...it almost seems as though AV engineers invented high definition expressly for this movie.
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When I saw "Twister" in a theater, I really didn't care much for it. The management had the auditorium too bright, the screen too faded, and the audio system improperly adjusted for surround sound. Since "Twister" is essentially a special-effects extravaganza, being able to see and hear it correctly is a must. Then, I watched it at home a couple of years later when it first came out on DVD and fell in love with it. Now that Warner Bros. have made this 1996 movie available on Blu-ray in high-definition picture and sound, I've fallen in love with it all over again.
One thing about the movie is there's nothing to think about: The plot is thin and the characters are shallow. But who cares! The picture and sound are knockouts. For years, whenever I have had anyone over who hadn't seen or heard a good home-theater system before, I would wow them with "Twister." This movie never failed to impress them. Can you imagine what these kind of people will think when they see and hear something like this new Blu-ray disc?
In the story, Bill Paxton and Helen Hunt star as husband-and-wife meteorologists, Bill and Jo Harding, obsessed with tornadoes and leading a group of equally dedicated storm chasers around the country following any and all whirlwinds they can find. But the plot gimmick is that the couple are in the process of getting a divorce. Bill is only along because he wants Jo to sign the final papers releasing him to marry his fiancée, Melissa, played by Jami Gertz. And Melissa is only along for the ride. Bill and Jo's bickering momentarily takes our minds off the fact that the movie is really about the amazing computer graphics and the 5.1 surround sounds. Not that the high-def processing does any favors for the CGI, by the way, because in such crystal-clear detail they don't look quite as realistic as they once did. Still, they're pretty impressive.
Anyway, the goal of the team is to gather enough information about tornadoes to create an early-warning system that will prevent deaths like the one that claimed Jo's father. Following our heroes is another scientist, a bad guy named Jonas Miller, played by Cary Elwes, and his team of wicked, corporate-funded scientists, all of whom drive around in evil-looking black vans. Never mind any of this. Just pay attention to the amazing visuals and the spectacular sound, which, needless to say, you can't avoid doing in any case.
Enjoy also the supporting cast, many of whom you'll recognize instantly. Philip Seymour Hoffman practically steals the show as one of Jo's looney, gung-ho assistants; Alan Ruck is another of Jo's team who's hard to miss; and Sean Whalen, Todd Field, Joey Slotnick, and Wendle Josepher also stand out, each getting little segments of the story to themselves. Plus, there's Lois Smith playing Meg Greene, Jo's aunt. Ms. Smith has been around in movies and television since before I can remember, and that's a really long time. She adds a homey touch to the proceedings.
Director Jan de Bont keeps the pace moving at the speed of a tornado, too, hardly giving one time to breathe. "Twister" is not so much a conventional movie with a plot and characters as it is a roller-coaster ride, although I have to admit that after watching it so many times, I'm finding the characters more endearing each time I see it. This one is without a doubt a fun ride, too, with high definition playing a bigger part than ever in carrying the day.
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