Brian Caswell
CATACLYSM - ARMAGEDDON EDITION
$29
Suggested Retail Price: $31.50
THE BLURB:
This new Armageddon Edition comes complete with all the
information contained on the original DVD + some killer
bonuses!
For the first time Brian shares his pet handling for this
killer of mental card magic
And as an added bonus and with kind permission Mark Elsdon
has included his incredible follow up to Cataclysm call
Devastation.
From the creative mind behind the best selling card effect
Trilogy comes what has been called Brian Caswells greatest
creation ever - Cataclysm! Imagine showing a deck of Bicycle
brand playing cards each card has a number written on the
back. Your spectator names 3 playing cards and these are
removed from the face up deck and placed on the table. A
photograph is shown to contain 3 face down playing cards
each bearing a different number on their back. Unbelievable
as it sounds when the cards are turned over the numbers
match!!!!
Yes it really is that clean!
Easy To Do
No Sleight Of Hand
No Funny Moves
No sticky Stuff
No R&S
No Duplicate Cards
No Thin Cards
Instant Reset!
You will absolutely love Cataclysm! It really is the
cleanest effect of it's kind.
*Add a Devastation deck from the options menu for a killer
two phase routine*
Requires a regular Bicycle deck (Red).
MY COMMENTS:
This is a brand new edition of the best-selling effect.
What's different is that there is a new section on the
instructional DVD that contains some new ideas and routines.
The first two ideas are from Mark Gray and include a stage
presentation. And then there's Mark Elsdon's routine called
Devastation (which someone has a hard time spelling
correctly). This is Cataclysm only done with the cards face
down. None of these versions or ideas are performed. They
are explained by Peter Nardi on the special section.
Other than that, this is identical to the previous release.
So here are my comments on the original:
This is a very strong effect and one of the most direct
mentalism effects with playing cards that I've seen in
awhile. Three cards are freely selected and then a
photograph is shown proving that the performer knew what
cards would be selected or that the performer controlled the
participant(s) to take certain cards.
However, though the effect is certainly quite direct, it's
not quite as clean as described. First, the cards cannot be
examined. This is certainly not a criticism and the cards
really shouldn't have any heat on them at all, if you
present this right. But, to me, that is not quite the
definition of clean, although the claim that it is the
"cleanest effect of its kind" may be accurate.
Also, the three selected cards can be totally and freely
chosen, so long as they meet the necessary conditions. I
can't go into details without tipping the method, but let's
say that there is a very simple way of asking for a card
which psychologically directs the participants to the right
cards most of the time. When not, there are very natural
ways to get a participant to name the specific type of card
you want. This is explained in the instructions.
As the blurb states, you do use your own cards and a
red-backed deck is suggested because it's easier to see the
numbers on the back of the cards. But I must note that you
have to use additional cards. The deck itself has a few
extra
cards used (the instructions suggest extra Jokers for a
total of 56 cards) so you'll need more than one deck of
red-backed cards. And though the blurb mentions
Bicycle cards, any red-backed deck of cards will do.
The above considerations are not criticisms of the effect
itself, which as I said is very strong, but rather comments
on the accuracy of the advertising blurb. Though it's sort
of implied, I'll also note that you must write numbers on
the backs of each of the cards yourself using a permanent
marker. So there is a one-time set-up that will probably
take about twenty minutes or so to do.
You do get the necessary photos, although it is strongly
suggested to create your own. The enclosed photos
also include the image of a clock and a famous landmark
which are designed to be used with the BIP 2.0.
What makes this effect very strong is the choice of three
cards instead of four. As pointed out in the discussion on
the instructional video, you could very easily show four
cards. However, doing it this way makes it much easier for
someone to backtrack the method.
The effect does instantly reset and it can be done
surrounded. I'm somewhat dubious of using this in a
table-hopping situation, but that is discussed on the DVD by
a successful walk-around performer who uses it in his
repertoire.
The package consists of the photos (two different sizes:
4"x6" and wallet) and the 48 minute instructional DVD.
This is indeed a very easy-to-do, no sleight-of-hand effect
with no memory work that is very, very strong. For those
who don't mind doing direct and powerful mentalism effects
with cards, this is one that will probably, and permanently,
go into your repertoire.
This new Armageddon Edition comes complete with all the
information contained on the original DVD + some killer
bonuses!
For the first time Brian shares his pet handling for this
killer of mental card magic
And as an added bonus and with kind permission Mark Elsdon
has included his incredible follow up to Cataclysm call
Devastation.
From the creative mind behind the best selling card effect
Trilogy comes what has been called Brian Caswells greatest
creation ever - Cataclysm! Imagine showing a deck of Bicycle
brand playing cards each card has a number written on the
back. Your spectator names 3 playing cards and these are
removed from the face up deck and placed on the table. A
photograph is shown to contain 3 face down playing cards
each bearing a different number on their back. Unbelievable
as it sounds when the cards are turned over the numbers
match!!!!
Yes it really is that clean!
Easy To Do
No Sleight Of Hand
No Funny Moves
No sticky Stuff
No R&S
No Duplicate Cards
No Thin Cards
Instant Reset!
You will absolutely love Cataclysm! It really is the
cleanest effect of it's kind.
*Add a Devastation deck from the options menu for a killer
two phase routine*
Requires a regular Bicycle deck (Red).
MY COMMENTS:
This is a brand new edition of the best-selling effect.
What's different is that there is a new section on the
instructional DVD that contains some new ideas and routines.
The first two ideas are from Mark Gray and include a stage
presentation. And then there's Mark Elsdon's routine called
Devastation (which someone has a hard time spelling
correctly). This is Cataclysm only done with the cards face
down. None of these versions or ideas are performed. They
are explained by Peter Nardi on the special section.
Other than that, this is identical to the previous release.
So here are my comments on the original:
This is a very strong effect and one of the most direct
mentalism effects with playing cards that I've seen in
awhile. Three cards are freely selected and then a
photograph is shown proving that the performer knew what
cards would be selected or that the performer controlled the
participant(s) to take certain cards.
However, though the effect is certainly quite direct, it's
not quite as clean as described. First, the cards cannot be
examined. This is certainly not a criticism and the cards
really shouldn't have any heat on them at all, if you
present this right. But, to me, that is not quite the
definition of clean, although the claim that it is the
"cleanest effect of its kind" may be accurate.
Also, the three selected cards can be totally and freely
chosen, so long as they meet the necessary conditions. I
can't go into details without tipping the method, but let's
say that there is a very simple way of asking for a card
which psychologically directs the participants to the right
cards most of the time. When not, there are very natural
ways to get a participant to name the specific type of card
you want. This is explained in the instructions.
As the blurb states, you do use your own cards and a
red-backed deck is suggested because it's easier to see the
numbers on the back of the cards. But I must note that you
have to use additional cards. The deck itself has a few
extra
cards used (the instructions suggest extra Jokers for a
total of 56 cards) so you'll need more than one deck of
red-backed cards. And though the blurb mentions
Bicycle cards, any red-backed deck of cards will do.
The above considerations are not criticisms of the effect
itself, which as I said is very strong, but rather comments
on the accuracy of the advertising blurb. Though it's sort
of implied, I'll also note that you must write numbers on
the backs of each of the cards yourself using a permanent
marker. So there is a one-time set-up that will probably
take about twenty minutes or so to do.
You do get the necessary photos, although it is strongly
suggested to create your own. The enclosed photos
also include the image of a clock and a famous landmark
which are designed to be used with the BIP 2.0.
What makes this effect very strong is the choice of three
cards instead of four. As pointed out in the discussion on
the instructional video, you could very easily show four
cards. However, doing it this way makes it much easier for
someone to backtrack the method.
The effect does instantly reset and it can be done
surrounded. I'm somewhat dubious of using this in a
table-hopping situation, but that is discussed on the DVD by
a successful walk-around performer who uses it in his
repertoire.
The package consists of the photos (two different sizes:
4"x6" and wallet) and the 48 minute instructional DVD.
This is indeed a very easy-to-do, no sleight-of-hand effect
with no memory work that is very, very strong. For those
who don't mind doing direct and powerful mentalism effects
with cards, this is one that will probably, and permanently,
go into your repertoire.
