Warning: ‘Twister’ Might Blow You Away

Whoa. Hold on to your seats. “Twister” should come with a warning label: Those with heart conditions, or those queasy about watching terrifying movies, should not, under any circumstances, attend.

In the 100 minutes of “Twister,” there was not a single bomb, hand grenade or semiautomatic weapon, yet it was more frightening than any war movie I’ve ever seen. Nor was there a murder or a violent assault, but “Twister” hit shockingly close to home.

In addition, there wasn’t a single big-name star in “Twister.” The plot did just fine with the smaller names of Helen Hunt and Bill Paxton.

So why was “Twister” so incredible?

Nature. And plenty of computer animation.

The opening 20 minutes of this film were pure action - the audience didn’t have a chance to breathe until it was through two exceptionally graphic tornadoes.

The movie follows a team of “tornado chasers” on its quest to use a new scientific device that takes extremely precise and groundbreaking data on tornadoes. In order to use it, Hunt and Paxton must get to where they think the center of the tornado will be and set down their device. Then, they get away - fast.

Due to the unpredictable nature of tornadoes, though, this isn’t nearly as easy as it may sound. On a couple of arborted attempts, the two hide under a bridge as they watch their truck fly away, and cling to a pole as they are nearly washed away by horizontal rains.

Not only do they have this to deal with, but they are faced with human opposition. A similar team, operating more for monetary gain than scientific gain, has a similar device and wants to use theirs first.

They are almost unrealistic in their pursuit, but provide a pleasant distraction to the constant “man vs. nature” struggle.

And, of course, we need a love story in there somewhere. Paxton and Hunt are finalizing a divorce when the chase begins, and Paxton even has the nerve to bring along his next wife-to-be.

If you’re wondering, the plot of “Twister” holds together quite well - it isn’t just a cheap vehicle for a lot of cool computer graphics developed by out-of-touch techies. We learn a lot about several of the characters, so when they reach the inevitably exciting climax, we actually care whether they live or not.

Not enough can be said about the performances in this film. Hunt was phenomenal - it didn’t seem as if she was acting at all. And, besides a slight bit of melodrama, Paxton was the same way.

The supporting cast provided most of the humor for the film - everyone in the tornado-chasing team was totally fearless, and more enthusiastic than I thought possible. Cary Elwes, the head of the bad guys, was also a riot.

The visual effects of “Twister” were nothing short of unbelievable. Through parts of the film, I wasn’t quite sure whether I was still in the movie theater or in a ride at Universal Studios. I would almost be afraid to sit in the front row for fear of motion sickness.

If I haven’t said it already, “Twister” was a captivating film. It never let up, yet it still took time to develop meaningful characters with a believable plot. Even without all that, the effects were worth the price of admission.

Grade: A+