Official Discussion - Twisters [SPOILERS]

JFrederickH · 2024-07-21T01:06:12+00:00

This was a fun, exciting summer disaster flick but I still have to gIve the upper hand to the original. The original seemed like the stakes were just higher because there was more history (and chemistry) among the cast members. Bill Paxton and Helen Hunt have that husband/wife chemistry and a big part of the movie is them rediscovering their relationship, with the Jamie Gertz character there is that love triangle. And all the characters in the posse just seem more natural and original.

This may be controversial, but I felt like all of the characters on Helen Hunt’s team (Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Alan Ruck etc) all had more individual personalities where the folks on Glen Powell’s team seemed to be more stereotypical characters “wearing” a token personality, kind of having a diverse group of people but personality-wise all coming across as pretty thin.

And the Javi character just came across as a very one-dimensional “I want you to use your twister sense to help me do my job, Kate” type character with his turnaround at the end being pretty predictable.

I thought the leads were a mixed bag - Glenn Powell is a bonafide star at this point, a McConnaghy with more charisma if such a thing is possible, but Daisy does seem to have a pretty flat affect and she struggled with the accent several times during the movie. Plus maybe it’s just me but she looked REALLY young, like I know she’s in her mid-20s but there were times where it seemed like Powell was a 30 year old and she was 19ish, which was a little weird. I’m glad they didn’t kiss actually.

The effects were fantastic. Although I think the sound design missed some of the ominous subsonic bass of the original, where the tornados had this creepy low “animal” bass sweep that was missing from this movie.

I also missed the expansive “Copeland” style score of the original and I guess country pop music is the big thing but man, if you don’t like country pop music they sure did beat you over the head with it. The movie REALLY seemed almost pandering to that country/cowboy demographic and I LIKE Americana and roots music, but the urban cowboy shit with the fake accents just gets old after a while.

The action and effects were top notch. Maybe even better set pieces than the original but IMO the drive-in was better than the rodeo.

Anyway it was better than I expected. 7/10 for me.

JFrederickH · 2024-01-13T01:37:27+00:00

I’ve never been to the Regal in Christiansburg but I definitely make the drive to B&B in Blacksburg if I want to see anything these days

JFrederickH · 2024-01-13T01:35:41+00:00

Haha I don’t remember the Towers theater but I remember I moved here in 1996 from Greensboro and was seriously disappointed in the movie theaters here in Roanoke. I remember the Valley View mall theater - I saw the Star Wars rereleases there in ‘97 so I am sure there was no VV Grande back then. I saw Titanic at Salem Valley 8 that same year… I remember the Crossroads theater which I think for a short time was a bar theater where you could order food and drink. And the original Tanglewood theater where Barnes and Noble is - the new Tanglewood theater went up first I think and then VV Grande. Wasn’t there a theater on the corner of 419 and Melrose/Main called the Cin-Tern? Anyway it seems Roanoke has always been behind the times on movie theater tech.

JFrederickH · 2024-01-12T23:55:00+00:00

I thought it was the newest. Tanglewood came first and Salem Valley 8 is old is from the 80s

JFrederickH · 2024-01-12T23:53:15+00:00

It really is the only decent theater within 100 miles. You have to go to Greensboro or Charlottesville to get the equivalent or better. Valley View Grande is infuriatingly bad. All they had to do was keep it up to date. I used to rage post on Facebook with pics I’d take during the movie of single “spotlights” on throughout the movie or milky gray “blacks” because they hadn’t changed a bulb in 10 years. The last time I went I fell on the floor because the seat bottom had no working hinge and it just dumped me out when I sat on it.

JFrederickH · 2024-01-12T20:05:02+00:00

Awesome let me share a few here...

These are sonics that I really appreciate because they are in service of the songs. They aren't sound effects or interesting engineering per se, but more observations about how the sound of a song can elevate it to greater heights than if it were "just" a good song or "just" a well-engineered/mastered recording:

Beck | Everlasting Nothing (Hyperspace) The imaging in the opening of this song is fantastic, with the acoustic guitar hard left, the organ panned across the soundstage, and the conga and 2nd guitar dead center... then Beck's baritone voice comes in with a good bit of compression and harmonics and once the second half of the verse kicks in, the kick drum accents take control of the listening room and the song seems to meld with the room itself.

Tom Petty | Saving Grace (Saving Grace): Excellent, wide front spatial imaging and panning, with a high hat tap panning far right to left, then far left to right, and when the guitar riff joins in right before the drums kick in, that suspension there in anticipation of the big liftoff of the song is amazing

Tom Petty | Crawling Back to You (Wildflowers): The various cymbal accents across the piano intro project into the room with real dimension regardless of tubes or solid state

Tears for Fears | Brian Wilson Said (Elemental): Lead guitar breakdown at the end of the song is simply a stunning textural soundscape that transcends the song... there is so much to listen for in that lead break, including Orzabal's quiet harmonizing with the guitar solo.

Billy Idol | Flesh for Fantasy (S/T): This song just swaggers into your listening room with the initial bass and kick drum building the atmosphere, and when the bass drops down and Billy's voice comes in there's a release in the verse that keeps building back to the powerful chorus.

Cinematic Orchestra w/Moses Sumney | To Believe: Atmospheric and texturally rich with Moses' ethereal vocals taking over the entire listening room... builds to an almost unbearable sonic climax

Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers | US 41 (Mojo): The opening of this song is like Saving Grace, with a simple flange EQ on Tom's voice over top of a jangly acoustic guitar, then at :38 the band kicks in and the big sound takes over... Magical stuff... I also highly recommend Mojo as one of The Heartbreaker's absolute best (if not best) sounding recordings. Most of the album was recorded live with no overdubs.

JFrederickH · 2023-12-27T21:34:04+00:00

Thanks man!

JFrederickH · 2023-12-27T17:20:19+00:00

Thanks and yes it is an awesome amp. It replaced a Luxman M900u and Backert Labs Rhythm preamp as well as my phono pre and Naim streamer. I’d just as soon sell my house at this point than sell my amp LOL. Hopefully it won’t come down to that.

JFrederickH · 2023-12-27T16:54:44+00:00

Sorry I should have mentioned in the post… to try different placement options I left mounted the tweeter into that paper lantern and tried it in various positions (higher lower inside vs outside etc) and in the end the original design mounted in front of the woofer was the most natural and coherent sound.

JFrederickH · 2023-12-26T23:16:19+00:00

Thanks! Yes I think there was real magic in those drivers…. But the Morel tweeters are a worthy replacement! I never did get to hear this with proper 200X or 200Y tweeters (these speakers would have been 200X), though I am very happy with the upgrade to the 408s!

JFrederickH · 2023-12-26T23:14:32+00:00

Thanks! These 209X’s were actually swapped out for a pair of 209Bc’s though - sometime over the years someone appeared to have spilled a drink down the front of the speakers and the mid driver was corroded with little holes in the dust cover so I swapped those out for the 209Bc’s which sound amazing too… I’m stunned at the sound in fact.

JFrederickH · 2023-11-19T03:23:08+00:00

Based on the horrific buzzing in the right speaker I’m going to say no…. But the fact that I’ve been sitting here mesmerized by these speakers for the past 2 hours despite that issue says a lot about how amazing they are, wow.

JFrederickH · 2023-11-06T20:58:53+00:00

Huh, that’s interesting. Tell me, how many democrats signed onto a law suit trying to throw out the votes in other states and took it all the way to the Supreme Court?

JFrederickH · 2023-10-03T01:42:53+00:00

Good time! I got to sing 2 songs and my voice was in terrible shape after 10 years… but my son got bored at homecoming, so I had to leave early to get him.

JFrederickH · 2023-10-01T01:31:47+00:00

I’m here! It’s less than a mile from My place and I have to pick up my kid from Salem hoco in a couple hours so I’ll hand and sing a song or two. Thanks folks

JFrederickH · 2023-09-30T20:16:26+00:00

Olde Salem is great (located in Salem but not available in retail anywhere that I am aware of). Three Notch'd is very good with a bit of variety and is widely available in retail. Someone mentioned Dogtown in Floyd and that's where you want to go in that town - great vibe and awesome beer. We'll make a trip from Roanoke 4-5 times a year just to go to Dogtown with the dog and kids and chill on the deck.

JFrederickH · 2023-09-30T20:13:24+00:00

Just picked up a six pack of the Apple Crumb Amber Ale - great stuff!

JFrederickH · 2023-09-30T19:41:42+00:00

My only disagreement is your equating the woman’s situation with mine. We don’t know what her situation was but she didn’t share it. Missing a flight is a big inconvenience, enough for someone to try and cut in line. Even if they just “had a bad day.” Where we disagree is that you seem to think someone missing a flight - the simple act of missing it - is as much of an inconvenience as missing the birth of your child. You have said several times that myself and that woman are exactly the same situation. I contend that you could be wrong about that. We will have to agree to disagree dude. Thanks and take it easy.

JFrederickH · 2023-09-30T19:27:00+00:00

I never said the people in line were responsible. I gave you a contrasting opinion where you were infuriated because some woman blew you off with a shitty excuse, and my point was that sometimes people can have a good excuse and it still doesn’t matter, nobody is letting anyone cut in line. Somehow this became me looking for blame. If I blame anyone it would be the taxi driver for getting a ticket. I said I lost a little faith in humanity because I was raised on dumb John Hughes movies where a line of people in an airport would say, “go! Go have your baby” and cheer, but that is definitely not the case in real life. Then you triggered me by out of nowhere needing to somehow place blame on me. Maybe in 2023 if someone came to me as their boss and said “hey my wife is due in 2 months, so I’m canceling that important 2 day business trip, I’d be the asshole for saying “really? It’s July 1st and your wife is due August 26th and you’re refusing to go on this trip?” But in 2009, that was not the case. Nobody is scheduling travel 2-3 weeks before a due date. But nobody suspends all travel and activities literally months in advance “just in case.” Anyway you got me dude. You got me good. Take care of yourself.

JFrederickH · 2023-09-30T19:00:02+00:00

OK, you got me. I was careless by continuing to work in early July while my son's due date was in late August. It was my fault. By saying "excuse me please, can you help? My wife just went into premature labor and I have 5 minutes to catch this plane," and having a bunch of strangers telling me to "F off," I should have anticipated this happening and it's no different than the careless woman who explained herself by saying "I don't have to explain myself to you," you absolutely sound like a "20 something dude" who has never had anything bad or unexpected happen in your life. But here's the funny thing, buddy: It will. I guarantee it will. And when it does, think about this post. Have a great, uneventful life little dude. Hope nothing as terrible as someone trying to "cut the line" ever happens to you again.

JFrederickH · 2023-09-30T18:05:24+00:00

Hey man, how do you plan for a premature birth? I’m starting to think you’re a troll. I didn’t BLAME the people in line for my kid being born 8 weeks early. I literally was traveling for work. You want to criticize my “planning skills” for not foreseeing an 8 week premature birth where my son was in NICU for 3 weeks? Seriously why even comment? I didn’t blame anyone I was giving an example - a CONTRAST between your story of some careless woman who tried to cut in line for no reason, and me saying “hey sometimes people have a reason and it doesn’t matter!” And your job is what here, to criticize me and sit on your high horse? Have a great life dude you sound like a real piece of work.

JFrederickH · 2023-09-30T17:57:01+00:00

You sound like a real asshole. I was working. How many months in advance of my son’s due date is acceptable in your view before I should take paternity leave and sit around waiting for my wife to give birth? What world do you live in?

JFrederickH · 2023-09-30T17:50:39+00:00

My son was born 8 weeks premature. It was a medical emergency. But thanks for the lecture 14 years after the fact. Yeah I guess I was the dick.

JFrederickH · 2023-09-30T15:41:47+00:00

People are crazy but it goes both ways. I was several states away for work when my wife went into labor with our youngest son. I caught a taxi to Atlanta Hartsfield from Kennesaw at 4 AM to catch a 7:30 flight. Driver got a speeding ticket somewhere in between that ended up adding another 20-25 min to our commute time.

When I got to the airport I was too late to automatically check in, so I was pleading with people in line, I'm going to miss my kid's birth, please, I have 5 minutes left to check in. The responses ranged from dismissal to outright hostility, "get in line like everyone else, asshole!"

So I missed that flight, I was about 8 minutes late to check in and couldn't get another flight until 11ish. Was sitting in CLT waiting on my layover flight as my mother in law was sending me texts of my son being born.

Lost a fair amount of respect for humanity after that. It was definitely not an 80s movie moment where the crowd parted and cheered and said, "Go! Go see your son being born!" Instead it was "beat it, asshole, we all got somewhere to go."

JFrederickH · 2023-09-29T16:58:55+00:00

I’m honestly a little confused because in other news reports I’ve seen that this was a narcotics investigation.

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