Where do we start?

The thing which sells this (and so many Sans Minds releases) is the visual nature of the change. However, I have a few questions about that. Even on the tiny 4cm square photo on the DVD box it was easy to see there is something quite odd about the card case – you’d really need to keep it in motion to actually properly fool someone. And I’m not convinced that the change itself is fast enough on its own.

Another significant gripe is the fact that you have to make your own gimmick. The DVD box says there’s a onetime 15 minute construction needed. In fact it takes 24 minutes to demonstrate the construction on the DVD – that’s with someone that knows what they’re doing and has everything perfectly to hand (and has all the cards chopped up in an instant!). This is going to take you at least half an hour and possibly longer – and you also need to supply some extra things which aren’t included.

Over-thought?

For the spectator, the big surprise is the cards being eaten and theirs being intact. I’m not sure the little visual effect of the face changing on the way adds enough to the effect to warrant all the extra work. The premise of the original effect on which this was based involved dropping a razor blade in the card box which slashed all the cards – and I would have thought the impact on the audience was much the same.

Similarly, the ‘nice to have’ aspect of seeing the card returned into the middle of the deck (rather than just into the card box) is just that – nice to have. And they even explain a way of handing out the box at the end which is barely necessary.

On the plus side

The DVD is well shot and easy to follow. Explanation is clear (almost painfully on occasion) and in addition to the detailed explanation of the routine includes a much faster walkthrough from the spectator’s perspective which is helpful.

Teaching runs to just under an hour and includes a tips section with ideas for the care and storage of your gimmicks and thoughts about angles and variations. It also credits Credits Devon Monteir’s Cannibal trick (1973) on which many modern variations are based.

Once you’ve gone to the trouble of making it all up, the trick is pretty easy to perform, as long as you are fairly confident. Confidence is required more than skilful handling. As I was watching Devour it reminded me of a somewhat souped up version of Blaze/Dreamweaver (which you can find on the excellent Chardistry DVD). If you’re looking for a version that requires less DIY then I’d opt for that DVD and get a load of different effects too.

If the visual element of Devour does it for you, and your craft skills are good, then what area you waiting for? Head over to the Merchant of Magic to pick up your copy now. (£24.99 at the time of writing)

Review copy kindly provided by Murphys Magic to whom dealer enquiries should be directed.

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There have been a number of vanishing card case effects released in the last few years. Their popularity is obvious – what better or more visual way to start a card routine than to have the box disappear? From the trailer, the visuals on this looked spectacular – so how did the reality measure up?

What do you get?

A DVD and all the materials you need to construct your own gimmick. And there’s the first and really important thing you need to know if you’re considering buying Unboxing. It is quite an intensive craft project to make your gimmick. In fact, I would say you need to be a bit of a craft ninja – since there is precise cutting, glueing and sticking involved, some of it a little fiddly. You’re provided with most of the necessary bits, though you will also need a couple of extra cards you will probably already have lying around.

We’re not done on construction yet. The explanation takes about 20 minutes on the DVD – I say explanation, but it is a silent video (well there is some background music) with no verbal instructions apart from the odd sentence on screen. So I think you’re going to need a lot longer than this to check you’re doing the right things and get the bits together. And did I mention, it’s quite fiddly.

I also think the advert video is slightly misleading. It shows a move which isn’t possible with the main gimmick but requires the construction of a second (much easier) gimmick.

On the plus side

Once you’ve constructed the gimmick, the effect itself is self-working and very visual. Depending on how good your craft skills are, this may be more or less convincing. Even on the teaching videos there are some ‘flashes’ which expose the gimmick. In the real world, if you keep things moving, this shouldn’t be a problem – and some of the live performances show the strength of reactions possible.

On and on

I found the rest of the DVD rather tiresome. They go into a slightly laboured amount of explanation about how to set up and clean up. I couldn’t decide whether to feel patronised or thankful for the endless detail on presentation and minor variations – not far short of an hour!

The credits section is not really a proper set of credits but rather a short history of versions of this kind of effect – without attributing particular inspirations, and more importantly failing to include a number of modern versions.

If I’m honest, I feel like this is on the one hand over-engineered, and then alarmingly reliant on our own construction. If it was over-engineered and professionally built, I might be less concerned, or less complex and self-constructed – but this feels like a worrying combination – and I would have some concerns about the gimmick in operation. I understand that providing an assembled gimmick would have massively impacted the price, and perhaps I’m just not crafty enough, but for me this is a concern.

It feels a bit like the desire for the amazing visual has over-run itself. And I think I would be happier using the lower tech, but not much less visual and substantially easier to assemble Travelling Deck 2.0 (see our review here).

Unboxing is available from MagicShop.co.uk for £17.50 at the time of writing.

Review copy kindly provided by Murphys Magic to whom dealer enquiries should be directed.

The post Unboxing – Review – Nicholas Lawrence appeared first on Bicycle Cards.

Let’s start with Card-Toon!  If you didn’t see Jamie Raven’s incredible performance of this effect on Britain’s Got Talent, where have you been?  An animation when you riffle through a pack of cards reveals the spectator’s chosen one – whimsical and easy to do.  £14.50

On the subject of whimsy, Arthur is a new release (out today!) which has a lovely plot around the legend of King Arthur which makes a really memorable effect where the spectator’s card ends up stuck in a solid deck of cards like the famous sword in the stone.  £28.79

If you want to create special effects like magic up close and personal you’ve got to take a look at P’Ink by Ran Pink.  Watch the trailer for some ideas to whet your whistle for some of the possibilities here – as ink moves and changes at your command.  Some amazing mentalism applications too.  We hope to review this properly soon – but if it is half as good as the trailers it is well worth a look.  £22.99

From one incredible trailer to another.  Imprint from Sans Minds magic looks equally amazing – again almost like camera tricks.  Objects visually imprint themselves on bank notes.  If you can get past the annoying person introducing it, you’ve got to watch the trailer!  £25.49 (may be on backorder still since it sold out  pretty quickly first time!)

What new and visual magic tricks have you been enjoying recently and why?  Comment below or on our Facebook page.

The post Trick of the Month – May 2015 – visual magic appeared first on Bicycle Cards.