Twisters is a sequel to the 1996 hit Twister featuring a new cast and director. The film stars Daisy Edgar-Jones, Glen Powell, and Anthony Ramos, directed by Lee Isaac Chung known for Minari. Set during a tornado season in Oklahoma.
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The original Twister balanced practical effects and CGI driven by Jan de Bont’s direction and strong lead chemistry.
Twisters relies heavily on digital effects which diminishes the natural awe and intensity of the original’s tornado scenes.
The cast includes Kate Carter (Daisy Edgar-Jones), a physics whiz and storm chaser turned New York meteorologist. Javi (Anthony Ramos), Kate’s former colleague and military data analyst, recruiting her for a new tornado research project. Tyler Owens (Glen Powell), A YouTuber and storm chaser from Arkansas.
The film opens with a failed tornado experiment resulting in losses. Five years later, Javi convinces Kate to return to Oklahoma for a new project. A romantic triangle forms between Kate, Javi, and Tyler.
Lee Isaac Chung’s direction shines in the film’s depiction of rural Oklahoma’s communities. The film captures the environmental destruction following storms.
The direction falters in balancing action with character development leading to a lack of intimate scenes away from the storms.
An evening rodeo disrupted by a tornado. The final climactic tornado tearing through a small town. The reliance on digital effects reduces the visceral impact compared to the original’s practical effects.
The film briefly mentions climate change, an element that could have added contemporary relevance. It focuses on the spectacle of tornadoes and the personal drama of the characters.
Kate Carter, a compassionate but slightly dull due to predictable character arcs. Javi, an optimistic entrepreneur with a genuine desire to help, yet easily manipulated.
Tyler Owens, a showboating storm chaser whose character only gains depth when he respects Kate’s expertise.
The supporting cast includes a colorful yet underdeveloped crew of storm chasers. Boone (Brandon Perea). the videographer with an extreme-sports mentality.
Lily (Sasha Lane), the drone operator. Dexter (Tunde Adebimpe), the science geek. Dani (Katy O’Brian), the mechanic with a penchant for battle cries.
Harry Hadden-Paton plays Ben, a London journalist who becomes less stiff as the story progresses.
The film’s soundtrack includes original country songs and covers. Cinematographer Dan Mindel captures the vast, open spaces of Oklahoma.
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The tornadoes in Twisters are created with cutting-edge digital effects with even particle-level replication. Modern viewers familiar with extensive real-life storm-chaser footage available online, may find the movie’s tornadoes less impressive.
Lee Isaac Chung known for the humanistic drama Minari, takes on a different genre with Twisters. Chung delivers a smooth and confident direction but lacks the Spielbergian wizardry that Jan de Bont brought to the original.
The film opens with storm chaser Kate Cooper (Daisy Edgar-Jones) attempting to deploy an experimental method to dissipate a tornado.
The narrative jumps five years ahead showing Kate as a weather analyst in New York reluctant to return to storm chasing.
Kate joins a new team led by Javi (Anthony Ramos) and encounters Tyler Owens (Glen Powell), a YouTube star and storm chaser.
The new team’s mission involves using advanced radar to study tornadoes aiming for scientific discoveries.
The film features several thrilling sequences including a climactic encounter with a massive tornado during a rodeo event.
The storm chasers’ motivations range from scientific inquiry to personal thrill-seeking.
The 1996 film was excellent in its use of digital effects and its portrayal of storm chasing. Twisters doesn’t include cameos or tributes to original cast members like Helen Hunt or Bill Paxton, which some fans may find disappointing.
The sequel lacks the memorable soundtrack of the original including Eddie Van Halen’s iconic guitar solos.
The film touches on climate change but fails to explore this theme meaningfully. A subplot involving a tycoon profiting from storm damage is underdeveloped and does not impact the main story.
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