Genres

Visitors Review

2013-06-16 15:09:36

Bogus! Sorry Plot, Thin Acting...

With the advent of advanced CGI, films like 'Twister' were bound to happen. This is a prime example of effects dominating a movie; the actors and plot are mere appendages. I didn't care for DeBont's previous film, 'Speed' either-substitute stunts for decent plot in that one. The whole premise of 'Twister' is bogus: stormchasers run around after tornadoes, with the leader's (Bill Paxton) difficulties with his wife (Helen Hunt) as a sorry subplot. The chasers conveniently manage to run into several tornadoes in a very short period of time, which is pretty farfetched. Real stormchasers will tell you it is very difficult indeed to get close to a single funnel cloud, let alone a bunch of them as portrayed in this film. This movie is evidence that filmgoer objectivity is deteriorating along with the product; if audiences consider this a 'great' movie, it means they don't think of plot and acting as really important-only trees, cows, etc. flying around via CGI effects. If you want to see a really good movie about a natural disaster, try 'The River' with Mel Gibson and Sissy Spacek-it has decent acting along with the destruction.

2013-06-16 08:27:07

Campy? Yes. Far fetched? Not hardly!

What about the outbreak of tornados in the same area depicted in the film a week ago? 40 tornados over the same area in the span of 10 hours: that makes this movie look like a picnic. Still say it's not possible? There are people in tornado alley that will beg to differ.

2013-06-16 14:07:25

Incredible Special Effects, Mediocre Plot

The special effects in this movie are incredible. You really feel like you are right their chasing the twisters. You even hear the sounds of the twister. This movie also showed me the power and devastation of tornadoes and how terrifying they are, for those caught in their path. The characters in this movie were likable, but I did not find the plot very interesting. However, I did enjoy this movie for the special effects.

jholtz 2013-06-16 03:21:02

Facing nature without a technical advisor

The special effects were excellent and Helen Hunt was attractive; those arethe good points. The best to be said for the rest is that we laughed. Ifthey had even ONE person on staff who had been through a tornado, itprobably wouldn't have been so funny. Helen Hunt certainly wouldn't havemade it out of the storm cellar in one of the first scenes.

2013-06-14 19:08:58

Entertaining update to an old story

"Twister" is a remake of the 1940 Cary Grant/Rosalind Russell classic "His Girl Friday," with the estranged couple playing tornado-hunting meteorologists instead of aggressive newspaper reporters. The emphasis of this film, not surprisingly, is more on the special effects than the dynamic between the two leads. Jami Gertz takes on the role of the "third wheel" in the relationship, the part played by Ralph Bellamy 60 years ago.The special effects are good, and more importantly, it's an entertaining movie. Sure, you have to suspend your disbelief a few times, but it's worth seeing if you're looking for an interesting diversion that doesn't get too deep.

David R 2013-06-13 23:51:20

Best Viewed with Volume Muted

The only reason to watch this film is for the tornado effects. Well, I suppose you could also watch it to heckle Helen Hunt and Bill Paxton, who both have some of the worst lines of their careers. Otherwise, turn off the volume and insert your own dialogue, which will probably be infinitely better than what is here.Just turn it up for the tornado scenes. In fact, you might even want to fast forward to the tornado scenes.

tsavidge1 2013-06-12 06:46:53

Good Action Movie, but 1st commenter is missing a few facts

"nor can a tornado suck a truck up its spout with such ease. In fact,it cannot be done at all." To the person that posted this commentobviously knows little about tornadoes, or is talking out of their hindquarters. Having lived in "Tornado Ally" for the better part of 14years, I can assure you that a tornado can suck up a tractor trailer aseasily as I can pick up a piece of paper.Now to comment on the movie, I really liked Bill Paxton and Helen Huntas the stars of this movie. Sure most of the tornadoes in the film areCGI but good luck getting a tornado on the day you need to film. LOL. Icant speak for everyone, but having seen many a tornado up close, thiswas fairly well done. There were some continuity errors throughout butwhat movie doesn't have a few. Nobody is perfect.

Storm Pixie 2013-06-11 20:19:51

My Opinion

I think if anyone is going to sit around with a paper an pen and writedown every wrong thing in the movie, doesn't deserve to enjoy it.Now with that said. I had to comment on one person saying about theradio's playing loudly while they was twister chasing.Yes they did have the radio's loud while going on there way. but whenthey actually got to the scene of chancing a tornado they had the radioOFF, talking back an forth over the CB.Who cares if they movie wasn't 100% correct on every single detail,heaven forbid if someone just sat back and enjoy the movie I suppose.This was a great movie to see the full use of your surround soundsystem.And kids just love this movie like mad. and hats off to our own weatherreporter Gary England for his roll in the movie.

2013-06-11 10:07:38

Jo! Bill! Jo! We have cows!

OK! I love these "cardboard" characters and the special effects. I love that Megs gravey should be a food group all its own. My whole family loves this movie.

psychoplasma 2013-06-11 01:13:28

The tornado was so strong it blew the plot right out of the movie.

NOT a good movie. Just a bunch of special effects and flying cows. Ihateto say it but this is what hollywood has come to. I left the theatre withone word on my mind.....HUH???I give it a 4/10

2013-06-09 19:56:58

Good effects, mediocre story.

"Twister" is a success in many different ways, mainly due to the incredible use of special effects that went into its making. A movie about lots of big storms and at least five different tornadoes calls for some of the most sophisticated digital effects on the market, and on that basis, the movie delivers. The action is quite intense, and certain scenes call on some old-school clichés that we'll all recall from past disaster films. In fact, the only place in which the movie fails is its story, despite a very talented cast. I would say that it started a revolution in the movies of today: nowadays, moviemakers seem to think that the bigger the effects, the better the movie, regardless of characterization or story. This is definitely the case with such movies as "Volcano" and "Armageddon," and there are movies that seem to get the formula for effects and story evened out, but rarely. In this case, "Twister" is more about the special effects show than about anything else. Beginning appropriately enough with (duh!) a tornado, young Joe (played in adulthood by Helen Hunt) is traumatized by the death of her father, who was sucked up in the twister while trying to hold the storm cellar door in place as the tornado comes wailing overhead. This is one of the movie's unexplained events: he is holding the door in place so that his wife and daughter would not be sucked out of the cellar, so when he disappears, why are they still standing there? Also unexplained is the absence of her mother for the rest of the movie: did she die? Was she abducted by aliens? Guess we'll never know.Moving on in years, the present day finds Joe and a crew of storm chasers doing what they love: spotting twisters. It is here that the baggage piles on heavily: her ex-husband, Bill (played by Bill Paxton), wants her to sign divorce papers so he can marry his new girlfriend, who, annoying enough, tags along for most of the movie's ride. Because he wants her to sign the papers, he follows along with her to chase the storms, hoping that the system he devised will be a success. That system is a way of plotting how tornadoes form in hopes that warning time may be increased for areas in harm's way. Of course, these machines must be placed in the storm's path just a few seconds before it reaches that specific spot, making for some incredibly tense situations. And, as if the tornadoes were not a formidable enemy, the movie introduces a rival group of storm chasers with sophisticated equipment and the same system Bill developed. Before I get to the bad parts, I must say that the special effects and action in "Twister" are in all the right places. Director Jan de Bont gets everything right in these areas: our characters find themselves in one tight situation after another. Some are unbelievable, yes (I was a bit unconvinced when the twisters come right up on the hood of the red truck), but in the grand scheme of things, this isn't the kind of movie to take too seriously when it comes to the danger. And the effects will blow you away. This is probably one of the best recreations of inclimate weather ever put forth for the big screen. The twisters themselves are fascinating: for those of us who have always been intrigued by them, this is probably the next best thing to actually seeing one up close (and, I'm sure, a lot safer). Waiting for the first real view of a tornado is one of the best things about this movie, too. But the story is a flop, its only purpose being to supply the motive for the effects and action, while never actually taking on any cling or meaning. Actors Paxton and Hunt, as well as some brilliant supporting actors, are given characters that do little other than put themselves in danger again and again. Basically, the story is there to give the effects a purpose for being the movie, and then it really has nothing else to do and nowhere to go. Overall, it's lacking. This is the kind of movie where the story is overrun by an overabundance of special effects, and while they are terrific, they cannot save the movie completely. I expected more out of the story, and while I was completely enamored with the special effects and technological excellence that was so lovingly extracted for the film, I would've like to have seen better characters for such talented actors.

chris4413 2013-06-09 07:56:40

action not dialogue

The tornado action is stunning! How did they do it but the lead up to thefinal action is trite and unbelievable. The script writers somehow do notmake it natural.However, this is a "must see" film for those remarkable scenes of twisterdevastation.

2013-06-07 10:37:47

A Realistic Movie

One of the better movies of this type. Very exciting and very entertaining.

2013-06-06 20:39:38

Hold on to your ass!!

A great summer movie!! A much like documentry vs Hollywood. Great FX and a wonderful movie to bring a wonderful beauty and intrigue to a hectic piece of mother nature!!

midnightgraffiti 2013-06-05 21:16:05

Silly but lovable

After 'lurking' on the message boards for this movie and readingeveryone's comments, I decided to comment on this movie.The plot is silly. There's no denying it; this movie was obviously madesolely for the special effects and not for any sort of plot orcharacter substance. The Helen Hunt - Bill Paxton - Jami Gertz lovetriangle was transparent from the beginning and probably should havebeen avoided, but hey. It makes for some funny dialog.The characters were outlines, but overall they were fine. Neither BillPaxton nor Helen Hunt were particularly sympathetic or effective - thedialog didn't help much - but the supporting cast was decent, thoughthey were trying too hard to make themselves interesting. Jami Gertzmade the most of her role, as did Philip Seymour Hoffman.The dialog was useless, no denying that. It IS pretty fun to listen to,however. There's just something about a cheesy line like, "Rabbit isgood, Rabbit is wise". The movie could've done with a few less"Sonofab****"s from Bill Paxton, but whatever.The 'bad guy' element that was Jonas, Eddie, and the rest of the'corporate-sponsored' black-van-driving rival team was completelyunnecessary and was obviously put in at the last moment. I liked it,though, and my favorite characters from the movie ended up being Jonasand Eddie. So, no loss there. It's silly, but bearable.I love this movie. I've watched it so many times that I wore out theVHS version and had to buy the DVD. It's a really silly movie withstupid dialog and poor acting, but I can't help but like it.

2013-06-05 03:34:08

Oh the Joy of the Summer Popcorn Blockbuster

This movie has all the qualities of a great summer blockbuster. Stunning special effects, fantastic sound, both of which were Oscar nominated, superb soundtrack, delightful original musical score, and a cow. It was not Oscar season when Twister opened, and it is obvious. But no one goes to see a summer blockbuster for the acting. A solid 4 stars is what it deserves, and goes with my recommendation.

MartianOctocretr5 2013-06-05 15:06:40

Tornado gets annoyed with tornado chasers

A bunch of tornado chasers/researchers are driving recklessly incircles all over the place, telling scripted puns to each other over CBradios. Throughout the flick, it seems like the tornado has a mind ofits own, and it competes with the chasers to see which of them can bemore bizarre.First of all, which acts more insane? The tornado that wrecks stuff, orthe demented tornado nuts that act like they're filming an episode ofAmerica's Dumbest Criminals? Also, which is harder on the eardrums?Bill Paxton and Helen Hunt, usually dependable actors, just become twooddball freaks with a vendetta, as they try to drown out the volume ofthe tornado's destruction with their incessant yelling and arguing. Thefunnel cloud turns around and attacks them in almost every scene, tothe point where you count how long it takes the tornado to stage its"surprise move." In one predictable case, it goes after a drive-in(which of course is showing a goofy horror movie--what else?), alongwith a town where the chasers' friend lives. Cornball? Well, there'smore. We mustn't forget the nitwit government loser (also a tornadoresearcher), who plays "follow the leader" with his nameless goons inblack-painted cars. What action/disaster movie would be completewithout a government knucklehead who ends up--oh well, you know.The stupidity of the main heroes will amaze you, and the story is toofar fetched. However, this movie has effects that are impressive, sothe film does end up having some merit. Fast forward to the tornadoaction scenes for the best enjoyment.

lindz-2 2013-06-04 19:42:00

brilliant!

This is one of the very few action films that can combine good qualityaction, a plot and some comedy.The special effects are classic especiallyatthe chilling start.The acting is first rate all through the film and givesagood insight into the storm chasers hectic life.

Mark R. Leeper 2013-06-03 06:13:18

Playing tornado hunters Jo and Bill Harding, Helen Hunt and Bill Paxton remember their lines and wait for the props to bump into them. Neither pulls in a whole lot of interest on the screen.

2013-06-02 17:44:42

the suck zone II

In the movie, the twister destroys a drive-in while The Shining is showing on the screen. One could only imagine that this amounted to a review of The Shining. I don't agree with this review. The Shining is a very good movie.