Raphael Georg Klopper’s review published on Letterboxd:
I can't stress enough HOW MUCH this had ridding against it, making me raise some long eyebrows and disdainfully assume it would be nothing but yet another Frank Marshall cardboard attempt at ressurecting former Amblin nostalgia in the shape of attrocious modern-blockbuster overblown and creatively-corrupt product like the Jurassic World flicks empty excuse of faux "legacy sequel" with younger/less interesting cast, and the trailers did not made me think otherwise. Well... I did liked Minari a lot so I owe you an apology for doubting you mister Lee Isaac Chung!
Firstly, and especially, by COMPLETELY avoiding legacy sequel tropes and just playing like a refreshing standalone Reboot that doesn't copy much of the original in concept ideas, and adds a few of their own; while retaining the very same spirit of 90s simple earnest dumb-fun around weather-junkies – that will never cease to be goofy funny. Even though it doesn't stay away from the traditional/easy getaway these sorts of "modern-reupdate" movies comit of copying the exact same structuring of the original and selling a made-pretend idea of continuation, but Twisters at least rearranges with its own set of new ludicrous weather-rampaging and likeable new characters.
And wow, Lee Isaac Chung surprisingly shows to have some real talent for big budget spectacle helming. While sure he's no Jan de Bont, but he brings all the swift panning–high-angle–clean framming grammar to formally effective results made better by fully capturing the disaster movie shenannigans over the top destruction, cold kills of poor random civillians / some ass-holes; and awe-struck insane-injected set-pieces of fiery cyclones and the wind-decimating a theatre climax that would have 2000s Roland Emmerich proud.
It works so efficiently solid you could rightfully say it pretty much stands shoulders to shoulders on par with the original in the same levels of character likeability and dumb summer mayhem that's not overloaded on itself rather well dipped to its concept. But well... this one is a bit heavy CGI-noticeable for my liking whereas the original had clearly "limmited" effects but De Bont better integrated with the insane practical-action, needless to say it also packed great amount of physically-felt tension that Twisters never fully brings it home on a palpable level.
And this also hamfists a little too much on the character based heroes' arc for Daisy Edgar-Jones' Kate in a: "IT'S ALL ABOUT GRIEF, GET IT?!"; whereas the original played neatly like a screwball comedy banther by one stellar central horny protagonist duo that was NEVER going to get replicated here. But Jones and Powell do have chemstry and sparkling personalities off each other – almost turning this into a romcom tagent that feels rather fitting; though their lack of touch and kiss is inexcusably unforgivable! And (most of) the cast is pretty likeable in well asserted / distinguishable personalities. But we all know is Powell's hunk cocky tornado-tammer packing a Han Solo brashness that's really carrying half of the appealing charm here.
A late harmless attempt at cashing-in nostalgia on a old property that's decently well pulled off in its earnest elements that's barely much of anything beyound service level, but charmingly entertaining nonetheless.
