Price$37.05
Media TypeDVD
CategoryClose Up
Date AddedJun 28, 2014
Ocular Blue
De La Fuente, Alexis
Alakazam UK
(Based on 2 reviews)
Ocular comes complete with an extremely clever gimmick hand crafted by Rob Bromley and a full instructional DVD which includes ideas by Alexis DELA Fuente, Peter Nardi, Dave Loosley and Andrew Smith.
Ocular is easy to do, quick to set/reset and can be added to your routine at any point. Ocular is a perfect way to end your ambitious card routine.
Reviews
(Top ▲)
Random I-Tunes Song of The Moment: Nothin' For Nothin' by Cinderella
Ocular Review
One special envelope, one "appearing" card gimmick, $37 bucks and one Ocular Review. Is it gem or is it rubble? Stay tuned to find out.
Ocular Review: Effect
A coin envelope has a hole right in the center. You can look through it, stick your finger in it, etc., clearly showing that the envelope seems empty. Don't blink. A card appear inside the envelope and you can see it right there in the envelope through the hole. Watch the ad trailer. It is EXACTLY like that.
Ocular Review: Method
The method relies on a super clever, easy to operate gimmick. It does 99.99% of the work for you. It's easy to set and reset, and super simple to use. This does not require anything to be added to your deck. It's 100% self-contained, and it can just sit in your pocket ready to go. You can grab it any time you want. Also, it's ready to go right out of the package. There is nothing you need to do to prepare it.
This can be done in just about any venue. As long as they're close enough to see the card appear, then it's a valid venue. Further, the card really is inside the envelope. All skill levels welcome.
Ocular Review: Ad Copy Integrity
The ad copy is dead on. It's everything the say/show it to be. No outrageous claims are made. It really is as clean, clever, and visual as they say and show.
Ocular Review: Product Quality
The gimmick is incredibly well made. My understanding is that these are handmade. That's impressive. Further, the teaching is excellent, and multiple ideas, routines and handling ideas are shown. This is the real deal.
This is one of the best products I've reviewed in a long time. I've had it for a long time and never new how awesome it was. The reason I've had it so long is that when I first got it (well over a year ago), the disk I received was bad. So I contacted Murphy's Magic and asked for another one. They didn't have any more review copies, so they simply burned a copy for me. It, too, did not work. I PM's Peter Nardi asking for another disk, but he never responded. I'm not sure if there was a problem with other people's disks or if I was just the lucky one.
Either way, I recently discovered that there is a streaming video for this effect, so I had Murphy's send me the password. That allowed me to get in and watch the training. So I can't vouch for the DVD quality. However, generally speaking if you purchase this from any reputable dealer and the disk doesn't work, they should replace it without a problem. Further, if it turns out that there is a disk problem, the dealer will take it up with Murphy's and/or Alakazam. In either case, you should be able to get access to the training. Worst case scenario, you get the streaming video access.
Ocular Review: Final Thoughts
If you can think of any reason to use something this visual, you'll be ecstatic with this product. The method is about as perfect a method as you can get. Also, considering that these are handmade, $37 bucks is a very reasonable price to pay.
Final Verdict:
5 Stars with a Stone Status of GEM!
Available at your Favorite Magic Dealer. Dealer's see Murphy's Magic for details.
(Top ▲)
Ocular is a great close-up visual card to envelope effect that has can be applied to many card tricks with many different routines. This Alakazam product by Alexis De La Fuente comes with a gimmick designed by Rob Bromley and as the manufacturer's description accurately describes, it is "an absolute jaw dropper." With Ocular, the performer displays a small pay envelope with a hole in the middle (approximately the size of an American Quarter) so that the spectators can clearly see that the envelope is empty. After a card instantaneously visibly appears in the envelope, it is removed from the envelope and revealed to be the previously selected (and signed) card. The audience is blown away. This is easy to learn and perform and you can start immediately after watching the 30 minute instructional DVD, which is easy to follow.
On the well-produced DVD, David Loosley demonstrates another routine in a live performance where two cards have been selected; the first is selected and dropped back into the deck and the second is selected, signed and returned to the deck. The envelope that has been visible since before the cards and a prediction card can be seen in the envelope. The card is slowly removed from the deck and handed to the spectators and it is reveled to be the first card (which was not signed). Now, Loosley flicks the empty envelope and another card instantly appears, which can be seen in the hole in the envelope. The card is removed from the envelope, dropped onto the deck and it is revealed to be the signed card. Although the reserved audience on the DVD barely reacts to the trick, other than a quiet giggle , I am sure that your live audiences (that are not being recorded for an instructional DVD) will react loudly and positively to the effect. I believe that the actual effect is much better in person than what you see on the promotional video.
The instructional DVD suggests various methods by which the selected card appears in the envelope. The most prominent handling is done by flicking the envelope, which I do not think is the best method. It is also suggested that you shake the envelope and watch it appear, but my personal favorite is to throw the envelope in the middle of cards being dribbled onto a table so when the top cards are removed it appears as if the envelope "caught" a card. One idea that I like very much, but is mentioned in passing on the DVD, is that the empty prediction envelope starts off in a certain wallet so that the spectators can handle it before the trick.
The trick comes with either a red or blue backed gimmick on bicycle stock, with one envelope and the DVD. The trick can be reset quickly and easily in a second or two, but you need to do it out of sight of the spectators.
This trick is worthwhile purchasing and is another great product in Alakazam's catalog.
On the well-produced DVD, David Loosley demonstrates another routine in a live performance where two cards have been selected; the first is selected and dropped back into the deck and the second is selected, signed and returned to the deck. The envelope that has been visible since before the cards and a prediction card can be seen in the envelope. The card is slowly removed from the deck and handed to the spectators and it is reveled to be the first card (which was not signed). Now, Loosley flicks the empty envelope and another card instantly appears, which can be seen in the hole in the envelope. The card is removed from the envelope, dropped onto the deck and it is revealed to be the signed card. Although the reserved audience on the DVD barely reacts to the trick, other than a quiet giggle , I am sure that your live audiences (that are not being recorded for an instructional DVD) will react loudly and positively to the effect. I believe that the actual effect is much better in person than what you see on the promotional video.
The instructional DVD suggests various methods by which the selected card appears in the envelope. The most prominent handling is done by flicking the envelope, which I do not think is the best method. It is also suggested that you shake the envelope and watch it appear, but my personal favorite is to throw the envelope in the middle of cards being dribbled onto a table so when the top cards are removed it appears as if the envelope "caught" a card. One idea that I like very much, but is mentioned in passing on the DVD, is that the empty prediction envelope starts off in a certain wallet so that the spectators can handle it before the trick.
The trick comes with either a red or blue backed gimmick on bicycle stock, with one envelope and the DVD. The trick can be reset quickly and easily in a second or two, but you need to do it out of sight of the spectators.
This trick is worthwhile purchasing and is another great product in Alakazam's catalog.