New Movie "Twisters" with Big Winds and Brave People

July 17th, 2024

In the world of cinema, where the grandiose and absurd often capture our imagination, Universal Pictures has unveiled its new high-octane film "Twisters", a cinematic experience that tantalizes viewers with its thrilling depiction of nature's ferocity. The allure of disaster films lies in their ability to draw us into a spectacle of chaos and destruction, and "Twisters" is no exception. The movie, which hits theaters on Thursday, presents a visually stunning and dangerous whirlwind with actors Daisy Edgar-Jones, Glen Powell, and Anthony Ramos in the eye of the storm. The promotional imagery alone, featuring the protagonists before a towering, fiery cyclone, has sparked curiosity and speculation. The fact that the characters aren't gazing directly at the tornado has aroused questions, but such inquiries are arguably missing the essence of the genre. Director Lee Isaac Chung's entry into the realm of disaster films embraces the paradoxical nature of these narratives, as they often defy logic yet irresistibly pull us into their grip. Disaster films, like cult classic "Twister" from 1996, have a unique place in the hearts of many for their blend of entertainment and nostalgia. As the years pass by, we revisit them and find a renewed sense of joy and amusement, whether it's from their memorable lines or the sheer lunacy of their plot devices. "Twisters" is initiating its journey to earn its place alongside its predecessor, promising audiences a significant dose of adrenaline with stunning action sequences. Chung, known for his more understated work on "Minari", has crafted a film that aims to balance the extreme with a sense of authenticity, from the regional flavors to the depth of character. The narrative introduces us to Edgar-Jones' character Kate, who is haunted by a past experiment gone awry with a tornado, yet finds herself drawn back into the danger zone, persuaded by her old friend Javi. While the film pays homage to the original that inspired it, there are fresh faces and stories to follow, including Powell's portrayal of a social media-famous storm chaser. Despite the all-new characters, "Twisters" leans heavily on references that may distract from its uniqueness. The question remains whether "Twisters" will stand the test of time and endear itself to future generations as a fondly remembered masterpiece of big studio filmmaking. There's a collective hope that it will surpass our expectations and achieve longevity beyond its premiere. "Twisters" comes to us as a PG-13 rated flick, a thrill ride lasting 122 minutes, and amidst the vast array for cinematic offerings, it stands out with a solid two and a half stars out of four. Whether it becomes a staple of comfort viewing or a testament to the glory days of Hollywood blockbusters, only time will tell. For now, it's an invitation to be swept away by its stormy embrace.

AI isn't perfect, so some things may be inaccurate. We don't necessarily endorse the views or information you see here and provide it for language learning purposes only.

💭 Discussion Questions

. What elements do you think contribute to the persistent fascination with disaster films, and how does 'Twisters' embody these elements?

. In what ways can a director balance authenticity with the exaggerated features typical of the disaster film genre?

. How do homages to classic films within a new movie affect the viewing experience and the film's reception by different generations?

📖 Vocabulary

🌐 Cultural context

The cultural context involves an American appetite for disaster films, which balance spectacle with personal stories. Universal Pictures and Hollywood are iconic in the global film industry, producing large-scale entertainment known for star power and technical prowess.

🧠 Further reading

Sound effect

Sound effects are utilized to enhance the artistic quality of various media such as movies, TV shows, live performances, and games. They help tell a story by replacing the need for dialogue or music. Originally created using Foley—a method of producing everyday sound effects—these effects are an integral part of a production and are considered distinct elements alongside dialogue and music. The history of sound effects stretches back to radio's early days. The BBC, in 1931, emphasized the importance of sound effects in broadcasting, comparing them to building blocks essential for creating programs. These effects are categorized into six types: realistic effects that confirm or evoke, symbolic, conventionalized, impressionistic effects, and music used as an effect. It is crucial for sound effects to make an immediate impact on the listener for them to be effective.

List of films considered the worst

Within the realm of cinema, some productions have garnered notoriety not for their excellence, but rather for their perceived lack of quality, falling into the category of the worst films of all time. These movies have been identified by respected critics and various platforms known for assessing cinematic works. Renowned resources such as Metacritic, the trenchant critiques of Roger Ebert, the satirical Golden Turkey Awards, Leonard Maltin's insightful Movie Guide, the polarizing reviews of Rotten Tomatoes, and the reflective analysis by Nathan Rabin in "My World of Flops" have all contributed to these lists. Additionally, the revered Stinkers Bad Movie Awards, the offbeat television series "Mystery Science Theater 3000" with its related projects, and the infamous Golden Raspberry Awards—more casually known as the "Razzies"—have recognized these films. Such films are typically mainstream productions with the dual intentions of profiting and conveying artistic statements, crafted either by professional hands or independent spirits. Components for consideration include having had a theatrical release followed by availability on home video. From the 1930s, a notable entry to this hall of infamy is "Maniac," also referred to as "Sex Maniac." Directed by Dwain Esper, the film is an ostensibly liberal interpretation of Edgar Allan Poe's "The Black Cat," weaving the narrative of a vaudeville impersonator turned assistant to a deranged scientist. Promoted under the guise of an informative piece on mental illness, "Maniac" was marred by overtly provocative scenes and apparent plagiarization from the eerie 1922 silent film "Häxan." The film has been disparaged by Danny Peary as perhaps the most woeful cinematic endeavor, while Charlie Jane Anders from Gawker Media's io9 denounced it as a contender for the worst film in existence. "Maniac" found its way onto Rotten Tomatoes' roster of films that are so egregiously poor they warrant viewing,

History of film

The genesis of cinema marks the birth of a new artistic expression through the medium of moving images, which emerged in the final years of the 19th century. Defining the exact moment when film became an artistic platform is somewhat ambiguous; however, the momentous occasion of the Lumière brothers' first commercial, public film screening in Paris on December 28, 1895, is often hailed as a pivotal juncture in the evolution of projected motion pictures. In its infancy, film was primitive - black and white, silent, extremely short, and captured in a single, static shot. Yet by the end of its first decade, what began as a curiosity had flourished into a widely embraced entertainment phenomenon, with film production companies emerging globally. A cinematic lexicon began to take shape during this period, with the advent of film editing, camera movement, and other techniques playing significant roles in narrative storytelling. As the landscape of media expanded with the mainstream adoption of television in the 1950s, the advent of home video in the 1980s, and the rise of the internet in the 1990s, the consumption and distribution of films transformed. The film industry continually adapted, offering new content tailored to these emerging platforms. Technological breakthroughs such as widescreen in the 1950s, and later 3D and 4D films, coupled with more grandiose film-making, aimed to preserve the allure of cinema. The democratization of film production also gained momentum with the introduction of more accessible technology, such as 8mm film, video, and ultimately smartphone cameras. This allowed a wider array of individuals to create their own movies, spanning from home videos to video art, even though these often lacked the technical fineness of professional works. However, with the integration of digital video and the affordability of high-quality digital cameras, the gap in technical prowess began to narrow. By the 1990s, digital film-making started to dominate, leading to increasingly