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TA: True Astonishment by Paul Harris (Box Set) (9 DVDs + Props)
The best DVD set of the last 5 years just got EVEN BETTER. From the most influential man in modern closeup magic, Paul Harris. NOW SHIPPING. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
Imagine that thrill when you were a kid and got your first bike, your first dog, your first car. Imagine the thrill you got when you read the early Paul Harris books or the Art of Astonishment books. These are all moments you will never forget. You'll get that same feeling as you take a journey through Paul Harris' True Astonishments.
True Astonishments will be Paul Harris' current, definitive, and final legacy. This is a monumental project of the highest caliber from the production to the material... it's simple, elegant, practical, and beautiful. True Astonishments is one of the most important projects to be released in the last 30 years.
With the True Astonishments Collector's set you will get:
9 DVDs in three fold cases with elegant images and artwork to inspire.
Material ranging from exciting new creations by Paul and friends to groundbreaking work on many Paul Harris classic effects.
Effects with cards, coins, bills, business cards, lighters, bottles, leafs, buttons, oranges, and so much more.
Interviews with David Blaine, Eric Mead, Michael Ammar, Eugene Burger, Jeff McBride, Mac King, Chuck Martinez, Looy Simonoff,. and with Paul himself.
Secret props to help create cutting edge astonishments.
In addition to the jam packed reputation making content contained within, you'll also find yourself twisting along secret passageways filled with hidden treasures. In OVER 40 hidden easter eggs throughout the DVDs you'll discover amazing bonus effects, interviews, and footage just waiting to be found.
Performances and teachings by Bro Gilbert, Wayne Houchin, Jeff McBride, Cheng Lin, Andrew Gerard, and other top creators and performers.
PHoote Notes for most effects which is Paul discussing his thoughts, ideas, tips, and added handlings for each effect.
The TA Pen which will revolutionize the way you think about magic with dollar bills.
Truly astonishing effects, interviews, philosophy and beautiful landscapes, all specially shot in the rain forest of a tiny beach town on the coast of British Columbia. The live performances include a cast of friendly dogs, walks in the wilderness, weird PH tidbits and a local spectators who experience the True Astonishments.
Be part of what some believe may be the most important project to come along during our time - Paul Harris' True Astonishments..
Here is a peek into True Astonishments:
DVD 1
Twilight Angels: Wayne Houchin performs a beautiful rendition of this classic PH effect. Paul has said repeatedly that this may BE his all time favorite effect.
Backlash 2: Paul and TA director Bro Gilbert took one of one of the most popular effects from the Art Of Astonishment books tore it apart, rebuilt it from the ground up and pumped up the ending till it explodes.
New Leaf: Another ingenious organic piece of strange from Paul and Bro. This new version of Leaf moves into the spectator's hands completely, and with a simple rubbing, everything becomes whole again. The next time you're in the middle of the woods and someone asks to see something magical you've got a lifetime supply of props and a beautiful little moment to share.
Cheng's Change: This is mind-blowing. Perform Zapped! with normal cards. Five cards visually morph into five different cards right under their noses. Did we mention NO GIMMICKS?
Big Tiny: A spectator's signature reassembles itself and multiplies in their hands. They honest-to-god truly mix up the cards and then the ink morphs into their name.
DVD 2
The New Las Vegas Leaper: Ok, this is so brilliant and so simple! Basically, you do the original PH routine with some new touches and add a whole new twist to end on. You'll kick yourself for not having thought of it.
Tubular: Paul's impromptu miracle where two signed bills impossibly morph into one bill with both names... all in the spectator's hands.
Cheng's Riser: The card visually and slowly rises towards the top. Then with barely a wave of the hand it melts right through to the very top. No gimmicks, just beautiful methodology.
Growing Card by Tomoyuki Shimmura: This bizarre piece of strange happens in full view. A card visibly squishes out of shape as it slowly stretches and grows to twice its size in full view. Beautifully performed and taught by Robert Smith.
DVD 3
Casanova Inc: Steve Haynes contributes two streamlined elegant handlings of his breakthrough Casanova Concept with business cards.
Half Moon Trading Company: Paul has devised a brand new principle that is guaranteed to expand your mind using a normal card case and a borrowed imagination.
Half Moon Voodoo: A new re-wired version of Guy Hollingsworth's Voodoo Card that ups the happy and glad quotient. You can show the deck freely before the start of the trick. There's nothing to find.
Pack of Lies: A brand new look at the PH Vanishing Deck. Bro's knock-out handling will forever change how we vanish our decks.
Solid with Happy Ending: Paul's completely new method for the classic Solid Deception. The deck goes solid just like before but this time the cards happily undo themselves.
DVD 4
Dr. Fun: After over forty attempts Paul finally nailed this biggie that has all the impact of Deep Astonishment and The Anything Deck, except you can use ANY deck. Imagine the emotional impact when you are able to predict the happiest moment of someone's life!
Name Dropper: A spectator is able to mysteriously and visually print her own name.
Lubor's Lens: This is the definitive work on Reality Twister. For everyone out there who just couldn't figure out the right presentation for this, the wait is over. Along with a brand new presentation, you get your very own Lubor's Lens included with the set.
Naked Strange: Paul's immaculate gimmickless, impromptu version of Strange Travelers. Simple, powerful and true.
Gerard's Warp: Andrew Gerard adds a new psychological twist and turn to Card Warp that left Paul and Bro speechless. Andrew warped their minds so thoroughly, they had to go back to the tape and re-examine what they thought had happened.
DVD 5
Transcendental Bar Bet: Transcendental Bar Bet: This is the PH completely hands off, in your face (and on the table), card vanish. Oh yeah, the deck is completely normal and you never touch it during the vanish. The spectator actually vanishes the card herself.
Extraordinary Proof: Andrew Gerard is back with a self-working Stop masterpiece that leave your holding your favorite spectator's hand. All you have to do is show up and deal.
Tensegrity: Patrick Snowden's strange improbably balanced card sculptures have been pumped up to a new gravity-defying level. Can be done anywhere, surrounded, etc. A true piece of strange that leaves one dangling from the crumbling edge.
Reswindled: PH's hand picked choice as the definitive version of Reset. Caleb Wiles has come up with the real work. The two piles never touch and he's added a fully integrated big finish!
DVD 6
Smoking Eye: This beautiful feature PH creation with a couple of signed examined matches was inspired by Paul's kid sister Janet when, after surgery, wisps of smoke began coming out of her eyeball.
The Weirdling: Michael Weber has taken a stack of those coffee cards you get at your favorite local java joint and flipped them inside out. Comes with your own special coffee cards.
Ripped and Fryed: Charlie Frye has come up with the most incredible Torn And Restored Technology to date! Whether you play with this in the mirror or on the town, you will love doing this!
Cellmates: Meet your soulmate!. She gets your number, you get hers and you both share plenty of laughs along the way. Cellmates is Paul's no-pressure romance inducer with a no-worry ending that puts the odds in your favor.
DVD 7
Water Trap: Bro Gilbert's unimaginably cool new approach to Doug Bennett's signed- coin- in- matchbook plot. A genuine breakthrough new method that allows you to improv the prep with a normal matchbook in ten seconds!
Dunn's Deal: Shaun Dunn presents his version of Galaxy. This time, the spectator is shuffling her whole way through the entire effect. Just when they think it's all over... you tell her to shuffle again.
Invisible Palm by Wayne Houchin: You've seen the video of Wayne performing this for years, now learn all the finesse and handling he's brought to this PH classic.
Truly Screwed: This is the new and improved Improv Screwed Deck. Incredibly visual and a treat for your fingers. And the really screwy thing here, is the worse you do the key move here the better it looks.
DVD 8
Belly Button: This is Paul's unbelievable brainstorm for doing card through window with a campaign-type button.. using the spectator's own shirt as the window!
SOS: Paul's new version of Color Stunner is more streamlined, simplified and simply a better more joyous thing.
Muscle Bend: A borrowed coin bend that starts and ends with empty hands. Involves a mystery "organic ungimmicked gimmick" that will change the way you bend coins forever.
Unstable Label: Andrew Gerard's "Label to Inside of Bottle" with no palming or gimmicks. Perform with a normal bottle in a moment's notice.
DVD 9
TA Pen. Having fun yet? This 9th and final DVD includes a special PH custom gimmick which will not be available separately for quite a while.
What is the TA pen? It's a new gimmick that makes immaculately clean bill changes, switches, and animations. Everything about the pen is self-contained and can even be handled and used as a normal pen by spectators.
If you thought this is all enough to keep you busy for a couple of years, you'd be right. But there is one last final thing on DVD 9: Paul's very own Angel Cake.
Angel Cake is....a slightly troubling once-in-a-lifetime principle. This slice of ph cake almost definitely will give you some sleepless nights contemplating the philosophical implications of this karmically loaded astonishment.
Angel Cake is...a brand new theory in bill changes that allows you to....well, you'll just have to find out for yourself.
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on June 10th, 2010
If you choose to buy this I think there is at least something for everyone. I do have some favorite
effects, such as twilight angels, growing card, ripped and fryed, and reswindled just to name a few.
For the most part the interviews were pretty good.
With all that in mind I have some bad
things to say. I honestly don't think it's worth 300 bucks. First disappontment was that I got one
of the plain wooden boxes, not one of the lock types. Chances are good unless you bought TA the
month it came out, you're getting the plain box. Second disappointment is a lot of the tricks in
this set requires some form of destruction, whether it's a card, deck, or whatever. Third
disappointment was that 300 dollar cost, which I don't think was justified.
To sum up, if I
had the choice, I think I would ask for a refund. Don't get me wrong, most of the effects/interviews
were very good. I just don't think all of this is worth 300 bucks. If it was 200 bucks then I would
keep it. With 300 bucks you can buy a lot of things that would be better than this.
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on December 22nd, 2011
I bought this set almost entirely because of Paul Harris's reputation. I had always heard that he
was a creative genius but didn't actually know all that much about him.
As I was first
watching the videos I thought to myself... I can't believe I payed $300 for this! But, later on
that night, I was thinking about all of the tricks that I had seen. I was thinking about which ones
I felt like I could really perform. That's when I realized that almost every single trick that I
had seen was a worker, and, I began to see so much potential for all of the different effects in the
series.
After that, I started feeling a bit better about spending $300 on the set... And
then I realized, I had only watched 3 OF THE DISKS! This set is just so stinking packed full of
great effects and absolutely genius methods it's almost unbelievable.
The quality of the
DVD's isn't exactly Theory11 or anything, but it's not bad at all. You definitely won't have any
trouble seeing what is being taught.
If I could offer any advice to some one contemplating
buying this set it would be. BUY IT! Don't worry about it, just buy it! It is so worth the money.
The other thing that I would STRONGLY suggest is that you learn at least one trick from each DVD
before you move on to the next one. Don't even open the next DVD until you've learned something
from the first one. It takes some discipline, but, you don't want to just browse through these
effects. Give them some respect and your magic will grow tremendously.
I hope this small
book has been helpful. THANK YOU PAUL HARRIS!
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on July 13th, 2009
Just for background, I have been actively performing for 4 1/2 years now, approx. 2 years at the
Magic Castle, so I am no amateur giving a review. I, and along other performers, have seen Paul's
other work, The Art of Astonishment , which was really amazing and at the same time really funny.
But in contrast to see this product is "A REAL LETDOWN". Others who have bought this dvd will
acknowledge this.
First, some of the effects are not practical or take TOO much set-up
every time to perform. Second, and let me stress this, that there are TOO many gimmicks. Some of
which you have to make, others you have to give away (since they signed it). Other effects are just
not possible to do unless you have these objects. For me as a performer, it is good to have effects
that are practical, simple, and, what I was desiring, a lot of impromptu work.
What I had
noticed was that Paul Harris is not in any of the actual performances from what I had watched so
far. For a lot of the performances it was Bro Gilbert, or Wayne H. among others. This does not hurt
the quality of the performance...for the most part. The only trouble I had was when Bro would
continually overemphasize "the already known". For example, "this is a normal pack of cards" among
others examples you will find. It was really annoying because you just wanted him to get to the
point. Third, and this point can be debated. When you are "watching" many of the performances from
when Bro Gilbert is on the beach, it is VERY hard to focus on his performances,because frankly many
of the women are in bikinis. I am not focusing on the trick but rather am "being distracted", and
lose the whole idea of what is happening.
Forth, for some, if not many of the tricks,
there is no logical reason for why some of the objects are used. Since there is no reason, it makes
people question WHY you took out that object. A good example is in one effect, the name escapes me,
where you say to the spectator if it would be amazing if jumped to the pocket. When it does not
work, you instantly say "then let me do something with some cards". Get the point?
In
conclusion, I am not proud of my purchase. I do not like to be held down by objects that are
necessities to performing the effect. I like to perform just as if I was "On the spot" (even though
sounding cliche). A true and what I call "real" magician is one who carries nothing more than a
pack of cards in their pocket with little or no set-up, a few good jokes or patter lines to amplify
every trick he does, and miracles that I personally believe are powerful because they did not need
the aid of some object, tool, etc. to make it possible. If you are swaying on buying this product I
say you should put your money to good use and check out instead Paul's Art of Astonishments
collection. There you will find Paul's real potential and what he should REALLY be remembered for.
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on July 10th, 2010
This is a very nice set to own. It's a good amount of material on these DVDs when you include the
bonus material. After buying mine (although I did get the original puzzle box version), I didn't
have regrets. I feel the price is justified given what you get.
It feels like the tricks
are varied, creative and are focused on being something the spectator would enjoy.
I think
the TA pen and Angel Cake (discussed on the last DVD) methods were a little bit of a let down,
because I wanted them to be something more revolutionary or complicated.... HOWEVER.... even after
I had finished watching only the 3rd or 4th DVD... I felt like the purchase had already been worth
it at that time... so the rest of the material/DVDs/gimmicks at that point was just icing on the
cake! :)
If you have the money for this, I would recommend it. There is a good variety of
thought-provoking and enjoyable magic tricks in here.
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on December 10th, 2012
Are you kidding me?!!? TA is the best bargain of the decade! In the '80s, Paul Harris gave a
lecture at a friend's house (trade show magician Charles McFarland) for IBM Ring 255 and we all
loved it. It was obvious that he had a lot to offer then and TA is truly one of his crowning
achievements. And the cost is ridiculously low - $8.11 per effect! And these are very good effects
- many of them reputation makers - most of which are relatively easy to perform. By the way, the
explanations are very clear and the quality of the filming is excellent.
As is typical
with the purchase of a collection of effects like this, we magicians choose our favorites. I'm
working my way through 17 of the 37 now and have gotten my favorite four down already.
You
know what we live for? That moment in which the spectator realizes that something very special and
impossible has just occurred. Immediately following that, if the spectator either screams or is
dead silent with her jaw dropping, we know we've done our job. Watch Wayne's performance of
Twilight Angels. A reaction like Elizabeth's makes all of the hard work worthwhile. Performing
this, I have gotten both reactions - a scream and silence. This one effect is worth the price of
the whole set. It's so good I bought two decks of refills.
Extraordinary Proof is a
reputation maker and is very easy to perform. The revelation is so impossible that people will talk
about this effect for a very long time.
Penguin Magic hit a big home run with this set.
I've been doing magic for over 30 years and THIS IS THE BEST MAGIC PURCHASE I HAVE EVER MADE!!! You
will not regret ordering it! Do it now!
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on October 5th, 2012
Wow!! After making and receiving order after order after order from penguin magic, I've always
neglected to review my products. I just don't make any effort to write reviews. But with true
astonishment I couldn't help myself. In my opinion, the $300 price tag on TA is a complete steal.
Every effect available to your disposable is amazing and I've incorporated many of them into each of
my routines. Disc twos opener "LVL$" alone is worth the entire price of this set. I've never felt
this strongly, so quickly, about any product up until now. This material will blow your spectators
off their feet. Turning your head at TA is one mistake I hope none of you make. Don't let this one
go under the radar. You can thank me later. Absolutely brilliant. - Chris
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on April 2nd, 2010
I have been performing magic for a very long time. It started off as a hobby back in grade school
and then it became a part time job during high school and undergraduate. Now it has become a hobby
again as I pursue my degree in pharmacy. What is my point in all this? Frankly, this set is
something I have been anticipating after I first heard of its announcement a while ago. Being a
proud owner of the Art of Astonishment series and knowing that Paul Harris was putting together a
huge DVD set of his best work, I could do nothing but salivate at the thoughts of this magical
feast.
So when the DVD set arrived at my front door, I was stoked. I hurriedly tried to
find out how the heck to open the box. It was a pretty clever design. Popped the DVDs into my player
and watched away as I learned from the master...
DVD Quality: 8/10 - The DVD menus were a
little bland, but there are secret easter eggs hidden around everywhere that you have to be keen to
if you want to see bonus DVD content. I wish the menus were more polished like the Born to Perform
DVDs that Penguin has.
DVD Content: 10/10 - I give this a perfect score. Even though there
were tricks that require a lot of preparation, or tricks that didn't seem practical in some
situations, you have to hand it to the creators of those tricks. The amount of preparation may seem
to be too much for some tricks... but the payoff is huge. It's like the reaction you get when you
see a pelican swallow a pigeon. Just unreal. So do I mind about the prep work that goes into some of
the tricks? Definitely not.
Instruction: 9/10 - Most of the time, it will be Bro Gilbert
performing and teaching you the trick. Sometimes it's the creator of the trick that will teach you.
About 90% of the time, I am very pleased with the explanations. However, I docked off 1 point
because some of the explanations were just... video with background music and captions. I am not too
much of a fan for that. It just doesn't seem too organic. Also, it would have been nice to have Paul
be teaching some of the tricks verbally.
Props: 8/10 - I docked off two points because some
of the props are the kind where you do the trick once and you toss that item away. This means
resupplying those items are a pain. However, the quality is pretty good for the props so I still
gave it an 8/10.
Lasting Appeal: 10/10 - I've had this for I think a year now. I still
haven't mastered everything on the set. Tricks are hit/miss, with mostly hits. Similar to Art of
Astonishment, there are many tricks in here that you don't discover until later, and they become
your little gems of astonishment that you will unleash at little moment's notice.
Overall,
I would recommend this to anyone who has the cash to shell out on this set. If you don't have enough
money... save up. Beginners to Professionals, everyone will benefit from this set whether it be
actually performing the effects on the DVDs or applying the principles to your own routine for the
future. Paul Harris has done it again and truly astonished all of us.
Look at every magic trick you own and add it up see what it amounts to.Report this review
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on April 2nd, 2010
The first time I've seen the previews for it, I had to have it. I mean look at the reactions from
the video it should tell you something. Everything that comes in that box is just....... you know
it's hard for me to explain, you watch the videos and it's like you're in the performance. I've
watched magic videos but I don't get whatever it is that I get from others what I did with True
Astonishments. It delivers what it's supposed to. Yeah for some it's overpriced but wait until you
get it you'll see it worth every penny and more.
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on April 2nd, 2010
This box set contains all the tricks you need to be a decent magician, you could genuinely not
buy/learn another trick ever again and happily rely on the material here until you retire. Of course
we're all magic geeks here and will usually spend our spare cash on new magic but my point is that
the variety and strength of the material in thses DVDs are strong and powerful.
Most of
the tricks are relatively self-working but that said they are amazing effects. My personal
favourites are Ripped and Fryed (Probably my favourite ever T&R because it's visual and most
importantly it's a T&R effect which makes sense), Cellmates (Just a great little effect, one which
is charming and will make everyone smile) and Tubular (A great walkaround effect which is simple but
powerful).
Today, when you order "TA: True Astonishment by Paul Harris (Box Set)", you'll instantly be emailed a Penguin Magic gift certificate. You can spend it on anything you like at Penguin, just like cash. Just complete your order as normal, and within seconds you'll get an email with your gift certificate.
FREE SHIPPING TO THE UNITED STATES.
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Mixed feelings
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Tip of the hat to Mr. Harris.
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You have to face the facts
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