SAVE YOUR MONEY AND DO NOT PURCHASE THIS PRODUCT!! This is another example of a misleading demo video. This effect is not practical, must be done wearing a certain type of clothing, and must be performed in a noisy environment. So, unless you're a water-bottle-carrying, jacket-wearing, person who lives in the subway.. this isn't for you!!! On the DVD, 2 methods are taught. The "gimmick" version is demo'd and explained in about 2 minutes. And believe me... its description is the fore-mentioned above!!! The second, "non gimmicked" version is explained, for what feels like 3 hours (heavily exaggerating here), and let's face it.. it didn't work!!! And if it did, it's because "time" made it happen, not us!!! In other words, if you like cloud busting, you'll LOVE this version! Also, they state that you receive 3 specially made accessory gimmicks, but you only get one.. that doesn't really fit anything!!

If anyone else says that this product is a winner.. they're probably related to the creator, because the only thing I liked about this effect was the ziplocked bag it arrived in! DO NOT BUY!!!

This is an honest review:
I recieved the trick and gimmick last week. The gimmick is poorly made and is only workable in a loud, busy street like the ones in NYC (DURING THE COOLER/JACKET MONTHS).
Thus, the Crush video demo being made there.
The ungimmicked version is easily figured out by anyone that's a casual observer of science.
However, I give all the props for producing such an over dramatic teaser of great quality. It really worked on getting the $30 dollars to vanish from my pocket.

the idea of this effect can be very strong. if you study mentalism or just have good patter this can be a bit scary 4 your spectator. the pros: spectator can hold the bottle and it can crush gimmick free allowing you to work on your presentation.
the cons: the gimmick is large, uncomfortable, and basically limits your range of motion and for you to do this one effect then take off. dont expect to go into coin or card magic after as you will be wearing long sleeves and have that gimmick still present. once again good idea, way over priced for it's impracticality, horrible gimmick, powerful effect, but it is possible to perform this.

To say that this was a disappointment is an understatement. First, the DVD that comes with the gimmick spends A LOT of time on the 'alternative' gimmick-free application of this trick. In fact, the majority of the DVD is this way as the creator seems to push the weaker 'gimmick free' application more than the MAIN one with the gimmick.

Once you put this simple contraption together, you'll easily see why. It barely works. Problems begin right at the DVD's introduction when Eric Ross tells you what's supposed to be in your package. Where Eric shows off 4 extra props and one long prop, you'll discover quickly that your long prop isn't nearly as long as Eric's, and instead of the 4 extra props (you'll know if you've purchased this), there's only ONE...and it doesn't even FIT on the bottle brand that the DVD recommends!

If you're going to get this trick to work, it does NOT work with ANY water bottle. In fact, with the prop supplied, I haven't found a bottle that this fits properly for yet - except FIJI, which is IMPOSSIBLE for this trick as the bottle is too hard.

Do NOT purchase.

I bought this trick with high expectations of having a great piece of mentalism in my routine. I am mainly a card guy and wanted something different for my act. However, this is not the trick that I thought it would be. The gimmick is absolutely horrible and is so big and bulky that you will ending up selling it like I did to a friend, who is going to end up selling it to his friend, who will......and so on. You get my point. I wasted $30 on this. It is honestly the worst trick that I think I have ever been fooled into purchasing. The demo videos are great!! But the practicality of it is not at all. Please save your money and buy one of the other thousand products that Penguin has to offer.

This has to be the first time I've ever seen a magic trick where the "impromptu and ungimmicked" version of the effect is more powerful than the gimmicked version. Don't get me wrong, both will play big to the right audience in the right environment, but the gimmick itself is a little hard to manage. This could work very well in a casual restaurant magic environment though, especially if they sell bottled water so you can adapt your gimmick to the standard bottle.

The impromptu version though is so much better. Yes, there is a little setup involved, but honestly it's nothing difficult and can be done in literally seconds. Then you can walk up to the spectator with your bottled water and talk for a few minutes before launching into the trick. Can they figure out how it's done? Yes, some of them will...but many will not--especially if you've been holding the bottle for a while and appearing casual throughout. You put the bottle in their hands and it crushes...that plays big.

The key to the impromptu version is knowing which type of bottled water is going to be the most impressive. Deer Park water has a very thin plastic, and when it crushes it seems to really implode and is very visual. Dasani, on the other hand, barely dents. It's something you'll play around with and figure out for yourself.

The price for this is all right, I suppose, though I doubt very many people will use the gimmick often (unless you perform in a jacket).

It's a disappointment. Two reasons: 1) The gimmick can be angle problematic and is not suitable for summer time (hot day) performance, otherwise you will go dehydrate very quickly or people would think you have a fever (hope you understand without exposing anything), 2) the description is that lead me to buying it was quite tricky; it should have said the none gimmick version requires your own bottle with an additional material and has to perform in a timely manner in order for it to work. I respect the idea whether it's good or bad, but misleading is my problem.

The trick is a good principle- crush a bottle in front of your spectator's eyes! Unfortunately, when you watch the video a few times after you get your set, the gimmick is very obvious and it get's noticed by some spectators. The hands-off version is much better, but I personally figured it out from a science class I took in school.

Overall, a great idea, but a little disappointing considering the price for the "bang" value that the trick delivers. There isn't the "wow" factor that I was expecting to pull out of this trick.

1. too obvious
2. if someone took some science class in highschool, they will figure nongimmick version out easily

3. summer is coming so... we cant do this

Ok, as some feel this trick was a failure, I feel obliged to fully disagree. This trick is really great. IF you're heavily into mentalism it can work wonders. As for having to wear special clothing, who cares? An overshirt or jacket will not hurt you. Noise is not a problem as there is plenty of ambient noise anywhere. No one got three gimmicks like it says on the dvd. You can easily make them if you have to. The ungimmicked version does work very well. So don't say it doesn't. It can be done in the specs hand and it kills. I like this trick and bought it soon after it released. I give it a thumbs up. Get this.