MAKE BELIEVE
Rating: Not Rated
Studio: Level 22 & Firefly films
MSRP: You can get the film for $20.00 on MakeBelieveFilm.com
Running Time: 88 mins
What’s Going On?
A group of talented teenagers from across the country and around the world compete in the World Magic Seminar in Las Vegas, one of the most prestigious magic competitions in the world.
Who’s In It:
A whole host of kids from all walks of life, but a few famous magic enthusiasts like Neil Patrick Harris, as well as magicians like Lance Burton, are thrown in too.
If You Like…:
Magic – and really who doesn’t – or stories about kids finding themselves by doing something they really love, then MAKE BELIEVE is for you. Really though, this little documentary is fantastic for just about anyone and is perfect for the entire family.
Special Features:
There are character profiles which are extended interviews with the central subjects on the film, and many of these profiles also catch up on what the participants have done since the competition.
The LA Film Festival Q&A from the 2010 festival is also included and features quite a few of the magicians in the film as well as the director.
Master Magicians feels a bit like a deleted scene or segment, though it isn’t really labeled as such. It features a host of professional magicians – Lance Burton is probably the most recognizable among them – talking about what their definition of magic is.
There’s a brief routine featuring a young magician named Kyle Eschen who peppers his magic with a comedic touch, though it’s more Demitri Martin than Dave Chappelle.
Perhaps the coolest special feature on this DVD, and arguably one of the most awesome on any DVD ever was the MAGIC TUTORIALS. That’s right – YOU CAN LEARN MAGIC. There are ten tutorials in total, in difficulty levels from easy to advanced. Most of them are card tricks, but there are a few that involve every day items like books or straws. These tutorials feature students from The Magic Castle in Los Angeles and are easy enough not only for adults to learn, but to get children of almost any age interested in magic. This is a great way to bring people into the world of the film by getting them to make their own magic.
The Technical Gist
It’s all pretty great here.
The Verdict
This is one of the most enjoyable and entertaining documentaries in a long time and I’m so glad it’s finally out so everyone can see it. I’d absolutely recommend this to anyone with kids or who’s a kid at heart. It really is something magical. BUY IT.
