52 Shades of Red is a two disc set from Shin Lim. For $55 you are paying for a gaff deck (Bicycle Rider Back), gimmicks and two DVDs. This is more on the expensive side for a student but you get what you are paying for. I have mixed feelings on this so I will try go through each effect one by one.
First, I would like to explain the gaff deck scenario. You receive a gaff deck of cards which is very clever and innovative. The thing is, the gaff deck you receive isn't even featured in the trailer. All the things you see are other little effects taught on the DVD. The actual gaff deck you recieve allows you to change a deck of cards from blue to red and from printed to blank. Also, the 52 Shades of Red routine taught on the DVD isn't the LIVE PERFORMANCE shown here (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CfmKMV_a0nw). Elements of it uses the gaff deck, but one - you don't get enough "gimmicks" to make all the different parts of the routines and two - most of the stuff in that video isn't even taught (deck vanish, deck appearance - although a similar concept is used for the deck vanish, the reappearance of the printed aces and deck, etc). So I found that incredibly misleading. Here is the link to the performance of the "52 Shades of Red" routine taught on the DVD. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTLZDpNehJo
I would recommend watching this before purchasing - because this is the routine you are paying for.
Also, all the effects you see on the trailer can't be performed without buying replacement gimmicks, because you aren't supplied with enough to make nearly all of them. I got to make the gaff deck routine, colour changing box and sandwich disappearance before I ran out. So don't expect to be able to perform all of these. Also you need rubber cement, scissors, tape, about 3 decks of Bicycle Rider Backs (have to be rider back), extra cards, super glue, rulers, different fabrics (trying not to expose anything). It is VERY heavily based on DIY work. I love making my own gimmicks and gaffs (e.g. card splitting) but even I found this excessive. It took me 5 tries to make the basic gaff deck to a workable standard. It was a pain.
Anyway, here are some reviews of the effects on the DVD:
"52 Shades of Red" routine:
This routine is beautiful. A blue card is selected and signed from a blue deck. The card is lost in the pack. You show the aces as blue and place them on the table, with just a wave of the deck, the aces visually change from blue to red. Then with a shake, the deck turns red, except one blue card in the middle. You then take the aces and turn them blank. Then with a wave, the entire deck turns blank except for the signed selected card. The cards are then placed in the box. You then squeeze the deck, causing the cards to vanish. You open your phone case, which has been on the table the entire time, finding one card inside the phone, the signed selected card! This is really fun to perform and quite clever. There are a few sleights here and there but is mainly very gaff based. A few issues is that the colour change showed on the live performance and even the link I gave for the basic "real" performance, he does the one handed change from red to blue. You don't learn how to do that (make the gaff), he teaches another version which he says is better (it isn't...). That was an issue I had. Apart from that, the routine is good and well thought out.
1 in-studio performance - 8/10
Sandwich Making (Impossible Card Vanish/Colour Change):
This is the vanish of the ace between the two court cards. This got me excited on the trailer because I always seem to break elastic cards, and it was obvious there weren't any elastics. The truth is, this is one of the best things on the DVD. You have to make the gaff very well in order for it to be unnoticeable. You can also use the gaff for the colour change from the ace to the queen shown in the first few seconds of the trailer.
Watch Kyle Marlett's performance of this in Unwrapped: Episode 013 at 0:52
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1pD4CJPrpc
3 in-studio perfomances - 9/10
Colour Changing Box:
This is probably the most exciting thing on the trailer. He performs this twice on the DVD, a thing he didn't do with the rest of the effects. The method is easy once the gaff is made, but just so you know, you can't hand the box out at all. This isn't like Rapture where you can just cop the gimmick out. It is literally imbedded in the card box. The gaff is moderately hard to make and very time consuming. It is very fun to practice but also very angle sensitive if you want to perform the one shown in the trailer. Mr Lim is obviously very proud of this. Before each effect on the DVD is taught, there is a mini trailer of the effect being taught. There is a point in the one for the colour changing box where he clenches his fist in an almost violent manner. It's quite funny to watch because of his polite manner whilst explaining.
3 in-studio performances - 7/10
Blue to Red, 3s to Kings (4x4 Color Change):
There isn't really much to say about this. This looks really cool and I have tried this out but this is incredibly gaffed and kind of hard to get into. He recommends putting the gaffs in your wallet and slipping them into the deck. Then you have to set up the gaffs away from spectators eyes. Oh, and none of it can be examined. Very weak.
2 live performances - 6/10
Bonus section: You show four blue-backed Aces. With just a wave, they turn into four red-back Kings. Also included in the DVD, Shin teaches you how to vanish an entire pack of cards in an extremely clean manner:
I will split this up into each effect as each is quite weak and needs to be talked about. They all use a similar concept which uses a close up mat.
Ace transformation: this effect looked so clean on the trailer but in reality you need to be on a close up mat with distance between you and the spectator. The aces are examinable at the end if that counts for anything. Very weak indeed. 2 performances - 6/10
Deck vanish:
Wow. This is the most unpractical thing ever. The gaff looks good on camera and the vanish looks incredibly clean. The gaff is almost impossible to bring into play. If you buy this, you will see what I mean. Literally, impossible. The colour changing deck on the trailer where he waves his hand over it and changes as it passes over it uses this same gaff so that puts perfuming that out of anyone's range. Also, I swear he was wearing pyjamas in one of the performances.
3 in-studio perfomances - 4/10
Overall thoughts:
In closing, this is clever. All the methods are clever and fun to even just know how they work. Is it worth $55? I would say yes, because of the solid 52 Shades routine, which I have already perfumed at a charity event. I have also used the disappearing sandwich routine. If you can get some of the effects to work in your routines, that's great. If not, well, too bad, I guess. The whole DVD is full of ideas and concepts that you can apply to create your own magic. There is no doubt that Shin Lim is very smart and talented. The DVD was produced to a mediocre standard. The DVD is just him talking to the camera, explaining (and sometimes over explaining) the effects in great detail. The trailer was very well produced, as are all of his trailers. The sound quality was good, there is still the annoying looping background music but I guess that is his style :/ Overall, it's just fun, DIY, gaffed "shinanigens".
Overall rating - 7/10
Product information:http://www.murphysmagic.com/Product.aspx?id=50703
First, I would like to explain the gaff deck scenario. You receive a gaff deck of cards which is very clever and innovative. The thing is, the gaff deck you receive isn't even featured in the trailer. All the things you see are other little effects taught on the DVD. The actual gaff deck you recieve allows you to change a deck of cards from blue to red and from printed to blank. Also, the 52 Shades of Red routine taught on the DVD isn't the LIVE PERFORMANCE shown here (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CfmKMV_a0nw). Elements of it uses the gaff deck, but one - you don't get enough "gimmicks" to make all the different parts of the routines and two - most of the stuff in that video isn't even taught (deck vanish, deck appearance - although a similar concept is used for the deck vanish, the reappearance of the printed aces and deck, etc). So I found that incredibly misleading. Here is the link to the performance of the "52 Shades of Red" routine taught on the DVD. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTLZDpNehJo
I would recommend watching this before purchasing - because this is the routine you are paying for.
Also, all the effects you see on the trailer can't be performed without buying replacement gimmicks, because you aren't supplied with enough to make nearly all of them. I got to make the gaff deck routine, colour changing box and sandwich disappearance before I ran out. So don't expect to be able to perform all of these. Also you need rubber cement, scissors, tape, about 3 decks of Bicycle Rider Backs (have to be rider back), extra cards, super glue, rulers, different fabrics (trying not to expose anything). It is VERY heavily based on DIY work. I love making my own gimmicks and gaffs (e.g. card splitting) but even I found this excessive. It took me 5 tries to make the basic gaff deck to a workable standard. It was a pain.
Anyway, here are some reviews of the effects on the DVD:
"52 Shades of Red" routine:
This routine is beautiful. A blue card is selected and signed from a blue deck. The card is lost in the pack. You show the aces as blue and place them on the table, with just a wave of the deck, the aces visually change from blue to red. Then with a shake, the deck turns red, except one blue card in the middle. You then take the aces and turn them blank. Then with a wave, the entire deck turns blank except for the signed selected card. The cards are then placed in the box. You then squeeze the deck, causing the cards to vanish. You open your phone case, which has been on the table the entire time, finding one card inside the phone, the signed selected card! This is really fun to perform and quite clever. There are a few sleights here and there but is mainly very gaff based. A few issues is that the colour change showed on the live performance and even the link I gave for the basic "real" performance, he does the one handed change from red to blue. You don't learn how to do that (make the gaff), he teaches another version which he says is better (it isn't...). That was an issue I had. Apart from that, the routine is good and well thought out.
1 in-studio performance - 8/10
Sandwich Making (Impossible Card Vanish/Colour Change):
This is the vanish of the ace between the two court cards. This got me excited on the trailer because I always seem to break elastic cards, and it was obvious there weren't any elastics. The truth is, this is one of the best things on the DVD. You have to make the gaff very well in order for it to be unnoticeable. You can also use the gaff for the colour change from the ace to the queen shown in the first few seconds of the trailer.
Watch Kyle Marlett's performance of this in Unwrapped: Episode 013 at 0:52
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1pD4CJPrpc
3 in-studio perfomances - 9/10
Colour Changing Box:
This is probably the most exciting thing on the trailer. He performs this twice on the DVD, a thing he didn't do with the rest of the effects. The method is easy once the gaff is made, but just so you know, you can't hand the box out at all. This isn't like Rapture where you can just cop the gimmick out. It is literally imbedded in the card box. The gaff is moderately hard to make and very time consuming. It is very fun to practice but also very angle sensitive if you want to perform the one shown in the trailer. Mr Lim is obviously very proud of this. Before each effect on the DVD is taught, there is a mini trailer of the effect being taught. There is a point in the one for the colour changing box where he clenches his fist in an almost violent manner. It's quite funny to watch because of his polite manner whilst explaining.
3 in-studio performances - 7/10
Blue to Red, 3s to Kings (4x4 Color Change):
There isn't really much to say about this. This looks really cool and I have tried this out but this is incredibly gaffed and kind of hard to get into. He recommends putting the gaffs in your wallet and slipping them into the deck. Then you have to set up the gaffs away from spectators eyes. Oh, and none of it can be examined. Very weak.
2 live performances - 6/10
Bonus section: You show four blue-backed Aces. With just a wave, they turn into four red-back Kings. Also included in the DVD, Shin teaches you how to vanish an entire pack of cards in an extremely clean manner:
I will split this up into each effect as each is quite weak and needs to be talked about. They all use a similar concept which uses a close up mat.
Ace transformation: this effect looked so clean on the trailer but in reality you need to be on a close up mat with distance between you and the spectator. The aces are examinable at the end if that counts for anything. Very weak indeed. 2 performances - 6/10
Deck vanish:
Wow. This is the most unpractical thing ever. The gaff looks good on camera and the vanish looks incredibly clean. The gaff is almost impossible to bring into play. If you buy this, you will see what I mean. Literally, impossible. The colour changing deck on the trailer where he waves his hand over it and changes as it passes over it uses this same gaff so that puts perfuming that out of anyone's range. Also, I swear he was wearing pyjamas in one of the performances.
3 in-studio perfomances - 4/10
Overall thoughts:
In closing, this is clever. All the methods are clever and fun to even just know how they work. Is it worth $55? I would say yes, because of the solid 52 Shades routine, which I have already perfumed at a charity event. I have also used the disappearing sandwich routine. If you can get some of the effects to work in your routines, that's great. If not, well, too bad, I guess. The whole DVD is full of ideas and concepts that you can apply to create your own magic. There is no doubt that Shin Lim is very smart and talented. The DVD was produced to a mediocre standard. The DVD is just him talking to the camera, explaining (and sometimes over explaining) the effects in great detail. The trailer was very well produced, as are all of his trailers. The sound quality was good, there is still the annoying looping background music but I guess that is his style :/ Overall, it's just fun, DIY, gaffed "shinanigens".
Overall rating - 7/10
Product information:http://www.murphysmagic.com/Product.aspx?id=50703