68 things wrong with the film Twister

[Tim Vasquez]

While weeding through my old papers I found an old correspondence between myself, Tim Marshall, and David Hoadley:

Critique of the Film Twister (http://www.stormtrack.org/wiki/TwisterErrors) (Hoadley, 1997)

I don't recall this article ever making it into the paper publication (or online for that matter). It lists in exquisite detail at least 68 errors spotted in the 1996 film Twister. I checked with David and he gave a thumbs up to posting it (belatedly) on our website. Interestingly enough this topic still seems to surface regularly after eight years, so it's none too late.

Enjoy!

Tim Vasquez

[Susan Strom]

Interesting, Tim...

Does anyone care to make one about the movies on PAX...LOL Particularly the lightning movie where the young man launches a rocket into the meso, saving the whole town. aye carumba :roll:

[Simone Lussardi]

OBJECTION !!! :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

There is a error in your errors' report :lol:

31. Jonas' crew says that \"Upper level winds are veering.\" Jonas says \"Uh, huh. It might dissipate.\" Hardly! If upper-level winds veer with height, this is exactly what they need to produce tornadoes.

WRONG: Jonas did say that, but in the immediately following frame the NWS says exactly that the tornado will intensify during to the veering and hook appearance. The contrast between the two sentences makes Jonas appear like a stupid bad guy :lol: :lol: , which I guess is what the Director want :roll:

:wink: :wink:

[David Draun]

gonna have to watch it again.. and spot all the errors.

[Bridget Beddow]

I think a friend of mine put it succinctly when he said that movie was just a two-hour commercial for Dodge pick-up trucks.

[Jamie Lahowetz]

I think i will watch Twister again.. only with a printing of your list so that I can check them off. This might be a decent drinking game... Spot something on the list... take a drink. But I think after awhile no one will be paying attention to the list and just drinking when they see something fly through the air. ONE away opening cellar door...... TWO lack of OK morning sunlight...... THREE 7am "breaking cap"...... FLOOR (Warning: Dont Drink Taquila with this game)

[B Ozanne]

68 errors isn't too bad. Big Hollywood movies tend to have way more than that.

I think a friend of mine put it succinctly when he said that movie was just a two-hour commercial for Dodge pick-up trucks.

What about Pepsi? Ever notice when they look at the doppler velocities it looks just like the Pepsi ensignia. And the loop they show is almost always the same. Not to mention they only use Pepsi cans in the end to help make Dorothy "fly."

[B Ozanne]

I just read that article and now I am a little mad. First of all, its a fictional movie, not a documentary. Some of the mistakes pointed out are based on assumptions and averages. True the cap usually doesn't break at 7am (#3) but that doesn't mean it can't. I could take about half of those mistakes pointed out and defend them. Those mammatus clouds they filmed may not have been the most intense but they were the real thing, actual footage.

Another point of praise, most of the movie was filmed outside, in the midwest...not on a set. "On location" as they like to say.

Have you ever heard of the term "suspend you disbelief." Whenever I watch a movie set before 1900 I don't mention how white and straight everybody's teeth are or how tall all the actors are. I didn't expect Mel Gibson to have his real teeth smashed out and stained in "Braveheart" because people back then had very few teeth.

On a lighter note I had a run in with the pervibial "evil" corporate chaser in Texas. Ok, they weren't evil but it made me think of Twister. Check out the last picture, they even have a black truck.

http://home.earthlink.net/~greenrange/Texas/

[Bridget Beddow]

Haha - I didn't notice that but I do have the movie at the house so I think I will watch it again tonight. Me and my roommate are doing a chick's night at home watching flicks with pizza and pepsi.
By the way, irregardless of the film's inaccuracies, I have to say, Jo's position on feeling like tornadoe's make things personal is the way I have often felt at times - I think that's why I like the movie.

[Greg Stumpf]

Originally posted by B Ozanne
I just read that article and now I am a little mad. %First of all, its a fictional movie, not a documentary. %Some of the mistakes pointed out are based on assumptions and averages. %

Have you ever heard of the term \"suspend you disbelief.\" The discussion at the time of the movie release that I recall concerned the fact that many of these lesser "mistakes" could have been corrected *without* significantly affecting the movie's outcome (except perhaps the Aunt Meg dinner and shower scene :-) ). Had they listened to their technical advisor a little more closely there might have been fewer of these small mistakes.

BTW - you'd think after 8 years they'd get some of this done better with the Day After Tomorrow! The hail was still "chunks of ice" (albiet larger) and the tornadoes still came from flat stratoCu decks (even though radar showed huge supercell cores). Also notice that all the tornadoes in that film appeared to be rotating way too slow to cause the indicated damage.


greg

[B Ozanne]

Watching a movie or tv show for the general public about something you are an expert in is always very frustrating. I used to cringe at the thought of what was going to happen next, now I just lower my expectations so much I am usually pleasantly surprised.

The hail was still \"chunks of ice\" (albiet larger)

I'm sure they know their hail looks bad, it's got to be a cost issue. Making and storing randomly shaped hail stores is considerably harder than chopping up ice blocks as needed. You've got to consider how many shots they do on just one scene.

Another thing about Aunt Meg's wind vanes. It is possible that they just started to turn, maybe it wasn't that windy in town, maybe they were shielded by her house. Most likely though the director used what is called "artistic license." He wanted to make a point, to express non-verbally that change was coming.

[Richard Halter]

I had just finished my chase trip and went the day I got back to see Twister. There I was in a packed theatre laughing my head off while everyone else in the place was oooing and ahhhhing. Boy did I get some funny looks.

I realize the need to suspend disbelief, but it is not that hard to get it right if they can work so hard to get it wrong. :?:

[Dan Robinson]

Lightning and thunder realism is seriously wanting. Lightning in the movie looks more like spurts of Tesla coil sparks with an instantaneous sound like an arc welder.

Not that this is unique to Twister, or Hollywood for that matter - I have yet to see even a serious storm documentary that accurately portrays a real lightning-thunder event. (Distant bolts, real or fake, always have instantaneous thunder, etc.)

I've never understood why lightning/thunder realism has always been downplayed - the real thing is so much more dramatic and impressive. For once I'd like to see them show a close CG with that ripping peal from the branches followed by the boom from the main channel. Even if the lightning's not close, there's something hair-raising about the bright flash that you cringe at, waiting for the big sound that is inevitable. Now *that's* dramatic!

[B Ozanne]

I was watching Twister during a real thunderstorm and I couldn't tell what was coming from the movie and what was real. I think most of it was real and it complimented the movie very well. I'm pretty confident that a home theater will NEVER be able to portray a close strike, in terms of an accurate sound output. I wonder what real thunder is in terms of decibels or watts. Anybody know?

[Dan Robinson]

I'm not sure if it's possible to reproduce the decibel level of thunder, although I would like to hear high-quality thunder recordings played back on the biggest audio system out there, just to see what it would sound like :)

For now I'd just like to see a movie or documentary that uses actual recordings of thunder (or at least realistic reproductions) and places a believable delay between flash-thunder. Even most close strikes have at least a half second to one second delay before the sound reaches the observer.

It just seems, IMO, that lightning and thunder special effects have never enjoyed even a remote attention to realism like other natural phenomena has.

[Jay McCoy]

I admit I watch this movie every once in a while when I am really bored but there is nothing in this movie that is realistic about chasing. The sound of the tornado drives me nuts. the special effect they used to get the wind noise was squealing pigs at different decible levels. Now a tornado may sound that way in the oklahoma panhanlde where there are a ton of pig farms but otherwise it is very unrealistic. the lightning/thunder issue is beyond mention since it is a problem in all movies not just twister. The editing mistakes and bad science make this nothing but a B movie. For a major hollywood production it has an overabundance of correctable errors. I enjoy the story line but lets at least do enough research or listen to technical advisors to get at least a few things right before spending that much $ on a movie.

I cant defend anybody that buys anything in this movie or actually thinks its more than a editing nightmare and look at all the grief it has caused with all the locals coming out with kids in tow to see the twister and be like Jo and Bill.

I am not being elitist in the least. Everybody has the right to chase. I just think it is moronic and dangerous to bring the kiddies along, especially when you dont know anything yourself.

[B Ozanne]

It just seems, IMO, that lightning and thunder special effects have never enjoyed even a remote attention to realism like other natural phenomena has.

Pretty bad considering most people have heard/seen this in real life. You would think people would complain more. On the other hand most people don't understand the physics of light travelling faster than sound. In fact, at the fireworks the other night I heard two people arguing about which travelled faster. As it stands now they think sound wins. On top of that, most people think heat lightning is entirely different than regular lightning, and that you can only stand an egg on its end during the equinox. Should I go on or have I made my point?

[B Ozanne]

I'm not gonna lie, I like the movie Twister. I think it is an enjoyable, fictional movie. It's fun to watch, I like the action, etc. I don't think it is the greatest movie ever made, it is rather corny, but I still like it. I know some of you also like it. Almost everyone in this forum has seen it, and most of you have seen it more than once. I don't watch it to gain insight into storm chasing or learn tips, I watch it because it is entertaining.

there is nothing in this movie that is realistic about chasing.

Isn't that what everyone thinks because everyone else says it? There is at least ONE thing in this movie that is realistic and in fact more things are realistic than not. Except the occasional error happens to stand out in the minds of the experts on this forum. Yes, chasing F3 tornadoes at 7am never happens and seeing that many tornadoes is extremely unlikely. (If the Super Outbreak happened today the events in "Twister" would seem pretty tame) That's why its a movie though, the story doesn't work if we have to follow around those geeks for two months, it's much better over two days.

Again, it's not a documentary nor is it based on a true story. Those kind of errors would be unacceptable in a movie like "Apollo 13" but "Twister" is completely fictional. I guarantee that 999 out of 1000 people in this country (maybe more) have never even heard of backing or veering winds let alone the other jargon they use.

[Todd Rittinger]

I was out to see Van Halen Saturday last (good show, but cemented the end of indoor shows for me...just not the same as an outdoor venue). They did a rendition of Humans Being from the Twister soundtrack and you get one guess as to what sorts of images where on the vid screen during the tune. :wink: They did have some very kewl tornado images however on a really biiiig screen. Prolly the closest I'm going to get this year :lol:

Be well, TR

[Kyle Masters]

They did a rendition of Humans Being from the Twister soundtrack and you get one guess as to what sorts of images where on the vid screen during the tune. They did have some very kewl tornado images however on a really biiiig screen. Prolly the closest I'm going to get this year

Heh...that's hilarious!

Anyways, I think the article writer made stated the reason for 99.9% of the errors in the movie in Blooper #66 or 67, when he talked about the scene adding more drama. It's all about keeping people intersted to make the benjamins.

[Charles Kuster]

The movie does have a lot of errors in it, but I still like it. I watch it for entertainment not its accuracy. While storm chasing my dad and I have said many times that storm chasing is much different then it is in Twister.

[Thomas Loades]

I just found something great in this “Making of Twister” thing I have on tape — the director is talking about the computer generated tornadoes in the film and says, “Sometimes, I feel like we need to be making mistakes in what we’re doing, because it’s — it’s like it’s too perfect.” I suppose I’d want to talk up the movie if I were him then, but now it’s just funny.

[Tony Laubach]

I just found something great in this “Making of Twister” thing I have on tape — the director is talking about the computer generated tornadoes in the film and says, “Sometimes, I feel like we need to be making mistakes in what we’re doing, because it’s — it’s like it’s too perfect.” I suppose I’d want to talk up the movie if I were him then, but now it’s just funny.

That is pretty funny.. :lol:

[Caleb Lawrence]

Eh, it was a movie; I took it for one. Sorta like Animal House; how many times does that actually happen in colleges without serious consequences? Like Animal House is a cult classic for college generations, Twister is a cult classic for many weather people. It's fun entertainment.

[Robert Dewey]

I actually enjoy the movie Twister. It may not be the most accurate, but its still good entertainment as Caleb suggests. Seems like some people bash Twister just because everyone else is doing it, and they believe they will be looked down upon by other chasers if they don't...

[Thomas Loades]

When I watch Twister, I laugh at the dialogue more than anything — not the tornado-related dialogue, just in general . . . has anyone, while chasing, had the opportunity for their own little “you can't explain it, you can't predict it!” soliloquy?

[B Ozanne]

Eh, it was a movie; I took it for one. Sorta like Animal House; how many times does that actually happen in colleges without serious consequences? Like Animal House is a cult classic for college generations, Twister is a cult classic for many weather people. It's fun entertainment.

I actually enjoy the movie Twister. It may not be the most accurate, but its still good entertainment as Caleb suggests. Seems like some people bash Twister just because everyone else is doing it, and they believe they will be looked down upon by other chasers if they don't...

Finally! Yes, it's just a movie. And yes, some of the dialogue is quite rediculous. Like when everybody gets quite at the mention of an F5 tornado...."Finger of God." -Actually that's a pretty good description and I'm not a religous person.

[David Draun]

When I watch Twister, I laugh at the dialogue more than anything — not the tornado-related dialogue, just in general . . . has anyone, while chasing, had the opportunity for their own little “you can't explain it, you can't predict it!” soliloquy?


Yeah, the dialougue was funny, but I thought they said "ok" a little too much.

[Sam Hunter]

Hmmm. I didn't care for the movie all that much from a story-teller's perspective, I thought much of it was pretty hokey, though fun in some ways. But I even like some hokey movies -- Joe vs the Volcano is one of my favorites -- but Twister bugged me as a storyteller.

But that's for a different time. What did bother me about the movie from my untrained perspective is when they chained themselves to the post to ride out an F5 tornado? I had been watching some actual documentation of tornadoes then for research, and remembered hearing the testimony of a person who had to hold onto an outdoor light post because she had no where else to go, and she survived (a much weaker tornado) but she survived with three broken limbs and other serious injuries. I had a hard time, even at the time, wondering why all that was left of Jo and partner wasn't a few arms dangling from the chains.

I wonder, what is a "Super Outbreak" ? And what was the bit with the dirt smelling? Any comments on that?

Sam

[Doug Lee]

Sam, a "Super Outbreak" occurred on April 14, 1974. Numerous tornadoes touched down between the Mississippi River and the Applachians. Scroll through the "Identify the Tornado II" thread and you'll come across some pics and info from some of the tornadoes that day.


http://www.april31974.com/images/outbreakmaplarge.jpg

[Mike Peregrine]

As for the dirt smelling issue ... lol ...

Actually - if you ever come back to the plains, you'll notice a completely different 'aroma' than you have on the east coast. I used to describe it to people as an "earthy smell" ... I may be out of my gourd (no doubt), but I used to step off the plane and notice it immediately. It's sort of a fresh smell - the smell of growing things and rich soil (keep in mind that this is not within a five mile radius of any stockyards facility) ...

Anyway, just before a good rain, you can smell it here ... almost everyone always makes the remark that they can smell the rain coming at one point or another. My thinking is that it is probably due to several things ... including convective activity that stirs up ozone upstairs ... ozone in small quantities has a refreshing scent (what you smell during and after rainfall) ... probably this combined with the reaction of plants and soil to increased humidity, etc ... I'm thinking that it probably helps these things start releasing more aroma. Another thing you notice just before storms is that the leaves on many trees will turn to face upward (making them look white), and flowers will close up in response to what's coming ... they're all good signs that rain is on the way!

Here's another idea of why it smells so good:

http://yak.net/fqa/288.html


Don't know if that's what they had in mind for the movie or not, but just what came to my mind anyway ... :)

[Justin McCauliffe]

This isn't about Twister the movie, but about a made for TV movie like it. I can't remember what it was called, but I think it beats Twister's 68 errors with it's 1. I'm pretty sure it was trying to capitalize off Twister's sucess. Anyways, the part I remember from it is when a tornado is about to hit this house and the people are trying to get to a shelter in the backyard. It was like a real tornado...except for one big thing, they portrayed the inside of a tornado exactly like the eye of a hurricane. Very little wind and clear skies. Anyone remember/viewed this movie?

[Thomas Loades]

Yeah, this was Tornado, which is (or was), apparently, one of Fox's highest-rating programs ever. But yes, it was made to cash in on Twister, and this thing's storyline pretty much follows the movie's, right down to the instrument probe that has to be put into the tornado to reveal some manner of secret to get warnings out faster. I know this because I :oops: have a copy. The special effects really suck, too.

[Sam Hunter]

So storm chasers aren't out there smelling dirt, though, right? ;) That's good to know. Didn't know about the FOX movie.

There's something about twisters, isn't there, that seems to haunt the imagination, perhaps even more than other types of severe weather, that attracts people to watch. Strangely, having lived here in CNY my entire life, I have dreamt of them often, though I've never seen one, and here I am driven to write about them (and the people who study them). Hurricanes, earthquakes, etc just don't have the same allure. All the way back to the Wizard of Oz, tornadoes seem to be fictional stars.

Volcanic eruptions might provide a close second, now that I think about it.

Anyway, I have been reading up on the Super Outbreak in April 1974, to see what a "super outbreak" was -- I was 11 years old then and don't remember anything, but was anyone else around for that? Was that jet stream peculiarity similar to what happened in 1993?

Sam