Dunno what happened... it looks like my review was never posted here. Guess I have to do it again... sigh.

4.375 stars. That's what I give this one. A 5 for the trick and a 4 for the actual training product, for an average of 4.375.

Do I recommend you get this? Yes absolutely! It's the only way you'll learn it! But as for the training itself, it could definitely use some improvement.

Ok so let's first talk quickly about the trick. Great, great, great! I love visual tricks and this one will definitely melt some grey matter. 5 stars. Get it. You'll use it. You will.

For those of you who gripe about having to construct your own gimmick... well gripe away. You have to construct your own gimmick... but it's a quick and easy... you'll be ready to use it within just a couple minutes. But yeah, you have to build it yourself. Personally, I think that the arts and crafts aspect is part of what makes a real magician. Again, the construction for this gimmick is no big deal at all... so don't let that be too much of a negative for you. The trick is worth the effort.

That said, to be a fair review, I need to be candid and honest in my opinions. Let me first start by saying that Leon Andersen genuinely seems to be a nice guy. He obviously knows his trick well... so my following observations is not a matter of competence. The problem is that this felt like (and in his defense, perhaps it is) this is his very first attempt at teaching a trick for video. I didn't feel that he taught it real well. There were key points, including the key move, where he seems to buzz through it real quick. But perhaps it's not his fault. Perhaps it's the director's... because it didn't seem like anyone had him back up a bit and retract it slowly or from a different angle. And speaking of angles... the camera work was not the best. The setting was nice and, from an aesthetic point of view, it was fine. However, the camera was always too far, at a poor angle (during the over shoulder POV - his hand was at times covering up the actions... it would have been better to watch over the left instead of right shoulder. Watch the video, you'll see what I mean), and no closeups for critical parts.

Now the trick itself... it's not rocket science. But still I had to initially try to figure out how to use the gimmick... because after he explained the gimmick, he showed the trick and buzzed through the part where he used the gimmick and basically didn't explain how to use it. (Later it becomes more apparent and obvious... but it would have been nice for him to explain this more clearly from the beginning.)

How can I put it? Well, I remember thinking this: if I was learning from Leon in person this very trick with this very style of teaching... I'd get it! But on video, it just doesn't seem to translate. So please, if you read this Leon, it is not a knock on your or your teaching style... it's just that it needs to be adapted for video... in real life, the student can shift positions to adjust his angle or can move in closer to see the trick better. None of that was happening on the video.

Another issue I had is that he taught this trick with the assumption that you were a worker or at least an intermediate level. I really think that it's best to assume (unless it's known as a crazy hard trick) that the user is a beginner and wants to know all the elements of the trick. Saying things like "use your favorite force" is kinda alienating to the newbies. I say go ahead and at least show one method of forcing a card and THEN you could say "or use any other kind of force you'd like".

The Dee Christopher supplement was a welcome addition. I appreciated his tips and alternate routine.

All in all, I say get it. It's a good trick and worth the hassle of backing it up or filling in the blanks. Just know that you might be in for a little frustration, especially if you're new to magic.

When I watched the demo it looked kind of fishy to me. Honestly, I wasn't expecting much. Now having seen how the trick works... wow, the demo doesn't do it justice. This trick is great. I'm not sure if I should have just kept my mouth shut so most people would avoid it...

I probably shouldn't be this way but I find that I am much more excited about tricks if they have a clever diabolical method and I perform them far more often. that being said, I'm going to perform this one a lot.

I do wish he would have taught a good way to get into and out of this trick. The trick as its taught starts dirty and ends dirty. The standard way I'm used to wringing in a gaffed card won't work here. I'm sure that Leon must have a good way to wring it in and ditch it after performing this trick regularly for 13 years and it is irresponsible and inexcusable for him not to teach it. (In truth if you start with this trick you can ditch the gaff in the standard ways, and this trick is a good opener so I decided not to take off a star for that even though maybe I should have just to make a point.)

I am a little confused about the durability. Unless I'm misremembering (feel free to comment and help me out) e went from saying that this gaff lasted him 13 years (since the day he created it) to saying that it only lasts 5-10 performances to saying that he has changed the gaff several times. I'd imagine that most likely the thing that will kill your gaff will be storage before and after the trick. That's another thing he probably should have covered.

Honestly, I suspect that he may have came up with this brilliant idea 13 years ago but he probably forgot it for 12 years in the middle, A- because he doesn't seem like the type to keep such a great idea to himself for so long and B- If he had really been performing it that many times he should have better advice, tips, and patter so I'm not sure why that isn't being shared.

You also get a very nice bonus where Dee Christopher shows you how to use a gimmick you probably already own to perform this in a way that doesn't look fishy on camera (although Dee sounds totally awkward- like this is the first time he has ever spoken to a camera that doesn't diminish from the fact that it is an awesome idea).

This is a clever trick. Gimmick is fairly easy to make, and it should take you no longer than 5 minutes. In the video he makes it real time, so you can follow along.

The video production is bleh. Very dim lighting, a mixture of background noise and repetive music did not make a very good combo.

He forgot to explain a few key parts of the trick (such as the actual move that needs to be done). You can tell what he forgot to explain or elaborate based on whatever clarifying text pops up on the screen. I sitll had to watch a couple parts two or three times to understand the gimmick and the move.

While it's nice for him to make the gimmick real time, it would have understood just as good if he just showed the finished product. I skipped forward once I could tell he was going to take a while, and I understood fine.

A decent trick, definitley magician fooling, and if the video production and explanation was better, I'd even say worth the $10.

This effect is very, very slick, powerful and believe it or not easy! The trailer does not really do the trick justice but once you get it and see the video Leon has done, you will quickly understand the impact it has. This can be done utilizing a full deck with 2 selections made by the spectators as in the video or just as a packet trick you can keep in your wallet. Did I say easy? I am very impressed with this trick as no sophisticated slight of hand is needed. If you can simply display 2 cards you can do this. You will also receive a second video with an alternate idea you can use - very interesting. Buy this, you won't be sorry you did. Thanks Leon for sharing this with us.

Man! This is a great looking effect and the method behind it is genius. Now normally I'm not one to be willing to "alter" my cards... however this may very well be a great reason to make an exception. This is going to be going straight into the everyday pack.

I've been performing something like this for a long while now, using just sleight of hand. That being said after learning the method to this effect, I was very impressed and will now use this instead.

The trick is very easy to perform, it's a really great beginner trick, but also a worker for pros. It has an instant reset, gimmick takes 5-10 minutes at most to make and will last you multiple performances.

An additional download from Christopher Dee is also included, in which he gives you some tips and a variation to the effect.

However, all that being said. I decided to give this four stars, because I was disappointed in the filming/teaching. When he goes over the gimmick construction the place is very dull and dark making the work on the gimmick harder to see. Also the camera angle is not adequate as when he is explaining what to do his hands are covering what he is doing. As well as I would have liked a few close up shots on the gimmick, however there are none.

In conclusion, this is 5 star trick in my opinion and I'm sure you'll have a blast performing this for your audiences as this plays big, and fooling your fellow magicians as well. :)

Primarily this review concerns the video itself. The effect is OK if you're going to go into a bar to do ONE TRICK, with the cards already removed from the box. Otherwise, the handling will be awkward because the 'necessary something' is likely to remain in the card case when the deck is withdrawn.

The video is recorded in a poorly lighted pub which is essential for the performance (adequate illumination is not FaceLift's friend; it's not a full-daylight piece. However the subdued lighting is not sufficient when attempting to show important detail. Leon probably had a 'friend with a camera' do the recording, one that lacks essential close-up framing for the important aspects and overall would be best described as underexposed.

His explanation of the preparation is lengthy and boring, unnecessarily repeating so many inconsequential points that it took an effort to view the entire thing. We don't care what support surface he uses or that it's been his choice for years. Neither is it important that his tools came from the discount store.

If you can bear viewing an underlit, amateur video with a talkative, albeit charming, Irishman you'll learn a trick that you'll perform once or twice and then opt for something less encumbered.

Let me start with full disclosure, I was given this for review. I watched it and felt that the effect was very nice. It is a good walk around trick and re-sets very easily. I can see how this would be a very strong piece.
The problem is that the teaching on the video could use some work. Some of the camera angles are not good and the teachers (there are actually two videos) could have benefited from a script. Some of the critical moves are explained through on screen writing rather than shown clearly. It would have been so much better had the moves (which are not difficult at all) had been shown.
All of that aside, I think that it is a good trick and I'll be using it at my next close-up gig to see how it plays.

But I love Facelift. I normally don't perform many card tricks, I'm just not a fan. This however is an exception. Great reactions, I was performing the very next day. Pretty simple setup, instructions were clear and concise. Wonderful for walk around, I highly recommend.

This is a very visual switch of two cards. As some others have mentioned, there are some changes I'll likely make to fit it a little better into my performing style. But for the money, you get all the necessary instructions and presentation information.

I do wish the lighting on the video was a little better along with some clear photos of the end product. But that's nitpicking and for the price, this is an outstanding illusion.

It plays just like you see in the video, so if you like the demo, you'll love the trick.