"Enigma: The DVD Magazine" edited by Chuck Smith
Suggested Retail USD$25.00 each
Available direct from Enigma
In a Blink: 10 Out of 10

"Enigma: The DVD Magazine" is a great idea wonderfully executed and worth exploring by anyone in magic.

That's not hype: "Enigma" is one slick piece of work with something for everyone. That's the way paper mags work (and a couple of ezines) and that's the way Enigma is. As such, "Enigma" delivers hands-down.

Want to watch some interviews with past and present masters of magic? It's here in the form of in-depth, entertaining interviews with the likes of Bev Bergeron, George Schindler, Dan Stapleton, Ali Bongo, Marshall Brodien and John Calvert.

Feel like learning some new effects? There are fine card effects from Ed Ellis, Brandon Thomas teaching mentalism, some slick magic from Tomas Medina, and more.

Want to hear about issues confronting magic (and which magicians will confront)? There are roundtable discussions and mini-lectures on such things as the business of magic and women in magic.

Just want to see some neat stuff? How about tours of "Denny and Lee's", Abbott's, Haine's, Gary Darwin's collection, and other places of interest to us magical types? Feel like a bit of history? There are interviews and examinations of all sorts of things, from the Colon, Michigan graveyard to the experiences of some of our older masters.

Truly, "Enigma" is an enjoyable thing to watch. There is so much material on each disc that is just plain fascinating to magicians of any stripe that anyone in magic will find themselves drawn to a particular thing only to be entertained and educated by something else entirely.

For my money, each issue is worth the price just for the glimpses into the heads of our more experienced folk. Listening to Bergeron or Ali Bongo or George Schindler is almost magical itself and what they have to say worth every penny.

But none of this would work without a heavy, professional, editorial hand. Chuck Smith has such a hand and "Enigma", his baby, shows every bit of love and care Smith has for it. Each "issue", a cased DVD, is slickly produced in a style that is clearly top-notch and directed in a manner which results in a product more professional than most documentaries you'll see. Smith gets a huge thumbs-up here.

Smith also gets a thumbs-up for the idea. "Enigma" truly is a magazine on video with content that rivals any of the press mags out there (minus the ads, of course).

"Enigma" is one tremendous work and easily worth looking at for anyone involved in this whole magic thing.

"Enigma: The DVD Magazine" edited by Chuck Smith
In a Blink: 10 Out of 10

Material: 10
This is a wonderful idea: a magazine done as a video. As a result, there are interviews with some of the best known names in magic, past and present, interesting pieces on magic theory, discussions on all things magical, and even mini-lectures on effects. This is one great collection of work.

Practicality: n/a
This is a magazine on disc; things like this just don't apply much at all.

Quality of Production: 10
Smith does a fantastic job with the production values here. Beautifully shot, lovingly presented... this is a very high-quality production.

Quality of Instruction: 10
Let's stretch this one a bit and include everybody working on the thing, whether it's teaching a trick or carrying on an interview. Regardless of terminology, everyone here is professional and comes across beautifully.

Presentation: n/a


Shane