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Classic Carey

Carey, John

RSVP - Russ Stevens

(Based on 2 reviews)
Welcome to our first DVD for 2015, Classic Carey, starring the inimitable John Carey.

Featuring 13 brand new routines using just a regular deck of playing cards, join John once again as he presents and explains some brand new routines and twists on some familiar plots, all in the streamlined and simple way that he's now famous for.

1. If we could turn back time. A lovely direct opening piece involving the theme of time and a selected card. Strong, memorable and very practical.

2. A little oil, a little water. One of John's favourite card pieces. A progressive approach to a card classic with a slow motion finale.

3. Think n synch revisited. A beautiful and almost self working demonstration of synchronicity between the magician and the spectator. Very commercial!

4. Paradox. Carey has always had a passion for the classical mystery card effect. This version is about as direct as it gets.

5. A card and a number. The clue is in the title. A card at any number designed for the working performer. Impromptu and always good to go.

6. You and me! A premise built around luck and a spectator's signed card. Maximum effect, minimal handling.

7. Personal Ambitions. John's latest and favourite ambitious card routine. The structure of this is a lesson in routining and management.

8. Y.A.F.T! A streamlined in the hands triumph effect with a recall...

9. Just think... Another Carey approach to the mystery card that is very bold but ever so practical.

10. Just Whisper. Carey's latest approach to the whispering card plot. Super direct and very strong!

11. Trilogy. John's three phase sandwich routine designed for strolling work.

12. Open for business... Just watch how subtle and strong this is!

13. Mental projection. A beautifully simple piece designed for two people. Streamlined for maximum effect and entertainment.

Shot in full HD with Worldwide Playback

Reviews

Doc Johnson

Official Reviewer

Aug 22, 2015

PROS

Simply superb! While this DVD may not be for everyone, what John Carey has done is taken 13 different card plots and distilled them into the easiest handling with the biggest bang.

All use a regular deck of cards with no gaffs. Most are done with a shuffled deck.

I have done dozens of oil and water routines, and thought I had narrowed my oil and water down to the best routine with regular cards and no extra cards until I saw John's O&W. His routine is ten times better.

CONS

Even though he has streamlined magic effects, most of his routines will take some practice to get them down, but wouldn't that be true of most good magic?

VERDICT

This is an awesome collection of card magic. Highly recommended.
(Top ▲)

Dr. J. M. Ayala De Cedoz

Official Reviewer

Jun 27, 2015

There is not a lot to say about this DVD except that it is exactly what the ad copy says it is.

There are no real "live" performances of the effects but rather, John is standing at a table with one or two participants as required, he performs the effect and then the camera cuts to the explanation with or without the participants, again, as needed.

The menu is well laid out and easy to navigate. There was only one annoyance that I had with it and that is there is no 'BACK' button on any of the pages, so if you want to get to the previous menu page, you have to go all the way through the others, back to the main page and then forward to the page you wanted. There are not a lot of menu pages so it will not take a lot, but it is a bit annoying.

John is a very good teacher and teaches you everything very clearly. The video was well produced and the audio and video quality were fantastic!

If you read the description of the effects in the ad copy, which is 100% accurate, you will see that most of the effects are not really anything new and all fit into a particular plot in magic. What is different here is the way that they are performed, which makes them appear different from the usual handlings and presentations of those plots. These handlings are rather fresh and a nice departure fom the "norm", at least to my eyes (which see a lot of magic effects these days).

I was familiar with most of the sleights used but there were a few very cool and useful variations and even some moves I have not seen before. For example: One of the things that was new to me was a different type of pass. Personally I do not use any sort of pass - I prefer shifts, but this particular pass is one that I will use and have already started using.

His 'Personal Ambitious' is a nice spin on the 'Ambitious Card' and the 'Ambitious Classic' because it starts with a selection of four random cards which then turn into a four-of-a-kind. Those four cards are then used individually to perform variations on the classic plot, much the way each individual card does "its own thing" in the 'Ambitious Classic' effect. He has a very nice way to end this one too.

Just because I like something does not mean you will, but with everything that is on this disc, I am sure you will find something to suit your taste, or, at least to inspire you to change the way you present and perform the effects that you already use from within these plots.

If you are a fan of John Carey or even if you have never seen his work before, you will not be disappointed with the material presented here.

4 stars.
(Top ▲)