I really have mixed feelings about this one.

On one hand, this is a truly powerful effect that is certainly likely to cause the reactions you see in the trailer. It's essentially a cold reading that doesn't require any skill to perform and doesn't reveal any personal information that might embarrass your spectator. You need to be respectful and ethical in how you do effects like this, but if done right it might actually change someone's life by enabling them to move past an obstacle.

That said, the trailer is extremely misleading. The only reveal actually shown (lifting the card box to reveal a card) is not the primary reveal taught, and it's only possible sometimes. But what's worse, the card revealed in the trailer wasn't even accurate! Chris predicted the seven of diamonds, but the spectator actually chose the five of diamonds. It's important to acknowledge that the spectator's reaction to the "wrong" card in the trailer was genuine (they didn't mismatch the audio), and Chris handled it well so that the trick still worked. But as consumers, we should know what we're buying.

The ad copy is accurate. It says "The strength of the effect is all in its script, but Chris Philpott (with Steve Valentine) also go into details about the handling for both an impromptu version and one using a gimmicked deck (which you may already own)." Let me clarify what that means: The primary presentation taught is 100% patter using a full deck of cards and an old method. It's so 100% patter that the gimmicked deck isn't even explained at all. If you knew how the selection was usually revealed you'd know what the gimmicked deck was and realize you could use the patter from the trailer without paying for the download -- which I assume is why the trailer uses a completely inaccurate representation of the reveal. I'm not going to give away anything else.

Steve Valentine does go into detail about impromptu handlings, and you'll actually learn several utility moves that some might find worth the download by themselves. They all use sleights that I would not call beginner moves, but like the ad said they allow any deck to be used. The video includes about 45 minutes of instruction and discussion and about 30 minutes of the full performances with the spectators shown in the trailer.

Chris and Steve said repeatedly in the video that you shouldn't think of this as merely a new presentation of a standard gimmicked deck, and I agree. Unfortunately, many consumers will make a purchase based on the trailer and be disappointed that the reveal doesn't work that way most of the time. I'm giving four stars because I think it's worth $14.95 to learn the presentation and the impromptu handlings, because even with the gimmicked deck your spectators will be blown away, and because I'm happy to support Chris's brilliant work in general. I deducted a star because the trailer is just plain misleading to magicians.

This indeed is a powerhouse card trick when you can find a willing spectator who will go along with the presentation. You are evoking a sense of release from their inner burden, and thus for that reason you must tread carefully. I have yet to have any of those crying moments, but this can certainly happen when you find the right person. There is a genuine psychological ploy used here for entertainment with the ripping of the card that will alleviate the mood of the participant so this will knock out any ambitious card routine you do if you want to hit your audience on a deep emotional level.

As for the video, great teaching from Chris and Steve. One method taught with a gimmick you probably have, and one that can be done on the fly during performance. With 75 minutes of explanation and several live performances you can quickly learn the patter and see how to jazz off the cold reads your spectator provides you with.

So yep, this is a great and strong effect. If it were 5 dollars cheaper I'd be inclined to give it 5 stars, but if that's my biggest setback then I have nothing to really complain about. Combine this with the effects Dr. Fun and Deep 3 and you've got an overwhelming emotional ride that'll truly make change their day for the better. Thumbs up

Super powerful presentation of a classic effect. A great alternative to something like palm reading as it gives the same kind of effect without having to invoke the pseudo mysticism.

First of all let me review the effect. As such, it easily deserves 5 stars. As a card “trick”, it is beautifully motivated and artfully presented. Chris and Steve spend a great deal of time educating and elucidating you on a myriad of ways to make this a very effective card trick.
As a matter of fact they spend too much time doing so. They spend very little time going over the absolutely brilliant part of the presentation, which is the language and psychology of the delivery. They could have included a short pdf of the script and further discussed how to skillfully deliver such a powerful presentation with more verbal psychological subtlies and wonder words and how to delicately tread in the field of someones emotions.

This presentation is too strong.

There is more here than just a card trick. More than most magicians or mentalists can handle. Its almost irresponsible to sell something like this to people who aren’t prepared enough to handle the responses that it can illicit, which can be deeply emotional.
I urge you with all sincerity...if you are not equipped to truly connect with someone on an intense level or if you are just looking for big reactions to bolster your ego, if you are not mature enough to know when you are playing with fire and that fire can warm someone or burn them...dont buy this.
All Tied Up by Chris Philpott and Past, Present, Future by Rick Lax are probably the two most powerful effects on penguin that are marketed as magic tricks when they are far far more than that and give people the ability to toy with participants emotions at the expense of looking like a cool magician.
Please tread lightly my friends...respect those you perform for and know that just because you can do something doesnt mean you should.
Peace...

Buy this for the idea, the inspiration and the great script.

Personally, I feel that the creators/presenters lack the ability to tell the story/script well during the performances, detracting from some of the power that this routine can have. The script should be delivered as seriously as you want your spectators to take the routine. So a choppy, playful delivery will result in equivalent reactions. If you want this to be a hard, emotional hitter, treat it as such. However, their telling works for them, so fair play to them.

Chris' use of the deck he uses is fine. However, I feel that Steve's impromptu handling takes the stairs when there's an elevator near by.

That being said, I would recommend this to anyone looking for a solid base to work up from. The seed is there, but you will have to put in the work to grow the tree.

I will post my further thoughts on this in the discussion area.

I would recommend this product.

The script is to intense that when you get to the point where that intensely awkward script turns into "you were just picking a card all along", the whole thing collapses.
To go from such an intense moment to this is really just a card trick kills the magic. So, it kills, just not in a good way.

Many of our magical affects are pick a card... oops... lose the card ... oops ... find the card and spectators are thinking, who cares?

This effect it’s not that at all. It gets the spectator involved and interested and invested in the effect. Terrific terrific terrific.

Simply ridiculous. Even the spectator in the promo and downloaded instruction video laughs and kind of scoffs when the performer says " and you also picked a card?". This is after walking her through a contrived supposedly deep psychological event in her life.

A for effort but simply inane.

I love these type of tricks! A nice way to connect with your spectator on a deeper level. I can hardly wait to perform it!
If it was a little cheaper, I would give 5 stars

Its very good and i really don't want to comment any further