"Twist 3" by Michael Paul
Suggested Retail USD$15.00
Available from your favorite dealer
In a Blink: 5 Out of 10

"Twist 3", a packet trick by Michael Paul, is a neat little take on the "twisting" plot, but in the end fails to live up to the impossible hype that describes it.

It's your typical "twisting the aces" routine, but with a couple of little differences. In "Twist 3", Paul has the cards turning face-up and being placed on the table as they do; a fairly nice touch this, what with the packet shrinking as the routine goes on. Also, Paul's routine has the final twist, with the two cards in hand, happening very quickly and cleanly. Again, a nice touch. It's just not enough to make this worth more than a slot in magazine somewhere, especially when compared to the ad copy.

"Action packed"? Hardly. It's your typical "twisting the aces" routine, minus some of the additions we've come to expect in recent years -- color changes, productions, what-have-you -- and minus any creative climax.

"Most visual and direct twisting routine EVER [sic]"? Uh, no. See any of the "waving" variety for competition to this claim.

"Most magic-packed packet trick"? Not even. If you just stick to the twisting genre, begin with Schwartz' version for more magic than "Twist 3".

"6 eye-popping phases in all"? Oh, enough. You get the idea. This one just ain't all of that.

To be fair, though, the ads do get it right a few times in the places that really matter the most. There are no half-passes and there's no need to stack the cards after each twist. Thanks to the gaff Paul uses, it's easy to display the fronts and backs of the cards as you go as well as handle them quite openly and naturally.

And, really, there's nothing so much wrong with "Twist 3" as there is nothing so different about it. It looks like your typical twisting routine, it feels like your typical twisting routine, and to all but the most attentive spectator it is your typical twisting routine. There's just not enough new here, in working or presentation, to make this one as spectacular as we're lead to believe it is. With props that are common to anyone who has been around the block, even halfway, there's little here to justify "Twist 3" to anyone but those that simply love the packet trick genre or the twisting plot.

My advice? Give this one a pass.

"Twist 3" by Michael Paul
In a Blink: 5 Out of 10

Practicality: 8
It's your typical packet trick, so you know what that means. This one boasts a very quick reset (it happens as the routine progresses), which is nice, but you have cards that can't be examined and should be carried separate from a deck. Still, those are minor things and pretty much to be expected from a packet trick.

Workmanship: 8
The cards are Bicycle stock and work well, though you'll need to spruce up a part of this periodically.

Documentation: 5
The documentation, though humorous and entertaining, is very bare bones. It's enough to get you going and that's about it.

Effect: 5
You won't get thunderous ovations with this one, but you won't get slapped upside the head by unimpressed spectators, either. All told, you'll get about what you'd expect from a good little card trick.

Presentation: 6
This routine sports a couple of nice changes of pace, but really offers little else to the theme. Compared to the advertising hype, this one falls way short. Put bluntly, there are other variations out there that are more magical and entertaining.


Shane

Available direct from your favorite dealer. Dealers, please contact Murphy's Magic Supplies, Inc. toll-free at 1-800-853-7403 or visit Murphy's Magic Supplies website.