John, regarding:

"Constellation — which utilizes Peter Eggink’s “Ace Oddity” card."

Aldo Colombini developed this card and marketed it as "Ace-Mbly" (still available) years before Peter Eggink. It's also on one of Aldo's early video tapes: "MaMa Mia Magic" from A1. I'm sure you know how far back that goes. The only difference between the two cards is that Peter's has more pips on it. Aldo's only had one of each. Same idea though. I don't have Ace Oddity, so I don't know if Peter gives Aldo credit for this. Just a little background.

Craig

The effects from this dvd are not solely from the second storm booklet?

You will find a lot of the effects out of the booklet in the dvd set,but there are also other effects which were not in the booklet.

WOW, I'm currently in leave on some frustrating things but when I return I will try to save up and get this. This VACATION seems more like a series of Chores.

For those who bought them. Any thoughts?

Here's the place to order the Second Storm from, It's The Astonishment Project:

Paul Harris

Order from John Guastaferro directly from his website, he personally signed the DVDs!

Another must have. That is all there is to say about that.

[quote]On 2007-09-08 14:39, magico wrote:
For those who bought them. Any thoughts?


Yes, ******* Mexican Post service , Im still waiting my DVD´S

I will post a formal review as soon as I get my DVD´S

I know everyone loves his work... but I was underwhelmed by the trailer. Be interested in hearing what people think.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ymxaZCnYjto

I understand how you feel. I felt the same way about the Party Animal DVD's, based on the trailer. Well, I got the DVD's and I was WRONG!. KILLER, KILLER material.

Trailers are meant to get you hooked and they don't always do that. They are deceiving. I'm sure John's new effort is like his Brainstorm DVD's and contain killer material.

I couldn't resist sharing a few of my thoughts after reading the expectant posts in this thread. I'm sorry to say that I've been quite disappointed with this set. It feels like John's performing style has changed, and I somewhat miss the warmer and quirkier "John G" from his earlier DVDs. But on to the effects.

The effects were mostly quite respectable respectable and are not "bad" by any means. However, they fall quite short of the superb hits that were on Brainstorm. Even though John thinks that his effects have "matured" in the sense that the methods lie closer to the effect, but as Mr. Ortiz has said before, that does not always (or even often) mean it's a good thing. The effect becomes at risk of being watered down due to a lack of a satisfactory expository phase, and the method can also become dangerously close to the effect. While the handling of effects from Brainstorm were slightly convoluted, the resulting effects were much more than worthwhile and John's naturalness in handling rendered the issue obsolete. Each can decide for him or herself the effectiveness of John's approaches to creating the effects on the set, but I personally think that the design of these effects were not exactly the best.

I wasn't too happy with this release because of my overly high expectations following Brainstorm, but I'm sure others can and will get their money's worth from this set. I look forward to the future when perhaps I can see yet another wonderful release from John, as I absolutely loved his previous work.

This is definitely a favourite set of DVDs of mine. Seldom have I seen so many useful and inspiring tricks, routines and ideas. John Guastaferro is like a crossing between Allan Ackerman and John Bannon - he has Ackerman's ability to find astonishingly clever methods to effects, and Bannon's ability to construct commercial effects that the audiences just love. Quite nice to be fooled more than once when watching the performance sections.

/Tomas

I haven't seen the Second Storm DVD's, but I have had the pleasure of seeing John in action recently -- I hired him to work my law school graduation party in May. Under challenging conditions (noisy restaurant & an audience split about 2/3 - 1/3 between lay people and magicians), he did an outstanding job and his magic was enjoyed by all. He was certainly warm; "quirky" is debatable. He was basically every bit as down to earth as you might expect if you'd only seen him in Brainstorm. Though I can't vouch for the performances on the new DVD set, the material is certainly strong, as just about anyone who has his lecture notes will attest. John is very creative & innovative, and he's someone who really thinks about his magic and cares about the art and its history.

I recieved this set yesterday and have had a chace to watch through the performances...I haven't had an in depth look yet, so this is just "first impressions":

Very different to Brainstorm, but not a disappointment. As always, John's thinking is very devious, and the effects are strong and practical. There is material in here that I defintely will use. I will post up a full review when I've had a chance to digest the DVDs.

This second set is worth it for constellation, quickpocket, famous aces, here there everywhere, optical opener, I agree not as good as brainstorm dvd's, but still a great set

Hey guys, can anyone post a full review of this? Thanks!

The trailer underestimates the effects. All effects are devastants!! Believe me! I begin all of my shows with the methods of John!! Leave alone the other whole dvds! Believe me, people astonish! The effects don't almost all use special decks or cards! You can perform with common decks also taken in loan. Buy them! (I don't have any interest with John, I am Italian, but this personage merits a lot)

I still remember when John fried us with ultimate fate at Best Magic before the release of his second storm lecture notes. IMO, the routines in the second storm DVD are just as amazing and effective as the first set.

John, when are you going to bring some autographed sets to the shop?! lol

Went to a friends to watch the first DVD of the Second Storm set. I wasn't expecting too much based on coments here. Well...it rocked the house.

Famous Aces made sense of McDonald's Aces. The aces don't transpo, but vanish. Killer thinking behind the whole plot. That was worth the price of the DVD.

Jokers To Go is awesome. It didn't get as great a reaction from the audience as it should have as I think John's plot was confusing. Also, he didn't have the card signed. Signed cards that appear in an impossible place/change places get better reactions. But, the method is killer.

Quick Pocket: WOW, killer! Just fantastic routining.

I think John is as good as he was the last time out.