Search - Twister on DVD

MPAA Rating: PG-13 Movie Release: 1996 DVD Release: 03/26/1997 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV,Pan and Scan - Closed Captioned Audio Tracks: English, French Subtitles: English, French, Spanish SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 53 mins Studio: Warner Home Video Members Wishing: 1 Genres: Action, Drama, Disaster Film See Also: Twister [Special Edition], Twister [Special Edition Collector's Set], Twister [HD DVD], Twister [Special Edition], Twister [Blu-ray], Twister

Bill Paxton, Helen Hunt and Carey Elwes may be billed as the stars of Twister, but the film's real attractions are the cyclones themselves. Best experienced in a theater, the nail-biting, blow-the-audience-out-of-their-seats computer generated graphics, cutting edge sound and other special effects are designed to take viewers straight into the roaring funnel of a gigantic tornado. In order to focus on special effects and action, the story is simple and the characters are drawn in broad strokes with little depth. Jo Harding (Hunt) became a storm chaser (a meteorologist who photographs and scientifically studies tornadoes in the field) after a large twister sucked her hapless daddy into oblivion when she was a girl. Bill (Paxton) was a storm chaser too, but left to become a successful weatherman. His change of profession ruined his marriage to Jo. Before separating, the Hardings invented DOROTHY, a gizmo designed to release thousands of tiny sensors when a tornado passes over it. The Hardings hope the information transmitted by the sensors will provide insight into the nature of the whirling windstorms. Backed by a large corporation, the villainous Dr. Jonas Miller (Elwes) has created a similar machine. Neither gadget has been field tested and both groups of storm chasers are anxious to find tornadoes. At the peak of the worst twister season in decades, Bill shows up at Jo's truck with his prissy fiancee Melissa (Jami Gertz) so Jo can sign divorce papers. Suddenly a twister is spotted. With little hesitation, Bill rejoins the mad rush to reach it in time to activate DOROTHY. Jonas and his team are right behind them. Throughout the day the storms become worse and the rivalrous race becomes more intense. As they continue facing incredible dangers together Jo and Bill find renewed love while poor Melissa finds only an intense desire to get away from these storm-obsessed lunatics.
~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

Helen Hunt - Jo Harding
Bill Paxton - Bill Harding
Cary Elwes - Dr. Jonas Miller
Jami Gertz - Melissa
Lois Smith - Aunt Meg

One of the early children of DVD, =Twister was greatly criticized for a lackluster image, but the fact is, it's not nearly as bad as reported. At the same time, it's far from perfect, far from the quality that later discs saw as the norm. The 2.35:1 picture is anamorphic, but does show signs of shimmering and aliasing. While at times slightly distracting, these faults really don't damper the overall effectiveness of the generally solid transfer. Colors are faithfully reproduced and detail is generally strong. The sound on the other hand, in both English and French 5.1 Dolby Digital, is outstanding and very aggressive. The theatrical experience is reproduced nicely with a wide range and liberal uses of the surround speakers. Extras -- the feature that would eventually propel DVD to the forefront of the home entertainment industry -- are certainly weak. Beyond some production notes, the only included supplement is the theatrical trailer. True fans will want to keep their eyes open for the "special edition," released a few years after this initial offering. ~ Trent Fordham, All Movie Guide