My first review on my site will be Chaotic by Kieron Johnson and RSVP. This DVD teaches nine of his professional routines that are in his current working set. This DVD is really well taught, well produced, a few issues but we will get onto that later. I've decided the best way to review this is to go over each routine one by one.
Lolly (4 Rules of Magic):
This is a nice, cute and fun production of a lollypop in a flash of fire (or anything, it is only limited to your imagination). You could use a coin, pencil, cigarette, etc. The production is fairly common in method but included in this is a routine with blank cards with objects written on them. This gives meaning to the production, because they chose the object produced. This is a very nice little tidbit to play around with if you love your flash paper.
3 live performances - 8/10
Transcend:
This is an extreme hands-off rising card effect between two glasses. The card can also be signed. The method isn't particularly new but the handling is very clever and works quite well. Well thought out and practical with an instant reset. I have already performed this and it is very good.
2 live performances (one in the performance of CIO) - 8/10
Devil's Triumph:
This is his take on Dai Vernon's Triumph plot (Stars of Magic). This version is about a meeting with the devil and in the end, the deck restores, card reversed and the numbers 666 are found on the back, burnt into the design. There is also a final gag/effect right at the end. It is fairly easy to do and has a cool method for having a burnt message etched into a card. Well explained and won't take much practice.
1 live performance - 7/10
Stop Kicking Me:
This is a fantastic routine with a video prediction matching the card the spectator chose. Then he proceeds to find the rest of the suit. Then the entire deck turns blank, even though they saw it printed moments before. The routine is full of twists and turns and unexpected magical moments. People get involved and have a good time as well as the performer. The method is bold and out of the box. It is a great opener or closer. Easy to of and gets great reactions. I am already using this a lot. Fantastic.
1 live performance - 9/10
CIO (Card in Orange)
This is a brilliant card in orange/torn corner effect. This is interchangeable into lots of card routines and the spectator is left with a breathtaking souvenir. You are left completely clean at the end and the spectator can pull the card out of the orange and hold onto the corner the entire time. The are NO switches and nearly NO sleight of hand. Pure beauty.
1 live performance (with a performance of Transcend within it) - 10/10 (best thing on the DVD, easily)
Chaotic FKS:
This is Kieron Johnson's metal bending routine. The routine is clever and the moves are well justified with the patter. There is a part in the routine where the fork starts twisting (rotating) inside the spectators hand, and you aren't doing anything! This is an easier metal bending routine than some of the others on the market at the moment.
2 live performances - 8/10
Credit Crunch:
A selected card turns blank and the name of the card appears printed on your bank card that's been held by the spectator. Nice idea that fits in your wallet. Won't fool magicians but laypeople seem to like it. Will take a little while to set up at first. Nothing special.
1 live performance - 6/10
Repressured (Borrowed Phone in Balloon and Wallet)
This is a borrowed phone in balloon, restoration of a balloon, disappearing phone and reappearing in your wallet. NOTE: He doesn't teach DG's Pressure on the DVD, he just explains the rest of the routine. This is a clever routine and is a right place, right time effect as he says on the explanation. You will need good pocket management for this. Clever routine.
1 live performance - 9/10
Bigger:
A sponge ball routine with a devastating ending that kills... if they say the right number. If not, here comes your good old friend, math. I personally don't like this routine but it is still very clever and can see people using it. Weakest thing on the DVD in my opinion. The explanation had it's fair share of balls jokes too.
1 live performance - 6/10
Overall thoughts:
This is a pretty solid routine with lots of workers and great advice from Mr Johnson. The explanations are him sitting with another magician (the latter changes with effects) and has a very relaxed, chilled vibe. The DVD is well produced and shot. The DVD packaging is nothing special but has a cool artwork cover. The Card in Orange is a standout and could easily be worth the price of the DVD. His performances are entertaining and you can learn a lot from his performances and his crowd control. This DVD is $30 and is very impressive - 8 and a half out of 10
Product information:http://www.murphysmagic.com/Product.aspx?id=51013
Lolly (4 Rules of Magic):
This is a nice, cute and fun production of a lollypop in a flash of fire (or anything, it is only limited to your imagination). You could use a coin, pencil, cigarette, etc. The production is fairly common in method but included in this is a routine with blank cards with objects written on them. This gives meaning to the production, because they chose the object produced. This is a very nice little tidbit to play around with if you love your flash paper.
3 live performances - 8/10
Transcend:
This is an extreme hands-off rising card effect between two glasses. The card can also be signed. The method isn't particularly new but the handling is very clever and works quite well. Well thought out and practical with an instant reset. I have already performed this and it is very good.
2 live performances (one in the performance of CIO) - 8/10
Devil's Triumph:
This is his take on Dai Vernon's Triumph plot (Stars of Magic). This version is about a meeting with the devil and in the end, the deck restores, card reversed and the numbers 666 are found on the back, burnt into the design. There is also a final gag/effect right at the end. It is fairly easy to do and has a cool method for having a burnt message etched into a card. Well explained and won't take much practice.
1 live performance - 7/10
Stop Kicking Me:
This is a fantastic routine with a video prediction matching the card the spectator chose. Then he proceeds to find the rest of the suit. Then the entire deck turns blank, even though they saw it printed moments before. The routine is full of twists and turns and unexpected magical moments. People get involved and have a good time as well as the performer. The method is bold and out of the box. It is a great opener or closer. Easy to of and gets great reactions. I am already using this a lot. Fantastic.
1 live performance - 9/10
CIO (Card in Orange)
This is a brilliant card in orange/torn corner effect. This is interchangeable into lots of card routines and the spectator is left with a breathtaking souvenir. You are left completely clean at the end and the spectator can pull the card out of the orange and hold onto the corner the entire time. The are NO switches and nearly NO sleight of hand. Pure beauty.
1 live performance (with a performance of Transcend within it) - 10/10 (best thing on the DVD, easily)
Chaotic FKS:
This is Kieron Johnson's metal bending routine. The routine is clever and the moves are well justified with the patter. There is a part in the routine where the fork starts twisting (rotating) inside the spectators hand, and you aren't doing anything! This is an easier metal bending routine than some of the others on the market at the moment.
2 live performances - 8/10
Credit Crunch:
A selected card turns blank and the name of the card appears printed on your bank card that's been held by the spectator. Nice idea that fits in your wallet. Won't fool magicians but laypeople seem to like it. Will take a little while to set up at first. Nothing special.
1 live performance - 6/10
Repressured (Borrowed Phone in Balloon and Wallet)
This is a borrowed phone in balloon, restoration of a balloon, disappearing phone and reappearing in your wallet. NOTE: He doesn't teach DG's Pressure on the DVD, he just explains the rest of the routine. This is a clever routine and is a right place, right time effect as he says on the explanation. You will need good pocket management for this. Clever routine.
1 live performance - 9/10
Bigger:
A sponge ball routine with a devastating ending that kills... if they say the right number. If not, here comes your good old friend, math. I personally don't like this routine but it is still very clever and can see people using it. Weakest thing on the DVD in my opinion. The explanation had it's fair share of balls jokes too.
1 live performance - 6/10
Overall thoughts:
This is a pretty solid routine with lots of workers and great advice from Mr Johnson. The explanations are him sitting with another magician (the latter changes with effects) and has a very relaxed, chilled vibe. The DVD is well produced and shot. The DVD packaging is nothing special but has a cool artwork cover. The Card in Orange is a standout and could easily be worth the price of the DVD. His performances are entertaining and you can learn a lot from his performances and his crowd control. This DVD is $30 and is very impressive - 8 and a half out of 10
Product information:http://www.murphysmagic.com/Product.aspx?id=51013