Film Review : TWISTER * * *

Twister(1996)
CAST Helen Hunt, Bill Paxton, Cary Elwes, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Jamie Gertz
DIRECTOR Jan De Bont

Twister is a movie that doesn't claim to be anything else than what you see on its surface. It's a special effects bonanza meant to oooh and aaah you with its effects and leave you mind boggled at the end.

What little story there is revolves around two scientists who track storms and chase tornadoes for a living. Jo Harding, played by Helen Hunt is the leader of a team of storm chasers caravaning the plains looking to use their new storm equipment to study the tornadoes life cycle and how it operates. Bill(Played by Paxton), is her husband whom she is seperated from. He comes to their base to have her sign divorce papers so he can get re married to an unnecessary character played by Jamie Gertz. He ends up getting involved with the chase of storms and rekindling his romance with Jo via the stress and excitement of chasing tornadoes.

One of the delightful things in the movie is Phillip Seymore Hoffman as Dusty. He is a treat in every film he's in and a very competent actor. With the dialogue he is given in this movie he does real well, and he keeps us amused throughout the film. On the other hand Jamie Gertz is annoying and bland. Even in a movie like this that doesnt rely on a heavy story, her character is a waste of screen time that could have been used to show some more cool looking tornadoes. The producers merely raised the cost of the film by adding her to the movie.

Its a pretty flimsy story, but who cares. The real story is the tornadoes and the special effects. Your heart races as you root for the good guys to get away from the fierce killing machines. The chases are gut wrenching and the effects are out of this world. One after another tornado scenes keep you so involved with the characters running to stay alive that its hard to pay attention to the shady storyline.

The good thing about a movie like this, is that it knows what it is. It doesnt claim to be a piece of art or an epic of truth and depravity. Its a simple special effects vehicle designed to keep us from leaving our chair. The film is totally engrossing and by the end of it you should be spent, asking for water and shade. A very entertaining movie that doesnt try to be more in depth than it needs to be provided what the movie is about.