Rating: Full

Genre: Action, Thriller, Disaster

Studios: Universal Pictures/Warner Bros Pictures/Amblin Entertainment

Cast: Daisy Edger-Jones, Glen Powell, Anthony Ramos, Brandon Perea, Maura Tierney and Sasha Lane

Director: Lee Isaac Chung

Writers: Joseph Kosinski and Mark L. Smith

Producers: Patrick Crowley and Frank Marshall

Music by: Benjamin Wallfisch

Rated: PG-13 for intense action and peril, some language and injury images

Release Date: 07/19/24

Runtime: 2h 2m

Tagline: Chase. Ride. Survive.

Favorite Character: Tyler Owens

Quote: “If you feel it…chase it.”- Tyler Owens

Fun Fact: There was a leaked footage of Kate and Tyler kissing, but was ultimately cut thanks to Steven Spielberg.

The Review: Back in the good ol’ 1996 when visual effects are so advanced but so pure, you can’t just look up a video of insane tornadoes. You can only see them by going to your local theater, and buy a ticket Jan de Bont’s disaster blockbuster starring Helen Hunt and Bill Paxton that whose Oscar nominated visual effects swept the audience away. What’s it called? Hint: the title rhymes with ‘Blister’

Going forward all the way to 2024, VFX became more advanced and sequels and remakes sadly become more common, so of course there is gonna be a continuation to the 1996’s summer hit. Well technically, It’s more of a standalone feature, so the viewing of the previous may not be all that necessary. And yet somehow, the newly Twister release may actually become a huge box office smash.

All of these blockbuster ingredients were courtesy of the indie film director Lee Issac Chung getting promoted to the big summer film category. Bringing in Top Gun Maverick’s Joseph Kosinski to be one of the writers was a real bonus.

To tell you this, I am very fond of the disaster films, in fact it’s technically one of my favorite genres. Besides that it was entertaining, it could be pretty useful like it’s a book guide about surviving these natural disasters, depending on the accuracy and how good the VFX are. There are times Mother Nature is on your side, but there are some moments when she became your enemy. And Luke Comb’s hit song ‘Ain’t No Love in Oklahoma’ reminds us that ‘It’s comin for ya’

Former meteorologist student Kate (Daisy Edger-Jones) is now living in NYC, having given up on tornado chasing five years ago after one of them had gone wrong by claiming her colleagues lives, with the exception of Javi (Anthony Ramos). He comes to the Big Apple to show her that there is a new way to collect data from tornados, by using the three panels and encourages her to return to the exciting chasing career in Oklahoma by joining the Storm Par tornado chasers, which she agrees to.

Throughout the first parts of the film, audience would be focusing on Kate and Javi unknown to them their spotlight wouldn’t last long. Once we return to their home state, we would not help but turn our attention towards Storm Par’s brand new rival we may actually root for. A team that led by the social media influencer and a huge comic relief, Tyler Owens (rising star Glen Powell) who he calls himself “The Tornado Wrangler”

How big is he? he and his team drove INSIDE the tornado in his truck (don’t worry, the truck has drills that secures them to the ground) and showing off by launching fireworks inside the twister that would make us wanna repeat the stunt in real life (but seriously, please don’t unless you know what you are doing).

Luckily for Storm Par, the good looking redneck isn’t gonna stop them from putting their plan into action. They just get into the trucks and zoom off. If you haven’t noticed, the trucks has a entertaining easter eggs on the sides, I won’t say what it is but it completes the Twister duology’s personal Wizard of Oz collection.

I do have to admit, I really feel mixed about Bill Paxton’s Twister story. The story was pretty thin, but I am very appealed for the 90s visual effects and the 90’s atmosphere. The sequel, on the other hand expands the plotline quite a bit while staying true to the VFX. Which may be why 2024’s Twisters has accomplished overlapping its 1996 counterpart.

It truly helps that the film contains a realistic execution of the devastating aftermath that the unfortunate towns had to face. May be sad for those who actually went through that, and if that’s the case, grab some tissues. You also might want to make sure you save your popcorn for the ultra Mega climax that would blow you away (no pun attended).

One last thing. If you happen to live by a theater with a 4DX, hope you didn’t miss this opportunity to take a wild ride in that high tech auditorium because if you still haven’t experience it in 4DX, too bad, you completely missed it altogether, cause chances are, it ain’t comin back. Unfortunally, that pretty much includes me. If you didn’t miss it, congratulations, you have experienced the twisters safely.