Criss Angel's Platinum Magic Kit REVIEW

Hey Everyone! I just recently bought Criss Angel's Platinum Magic Kit and I have mixed Feelings about it SO I will post a Honest Review of it!

Okay This is What is inside the Magic Kit! (note if he uses a different name than what it's really called I will be
using what HE calls it NOT what its really called.)

(note this is what it says on the side of the box)
The Criss Angel Mindfreak Platinum Magic Kit Includes:

Coin Nested Trap
Cups & Balls
Coin Base
Criss Angel Card Case
Criss Angel Playing Cards
MINDFREAK Secret Deck 1
Penetration Glass
Sponge Balls
Spike Through Coin
Mental-Freak
Vision Box
Secret Utility Device
Secret Floating Device

Criss Angel DVD - How to perform every MINDFREAK prop in the Platinum Magic Kit
Criss Angel Instructional Prop Manual - Plus More MINDFREAKS
Free Online ULTIMATE LOYALFREAK Trial Membership @ Crissangel.com
Criss Angel's Introduction, Personal Practice Tips and MUCH, MUCH more.

RATING:
8/10
(I will talk about the cons about the kit under the cons section ;))

PRICE:
$30 American + tax

PRO'S:
Everything is pretty well made (it's a TON better than some other magic kits that i've bought before)
It seems that everything was built very well (even though all of it was built in China... will talk about that later lol)
It has a Great Selection of effects that range from beginner to Advanced.

I will certainly be using some of these props in my magic show ;)

CON's:
Okay before I get started on the Cons Let me say that these cons aren't something that makes the Kit "bad" they are just things that I think could and should have been better.

First off is the most obvious... the Criss Angel Deck of cards. I have a REAL deck of his playing cards (the ones that are sold at his Mindfreak store in Vegas) and These that came with it are well... CRAP! lol The reason being is that He went the cheap way out and had those Cards (for the kit) made in China and NOT by the US Trading Card Company (like his ones in the Mindfreak store.) The cards are very thin paper and don't fan worth a crap.
You Get 2 decks of Playing cards inside the Kit. One is a legit deck and one is a Gimmicked deck. (I will not reveal what kind of gimmicked deck it is... so don't ask) But it is a trick deck.

The DVD has a intro from Criss telling you thank you for buying the kit yada yada yada and then it goes to the Teaching section. I have a few issues about it...

First off they don't say when they start the teaching WHAT effect it is that they are teaching. You don't know that until they actually show what it is that they are teaching. Which is not good for someone who is looking to have a SPECIFIC trick taught to them... you have to wait or skip ahead watch a bit to see what is being taught and then if its not it you have to skip ahead again so on so forth...
Also it ISN'T Criss actually doing the teaching. It is some guy standing at a table and you ONLY see the table and his hands. He NEVER talks and anytime something needs explained further they put words on the screen.... NOT very effective... seeing that he's "mimes" aren't very well at all... (his being whoever it is who is teaching or "performing" the effects.) Which can get very annoying because he is OVER showing and waving his hands around for no apparent reason which can get annoying lol

I would have a much easier time learning the effects by reading the book that came with it than watching the video lol (of course I don't have to learn how to use the tricks inside it because its all effects I know how to perform or have performed before... I am just saying for a person who DOESN'T know the effects or performed them before it would be difficult)

Because of the Teaching Method and NO talking whatsoever in the Tut DVD It can get VERY confusing as to what he is trying to "mime" out. Which makes for learning the effect very difficult or confusing...

It has a few effects that I have seen in MANY magic kits so for originality its kinda lacking.

Now it seems that I have a TON of cons but really they are just small ones that could of been better.

SPECIFIC EFFECTS:

The Sponge balls that come with it are Red and they are Tiny. They look like 1 inch sponges, Which makes someone who is used to using 2 and a half inch sponges very difficult. But still its nice to have a few more sponge balls ;)

I LOVE that it comes with the Cups and Balls effect! It has a very nice set of cups and balls with it. Yes all the props are made out of plastic but still they are very nice. They aren't the "small" cups that come with some other kits. These are really quite large cups (which look VERY professional) They have a Silver Finish and look like dome cup and balls that you see the pros using (just made of plastic) So I Really enjoy getting them because I now have a Proper set of cups and balls lol no longer using the drinking cups out of the kitchen and my old sponge balls lolol

the "Secret Floating Device" is great! Wasn't what I was thinking but I'm not going to say what It is (due to revealing the methods and stuff so if you want to know what it is BUY IT lol) It seems great quality and I am sure that I will be using it A LOT and adding it to my other Levitation supplies.

FINAL THOUGHTS:
This is a GREAT beginners magic kit and something I think someone Just getting into the art should get. For its price I think it is well worth it for what you are getting.

If you are a more advanced performer in the art This might let you down but you will STILL make use out of the Levitation device as well as the sponge balls and a few of the other props.

If you are going to get it just to see what it has in it... Don't waste your money... If your going to get it to ACTUALLY use it, it is well worth the $30.

I sure hope that This Review has been to your liking and Please feel free to comment if you have bought it as well. Thank you for reading and I am Malachi the Illusionist "See You On The Other Side????"