This is my review for Bullet reposted from the Ellusionist forums.
Hello all! I purchased the download version of Bullet the day of release and am overall quite pleased with it. In this review I am going to try to be as unbiased and objective as I can by giving the good and the bad and refraining from using fancy adjectives to glorify the effect. Before you read, keep in mind that I’m very tired and am commenting on the video from memory (I don’t have the video to reference because it is not n this computer) so I’ll undoubtedly forget to mention things I should have. I’ll try to add those in tomorrow. Until then, enjoy!
The Effect: A coin is borrowed and slammed through the bottom of an empty bottle.
The Method: Contrary to what some believe, Bullet DOES require set up. SO many people seem to think that no set up and impromptu are synonymous when in fact they are two separate things. Impromptu means you can do it on the spot, no set up means just that; you don’t have to secretly stack or prepare anything. It is very possible however, for an effect to be impromptu but require a setup. This is just the case with Bullet. The set up is incredibly simple, although it is a bit difficult to do in front of a spectator without arousing suspicion. After the initial set up there are really only one (or two depending on your definition of a sleight) sleight.
For the signed coin variation of Bullet there is a tiny bit of extra set up and involves another sleight. Personally, I don’t see the point of the signed coin version. In the original Bullet effect, you “prove” it is the same coin by calling attention to the date on the coin. To me it is much more practical and natural to identify a coin by its date rather than a signature. To me signing a coin is awkward and interrupts the flow of the effect. It takes away the candid, off-the-cuff feeling. There isn’t too much else to say regarding the technical methodology behind Bullet, simply because there isn’t much else to it, it’s very simple and to-the-point.
The Teaching: The teaching of Bullet for the most part was great. It’s hard to elaborate because the mechanics are so simple that it would be hard to teach the effect poorly. The only thing I have to say about the teaching is I wish Justin elaborated more on how to set up in front of the spectator. I personally am satisfied setting up the effect beforehand, but I know that many people are interested in Bullet because it can be performed on the spot and unfortunately, Justin just barely touched on a way to cover setting up. On the other hand, this isn’t completely a bad thing. Not having someone spoon-feed you everything makes you use your brain and think.
Pros:
Very simple mechanics.
Very visual, smooth penetration.
Can use a borrowed bottle
Bottle and coin can be examined
No gimmicks
Compared to some other Coin In Bottle Effects, very good angle coverage.
Cons:
Set up
Can’t borrow bottle and immediately perform penetration
Bottle can’t be handled by spectator prior to penetration
Final Words: Many of you are probably asking “What is so special about Bullet? What makes it any better than other Coin In Bottle effects?” In terms of sleight of hand, there isn’t anything new or revolutionary about Bullet. There are no new concepts or moves, or even a unique approach to the coin in bottle effect. What makes Bullet different, to me at least, is how well structured and thought-out the routine is. Matthew Mello and Nick Verna filed Bullet down to the fewest possible sleights, and were able to retain fairness, fluency and visualness (I totally just made that word up) of the effect. So for anyone seeking a direct, easy to do, no gimmicks Coin In Bottle, I recommend Bullet to you. If however, you already know a solid CIB that works for you and are searching for new CIB concepts or sleights, I think you will be disappointed with Bullet. Thanks for reading.
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Hello all! I purchased the download version of Bullet the day of release and am overall quite pleased with it. In this review I am going to try to be as unbiased and objective as I can by giving the good and the bad and refraining from using fancy adjectives to glorify the effect. Before you read, keep in mind that I’m very tired and am commenting on the video from memory (I don’t have the video to reference because it is not n this computer) so I’ll undoubtedly forget to mention things I should have. I’ll try to add those in tomorrow. Until then, enjoy!
The Effect: A coin is borrowed and slammed through the bottom of an empty bottle.
The Method: Contrary to what some believe, Bullet DOES require set up. SO many people seem to think that no set up and impromptu are synonymous when in fact they are two separate things. Impromptu means you can do it on the spot, no set up means just that; you don’t have to secretly stack or prepare anything. It is very possible however, for an effect to be impromptu but require a setup. This is just the case with Bullet. The set up is incredibly simple, although it is a bit difficult to do in front of a spectator without arousing suspicion. After the initial set up there are really only one (or two depending on your definition of a sleight) sleight.
For the signed coin variation of Bullet there is a tiny bit of extra set up and involves another sleight. Personally, I don’t see the point of the signed coin version. In the original Bullet effect, you “prove” it is the same coin by calling attention to the date on the coin. To me it is much more practical and natural to identify a coin by its date rather than a signature. To me signing a coin is awkward and interrupts the flow of the effect. It takes away the candid, off-the-cuff feeling. There isn’t too much else to say regarding the technical methodology behind Bullet, simply because there isn’t much else to it, it’s very simple and to-the-point.
The Teaching: The teaching of Bullet for the most part was great. It’s hard to elaborate because the mechanics are so simple that it would be hard to teach the effect poorly. The only thing I have to say about the teaching is I wish Justin elaborated more on how to set up in front of the spectator. I personally am satisfied setting up the effect beforehand, but I know that many people are interested in Bullet because it can be performed on the spot and unfortunately, Justin just barely touched on a way to cover setting up. On the other hand, this isn’t completely a bad thing. Not having someone spoon-feed you everything makes you use your brain and think.
Pros:
Very simple mechanics.
Very visual, smooth penetration.
Can use a borrowed bottle
Bottle and coin can be examined
No gimmicks
Compared to some other Coin In Bottle Effects, very good angle coverage.
Cons:
Set up
Can’t borrow bottle and immediately perform penetration
Bottle can’t be handled by spectator prior to penetration
Final Words: Many of you are probably asking “What is so special about Bullet? What makes it any better than other Coin In Bottle effects?” In terms of sleight of hand, there isn’t anything new or revolutionary about Bullet. There are no new concepts or moves, or even a unique approach to the coin in bottle effect. What makes Bullet different, to me at least, is how well structured and thought-out the routine is. Matthew Mello and Nick Verna filed Bullet down to the fewest possible sleights, and were able to retain fairness, fluency and visualness (I totally just made that word up) of the effect. So for anyone seeking a direct, easy to do, no gimmicks Coin In Bottle, I recommend Bullet to you. If however, you already know a solid CIB that works for you and are searching for new CIB concepts or sleights, I think you will be disappointed with Bullet. Thanks for reading.
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