The Philadelphia Inquirer from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania • Page 149

L4 Sunday, May 12, 1996 THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER A courtly manner is the calm facade for the intense director of 'Twister' "DELECTABLE!" -j mm, nc mm tor two Avails fafe I i' it Up A Mf t'raly By HU. HAI.WtN If 'v I MOVIES TO TALK ABOUT EXCLUSIVE! STARTS FRIDAY! I I 1 "6 If r.riri fuii! NOW SHOWING! I Academy AwarcT Winner Best Documlntary Feature NOW SHOWING! "DONT SF.TTI.BFOR aflf READING 1 AICHT Dj THIS FINE II HI GO Oil AND J3L SttlTr' UNtnO MUSTS THEATRES AT RIVERVIEW PLAZA IWOSIMeanAmu UNITED ARTISTS THEATRES AT RIVERVIEW PLAZA HOOS DoatartAwu iJi.T'-mmira AMCANOORRA9 UNITED ARTISTS THEATRES AT CHELTENHAM SQUARE CManMfll Aw. 1 WWlngui Ul. UNITED ARTISTS THEATRES CHESTNUT HU lnMiAei Square UNITED ARTISTS THEATRES AT MAC DADE MALL McQUtaMLmSMiAMU UNITED ARTISTS THEATRES AT OXFORD VALLEY HummOA. Unfam UNITED ARTISTS THEATRES AT 99TH STREET SSoulh 69th Street.

Lw Daisy ix I i i' I movies to talk about Daily at 12:00, lOTmlKHHLSE I I'-v 1st show I IF. i 1 AMC ANTHONY WAYNE 2 AMC BARNS on Pane art AMC GRANITE RUN I OniMimrePHKW CnnktalMI AMC MARPLE 10 Route 1 320, SptmgfiU AMC ORLEANS I CoanwimBioMmAwciuM AMC PAINTER'S CROSSING 9 Rout 1A202. Mage at Patters Cmwg snbppng Cantor AMC 309 CINEMA I NormEndaOWfjipranwiyat FtmUU MontjTyw AMCWOO0HAVEX10 1B113 UNITED ARTISTS THEATRES KINGS. QUEEN lUeNomoiSkytEipvgn lkule202.lnoolPtijsM UNITED ARTISTS THEATRES AT OXFORD VALLEY Maxim adpcent to ma Mailanghofne AMCDEPTFORDB OnClemerrsBnooeRd acroea tonlMOepsordMal AMC MARLTON 8 AMC MILLSI0E 4 Rpulel30.MiWN1hal the Pennsautan CWran ATCO MULTIPLEX CINEMAS WMHornPto (tote 30 Ml '3 AIM CINEMARK MOVIES 10 Lmne Head Han Somefoate White Horse PK, ftt. 30 a Evesham REGAL CINEMAS BURLINGTON CINEMA 14 250 Bremer Blvd across from Burlington Center REGAL CINEMAS CROSS KEYS 12 ECU Horse PaelRI 21 at Amanran BW.

Tumersv UNITED ARTISTS THEATRES MO0REST0WN felheMoaaitoanMal UNITED ARTISTS THEATRES PFJINSAUKEN Routes 130, Near Tacorrr ParrrrfaBndge Penrrsauun so dangerous. We had flooding, and we were stuck in the mud for days." De Bont has a reputation as being driven and uncompromising requirements, he says, for an action-film director. The result was squabbles and tension.on the set, and the resignation of his cinematographer. Action thrillers are a staple of Hollywood, largely because they play well in both the foreign and domestic markets. Speed, for example, earned more than $300 million worldwide.

But making a good action film is tough, De Bont insists. "You need a great deal of discipline and focus, and you have to be very daring," he said. "You have to know what you want and have a very precise idea of what's going to end up on the screen. You want to make the audience feel they're part of the action. I have the movie totally storyboarded, but I don't mind improvising to make things better." Who would have thought that two young Dutchmen, both part of the Netherlands' radical New Wave cinema in the '60s, would become hot commercial directors in Hollywood in the '90s? It happened first for Paul Verhoeven (Total Recall, Basic Instinct and the rancid Showgirls).

And it happened next for De Bont, who was the cinematographer on films Verhoeven made in Holland. "It's totally bizarre, and Paul and I never dreamed that it would happen," said De Bont, who grew up with a fondness for John Ford westerns and their epic landscapes. "But we both like making movies that can be enjoyed by a lot of people. I love the interaction between the audience and the movie In Europe they just sit quietly, but here they yell at the screen. That's fun." Before he started shooting, De Bont spent a lot of time in the company of real storm chasers.

"I never saw a big one, but, believe me, the little tornadoes are scary enough," he said. "We went close to one with the storm chasers, but you have to know what you're doing. It's not something amateurs or ordinary people should do." After being blown away by De Bont and Twister, it's not likely anyone would be crazy enough to try. "TWISTER" from L1 around like matchsticks is rendered with an impact that moves the film uncomfortably close to virtual reality. One segment, in which the movie's stars, Bill Paxton and Helen Hunt, motor through a nightmare obstacle course of other farm machinery hurled onto the road, makes driving the Schuylkill Expressway seem safe by comparison.

have to have a light note with the suspense" says De Bont wryly.) Fittingly, the filmmaker who gets the summer movie season off to a literally roaring start did the same thing two years ago with Speed. The brilliantly executed which starred Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock, sped De Bont to the top ranks of action directors. But his reward was "a lot of terrible scripts with the same thing and bad writing," he recalled. "A lot of writers in Hollywood seem to think if you have some explosions and a car chase, you've got an action movie. So when you see a script like Twister, you grab it." De Bont came to the film at producer Steven Spielberg's invitation after spending time on a proposed Godzilla movie.

When the price tag for his version went past $150 million and the studio balked, De Bont abandoned the project. The tornadoes are such a dominant presence in Twister that they assume the velociraptor role in Crichton's new tale of rival teams of mobile meteorologists called "storm chasers." Paxton and his soon-to-be ex, Hunt, lead a ragtag convoy of researchers in RVs and battered pickups. Cary Elwes heads a well-funded team in sleek vans crammed with the latest technology. The goal is to get close enough to a twister to launch monitoring instruments that will yield data to help in the creation of a better tornado warning system. It's not work for the faint-hearted.

Crichton inserts a triangle in which Paxton is torn between Hunt and his new fiancee (Jami Gertz), but the eyes of audience members will stay riveted on the ominous cones gathering unimaginable strength as they move across the flat earth. Pioge ana Henry Avenues Azuorta Snooping Caller AMC BARNS 1 l2MmScMDo)lettMl onPaaaeil AMC GRANITE RUN 8 On8sumoiePeBtlne GnnlteuiMal AMC MARPLE 10 AMC ORLEANS Cottman and Buslletw Avenues AMC PAINTER'S CROSSING 9 fta I a 202, Village al Paifiter's Crasang Shopping Center AMC 309 CINEMA 9 Norm End of 300 txpwsway at Routat3. MorHgomryville GCC FRANKLIN MILLS MALL 10 Woconaven ami Kngn Road REGAL CINEMAS HUNTINGDON VALLEY 14 County Hie RoaO at DairaieRoad REGAL CINEMAS U0NVILLE12 l20EagiewaeAd Elton UNITED ARTISTS THEATRES ARDMORE lancastef Awnue, Ardmofe UNITED ARTISTS THEATRES GRANT PLAZA Gram Haffl bnoppmg Center o( Busueton Penjnd Rndarama AMC DEPTFORO On CMltenl! linage Road AMCMARLT0N9 aooNontiHouta73lMartti AMC HILLSIDE 4 Route 130, Daran ATC0 MULTIPLEX CINEMAS he Hone Pice, HU. 30473 CINEMARK MOVIES 10 UnmHtoa.SaTwdtt WtrPl REGAL CINEMAS BURLINGTON 14 250 Burner 60. jaw KombVlnouiCerMr REGAL CINEMAS CROSS KEYS 12 manmPum 42 HAmtnanfM -Iimsnv UNITED ARTISTS THEATRES M0OREST0WN nmMraKtmnMal UNITED ARTISTS THEATRES PENNSAUKEN Run 30.

Ptnnsuw For The inquirer NORMAN i. lONO Jan De Bont dropped a "Godzilla" remake to direct "Twister." called De Bont. "Stuff got in your eyes, your mouth, your hair, everywhere. Soon, we all looked like the Straw Man in The Wizard of Oz." The Wizard of Oz boasts the most famous tornado in movies the one that convinces Dorothy she's not in Kansas anymore. For that beloved Judy Garland classic, Victor Fleming made do with a 35-foot muslin wind sock.

"They just blew air into it, but it's a magical effect," said De Bont. "I was after a Grimm fairy tale where the monster comes out of dark clouds," he said, sipping a cappuccino. "Anything in your imagination can be made real now. Things that were impossible two or three years ago, you can do. I wanted trees flying around in a shot.

Oklahoma is very flat and there aren't many trees, but with the computer you can do it and it looks totally real." Twister's subject forced De Bont to look for a commodity that filmmakers usually dread on location bad weather. "Stormy weather is normally the last thing you want," he said, laughing. "But for this picture I had to have dark skies, not sunshine. We went at the worst time of year and Oklahoma was having the worst weather in a long time. We were pelted with rain and hail, and we had to stop shooting every time the lightning got close, because it was GCC NORTHEAST 4 HrxaxMBMimnnil.

REGAL CINEMAS HUNTINGDON VALLEY 14 County li Pad at OevMkfkiatl REGAL CINEMAS UONVILLE 12 l20tagmn8iiUMnl Eon UNITED ARTISTS THEATRES ARDMORE LanrastBrAArue.Ardmon SPECIAL ENGAGEMENT. NO PASSES Ofl DISCOUNT TICKETS ACCEPTED. Visit "Last Dance" at http:www.movies.com Talcs A Byte http:www.ditney.comDUnciy Pictures ill "-wn hiii aawaiifrrnMil. an ,111,1 11. MX 'mi Iff, J' t.

NOW SHOWING AT THESE SELECTED THEATRES GCC PLYMOUTH MEETING MALL1A2 Gerrrantoern Pike abon UNITED ARTISTS THEATRES AT RIVERVIEW PLAZA A CINEMARK MOVIES 10 Uons Head Plaza Sornerrtaat WlrtHrraft.Rtmbwfram REGAL CINEMAS BURLINGTON 14 lAOOSCMawareAvartue PrawrntranaTumpika REGAL CINEMAS HUNTINGDON VALLEY 14 Lll'i'tiVMfl UNITED ARTISTS THEATRES AT OXFORD VALLEY Miovjetoiin arJtaant to the Mal.LarrfiTorm UNITED ARTISTS THEATRES AT 69TH STREET 63 So 69 Street Upper Darby AMC DEPTFORO 8 On aernerrb Bridge Rd. across County Line Road at DaiMteRoad REGAL CINEMAS UONVILLE 12 120LoJevraw6Mt, Extort UNTTED ARTISTS THEATRES AT CHELTENHAM SQUARE OielWirmAye SfngjiLn. IromBurtnglonCsnBr UNITED ARTISTS THEATRES PENNSAUKEN rrxibs73A130.NgarTarxny Pairnyra Bndge, Parmsajken ii UNITED ARTISTS THEATRES WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP 14 Route 566 and Cross Keys BenriRoad AMC MARPLE 10 FtDuto 1 at 320, Springfield Marpte Crossroads Supping Or. AMC 309 CINEMA 9 North End ol 309 fcipresseiay at flout63, MrnpoiWYy AMC WCKJOHAVEN 10 fiensaiam GCC NORTHEAST Ronipve9M AMC MILLSIDE 4 Roma 130. 4 Maes North ol the Pemsauken Mart.

Detran ATCO MULTIPLEX CINEMAS Wrffi Morse Pe PoBs3fjarIZ3 Arra I I movies to talk about Daily at 12:15, SJSP 1st show SreCUi ENGMEMBrT NOMsaEsonnacouiT ccupoNenccsnm De Bont, S3, has swept-back white hair and a courtly manner that hardly suggest the kind of films that have made his reputation. Before Speed, he was a much-in-de-mand cinematographer whose credits include Die Hard, Lethal Weapon 3 and The Hunt for Red October. But none of his earlier work comes close to the intense labor and physical hardship involved in bringing Twister to the screen. "The problem you have with tornadoes," he said last weekend in his suite in the Regency Hotel, "is that they're massive, and the audience knows what they look like. Then you have the actors and the crew on the ground in situations that resemble what it would be like to be in the middle of a tornado." When the cast arrived on the set, they were confronted with two giant Rube Goldberg contraptions they'd soon wish to see gone with the wind.

A pair of jet engines were mounted on flatbed trucks to generate at least a fraction of the blast that comes with a tornado. Into this vortex, De Bont's crew tossed paper, leaves and other debris. "It was murder for everyone," re- NOW SHOWING AT THESE SELECTED THEATRES. a. 1 ami mm.

Maak m. an'-maaai- iii. m- BUCKS COUNTY TWIN UNITED ARTISTS THEATRES DRIVE-IN AT MAC DADE MALL 611.SMi til.orwillov.Kros Mac Dads Blvd. and South Avenue REGAL CINEMAS UNITED ARTISTS THEATRES HUNTINGDON VALLEY 1 4 M0NTG0MERYVILLE CourityUneMalDavirleRoad Routes 309, 202 and 463 UNITED ARTISTS THEATRES AT OXFORD VALLEY Mrddlewn Blvd. adjacent to the MaN, Langhome mMlAWHH(Will GCC DEPTFORO MALL 6 Oepttad Center Road (0pp.

Soars Auto Centar) REGAL CINEMAS BURLINGTON CINEMA 14 250 frotileiPM, across horn BurtngtDnCaita REGAL CINEMAS CROSS KEYS 12 Buck Horse Pike (Rt. al American UNITED ARTISTS THEATRES MOORESTOWN IntheMnorestamMall UNITED ARTISTS THEATRES PENNSAUKEN ftooles 3 130, Near Tscony Pamyra Bridge, Pennsautten REGAL CINEMAS UONVILLE 12 120 Extort UNITED ARTISTS THEATRES GRANT PLAZA Grant Plaza Shopping Center UNITED ARTISTS THEATRES AT RIVERVIEW PLAZA 14O0S DMrmare Avenue AMC ANDORRA 8 Ridge and Henry Avenues Andorra Shopping Center AMC GRANITE RUN On Baltmore Pike at Hie Granite Run Mall AMC PAINTER'S CROSSING I Routes 202, village at Painter's Crossing Shopping Canter AMC W00DHAVEN 10 IMMlBveriltaRt 13 I'l ATCO MULTIPLEX CINEMAS White Horse Pka.Rts. 30 CINEMARK MOVIES 10 Uons Head Plaza Somerdale UNITED ARTISTS THEATRES KING A QUEEN 1 Mile Nor of Skyt. Expy. on Route 202, King ol Prussia DDiK SPECIAL ENGAGEMENT.

NO PASSES ACCEPTED. VISIT THE SONY PICTURES ENTERTAINMENT SITE AT http:wrww.sony.com "An EYE-POPPING, nail-biting, edge-of-your seat roller coaster ride." ill ft-- -Neil Rosen, NY 1 NEWS mm 3W -Bill Diehl, ABC RADIO NETWORK "Director Jan DeBont has created a special effects blockbuster MASTERPIECE." -Jules Peimer, WKDM RADIO msm mtUf 3U '1 NOW SHOWING at these Selected First Run UNITED ARTISTS THEATRES BAEDERW000 BatMervKioC Shopping Center Rl 61 1 to Fairway, East Jenkjritown UNITED ARTISTS THEATRES AMC ORLEANS 8 Cottman and Bustteton Avenues NortastPhilarJelptiia AMC PAINTER'S CROSSING 9 Routes 1 202. Villageat Pamler's Crossing Strapping Center AMC 309 CINEMA 9 North End ol 309 Ejpressway at Route 63, Montoomerywle AMC WOOD-HAVEN 10 Bensalem CINEMAGIC 3 AT PENN imi i.rii.ga UNITED ARTISTS THEATRES SAMERIC 1908 Cbestnu) Street it UNITETJ ARTISTS THEATRES a AT RIVERVIEW PLAZA 1400 S.Delaware Avenue uii'ii'ivivvifsa AMC ANDORRA 1 Ridoe and Henry Avenues AMC BARN 5 m.611,SoolDoy1estown AMC GRANITE RUN 8 On Ballimore Pike at the Mall AMC MARPLE 10 Ftotrtfi 1 3t SprimjfiPltl CINEMARK MOVIES 10 Lions Head Plaza Somerdale GCC DEPTFORO MALL 6 Deptlord Center Road REGAL CINFMAS BURLINGTON 14 250tVorrrM.atzoa tromSurVrliiGwW REGAL CINEMAS CROSS KEYS 12 BtOMMWM 47) at American Blvd. lurnersvile UNITED ARTISTS THEATRES MOORESTOWN In the nAoorestown Mall UNITED ARTISTS THEATRES PENNSAUKEN Routes 73 1130, Pennsauken UNITED ARTISTS THEATRES AT OXFORD VALLEY Mtddletown adac8nt to the Mall.Langhome UNITED ARTISTS THEATRES AT THE PLAZA Routes 202, iTnpk. King ol Prussia Sltopping Pto UNITETJ ARTISTS THEATRES AT 69TH STREET S3 Souttt 69th Street.

Upper Darby liU'ifHilHr-'-T AMC MARLTON 8 800 North Route 73, Madton AMC MILLSIDE 4 Route 130, 4 Miles North ol Ihf Pennsauken Mart. Dlran ATCO MULTIPLEX CINEMAS White Horse Pitt Routes 30 and 73, Atco BRYN MAWR LanraterPite.BrvnMawr UNITED ARTISTS THEATRES AT CHELTENHAM SQUARE Cheltenham Ave. Washington Ln. UNITED ARTISTS THEATRES FRAZER Route JO and Malm Road UNITED ARTISTS THEATRES GRANT PLAZA Grant Plaza Shopping Center Wot FJustleton-behind foodarama UNITED ARTISTS THEATRES AT MAC DADE MALL Mac Dade BW, and South Avenue GlenoWen NOW SHOWING at these Selected GCC FRANKLIN MILLS REGAL CINEMAS UNITED ARTISTS THEATRES IJUVJIH-IVflil HAH 10 CHESTNUT HILL UNITED ARTISTS THEATRES WASHINGTON T0WNSHII '14 tale b5i and Cross Keys Bertnrtwi UNIJlDARTISTSTilEATRES vtatiiwn and Kmrjhls Head BURLINGTON 14 75Uflrorfilev8ta1.acras (mn PkKltngton Center tithe Market Square AMCDEPTFORDB Mindm Start Sltaitiak! lane On aanenn Bretqe Rned SAMERIC nuvr 3925 Walnut Street REGAL CINEMAS HUNTINGDON VAUEY 14 County Line Road at fjavisvtlle Road REGAL CINEMAS UONVILLE 12 120 Eaglevnw Exton UNITED ARTISTS THEATRES UNITED ARTISTS THEATRES AMC MILLSIDE 4 UNTTED ARTISTS THEATRES II HHJ AT CHELTENHAM SQUARE AT 69TH STREET Route 130, Oetan itiobuitfiiifiuiSiiMt Uli'li'H'IVili'lfl AMC ORLEANS 1 Cottman and BusMm Avenues nuc.niiui( talnsS 4130. Near Taconv CINEMAGIC TRt-STATE ATCO MULTIPLEX CINEMAS Mrnvra Bltdoe.

PsrmauW MaamansHoadW ChettanharnAvririueand 53 South (Bth Street. WaslHngtrritane Upper Darby pofSfcr SftOALENGAGMNT. NOPASSSOfllWOUNT TIOU1T8 ACCEPTED. WlHeUxsePW.IW 30SZ3 tltetstale95 1 1 1 1 i J.A i 't.