You’ll Believe Your TV Is Haunted (In a Good Way)
Once you learn the “Elmsley Count” or the secret behind “Cold Reading,” the innocence is gone. I watched a street magician on vacation do the “Cups and Balls” routine. A year ago, I would have applauded. Last week, I leaned to my wife and whispered, “He’s using a gimmicked final load and a misdirection sweep on the right.” She asked for a divorce. (Not really, but she was annoyed.)
Here is the warning label this set should come with: You will never enjoy a live magic show again. Ultimate Magic Video Collection
The set also drags slightly in Disc 4, which is dedicated entirely to “Mentalism.” Watching ten different men in black turtlenecks guess your number is tedious if you’re not a hardcore enthusiast.
The Armchair Skeptic
★★★★☆ (4/5) Loses one star because I now know my cat isn’t psychic; he just hears the treat bag from three rooms away.
First, the production value is absurdly high. We’re not talking about a guy in a sparkly blazer filmed in a hotel conference room. This collection spans six discs, covering everything from Victorian parlor tricks to modern street magic that will make you question the laws of physics. You’ll Believe Your TV Is Haunted (In a
The Ultimate Magic Video Collection is a paradox. It’s a masterclass in deception that feels painfully honest. For $59.99, you get roughly 12 hours of content that will make you the life of every party for exactly 20 minutes (until you forget the patter) and a suspicious, untrusting soul for the rest of your life.
Buy it if you want to be the smartest person in the room. Avoid it if you still want to believe in wonder. As for me? I’m off to make my coffee cup float. (Spoiler: It’s invisible thread. It’s always invisible thread.) Last week, I leaned to my wife and