Charlie and I hadn’t been to a theater to see a movie since before the pandemic. We had seen several “art house” films, but nothing main stream. Tuesday we decided to take in “Twisters” an example of one of our favorite movie genres–the disaster film. Disaster films should not be confused with apocalyptic tales where bleakness prevails. In our minds a true disaster film should involve weather, fire, oceans, or animals run amok. And the people should triumph.

The first “Twisters” movie came out in 1996 and is remembered by many for its flying cow. At the time the graphics were quite impressive. Twenty five years later the kids who watched that first movie went to art school and mastered computer graphics. Their expertise dazzles and the end credits reveal many parents were smart to support their children’s educations. There’s money in “them thar” pixels.

Plot? Mammoth tornadoes chased by scientists and You Tube fanatics. Flying cows? No. Many flying chickens though. Redeeming social value? Dubious. Comment on climate change? Not a chance. We already know about the changing climate. We live it. Massive tornadoes are a part of that change here. Nonetheless it still felt great to watch people versus wind for two hours. And we left glad that they still make disaster movies like they used to.