Approximately 1,000 tornadoes are reported across the United States each year, resulting in 80 deaths and over 1,500 injuries. They are most common in the central plains east of the Rocky Mountains and west of the Appalachians but the southeastern portion of the US has been experiencing more and more incidents in recent years. Tornadoes usually occur in the late afternoon and evening during the spring and summer.
While radar can be used to see severe thunderstorms and tornado patterns, the exact location of where a tornado will touch down and its strength remain a mystery.
Because these events are so unpredictable, people are fascinated by the deadly weather events, and every year hundreds travel throughout the Mid-west "chasing" tornadoes.
In 1996 audiences got a glimpse of what it is like to be a storm chaser in the feature film, Twister. With a new version coming to theaters later this month, Warner Bros. Has finally decided to release Twister on 4K, and, may I say, 1) what a smart decision it is and 2) it is about time!
For those who have yet to see the movie (and I suggest you do so before Twisters hits theaters), Jo (Oscar winner Helen Hunt; As Good As It Gets) grew up to become a scientist and a storm chaser after being scarred as a child. She and her team are ready to head out once again, when her former husband and former chaser himself, Bill (Bill Paxton; Aliens) shows up to get their divorce papers. Realizing Jo missed a page, Bill and his new fiancé, Melissa (Jami Gertz; The Lost Boys), follow the caravan through Oklahoma as Jo races against time to try to find ways to release her measurement instruments into the cone of the tornado and improve research about the forces of nature.
When I said early, "It is about time!" I meant it. Fans have been waiting for this 4K release for years, and I am thrilled to report it was worth the wait. This is one of the best transfers I have ever seen. There are one or two moments that didn't translate well, but most of the special effects and wide shots are excellent. I don't know if they darkened a few outdoor scenes for this release or if they lightened them for the theatrical but some outside shots are darker (i.e. when Bill stands outside the cafe sifting the dirt through his hand).
The Dolby Atmos audio quality is almost as good as the video. There are some moments when the balance seems off and the dialogue is hard to hear over the music, the tornado, the crashing of vehicles, etc. Otherwise, the audio is the best it has ever sounded especially when said tornadoes roll into town.
Most of the extras in the combo pack are ported over from previous releases but there is one new one. The extras include: The Legacy of Twister- Taken by the Wind (NEW), Chasing the Storm: Twister Revisited, Anatomy of a Twister, The Making of Twister, Van Halen Music Video - Humans Being, and Commentary by director Jan de Bont and visual effects supervisor Stefen Fangmeier.
From Hunt to Paxton and a young Philip Seymour Hoffman (Mission: Impossible III) to Gertz's "We've Got Cahws", the cast is pretty good even though some of them were relatively unknown. Director Jan de Bont (Speed) infuses the film with tension and humor and balances it all with strong effects and a human interest story laid underneath. All the elements were there and created the perfect storm (yes, I know, it's punny).
The bottom line is fans of Twister, rejoice! This combo pack is absolutely worth owning.
Grade: A-
