Who knew you could make a story about wind interesting. I wonder, if after the filming was done, Paxton was overheard saying, "Storm over, man. Storm over." Twister has a good cast, great eye candy, very nice FX AND if you can't laugh at flying livestock, I don't want to know you.This is a good flick and a must see for all us Helen Hunt fans. I can watch this every 5 - 7 years.

If there is one thing I've noticed about this film is that there was much negativity from reviewers when it was released and frankly I don't understand what they were expecting, it's a movie about storm chasers in a tornado outbreak trying to launch a probe into a tornado, if you wanted something more like the meaning of life you're not going to get it here. When you make a movie revolving around a natural disaster (like The Day After Tomorrow or Into the Storm) expect the action to muffle the plot, it's a challenge to make a disaster movie with adequate character development and have it not be panned by reviewers.The film is good since the plot and stunning visuals keeps you watching from start to finish and you want to sympathize with the main characters while they try to succeed with their goal while going through a major conflict.

Having grown up a 90's kid, I often find myself nostalgically looking back on the films and television of my youth with a bit of a sad yearning. The world of entertainment was quite a different beast back in those days, and sometimes it can be easy to lose historical perspective and dismiss the media of the era when comparing it to more modern releases. Back then, a simple high-concept premise, a few likable actors and some (at the time) cutting edge effects were all we needed to have a good time at the cinema. But as filmmaking continues to evolve, and audiences are no longer wowed by the things we once were, it's becoming easier and easier to look back on films of that era as quaint and inherently more flawed than we might remember. Thankfully, there are many releases that still hold up to this day to one extent or another.A prime example of this would be the 1996 disaster/action film "Twister", from producer/co-writer Michael Crichton and director Jan de Bont. It's one of those 90's flicks that actually is still quite good fun thanks to solid and visually exciting action, effects that hold up for the most part and excellent performances from the entire cast. While it might not be quite as great as we remember, it's still solid-enough popcorn entertainment, even over twenty years later.We follow a group of storm-chasers who are on a mission- they are tracking a system that will be capable of spawning several tornadoes, in hopes of studying the cyclones with an advanced piece of technology they have developed. If they can achieve their goal, it might help in the development of a more advanced storm warning system. However, there are some obstacles in their way... including an evil corporate- funded rival (Cary Elwes) and personal squabbles between the team leader Jo and former member Bill (Bill Paxton, Helen Hunt), a couple in the midst of a divorce. And as the storm becomes increasingly dangerous and more volatile, it will eventually lead to a harrowing and thrilling series of life-and-death decisions for our heroes.The main strengths of the film come down to the extreme likability of the cast and the thrilling beats of action and adventure that de Bont excels at crafting. Each and every member of the cast is pretty much perfect in their roles, archetypal and clichéd though the roles may be. In particular, our leads Paxton (rest in peace, good sir) and Hunt are both exceedingly fun to watch and have a great chemistry that makes you want to see them reconcile their differences. Elwes is also wonderfully slimy as an opportunistic villain that you'll just adore hating. And there's even a really fun early role from Philip Seymour Hoffman. If you have a good cast, you can forgive a lot, and the charm on display from just about every performer is part of what makes the film such an easy and breezy watch.Director Jan de Bont, perhaps best known as a cinematographer who transitioned to the role of director with the excellent "Speed" before slipping up with later duds like the sloppy "Speed 2" and the over-produced and under-scary remake of "The Haunting" does what he does best here, which is make thrilling action that will keep the audiences glued to their seats. Say what you want about the mixed quality of his overall work- the guy knows how to make some kick- butt scenes. His camera-work is smooth and slick, his sense of pacing is strong and he ratchets up the stakes with each passing moment during the films many tornado sequences. (Expertly realized with CGI that still holds up pretty well to this day thanks to Industrial Light & Magic.) He injects such a kinetic sense of fun into the proceedings that you can kinda forgive some of the flimsy characterization and old tropes on display. You'll certainly never be bored.Unfortunately, the script by Crichton and Anne-Marie Martin is where most of the problems with the film lay. Despite the duo crafting some fun characters and interesting set-pieces, there's just a bit too much reliance on the same-old, same-old. You've seen these characters before. You've seen these motivations before. And you've seen these types of situations before. It's a palette-swap of numerous other adventure films that have come before. Not bad by any means... but typical enough that most audiences familiar with basic story structure will be able to guess the twists and turns the story takes ahead of time, which can somewhat rob from the intended suspense of certain scenes. Thankfully, the inventive action and great performances are able to overcome the so-so screenplay and elevate it.In the end, looking back... "Twister" might not be quite the classic we initially thought it would be when it first came out. But it's certainly good fun and is near-ideal popcorn entertainment. And that's perfectly fine. Sometimes we need a good bit of the old "dumb fun", and this movie is sure to please anyone who wants a fast, enjoyable experience.I give it a pretty-good 7 out of 10.

In my opinion, Twister is a timeless classic and I have the tradition of watching it at least once every spring. Yes, it is one of those "turn off your brain" films, but sometimes I like doing just that. The atmosphere was very thrilling for me as well as the suspense and the cinematography was very well done. The music never fails to give me goosebumps and I love that Van Halen was featured throughout the movie and the guitar solo during the end credits was breathtaking. The film has a very distinct "blue collar" feel to it which I love and it's not something you see very often in Hollywood. And it's not the mocking, in-your-face kind of representation either. It's very low- key and presented as a normal way of life, as it is for many Americans. Being a mid-westerner, I appreciated that aspect greatly. ***Mild Spoilers***I loved the bickering interactions between Paxton and Hunt and their crew was a fun, lovable bunch. Jamie Gertz was absolutely adorable as the reproductive therapist who finds herself in over her head. Cary Elwez did a great job as the egocentric, sniveling weasel of a rival, and Phillip Seymour Hoffman was a lot of fun in his role as Dusty.Yes, there are some flaws, mainly the segue between action and emotion, which I'd imagine is extremely tough to balance, especially in a 90 minute film. Some people thought there wasn't enough of the emotional aspect which can make it hard for the audience to sympathize with the characters. They tried to sprinkle it in here and there, but with much of the film focusing on the action, it's hard to give your characters any depth and it makes the audience wonder why they should care. And then you have those who would rather do without any of the drama. I can sympathize as I don't always feel the need to focus on it and would rather get right to the nitty gritty. Still, you can't please everyone. Overall, it's a fun, action-packed film that I will continue to enjoy for years to come.