“Twisters” Movie Review – Signals AZ

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Twisters marks the return of the classic Hollywood blockbuster, a type of summer movie that hasn’t been seen in a couple decades thanks to the box-office domination of superhero movies and sci-fi action spectacles. This disaster film builds on the legacy of 1996’s Twister (starring the late Bill Paxton) by delivering a straightforward, action-packed story of humans vs. nature.

Release Date: 07/08/2024 Runtime: 122 minutes Director: Lee Isaac Chung Rotten Tomatoes: 76% Advertisement iMBD: 7.1/10 Where to Watch: In theaters

There are no giant creatures dueling it out, no existential threats to Earth, no evil villains to overcome… all this movie boasts is a great cast of characters and fun set-pieces. At a time when summer blockbusters are still dominated by bloated epics that have become so commonplace they provide nothing but a sense of mundanity, it’s refreshing to watch a story about a small group of people trying to save a couple of towns from natural disasters.

Twisters is tight, focused, and presents a realistic scenario that’s far easier to immerse yourself in. Its script succeeds where many others fail by clearly explaining character motivations, creating ideological clashes, and presenting challenges that are overcome with ingenuity and incremental improvement.

Unlike many legacy sequels, Twisters doesn’t rely heavily on its 1996 predecessor for references or Easter eggs. The characters are entirely new, and the film avoids mythologizing the original cast; while there is a nod to the tornado tracker from Twister, the story stands independently, with its own fresh narrative. Although it shares a similar structure with the original—following rival storm chasers and featuring familiar set pieces like twin tornadoes and a night-time hit—it carves out its own identity.

In essence, Twisters can be seen as a remake of the 1996 film, sharing the basic premise of weather researchers deploying a prototype in the path of tornadoes, facing increasingly severe storms escalating up the Fujita scale, ending with a climactic F5 tornado in the third act.

However, what distinguishes this film from the original is its new cast and stunning special effects that surpass the quaint CGI of 1996. While the original leaned towards horror, this sequel adopts a more realistic and lighthearted approach to storm chasing, allowing audiences to experience the thrill of destruction without resorting to cheap suspense.

For those craving a classic Hollywood flick offering a thrilling ride not seen since Tony Stark donned his Iron Man armor and changed the blockbuster landscape for decades, Twisters is a must-see at your local theater.

About our Admit One Author

Isaac Frankel is a freelance writer and content creator specializing in reviews and analysis of cinema, interactive media, and mythological storytelling. He was raised in Prescott, AZ, wrote his first non-fiction book in 2013 after graduating from Tribeca Flashpoint College with a degree in Game & Interactive Media Design, and currently produces content for the YouTube channel: Off Screen.

More of his work and current projects can be found at www.isaacafrankel.com.

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