 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Twister
- Review Date: July 14, 2003
- PG-13
- Genre: Thriller
- 1997
Common Sense Media says
Decent disaster movie for teens.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that teens will be excited about the great special effects in this adventure movie, although they may be disappointed by the thin plot. Parents should know that the main characters are a soon-to-be-divorced couple who are still sexually attracted to each other. All of the characters put themselves in dangerous situations as part of their job. In the opening scene, a girl watches as a tornado carries her father away, and there are several frightening scenes involving the destructive storms.
What's the story?
When conditions create a perfect storm for multiple tornadoes, storm chaser Jo Harding (Helen Hunt) finds herself re-teaming with her ex-husband Bill (Bill Paxton) in an attempt to collect valuable data using their high-tech invention called DOROTHY. Meanwhile, corporation-funded Dr. Miller (Carey Elwes), armed with a similar device, tries to get the vital statistics before Jo and Bill.
Is it any good?
Twister's raison d'etre is showing off elaborate special effects that create the experience of being near and even in a tornado. A tornado isn't an easy phenomenon to build a plot around--they can't be predicted more than three minutes in advance, and they don't last very long. So it's partly forgivable that the filmmakers haven't come up with much of a story. The relationship woes and scientific rivalries only serve as filler between the wholly believable scenes featuring huge objects hurtling through the air.
The opening scene, about Jo's first experience with a twister, is both exciting and scary. After that, the filmmakers satisfy themselves with thrilling viewers rather than frightening them. They also drop so many references to The Wizard of Oz that families can make a game of counting them. It's a bit of a disappointment that scientist-turned-scriptwriter Michael Crichton doesn't challenge the audience a bit more here. Still, despite being cliched, the characters are likable. In particular, Helen Hunt is as inspirational to young women interested in science as Jodie Foster was in Contact.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the popularity of disaster films, and what makes a good one.
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AGE
NOT A MOVIE FOR LITTLE KIDS!!!!!!! :( PERFECT FOR OLDER TWEENS!!!!!!! :)
My whole family (including my 8-year-old sister) watched the uncut version last night. First thing I have to say is the language is extremely profane. The word "f--k" is used once. The word "s--t" is used at least fifty-five times throughout the film. At least five times Bill Paxton's character refers to a man as a "son of a b---h". Two, the violence is pretty scary for younger kids. My 8-year-old sister had to cover her eyes a whole lot for the frequent twister scenes. Think of this: the film is 2 hours long; my sister only got to see about 40 minutes of it because of how much it scared her. She missed about 1 hour and 20 minutes of it.
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AGE
One disturbing scene
Somebody says she is not going to marry your p-s.
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Kid, 10 years old
November 8, 2009
AGE
HEY PEOPLE
if you like twisters,watch the movie.if you dont like twisters,DO NOT WATCH THE MOVIE!!!!!!!!
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AGE
Intense movie, good for tornado lovers
Twister is a story about a group of storm chasers who are trying to figure out what is going on inside the tornado during the storm while trying to battle their rival storm chasing team which is led by a mischevious theif named Jonas. Bill, one of the main storm chasers, just broke up with his ex-wife and is about to be remarried to a reproductive therapist named Mellisa. His ex-wife Jo is an obbssesed storm chaser trying to figure out what kind of monster, the tornado, killed her father as shown in the beggining of the movie. THe movie is of course very violent having to do with tornados but has very good scientific facts about weather. The language is bad ranging from d-word to the f- word spoken once. The sexual content is not bad. Melissa being a reproductive therapist encounters issues with wives and husbands about sexual therapy. It is only on the phone. Another one is when people describe how Bill came out of a car naked and drunk. Bill denies it. A split readio tower goes through a person, nothing is shown, multiple things are blown up. Tornadoes trail through many houses. Meg, Jos aunt, is hurt alot by a tornado and Jos father is killed in a tornado at the beggining of the movie. I first saw this movie when i was about 7 or 8. My mom fast forward through the beggining when Jos father is killed and didnt let me watch it because of the intensity for another year or so. She showed me it because I had a passion for tornadoes for a while. After I saw that, I put my faith towards storm chasing and meteorologyever since. So a good message. Overall. No one under 7. Anyone under 9, fast forward the dad dieing. Any other age is fine. Have fun!- Katherine
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AGE
Great movie!
I loved it! It was just everything about it, I loved the special effects and the main charaters! I highly recommend to anyone looking for an adventure!
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AGE
good for teens 13 and up no lower
its a very good movie but set more for teens my daughter is 13 and still needs to cover her eyes
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Kid, 11 years old
June 12, 2011
AGE
A movie with a kick
Brace yourself for all of the action with tornadoes. The scences with the tornadoes might seem scary. true many curces but they are awesome to listen too.
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AGE
Suggested MPAA Rating:
PG-13 for intense sequences of peril and disaster and language including brief strong language.
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AGE
Great movie for tweens!
This movie has a lot of cussing, but it is great! :) Not for little kids AT ALL!!!!
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| Studio: | Warner Bros. |
| Director: | Jan De Bont |
| Cast: | Bill Paxton, Cary Elwes, Helen Hunt |
| Genre: | Thriller |
| Run time: | 113 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | August 27, 1997 |
| DVD release date: | August 27, 1997 |
| MPAA rating: | PG-13 |
| MPAA explanation: | intense depiction of very bad weather |
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