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‘Twister’ Movie and 4K Review

Posted on July 4, 2024 by The Ultimate Rabbit

The following review was written by Ultimate Rabbit correspondent, Tony Farinella.

“Twister” is a film that is currently celebrating its 28^th anniversary. It raises two important questions—where has time gone, and when did I become old? Watching “Twister” for the first-time since its release, it is clear this is a quintessential 1990’s action flick—you have your movie stars, your big budget, and your special effects. If you are able to shut off your brain and sit back and enjoy the ride, there is plenty to like here. If you are looking for logic or a complex story, you have come to the wrong movie. Your enjoyment level of this movie is solely dependent on your ability to suspend your disbelief when it comes to flying cows and off-the-wall tornadoes.

In the opening scene, we see a young woman named Jo Harding who unfortunately loses her father in an F5 tornado. This has stayed with her well until her adult life, as she is now entrenched in the world of tornadoes as a professional storm chaser. She is going through a divorce with her weatherman husband named Bill, played by the late Bill Paxton. He is hoping she will sign the rest of their divorce papers, so he can finally marry Dr. Melissa Reeves, a reproductive therapist, played by Jami Gertz. Jo (Helen Hunt), however, is dragging her feet as she still has feelings for Bill. They soon find themselves in a situation where they need to work together in order to survive because a massive tornado is coming their way.

Helen Hunt and Bill Paxton star in *Twister.*

Jo and Bill have created a storm-device called Dorothy, which can predict if a storm is happening fifteen minutes ahead of time as opposed to the usual three minutes. This will give people more time to prepare for a tornado and make sure they find a safe haven for them and their loved ones. It needs to get close to a tornado in order for the sensors inside of it to track any weather data. Jo has also assembled a talented team which includes Dustin Davis (Philip Seymour Hoffman) and Rabbit (Alan Ruck). The scene stealer here is Philip Seymour Hoffman. I would describe him as Jeff Spicoli if he ever pursued a career as a storm-chaser, and he steals every scene he’s in throughout. He’s hilarious, charming and off-the-wall.

“Twister” is an incredibly entertaining action picture that works because of the jaw-dropping special effects and its likable cast. Helen Hunt, in particular, is great as a strongly written female character dealing with grief and trauma by trying to make sure no one ever experiences what she went through as a child. Bill Paxton is a cheesy goofball who doesn’t see what’s right in front of him and the fact he’s better off with Jo. Jami Gertz takes a thankless role as the “other woman” and makes it work to where the audience still likes her, even though we’d rather see Jo and Bill together.

The special effects and tornado scenes are expected to deliver in a film like “Twister,” and they do not disappoint. The film is wise to take some time to have the characters interact with one another, so that when the storm scenes kick up a notch, we care about what happens to the participants. They also build up the storm scenes so when they happen, we are waiting for them and are emotionally invested. “Twister” was directed by Jan de Bont, who had previously directed 1993’s “Speed.” He knows how to blend the action scenes in with the character scenes in an effortless way, and he hits the right balance throughout. After not seeing the film for over two decades, one of my concerns was it would be too action heavy. I’m glad to see he strikes the right chord with his direction. It helps that the film was co-written by Michael Crichton, the smart and talented author and screenwriter.

“Twister”is about fifteen minutes too long, and sometimes there are too many characters here, some of which I did not mention. It’s not a perfect film by any stretch of the imagination. However, for a big-budget action flick, it’s exactly what it needs to be and then some. As mentioned earlier, there is a build-up to the storm scenes, which are bonkers and over-the-top. It’s about making the little scenes and the big scenes matter and co-exist together in harmony. It’s also about having fun. There is a lot of fun to be had with “Twister” even in 2024. It’s an entertaining action film with some big laughs and even bigger explosions.

* * * ½ out of * * * *

4K Info: “Twister” is released on a single disc 4K from Warner Brothers Home Entertainment. The film has a running time of 117 minutes and is rated PG-13 for intense depiction of very bad weather. This release also comes with a digital copy of the film along with a really cool looking slipcover.

4K Video: This is one of my favorite 4K releases of the year from a visual standpoint. It looks gorgeous, clear, and vivid. When I think of this movie, I think of the colors. The colors really pop here, especially when the sky outside is green. It’s a tremendous looking 4K and it’s an early candidate for one of the best 4K releases of the year.

Audio Info: The Dolby Atmos soundtrack is a fantastic touch here, as this is a big screen movie that is being brought right into your home theater. This film was made for 4K. The big scenes feel big with this Dolby Atmos track. It sounded perfect. It wasn’t too boisterous or in-your-face, but it gets the point across in an effective manner. They did a great job here, too.

Special Features:

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”

Commentary by director Jan de Bont and visual effects supervisor Stefen Fangmeier

Should You Buy It?

HECK YES! If you enjoy a good action flick in 4K, “Twister”is exactly why they made this format in the first place. It’s the movie you show your friends and family when you are trying to convince them to switch from Blu-ray to 4K. It also comes with a brand-new special feature, which is rare on catalog titles from studios. You also have the previously released Blu-ray special features, so you can keep the 4K and have everything that came with the Blu-ray as well. It’s the best of both worlds. Even though this film looks and feels like a 1990’s summer blockbuster, I found it to be a blast because it holds up well while also being a good nostalgia piece as well. If I were you, I’d buy this film on day one of its release. It comes highly recommended.

**Disclaimer** I received a copy of this film from Warner Brothers to review for free. The opinions and statements in the review are mine and mine alone.

‘Malignant’ Movie and Blu-ray Review

Posted on December 10, 2021 by The Ultimate Rabbit

The following review was written by Ultimate Rabbit correspondent, Tony Farinella.

“Malignant” was not only one of the most polarizing horror films of 2021, it was one of the most polarizing 2021 films in general. There were critics and fans who called it a horror classic and one of the best horror films they’ve seen in quite a while. You also had an audience which absolutely hated the film and thought it was laughably silly. I thought it was one of the most entertaining, graphic, and in-your-face films of this past year. It reminded me a lot of a David Cronenberg film with its use of imagery, especially during some of the later scenes, which I don’t want to go into great detail about because I don’t want to spoil it for anyone.

Our film opens with a pregnant woman named Madison Mitchell (Annabelle Wallis) coming home from a long day of work to an abusive husband watching UFC on TV. He ends up banging her head against the wall in a fit of rage when he finds out she is not feeling too well. They have had a couple of miscarriages in the past, and he is abusing her as though it is her fault. Things, however, take an even more dramatic turn for the couple when her husband, Derek (Jake Abel), ends up dead in brutal fashion. The two detectives on the case, played by George Young and Michole Briana White, first look at it as a home invasion where the husband died and the woman suffered some major injuries. However, Madison doesn’t remember anything about a home invasion or what happened that night.

She turns to her sister, Sydney (Maddie Hasson), to help her figure out exactly what is going on. Things are taken up another notch when more and more people end up dead, and Madison is able to see and experience them as if she is there for the murder, even though she’s at home. Detective Kekoa Shaw (George Young) is very curious about the case and believes the sisters when they say something is amuck. He’s not afraid to look into it and investigate it while his partner, Regina Moss (Michole Briana White), thinks the two sisters are not making a lot of sense. However, before long, it’s not hard to see a connection between Madison and all of the murders.

“Malignant” is a film which relies on a big twist in the third act. A lot of people said they saw the twist coming. When I’m engrossed in a film, I tend not to spend a lot of time trying to figure out the result. I’m more focused on what is happening and letting it unfold for me before my eyes. I’ve seen this film twice now: once on HBO Max and now on Blu-ray. The first time I watched it, I found it a little slow-moving, tedious and, at times, quite dull. The third act, however, saved the film for me. I remember looking at my wife after the amazing third act and saying, “I need to watch this movie again. That ending blew me away!”

On a second viewing, the first half made a lot more sense to me, perhaps because I knew what was going to happen and how it was going to end. This is a film which is only going to get better with multiple viewings. I truly believe it is going to be a cult-classic for decades to come because of how balls-to-wall and brutally bloody and gory it is. With that being said, this is a smart, well-made and well-acted horror movie. It’s also a smart look at PTSD, trauma, how we handle it, and how our thoughts can control us. There is a lot underneath the surface of “Malignant” and a whole lot to like.

James Wan, director of “Saw,” “The Conjuring”, “Insidious,” and “Furious 7” to name a few, has shown he has a great eye behind the camera. This might be his most ambitious film to date which is saying something considering he directed “Aquaman.” He goes for broke and does not disappoint. As I mentioned earlier, I had a whole new appreciation for this film on a second viewing. The emotional aspects are incredibly powerful and work in the world of a horror film. Wan has always known how to create drama and real characters in a horror movie that you care about and root for from start to finish. I can’t wait to watch it again and again. It’s a true work of art.

* * * * out of * * * *

Blu-Ray Info: “Malignant” is released on a single-disc Blu-ray from Warner Brothers Home Entertainment. It also comes with a digital code of the film. The film has a running time of 111 minutes and is rated R for strong horror violence, gruesome images, and language.

Video/Audio Info: This comes on a 1080p High-Definition transfer. The audio formats are DTS-HD MA: English 5.1, Dolby Digital: English Descriptive Audio, French, and Spanish. Subtitles are included in English, French, and Spanish.

Special Features:

Malignant: James Wan’s Visions

Should You Buy It?

YES, YES, and YES!!! The major bummer is the fact there is only one fourteen-minute special feature on this Blu-ray. I would have loved an audio commentary with director James Wan. I’ve listened to his commentaries on some of his previous films, and he never fails to entertain and inform the audience. This is the only blemish on this release: one tiny special feature. However, if you are looking at the stand-alone film, this is a great one to pick up for the horror fan in your life. They will not be disappointed by the final product. I understand the polarizing nature of the film based on reviews from both critics and audiences alike. However, I think “Malignant” is a horror masterpiece. The jail scene took my breath away. The way it’s shot with wall-to-wall action is simply outstanding. The way he takes his time in building up to the finish is exceptional. This film is only going to get better the more you watch it. You should take a chance on it. You won’t regret it.

**Disclaimer** I received a Blu-ray copy of this film from Warner Brothers to review for free. The opinions and statements in the review are mine and mine alone.

Exclusive Video Interview with Michele Ohayon About ‘Strip Down, Rise Up’

Posted on February 5, 2021 by The Ultimate Rabbit

Pole dancing has long been associated with strip clubs, but it has since expanded from that realm to dance studios where it is taught as a form of aerobic exercise. Still, there is a strong stigma to this form of dancing as it most people refuse to see it as anything other than pornographic and debasing. But with the new documentary “Strip Down, Rise Up,” female instructors use pole dancing as a way to help women deal with traumas and body-image issues which have plagued people for far too long. Through sensual movement, the participants find themselves transforming to where they succeed in reclaiming their self-esteem and sexuality, and they find a power within themselves which can never be lost.

The director of “Strip Down, Rise Up” is Oscar-nominated filmmaker Michèle Ohayon, and her cameras capture a diverse group of women from various walks of life. Among them are Evelyn who has lost her husband and trying to deal with her grief, the successful businesswoman Patricia who is uncomfortable in her own skin, and the very brave Megan who was sexually abused and ended up testifying against her abuser. We also get to see instructors like Sheila Kelley, Amy Bond and Jenyne Butterfly whose methods differ from one another in fascinating ways.

Ohayon hails from North Africa, and she has said her films are largely about transformations. In addition to “Strip Down, Rise Up,” her work includes “Colors Straight Up” which is about at-risk youth in Los Angeles who turn their lives around through the performing arts, the hidden homeless women documentary “It Was a Wonderful Life” which had the privilege of being narrated by Jodie Foster, and the docu-comedy “Cowboy del Amor” about a cowboy who becomes a matchmaker. Her inspiration for “Strip Down, Rise Up” came about when she and her daughter attended a pole dancing class as a way to explore a new form of exercise.

I got to speak with Ohayon recently, and this marks my first ever video interview done via Zoom, so please bear with me as the video quality is a bit different from what we are all used to.

“Strip Down, Rise Up” debuts on Netflix on Friday, February 5, 2021. Please check out the interview above and be sure to check this documentary out when it drops.