Twister.

Review #812: Twister.

Cast
Bill Paxton (Bill Harding), Helen Hunt (Dr. Jo Harding), Jami Gertz (Dr. Melissa Reeves), Cary Elwes (Dr. Jonas Miller), Philip Seymour Hoffman (Dusty Davis), Alan Ruck (Robert Nurick), Jeremy Davies (Brian Laurence), Joey Slotnick (Joey), and Sean Whalen (Alan Sanders) Directed by Jan de Bont.

Review

Truth be told...This made Independence Day (#193, which also happened to be released 20 years ago) seem like less of a chore compared to this. Simply put, Twister is a popcorn movie, solely entertaining for the destruction set forth by the tornadoes. If you go into it looking for some sort of enjoyment from these characters or plot, you won't really get much from it, save for Hoffman, who certainly has enough quirky energy to stand out in a movie designed to just be a spectacle. Paxton is fine, but him and Hunt never really seem to have much chemistry that stands out among the tornadoes. Elwes is the "bad guy" of the movie (unless you count the tornado), complete with an accent that while not laughable is mildly entertaining. Let's put it this way: Giving the movie criticism for being what it aspired to be is tough, because it aimed for that goal and not much else. But for me, it was only mildly entertaining, because there comes to be a point when you get tired of tornadoes ripping stuff to shreds over and over again. The characters exist to give the movie a plot, barely registering as cliches. I guess something must be wrong (with either me or the movie) when only one major character dies in the whole movie, and it's the "corporate bad guy". If I don't care about the characters trying to get a research device into the vortex of a tornado (because they're bound to get at least one out of four), then why even bother with the movie? Because...the effects? I suppose so. It really is the ultimate take it or leave it movie. For me, it was just an average movie that wasn't as exciting as other movies designed to just do one certain thing, being just a movie that came and went as average as a weather report.

Overall, I give it 6 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: Blast from the Past.

Review #445: Blast from the Past.

Cast
Brendan Fraser (Adam Webber), Alicia Silverstone (Eve Vrustikoff), Christopher Walken (Calvin Webber), Sissy Spacek (Helen Webber), Dave Foley (Troy), Joey Slotnick (Melker), Dale Raoul (Mom), Rex Linn (Dave), Cynthia Mace (Betty), and Harry S. Murphy (Bob) Directed by Hugh Wilson.

Review
You know, there are some films that aren't really good on attaining its purpose, but still have a cute charm, a sweet, but not too sweet feel, basically a guilty pleasure. The premise of this film is a bit inventive (Though what kind of person makes a shelter that you can't even get out for 35 years?), and while it may not live up fully to its potential, I suppose it could've done worse. Brendan Fraser is not too terrible in the main role, awkward, but not too bad. Alicia Silverstone (Who I last saw in Batman & Robin, which automatically means she went a step up from that film) is somewhat better, though to be fair Christopher Walken in some ways steals the show, maybe it's his charisma, or that duck joke, I don't know. The film has a few laughs, and it sometimes tries to be ambitious, and while it starts out slow, it does at least finish well, and it's not too bad, a bit average. Is it awkward? Sometimes. Is it okay? Sure. But is it forgettable? Not all the time. Countdown to 450 Reviews: 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5...

Overall, I give it 7 out of 10 stars.