Price$29.95
Media TypeDVD
CategoryClose Up
Date AddedJun 18, 2014
Joined
Capuzzo, Dario
Titanas
(Based on 2 reviews)
Dario Capuozzo has created an elegant solution to prior T&R's that you are going to love.
NO magnets NO threads NO sticky stuff
This is no ordinary T&R
Instant reset? Perform surrounded?
Dario gives step-by-step instruction, along with multiple live performances.
Includes both signed and unsigned versions for maximum impact.
Reviews
(Top ▲)
Random I-Tunes Song of The Moment: My Sacrifice by Creed
Joined by Dario Capuozzo Review:
One DVD and $30 bucks. Is it gem or is it rubble? Stay tuned to find out.
Effect
A piece by piece torn and restored card.
Method
This is actually, as far as I know, a new and unique method. This method allows you to stick three of the four pieces together with no duplicates and no extra stuff. When you go for the fourth piece that's when things change a little. This part is not as clean as the rest of the restoration; not even close. This part requires you to go to your pocket to "get a lighter" and then light the "four" pieces causing them to fuse together. For the signed version, there's extra "unclean" stuff. You do have to prepare the card in advance, and due to the nature of the method, in order to repeat, you'll need a whole bunch of duplicate cards all prepared in advance. The prep is easy and only takes 2 or 3 minutes per card.
The method involved for the signed version is nowhere near as practical as the non-signed version, and a very important part of the handling is very fidgety. It requires you to fiddle around in your pocket a bit too long for someone who is simply "putting the torn pieces in his pocket."
Ad Copy Integrity
The ad copy is tough to call. In order to give an accurate assessment, we'll have to address it from a few different angles. First, let's look at the first three single pieces. Those three pieces "stick" together with no sticky stuff, threads, magnets, no extra pieces, etc., just like the ad copy claims. However, you can't end there. First, you're not done with the restoration, and second, things aren't examinable yet.
Once you've done the three single pieces, you have to go to your pocket for a lighter. The problem is that, first, they cut this out in the ad trailer, and second, it's nowhere near as clean looking as the rest of the pieces looked. Further, even in the performance and explanation on the DVD, where they didn't cut, things just don't look as clean.
Even further, with the signed version, there is "sticky" stuff involved. And in both versions, there technically are "extra pieces" involved. In both versions, there are more than 4 pieces involved to pull off the effect. The only case where there are "no extra pieces" (as claimed in the video trailer), is when sticking the first three pieces together. They really are the originally torn pieces, and they really do stick back together with nothing else extra. They're not examinable in that position, but they are stuck together quite firmly.
Next, we deal with the claim that it instantly resets. That's mostly true. Just keep in mind that each card you tear up is done. You'll have to have another one already prepared in advance to do the effect again. Further, it'll have to be the same exact card (i.e., all Kings of Spades or whatever) if the effect is truly to be called "instantly reset."
Finally, we look at "perform surrounded." This is only true for the first three pieces. Placing the fourth corner on cannot be done surrounded. Also, if you're doing the signed version, the tearing procedure cannot be done surrounded.
Product Quality
The DVD production quality is decent. However, some of the shots are a bit too far away and hard to see. Although, for the most part, I think you can see everything you need to. The instructions, however, are given as text overlays on the screen and no speaking. This is always an issue because it's hard to focus on the performer's hands while trying to read the text, and vice versa.
Final Thoughts
The three pieces being stuck together is brilliant in method, thought, handling and practicality. It's very clever and requires no sticky stuff, magnets, etc., and it can be done surrounded. If this were all you were getting, then the ad copy would be 100% accurate. Also, I think with a little effort, it might be doable to come up with a way to modify the card to allow the fourth corner to be stuck as cleanly as the rest.
As brilliant as the piece by piece portion of the effect is, when it comes to the fourth piece, things are not quite as clean. Don't even bother with the signed method. It's nowhere near as practical as the unsigned method. It might be good for a special performance, but it's just not as clean. Solving the "fourth corner problem" has challenged the greatest among us, and after watching this DVD, I'd say it's still challenging us.
That said, this method for placing the fourth piece isn't horrible. It's doable. My biggest complaint about it is that it violates most of the claims in the ad copy/video. It uses extra pieces. It cannot be done surrounded. It's hard to give this its final rating because the first three pieces are a breakthrough in this genre and 100% live up to the ad copy. Yet, the fourth piece is a step back and does not live up to the ad copy.
This may be the kind of thing where you could add this piece by piece of the first three to your own existing T&R effects.
Final Verdict:
3 Stars with a Stone Status of gem (with a little 'g' - most of the gem belongs to the first three pieces).
(Top ▲)
With so many T&R cards out on the market, you might find magicians asking themselves, "Do we really need another one?" My answer is, "Why not?"
Years ago the very first T&R card I ever learned is still the only one I use and perform to this day. It is called "The Reformation" by Guy Hollingworth from his book called "Drawing Room Deceptions". Later I got some extra ideas from the JC Wagner "One Tear at a Time" version that I added to it.
I have seen a lot of other versions of this plot out there but none of them really appealed as much as The Reformation and made me want to actually use that method. This DVD has done exactly that.
The method behind this version is very clever and is quite easy to do. It does require some set up, but you can do both an unsigned and a signed version, both of which are doable and with proper handling, will look clean. Watch the trailer. What you see is exactly what it looks like - no hiding anything, no extra pieces, that is until you do the fourth quarter. The ad copy is truthful for the most part and the things you see in the trailer can be done exactly the same way, and again they really do look that clean. I just want to clarify that technically, the ad copy can be 100% accurate if you apply it to one of the handlings and until you get to the fourth restoration, there really are no extra pieces and no sticky stuff.
The preparation is not hard to do and you can either set up a bunch of them ahead of time and be ready to go until you run out, or you can make them up one at a time if you are not going to perform this effect often. Once you get the hang of it, the preparation only takes a couple minutes. The claim of being "instant reset" is a half truth - on one hand it is half-instant reset if you do the unsigned version and do not give the restored card away. On the other hand, having to prepare a stack of cards for subsequent performances does not make it a truly "instant reset". No part of the signed version is instant reset. Now, there is nothing wrong with not being an instant reset - the ad copy simply should not have claimed such a thing.
The DVD is very well produced with pretty good video quality. There are no verbal instructions and everything is taught with via text and visual instruction. They use both freeze-framing and diagrams to show you exactly what to do. Everything is clearly explained for both the unsigned and signed handlings. For each handling, you are shown the necessary preparation, the set up and the performance procedure, including how to clean up.
The menu is simple and while broken down into multiple sections, the explanations are not broken down into chapters. Each explanation section can be found by hitting the 'rewind' or 'fast-forward/search' buttons as they are time stamped. If you click on the Explanations tab in the menu, it will play straight through the entire explanation for both versions.
There are some live performances as well as other performances of the effect on the DVD, which was nice to see. Another thing that I would like to point out was the accuracy of the English text - usually when foreign companies put out non-verbal instruction DVDs with subtitles (especially with English subtitles), the grammar, spelling and word usage are horrible. Here, it comes across very clearly with great grammar and spelling which tells me that either someone working on the DVD knows English quite well or they had a professional translator. Either way - nicely done.
The two handlings here can be done surrounded for the most part, you just have to watch your angles at one specific part near the end. Other than that, they are quite clean and can be done in just about every type of venue or situation you can think of. For some magicians out there, there may be some drawbacks with this method, such as the restoration of the last piece. The restoration of the first three are very open and clean, but the last piece is not and will require some thinking to make it work. That is where the ad copy is a little off with the "no extra pieces" part. I think most will find this method suitable.
For a great method in the T&R card plot that can be done both signed and unsigned, with great production and excellent teaching and even though it is a "one-trick" pony, I think the price of $29.95 is fair enough. I have certainly seen worse one-trick DVDs with much worse quality go for higher prices.
If you want another T&R card method to add to your collection or would like to learn one, this is a great DVD. Beginners and advanced magicians alike will be happy with this method. If you like what you see in the trailer, this is for you!
Very highly recommended!
Years ago the very first T&R card I ever learned is still the only one I use and perform to this day. It is called "The Reformation" by Guy Hollingworth from his book called "Drawing Room Deceptions". Later I got some extra ideas from the JC Wagner "One Tear at a Time" version that I added to it.
I have seen a lot of other versions of this plot out there but none of them really appealed as much as The Reformation and made me want to actually use that method. This DVD has done exactly that.
The method behind this version is very clever and is quite easy to do. It does require some set up, but you can do both an unsigned and a signed version, both of which are doable and with proper handling, will look clean. Watch the trailer. What you see is exactly what it looks like - no hiding anything, no extra pieces, that is until you do the fourth quarter. The ad copy is truthful for the most part and the things you see in the trailer can be done exactly the same way, and again they really do look that clean. I just want to clarify that technically, the ad copy can be 100% accurate if you apply it to one of the handlings and until you get to the fourth restoration, there really are no extra pieces and no sticky stuff.
The preparation is not hard to do and you can either set up a bunch of them ahead of time and be ready to go until you run out, or you can make them up one at a time if you are not going to perform this effect often. Once you get the hang of it, the preparation only takes a couple minutes. The claim of being "instant reset" is a half truth - on one hand it is half-instant reset if you do the unsigned version and do not give the restored card away. On the other hand, having to prepare a stack of cards for subsequent performances does not make it a truly "instant reset". No part of the signed version is instant reset. Now, there is nothing wrong with not being an instant reset - the ad copy simply should not have claimed such a thing.
The DVD is very well produced with pretty good video quality. There are no verbal instructions and everything is taught with via text and visual instruction. They use both freeze-framing and diagrams to show you exactly what to do. Everything is clearly explained for both the unsigned and signed handlings. For each handling, you are shown the necessary preparation, the set up and the performance procedure, including how to clean up.
The menu is simple and while broken down into multiple sections, the explanations are not broken down into chapters. Each explanation section can be found by hitting the 'rewind' or 'fast-forward/search' buttons as they are time stamped. If you click on the Explanations tab in the menu, it will play straight through the entire explanation for both versions.
There are some live performances as well as other performances of the effect on the DVD, which was nice to see. Another thing that I would like to point out was the accuracy of the English text - usually when foreign companies put out non-verbal instruction DVDs with subtitles (especially with English subtitles), the grammar, spelling and word usage are horrible. Here, it comes across very clearly with great grammar and spelling which tells me that either someone working on the DVD knows English quite well or they had a professional translator. Either way - nicely done.
The two handlings here can be done surrounded for the most part, you just have to watch your angles at one specific part near the end. Other than that, they are quite clean and can be done in just about every type of venue or situation you can think of. For some magicians out there, there may be some drawbacks with this method, such as the restoration of the last piece. The restoration of the first three are very open and clean, but the last piece is not and will require some thinking to make it work. That is where the ad copy is a little off with the "no extra pieces" part. I think most will find this method suitable.
For a great method in the T&R card plot that can be done both signed and unsigned, with great production and excellent teaching and even though it is a "one-trick" pony, I think the price of $29.95 is fair enough. I have certainly seen worse one-trick DVDs with much worse quality go for higher prices.
If you want another T&R card method to add to your collection or would like to learn one, this is a great DVD. Beginners and advanced magicians alike will be happy with this method. If you like what you see in the trailer, this is for you!
Very highly recommended!