"Color Blind" DVD by Matthew Johnson
Suggested Retail USD$30.00
Available from your favorite dealer
In a Blink: 6 Out of 10

"Color Blind", a DVD by Matthew Johnson, that wants to be visual, that wants to be engaging, but in the end lacks any real visual punch and, for the greatest part, is too similar to other such routines out there to be of any use except to those with a deep interesting in this particular product.

It's a shame, really, because Johnson's other work is at times absolutely fantastic. His "Secret Art of Monkey Business" I consider an excellent disc worth having by just about everyone. "Color Blind", though, lacks the creative reach Johnson shows in his other work and the end result just isn't all that interesting.

In "Color Blind", the performer removes a red deck from a red card box. The Jokers are removed and placed on the table and the deck is shown to be red-backed. A card is then selected and lost in the deck. The deck changes to blue backs, except for the selected card which is the only red-backed card in the deck. This card then changes to blue, matching the rest of the deck. The two Jokers, shown to have red backs, then change to blue-backed cards, leaving the whole deck now blue-backed. The performer picks up the red card box, fans the deck, covers the box with the fan, and when the fan is removed the box is shown to now be blue as well.

Under certain circumstances, this would be something to rave about. Those circumstances mean, basically, some of those bits that are (as the ad states) "visual magic at its best". This is not all that visual, unfortunately, unless the contrast of colors is your idea of visual.

Worse than not delivering on its promise of visual magic, "Color Blind" relies on one too many tried and true methods used for just about every color-changing deck out there. Yes, yes, I know: they are tried and true because they work. And work they do here as well. But the problem is that they have been around for so long, in so many different routines, that there is simply nothing new here. "Color Blind" becomes all too quickly just another false display using yet another common card gaff with little else going for it than the color-changing card box.

Now that's an interesting idea, but it's hardly new and Johnson's work with it, again, is just too commonplace for most performers to get excited about.

Is "Color Blind" worthless then? No, not hardly. It's a good enough routine. It's practical enough -- with an instant reset, a regular deck that can be used for other things, and only a slight dent in your pocket space -- for strolling work if that's your thing and you want to add a color-changing deck to your act. You'll have to mind your angles, and you'll have to make sure grabby spectators are stopped cold, but otherwise it's problem-free. If the routine turns you on, if you like the demo video maybe, then you could do worse than buying "Color Blind".

But if you're after some striking visuals, "Color Blind" comes up short. If you're after something new and innovative, you'll be disappointed again. If you already do a color-changing deck routine, chances are very good you'll stay with it after you learn "Color Blind". All in all, it just doesn't offer up much to recommend it and it doesn't rank highly when compared to other work by the usually incredibly creative Johnson.

This one I'd pass by unless you're already in love with it.

"Color Blind" DVD by Matthew Johnson
In a Blink: 6 Out of 10

Material: 4
It's a color-changing deck routine with a cute finish but most of the time simply follows the lines of many other such routines. It's good, but relies too much on the climax to set itself apart from the others.

Practicality: 8
Angles are a problem and you'll need to mind the spectators a bit, but otherwise this is quite practical; the deck can be used for other things, but the box is taboo. Bonus points go to Johnson for keeping the set-up minor and the reset instant.

Quality of Production: 5
It's a standard "studio" shoot and all you'd expect from it, which means the production values are fine and won't hamper your learning this routine in the least.

Quality of Instruction: 10
Johnson does a great job here, teaching all the ends and outs of his material.

Presentation: 6
Everything here is pretty much the same-old-same-old, from the handling to the color-changes. The nicest visual comes at the end, but there's too much heat to let it really play too long. All in all, the presentation here is better than mediocre, but just barely.


Shane

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