Magic Tricks

My definition of a great PK effect is one that is portable, easy to perform with simple functionality (how it works), and allows other effects unrelated to PK to be performed. By my definition Darryl Vanamburg's Movemint is a great effect.

Movemint can be performed standing or sitting and surrounded. Any table or even surface will suffice for performance, and a spectator's hand can even be used. For a greater effect, several of the included effects can be combined to be performed on both a surface and a spectator's hand. Other PK effects restrict you to be sitting down or be performed on / over a table. While those effects are just as astonishing as Movemint, Darryl and Paul Harris score two extra points in that Movemint uses a familiar object: a mint. Mints are small, innocent, and, obviously, edible. Nothing is more powerful from a PK effect when the spectator can keep the object that was used effect much more eat it! The other extra point goes to being able to vanish the mint in a clean, innocent, and sleight-free manner.

Darryl discusses and demonstrates several different PK effects that can be performed separately or combined. He also explains in detail different variations of having a mint melt through a glass table. Each effect is quick in performance time and simple to execute however, performing them without thought and plan on presentation would ruin the "wow" factor. I would suggest developing a presentation that would convince a person or audience that what they've seen is real versus a magic trick. I feel this effect is too powerful to be introduced as a magic trick because most people (skeptic or not) will always conclude that the effect was accomplished by trickery even though they have no clue of the secret. My point is, if a perfectly planned out presentation leaves the audience in believing that what you demonstrated was real (no trickery involved - no mention that it was a magic TRICK), Movemint will do more for you than you can imagine.

Now, despite all this there are a couple things I think should've been better. The mint used is Peppermint Dentyne Ice. They're small square shaped hard mints contained in a small box. Darryl includes a pack of real Peppermint Dentyne Ice and a gimmicked mint box resembling the real box. Darryl explains a version that allows the audience to examine the mint box using simple sleight. I've searched four Wal-Marts, two Targets, a Ralphs, a Walgreens, an Albertsons, and three different gas stations for this same exact version of Peppermint Dentyne Ice to no success. The only places you can buy this same version is Amazon.com (comes in a pack) and online magic shops as what the instructions say. I wish Darryl used a more popular version of Dentyne Ice mints. For some performers this may not even be a problem because you may not even have to refill your gimmicked mint box. If you end every performance with making a mint disappear, there's no need to replace the mints (nothing for the audience to eat). But it is a different story if someone asks you for a mint in the end.

Another thing that could've been better is the gimmick used to animate the mint; it should've been smaller. Darryl includes different versions of the same gimmick. Each gimmick is constructed in a particular way to help retain, conceal, and use the gimmick but I find it more of a nuisance to use this part of the gimmick. The gimmick can still be retained, concealed, and used easily without using this constructed part of the gimmick. However, again, I wish the gimmick was smaller.

This is without a doubt an amazing effect. Albeit, I don't think the price is justified. The secret is the same as most PK effects so you're really not paying for a brand new secret. Movemint introduces a new, and in many ways, improved version of PK effects. The reactions I received are off the wall amazing which essentially is probably worth the $100 I paid for but five starts would've been given had it been less expensive.

Overall, I highly recommend this effect. It doesn't take months of practice to master it, and (for the lack of a better word) even advanced beginners can perform it.