Aquarius by The Enchantment - my review
Created by Nicholas Bengtson
http://www.penguinmagic.com/specialorde ... p?ID=10557
$13 after discount
Demo:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=spLd0lGlgSo
Yet another 24 page booklet from The Enchantment, filled with the wonders of ... cap in bottle.
In an arena filled with single-effect cap in bottles like "Impossible Cap In Bottle" for $25, Nick has released a variety of different methods of hiding the cap, penetrations and other ideas using the included gimmicks.
------ What you get ------
24 color page booklet of instructions
Something special, lined in your plastic covering the booklet
------ Le Booklet ------
Setup for jamming the cap into each type of bottle:
- Version 1
Fits your average coke bottle. Requires some setup and prep beforehand.
- Version 2
For thinner bottles like Aquafina water. Requires some setup and prep beforehand.
- Version 3
For the really thin caps like Arrowhead. Can be prepared impromptu.
Various methods of hiding the caps:
- Hide 1
Used for empty bottles
- Hide 2
Used for empty or full bottles
- Hide 3
Used for partially full, or full bottles
- Hide 4
Used for empty bottles, where the bottle is held horizontally. This is the same method used in Mike Powers' V.I.P. effect
Now that you're well versed on all the hides and cap locations, Nick combines these along with his vanishes to create some effects:
- Big Gulp
Demonstrated using a Dr. Pepper bottle. You remove the cap, pivot your body left then drink the 1/4 bottle of liquid, then penetrate the bottle from the bottom.
- Rain Shower
"This is similar to Big Gulp but you don't drink from the bottle". It's basically the previous effect, but a different ditch.
- Little Gulp
Another bottom penetration with a smaller bottle. Water is poured from the bottle, then boom - cap inside. Nick uses a small water bottle with a thin cap for this one.
- Straight Away
A penetration where the cap is not really in your hand.
- Straight Away 2
Same as above, but he uses a book or some other "base object" to lap it. Kind of.
- Bottle Kaps
Another bottom penetration using a cap vanish subtlety.
- Phantom
Same as Big/Little Gulp, with another cap vanish subtlety.
- Vacuum 1 and 2
Same penetrations as before, using a subtlety from David Williamson. Vacuum 2 is simply #1 but holding the neck of the bottle.
Note: Vacuum 1 & 2 have video demonstrations on The Enchantment forum.
- Self-Working Vacuum
Same as Vacuum I and II, however it uses a cool cap vanish as seen on the Perrier bottle in the demo video.
Both hands can be shown completely clean.
- Under Seize
Yet another bottom penetration with a cap vanish subtlety.
Note: Under Seize has a video demonstration on The Enchantment forum.
- Whipping Boy
A cool cap handling, reminiscent of some coin angle vanishes.
Note: Whipping Boy has a video demonstration on The Enchantment forum.
- Sub-Zero
Now we get into the bottle being full of liquid, and floating to the bottom or top. Very visual stuff, as you can see from the last part of their demo. Sub-Zero involves some cap work before the penetration, and you can end clean with both hands displayed empty.
Note: Sub-Zero has a video demonstration on The Enchantment forum.
- Submarine 1, 2 and 3
This is the penetration shown on the last part of their demo. Visual and impossible in appearance.
Note: Submarine has four video demonstrations on The Enchantment forum.
- Sublime
Cap vanish via sleeves.
Note: Sublime has a video demonstration on The Enchantment forum.
- Clean Ups Section
Methods of cleaning up your last performance, and getting ready for a new one. Covers re-positioning your cap, where to load gimmicks, gimmick reset, and common objects you can find at a restaurant to assist.
- Extra Tips and Advice
Anytime Magic
Reputation Making
Reel Magic
Glass Bottles
Additional Hide/Routine
Seated Routine
Hot Aqua
Just in Case Cap
Business Card
------ Examination ------
Most of the bottles from the above routines are completely examinable, sans one particular cap vanish. However this can easily be cleaned up during the hand-out portion after your performance. Many of the routines also leave your hands completely empty, and a nice display. The remaining ones are easily remedied by a ditch once you hand out your bottle.
------ Setup/Recovery ------
Initial setup is about 30 minutes per bottle, then can be performed unlimited times after a 30 second cleanup. Some of the methods involve a more complex recovery, but those are maybe 2 minutes.
------ Angles ------
The "full bottle" presentations (such as Submarine) are very angly, and will be a challenge surrounded. Most of the others have wide angles and a couple are surrounded-friendly. The last penetration on their demo is VERY angle sensitive, and is better performed as shown in the booklet rather than on the demo.
------ Difficulty ------
Most of these are very easy to perform after a few hours in the mirror.
------ Forums ------
Purchasing the booklet allows you access to The Enchantment Aquarius forums, which contain 12 videos and 16 topics.
Make note: the videos are not instructional, but merely demonstrations of the method. Nick doesn't walk you through any details, which I thought was a bit weak.
------ Conclusion ------
"groundbreaking methods and techniques" is a bit of a stretch. This 24 page booklet covers a variety of cap vanishes, preparations and methods that have either been around a while, or you could have applied coin techniques to create. I do however love the addition of Nick's gimmick to the Perrier bottle cap vanish along with some of the cool ideas for full liquid bottle handling. The Enchantment has combined some old, some new ideas to make a pleasing booklet of effects and thoughts to "Cap in Bottle" magic.
Overall I say this was worth $13. Most other effects of this type involve one idea selling for $30. so yeah - money well spent if you'll actually perform it. Just get free shipping if you can, by adding another product.
The official spam:
Quote:
The Enchantment, producer of such popular illusions as Skywalker, Archangel, and Dreamweaver introduces its latest release - Aquarius - The Definitive Cap in Bottle. In the same way that The Enchantment revolutionized the coin in bottle effect with ABYSS, Aquarius brings all new, groundbreaking methods and techniques producing magic which has never previously been possible. This is the cap in bottle like you've never seen before - definitively!
You can't go anywhere without coming across some kind of bottled beverage, whether it be on the street, in the office, at school, etc. Aquarius is the perfect anywhere piece of magic that everyone can identify with. And because people identify so well with this, everyone can appreciate its level of impossibility. The effect is extremely straight-forward. The cap from a bottled beverage is removed and then penetrated through and into the bottle - permanently trapping the cap inside the bottle! The bottle may be painstakingly examined by the audience and given away as an unforgettable keepsake.
Aquarius can be done with virtually any brand or kind of soft drink, iced tea, purified water, etc. - plastic containers or glass containers.
By utilizing such universally common objects as a bottle and its cap, the effect is ideal for any situation or performing environment, either as an icebreaker, a routined part of a show, or as a stand alone effect. Aquarius will undoubtedly become one of the more performable and go-to pieces in your repertoire.
Loaded, and we mean loaded, with totally original concepts and routines that extend to self-working, impromptu, surrounded, and extra visual. The visual purity and awe of Aquarius is truly captivating. In addition, it routines beautifully with ABYSS - The Revolutionary Coin in Bottle as an astonishing counterpart.
* Highly Visual
* Perfect Icebreaker
* Surprisingly Practical
* Everything is Entirely Examinable
* The Unexplainable with Everyday Objects
* Incredible Souvenir in an Impossible Condition
You leave them with a permanent magic enigma that defies all logic and creates true wonder, and true astonishment. This is the kind of magic that gets people talking - making it an authentic and everlasting reputation maker.
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