This movie disappoints on almost every level. Even the once cutting-edge special effects (which are this film's only excuse for existing) have grown much less special over time. These characters may be paper-thin, but we never worry that they will be blown away: we know they are only trapped within a noisy but harmless digital effect that will repeatedly defy the laws of physics to ensure their safety. The tornadoes will pick up digital cows and farm equipment, but can't quite get a hold on the main characters, which is a pity, because they could only be improved by a few good smacks into the side of a barn.
I am willing to suspend disbelief in an action film up to a point, but in this case, even with no special technical knowledge about tornadoes, I constantly found myself saying "impossible." Imagine how much more frightening and dramatic this film would have been if it had characters you cared about and encounters with tornadoes that seemed at least remotely possible. Because the characters were constantly running from tornado to tornado there was never any build-up of suspense. Nothing is more ominous than the sky before a really violent storm, but we never got a sense of this since we were always plunging headlong into the centre of tornadoes. Every good horror director knows to hold back the monster at least some of the time. Speaking of which, what a self-defeating mistake for the director to include scenes from The Shining in this film - did he really imagine this mess would compare favourably to Kubrick's masterpiece? It only reminded me of what this film lacked.
Twister wastes a number of good actors in small, meaningless parts, including the amazing Philip Seymour Hoffman: but then it is so dreadful that you could say it also wastes the mediocre talents which are its stars. Apparently good tornado chasers are reckless, "wacky" and shout a lot for no apparent reason. "Aren't we just such fun?" they seem constantly (and desperately) to be asking the audience. Well, no they aren't, they're annoying. And the dialog that is supposed to bring these characters to life? Like the plot, it seems to have been produced by a cliché generator much less sophisticated than the machines that created the film's special effects. If you are over 12 years old you'll want to rent something better. And I may be insulting 12 year olds.
I am willing to suspend disbelief in an action film up to a point, but in this case, even with no special technical knowledge about tornadoes, I constantly found myself saying "impossible." Imagine how much more frightening and dramatic this film would have been if it had characters you cared about and encounters with tornadoes that seemed at least remotely possible. Because the characters were constantly running from tornado to tornado there was never any build-up of suspense. Nothing is more ominous than the sky before a really violent storm, but we never got a sense of this since we were always plunging headlong into the centre of tornadoes. Every good horror director knows to hold back the monster at least some of the time. Speaking of which, what a self-defeating mistake for the director to include scenes from The Shining in this film - did he really imagine this mess would compare favourably to Kubrick's masterpiece? It only reminded me of what this film lacked.
Twister wastes a number of good actors in small, meaningless parts, including the amazing Philip Seymour Hoffman: but then it is so dreadful that you could say it also wastes the mediocre talents which are its stars. Apparently good tornado chasers are reckless, "wacky" and shout a lot for no apparent reason. "Aren't we just such fun?" they seem constantly (and desperately) to be asking the audience. Well, no they aren't, they're annoying. And the dialog that is supposed to bring these characters to life? Like the plot, it seems to have been produced by a cliché generator much less sophisticated than the machines that created the film's special effects. If you are over 12 years old you'll want to rent something better. And I may be insulting 12 year olds.