Twister (1996)

 So-so transfer to Blu-Ray
Having waited eagerly for this to be released on Blu-ray, I was somewhat disappointed in the quality of the transfer. Not only is the Blu-ray not particularly crisp compared to the better transfers such as, say, Road Warrior, I established by A/B-ing the Blu-ray and previous non-HD version in my Sony PS3 that the Blu-ray is actually softer looking in some respects than the previous version. So you might save your money and just stick with the version you probably already have. May 10, 2008

 Campy? Yes. Far fetched? Not hardly!
What about the outbreak of tornados in the same area depicted in the film a week ago? 40 tornados over the same area in the span of 10 hours: that makes this movie look like a picnic. Still say it's not possible? There are people in tornado alley that will beg to differ. May 7, 2008

 Twisted
I don't know if I would've forgiven this movie more if I hadn't had an amateur meteorologist with me when I saw it or not. But I did. And his constant interjections of "that would NEVER happen" got so annoying that I finally had to say:

"Hey, I never went to Weather School but I KNOW that couldn't happen!"

My hopes were also high since Michael Crichton's name was on the screenplay. But then again, so was his wife-at-the-time listed as a screenwriter.

But what really got me was that this Hollywood monstrosity had an opportunity to use the best sound and state-of-the-art visual effects to show the raw power and terrifying danger of a real tornado...and they instead chose to pay endless homages to THE WIZARD OF OZ. Have you ever been in a tornado? I have. Nobody's pausing to calmly and safely watch barnyard animals float by. This movie totally trivialized that stark terror.

Whatever tires were on that pick-up truck that Bill Paxton drove around with Helen Hunt and Jamie Gertz had to be magic: somehow houses and tanker trucks could be tossed around like crazy--but not that pick-up truck!

Storywise, you can also see everything coming from a mile off. I'll bet everyone can guess how the relationships will end within the first 20 minutes. Characters are so broad that I wondered if the two groups of scientists were in this movie or if they were the two competing summer camps in MEATBALLS. Of course the bad scientists--and they're bad because they drive new black vehicles--are going to suffer the most at the hands of nature. Of course the leads will have their happy ending. Of course the tornado will strike the drive-in movie theatre when Jack Nicholson sticks his face through the door in the clip from THE SHINING (I knew that was going to happen as soon as they showed the movie marquee).

If this movie had Jerry Bruckheimer or Michael Bay's name in the credits, I wouldn't be able to be so critical. I just expected more from Michael Crichton. May 7, 2008

 Great movie and great transfer
One of my family's favorite movies and a great transfer in Blu Ray...great picture, great sound. Well worth the wait... May 7, 2008

 LOVED IT
I know that some people would go on a tangent about how this truly does not occur.. the waves of tornadoes and such. It is a movie, not a documentary. And as such, I think it is one of my favorites (Jaws and Godfather also rank the top billings iwth me). I enjoyed it, the story, the special effects, the whole thing. I have witnessed 2 tornadoes in my life, and both are truly the work of mother nature. This movie brings that and so much more. Get it, and if you have the chance to get to Universal Studios, go, and ride "twister"... you will love it!
April 24, 2008

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