them had great move to substitute one move in Cervon/Vernon cards across routine J-M |
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Futureal Inner circle 1695 Posts |
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rnaviaux Loyal user 287 Posts |
Quick review:
I have most of Mr. Close's written material. This is a nice addition with a variety of effects that can be performed in different circumstances. Great effects, great instruction. Not much more to add. One slight problem - there were a couple of distracting issues on most of the first dvd. Took a bit of concentrating to watch the tricks Mr. Close was doing;) Seemed like Michael was having a hard time not looking as well. Or maybe it was just me. |
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Futureal Inner circle 1695 Posts |
The two blondes?
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rnaviaux Loyal user 287 Posts |
Quote:
On 2010-03-03 03:15, Futureal wrote: Yep. |
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chappelly Special user Down Under 744 Posts |
Thanks ,
That was the convincer I needed. |
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rnaviaux Loyal user 287 Posts |
Me and some magic buddies were commenting upon how good Mr. Close's performance was. It really looked like he wasn't paying any attention to the distractions stage right. And then all of a sudden his finely honed concentration slipped and you could almost see him thinking "Boy I love my job."
On a serious note - It was a real lesson watching him present some card tricks in a natural way. Hard to explain but it did not seemed like a performance but more like some friends conversing and for a while Mr. Close held center stage. |
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Jeff Haas Special user 929 Posts |
That's a great description of what it's like to see Mike do card tricks. It's like he's your buddy and he's showing you some fun stuff.
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Review King Eternal Order 14446 Posts |
The routining and methodology/thinking is what highlights these two DVDS. Everyone can learn something, even if you don't' do the actual routines ( which I'm sure Mike would prefer, since it's his working set ).
What he calls Magician fool-ers are not just for performing for Magicians. Chris
"Of all words of tongue and pen,
the saddest are, "It might have been" ..........John Greenleaf Whittier |
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markmiller Special user 731 Posts |
What someone said above about Mike seeming to be conversing with a frfiend instead of formally performing was right on. Close has a relaxation and command of his material that we should all aspire to even if you don't anything from the dvd.
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Cohiba Special user Michigan 749 Posts |
I'm typically a fan of Mike Close as well, but the clip above did nothing for me. It's a presentation I don't care for (somewhere it was billed as "logical"?) and it's an age old trick. Sure, it's a good trick, but who doesn't already know it? In my mind, it's his handling, but nothing worthy of being published.
I'm sure there is some good material on the set, but that one I would've been disappointed in. |
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Joe Mauro Inner circle 1133 Posts |
This is a very boring set. He flubs his lines allot and keeps blowing on his hands like it's 30 degrees in the room.
And.. he picks, non stop, on a girl assistant. He asked her how something was done and she gave the perfect answer "magic" and he made fun of it the whole tape. Not in a funny way, but a "you are so stupid" way. You can see she and others becoming uncomfortable as it went on. It shows he's a bully. Plus, he does the WORST pass ever. You can plainly see it. And, he has the nerve to teach it. Mr. Michael Ammar once said a famous Magicians once argued with him that his pass was invisible, even though Michael could see it across the room. Was this Michael Close?
~Joe
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rnaviaux Loyal user 287 Posts |
Not to get into an argument but not sure what you mean by "allot" or "non stop".
I don't like to make a spectator wrong in any way so agree with the point about asking the audience member how something was done. She said "magic" and he said "no, highly unlikely." It was a theme through out that effect and one other if I remember correctly. You have better powers of observation than me to tell that this was making spectators uncomfortable. I've seen lots of performers kid with spectators; irl and on tape. Not my style and I usually don't like it when I see it but for some it works. Watching him perform in person there was no discomfort for me or spectators that I could tell but then again I didn't ask those that got to sit at the table up front. Mike was clearly having trouble with his left hand, which he mentioned on tape. Worst pass ever? I'm no expert but I've very rarely seen a pass on tape that was invisible. If I remember correctly he touched upon it during his lecture in Salt Lake. Looked fine to me. I haven't put in the hours on the version he does to be able to make any further judgment on whether he should be teaching it or not. Was there anything you did like? Do you feel like your 60 dollars was wasted? Do you want a refund? Would you sell your copy, albeit at a reduced rate? I've been working with two effects from these DVD's and using pretty much the same presentation until I work out my own. They are strong effects. This may be my favorite dvd set ever. But then again I'm a huge fan of his work as well as Ortiz's. (Their written work for the most part though Ortiz's dvd's are great demos of the effects themselves.) |
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NicholasD Inner circle 1458 Posts |
Quote:
I've watched these tapes two or three times now, and I didn't at all get the impression the he was "bullying" the young lady. Nor did I feel that the audience was uncomfortable. I think they took it for what it was: I running gag. I am thoroughly enjoying these DVD's, there's some wonderful material there. |
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Joe Mauro Inner circle 1133 Posts |
I've seen plenty of shows where there was a running gag and it was funny. Stand up comics that are great use it. This wasn't funny. He was belittling her. Watch her after it keep happening.
As far as the pass goes. Watch David Williamson on Magic Farm do the pass. Watch Bill Kalush on the Fetcher tape ( now called secret sessions ) for example. Even if you watch in slow motion it's hard to follow it. Bill Malone has them look at the deck as he does it. He can because it's so smooth and fast. Michael Close should watch those tapes and then his performance and see the difference. I mention this because his routines have all these extra things thrown in to fool those that he feels are burning him to catch him doing something. He should drop the pass based on that. His jokes were not funny on this set. The L&L audience gave polite laughter. That's ok. People do that in lectures, business meetings, etc. It's polite to do. And it's ok not to be funny. Magic is entertaining just on it's own. But when you do lame jokes, it stands out. Maybe the jokes really were for his magic pals in the audience. Perhaps he was playing to them, I don't know. His "The Trick Lance Burton Showed Me" is Dan Garrett's Four Card Reiteration ( based on David Willimason's treatment of the 11 card trick ). Michael Close added touches that he thinks made giant improvements. They didn't. It's an example of his over thinking everything. Running when not being chased, whatever you want to call it. Larry Jennings, David Williamson, Greg Wilson, Dan Garrett all do/have done that trick without all the touches Michael Close added and they had no problem thoroughly entertaining and fooling audiences. I have other DVDS with him that I like, so I got these in the hope, at the very least, I'd be entertained. This clip is entertaining? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1SyVGLgHGs I understand that he has many friends in the magic world and he has a reputation as a gifted technician as well as creator, etc. I've watched it twice and will again this weekend as I want to get something out of it. But even just as an interested spectator, I thought they were boring.
~Joe
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Cohiba Special user Michigan 749 Posts |
Quote:
On 2010-04-01 23:13, Joe Mauro wrote: Your perception of this effect is the same as my perception of the Dumbest Casino in the World. They're rehashed tricks, and I don't see the improvements. Back in the day when Michael Close was the reviewer in Magic Magazine, that was one of his most common criticisms - that people are putting stuff out just to put it out - the changes that are made don't strengthen the effect - in fact, they often weaken the original effect. Now it appears that Close is doing the same thing. Again, I haven't seen the tapes, so I can't say a whole lot. But when others are expressing similar opinions to the one I have (based on what I have seen) - but about other effects on the tapes, it makes me think more than twice about picking these up. |
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rnaviaux Loyal user 287 Posts |
I don't know if Mr. Close thinks he made "giant improvements" in "Dan Garrett's Four Card Reiteration". But I do understand his thinking as to why he made the changes he did.
You sound a little upset when you use "non-stop", "allot" and "giant". Do you feel you were ripped off by the asking price of 60 dollars? Would you like to sell your copies? |
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