It’s been over 25 years since Jan de Bont’s blockbuster Twister thrillingly brought tornado storms to life on the big screen. Starring Helen Hunt and Bill Paxton as storm chasers seeking to unravel the mysteries of these mighty whirlwinds, the 1996 hit thrilled audiences with visceral visuals showcasing Mother Nature at her most destructive. Now director Lee Isaac Chung offers a fresh perspective with Twisters, updating the fun format for a new generation.
Set in modern-day Tornado Alley, Twisters sees Kate Cooper, played by Normal People star Daisy Edgar-Jones, return to the storm, chasing five years after a twister tragedy. She joins forces with a team deploying high-tech radar to unravel the secrets within these swirling giants.
Competing for attention are thrill-seekers like YouTube star Tyler Owens, brought to charming life by Glen Powell. Guiding the adventure is Chung, whose intimate family drama Minari proved he knows how to root spectacle in real human experiences.
But how does Twisters compare to the classic that inspired it? Does this new outing recapture what made the first film such a hit? Strap in and hang on—it’s time to find out if Twisters lives up to the winds of change swirling around its predecessor!
Tornado Tales Take Two
Kate Carter was once a promising storm chaser, but a tragic past has left her doubting her gift. Five years ago, an unexpected twister claimed the lives of her colleagues and shattered Kate’s dreams of solving tornado mysteries. Now living in New York as a weather analyst, she tries to forget those Oklahoma skies.
But the storms haven’t forgotten Kate. Back in Tornado Alley, supercell clusters are brewing at record rates. Javi Martinez, an old friend turned meteorological engineer, sees a chance to change the game with a sophisticated new radar system. He’s secured funding and support, but one key piece is missing: Kate’s intuition. Javi travels to the big city with a proposition: help him track one historic outbreak, and she may find the closure she seeks.
Kate agrees to rejoin the chase, if only for a week. But Javi’s high-tech operation faces a new challenge on the plains: flashy YouTuber Tyler Owens and his band of “tornado wranglers.” Tyler lives for thrills, courting cyclones on camera as ratings soar. He scoffs at papers and protocols, acting on instinct alone. As tensions rise between the science and stunt teams, another type of storm is brewing between Kate and the charismatic cowboy.
The climactic round of supercells explodes with historic intensity, coinciding with Tyler’s record-chasing plans. With monstrous funnel systems merging and multiple communities under threat, Javi’s crew and Owens’ gang must merge their methods. But out on the open road, even their expanded skills may not be enough. Through it all, Kate fights to redeem past failures while something deep within is reawakened. By the story’s end, she’ll face harsh truths about herself and discover whether two warring ways of life can align against the fiercest foe of all.
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Storm Chaser Cinema
Lee Isaac Chung brings a nature-minded touch to Twisters. Coming from the pared-back intimacy of Minari, he embraces big-screen spectacle without losing sight of people. Sweeping vistas show Oklahoma’s appeal: red dirt roads cutting through fields that stretch all the way to the horizon. You feel both the land’s beauty and its vulnerabilities.
Shooting on location enriched the film, from small towns and country roads to a bustling rodeo. The setting has a lived-in feel, and disasters strike places we’ve come to know. Chung captures our wide-open spaces with care and concern. When destruction comes, it hurts all the more to have seen everyday life carried out under the same skies.
Yet any director would be dwarfed without the tornadoes. Twisters delivers with unmatched ferocity. Practical elements combine with digital artistry, giving monsters in the sky a heft and hazard missing from CGI alone. We understand the peril because it’s tangible, not just pixels on a screen. Closeups show the grit and grime of being inches from a thousand-mile-an-hour fury. Further out, massive funnels cut ambitious swaths, stirring awe for nature’s raw power.
The final tornado demolishing an entire town lets Chung cut loose, yet he holds humanity central amid the madness. People running terrified and townsfolk working as a team to help others evoke the reality of living where such monsters may appear anytime. Even in catastrophes that defy description, we see ourselves in the small kindnesses of neighbors facing disaster together. Out of extraordinary dangers, Chung finds what makes us ordinary, but no less courageous, in extraordinary times.
Twisters’ Standout Cast
Bringing the characters of Twisters to life is a stellar group of performers. Daisy Edgar-Jones shines as Kate Carter, a gifted scientist still haunted by tragedy. Her care and compassion shine through, yet there’s a quiet pain beneath. Glen Powell is perfectly cast as Tyler Owens, the flashy YouTube star whose bravado masks a deep care for weather safety. The two are a fun foil; Kate is skeptical of Tyler’s antics yet unable to deny his skills. Their chemistry unfolds naturally as respect replaces rivalry.
Anthony Ramos lends his heart as Kate’s friend Javi, leading a high-tech team yet clearly longing for something more with her. His affection feels genuine. The supporting cast makes strong impressions too, despite some underwritten roles. Brandon Perea and Sasha Lane bring vibrancy as part of Tyler’s crew, while Katy O’Brian is a force of nature herself. Even minor roles feel lived-in thanks to actors like Harry Hadden-Paton.
Where Twister relied more on special effects, Twister leverages its performers. The opening tragedy lingers due to Edgar-Jones’ devastated performance, while later perils are given gravity by how much we’ve come to care for these individuals. Powell translates Tyler from a flashy YouTube pinup into a daring, principled man worthy of admiration and perhaps something more. Their push-pull gives the film lighter moments to balance heavy topics.
Chung draws shining work from his cast. Even when the script leaves some wanting more, these actors make the most of what they’re given to craft a compelling ensemble. They lend Twisters the heart to match its impressive scale. Their lived-in portrayals ensure we’re invested in more than just the mighty storms.
Twisters Takes on Tornadoes, Technology and Togetherness
This summer blockbuster provides more than just spectacle; it tackles thought-provoking themes too. While the impressive tornado visuals make for edge-of-your-seat viewing, don’t be mistaken that this is just a movie about monster storms. Twisters subtly weaves in commentary on today’s issues too.
For one, it shows different perspectives on severe weather. Kate sees tornadoes as scientific phenomena to understand and control, while Tyler views them as social media opportunities. Both have value, yet their clash highlights today’s “science versus sensation” debate. The film seems to suggest merit in diverse approaches when a shared goal is safety.
Twisters also consider climate change impacts. As storms strengthen over the Great Plains, communities suffer but also show grit. We witness the human toll of increased disasters, from scared crowds sheltering in a general store to relief efforts amid ruins. While not explicitly named, the movie implies this may be the “new normal” unless changes are made.
Most importantly, though, the story celebrates local ties and teamwork. From farmers rallying together at the rodeo to neighbors assisting after storms, residents support each other through thick and thin. Divisions fade when disaster strikes, as outsiders like journalist Ben also pitch in. Even rivals Kate and Tyler eventually work as allies. The message? Our shared humanity is stronger than any split when protecting our own.
Twisters may thrill with their swirling vortexes, but look deeper, and they spin some thought-provoking ideas too. With pulse-pounding tornado action and underlying themes, there is certainly more than meets the eye.
Storm Chasers
Lee Isaac Chung’s “Twisters” delivers a powerful punch of entertainment built around its spectacular displays of Mother Nature’s fury. The film wastes little time thrusting viewers into the heat of battle as an opening tornado unleashes devastation in its pursuit to take down all in its path. Seemingly coming at viewers from every angle, the intense aerial shots place one right in the heart of the whirling destruction.
As the film progresses, further storms continue to challenge and threaten the lives of the storm chasers. But Chung ensures each new arrival feels fresh, ratcheting up the intensity as they grow even more massive and relentless. Whether wreaking havoc across open fields or sweeping through towns, the immense tornadoes are consistently jaw-dropping. Even knowing the tricks of modern effects, it’s hard not to feel awestruck by their destructive display.
Beyond just thrills, “Twisters” also spins a spirited romantic yarn. The dynamic between Daisy Edgar-Jones’ scientist Kate and Glen Powell’s thrill-seeking YouTube star Tyler fuels plenty of sparks. Their clash of personalities provides many laughs as they bicker and challenge one another. But it’s clear an attraction is building as they experience harrowing brushes with the storms side by side. Anthony Ramos further adds to the fun as Kate’s longtime friend, whose history with her gives their story a layer of heart.
Together, these elements allow “Twisters” to soar as a popcorn flick made to satisfy audiences. The film wonderfully balances immense entertainment through its storms with more intimate character stories that draw viewers in. It’s a perfect recipe for a rip-roaring good time that is never short on sensation but also leaves its mark in more emotional ways. Chung has crafted 90 minutes of pure cinematic joy for any lover of action and romance looking for an exhilarating ride.
Twisters and Tornadoes Old and New
While many elements remain the same, this sequel offers its own experience separate from the original. Gone is the playful pairing of Helen Hunt and Bill Paxton, replaced by a more straightforward dynamic between the grounded Kate and showboating Tyler. Their relationship echoes the prior film yet develops down a different path, with Tyler learning to take the storms seriously and Kate opening up to the thrill.
In terms of visuals, advances in technology mean the tornadoes pack an even mightier punch. Playing out across expansive landscapes, they appear more colossal and unpredictable than before. However, this may also make them feel less awe-inspiringly real compared to mixtures of miniatures and early CGI. The human stories now feel smaller against such gargantuan backdrops.
Overall, Twisters delivers the thrills and chills we expect from a summer blockbuster about Mother Nature at her most ferocious. It builds responsibly on what worked previously instead of merely trying to recreate patented moments. Fans will find familiar fun while younger audiences get introduced to the appeal. Does it outdo the original? That’s debatable, but it certainly holds its own as an homage to developing the genre for modern times. When the next big weather wave hits theaters, this second installment will have successfully spun its story into the changing climate.
The Review
Twisters
While it doesn't reach the groundbreaking heights of its predecessor, Twisters delivers an enjoyable ride with solid character work and spectacular visuals of unpredictable forces of nature. It pays tribute while carving out its own identity, crafting an homage that expands the genre for new audiences. All in all, it's a solid and entertaining blockbuster encapsulating what makes "tornado movies" so watchable, even if it never threatens to overshadow the original.
PROS
- Impressive tornado visual effects that feel colossal and powerful
- Engaging lead performances from Daisy Edgar-Jones and Glen Powell
- Captures a sense of place in rural Oklahoma landscapes.
- Balances action with character development effectively.
CONS
- The story lacks the complexity and surprise of the original.
- Characters feel smaller against massive tornado backdrops.
- Not as viscerally thrilling or awe-inspiring as early practical effects
