Tornado

I really enjoyed this movie! The cinematography, directing, and music were great. If you've ever watched an old Akira Kurosawa film where the pace is slower with shots of scenery amongst/in between scenes you'll truly appreciate this film. This movie has a very nostalgic old samurai western feel with modern day technology. However, I feel say the choreography and visual effects lack a bit. Not sure if it was the budget or just not the focus. It was a good build up for a very short, slightly unfulfilling climax. If there was a Tornado part 2, I'd go see it. The movie was worth the time and money!

I was low-key looking forward to this movie when I first saw the trailer. An original samurai drama in European lands? Hell yeah! But in reality, this movie feels skeletal. The story is simple and promising, and it has its moments. But it lacks compelling characterization and the storytelling is kind of just boring. Certain plot beats just don't feel developed enough to be interesting, and things kind of just happen without much build up or clarity. It doesn't help that some scenes feel a bit illogical, making the characters seem either stupid or nonsensical.

Visually, this movie is fine. I love Tornado's costume design and the cinematography is decent. But I feel like the coloration is a bit dull and not all that interesting. The soundtrack overall is fine, but the more mellow songs are really good.

Tornado is such a missed opportunity, man. An original action-flick with an interesting backdrop and premise, let down by a story that feels unfinished and uninspired.

Being a fan of Slow West, I was really looking forward to this movie. You can tell right away it is the same director as Slow West, John Maclean. His style is a very subtle, cool, relaxing form. Unfortunately, it means not really a good fit for a thriller.

The movie is almost same as Slow West in the element, a slow burn with a big finish. Unfortunately unlike Slow West, the ending was somewhat anti-climatic. This is very disappointing as the rest of the film, the story, was actually quite intriguing and keeps you engaged but the ending didn't quite satisfy.

Overall, I thought this is an average film, watch it once, you probably won't think about it again. The ending leaves many questions, but then you realize it is a western, it's not suppose to have a realistic ending.

5/10.

This is experimental cinema... a hodgepodge of various genres and styles based entirely on the imagination of the creator ... nothing wrong with that. In the 1960s, for example, the brilliant Sergio Leone accidentally created an entirely new class of film which HAD NEVER EXISTED BEFORE -- the "Italian western." Not merely a financial success -- it turned a failed, out-of-work, actor named Clint Eastwood into a Hollywood icon. Does lightening strike twice? Not here, it doesn't. Sorry. The rating is for technical merit only. The film itself will put you to sleep. ((Designated "IMDb Top Reviewer." Please check out my list "167+ Nearly-Perfect Movies (with the occasional Anime or TV miniseries) you can/should see again and again (1932 to the present))

Loved it. A simple story set in 1790 that could have easily been ser in the 20th century because the bulk of the film takes place in a forest or the area surrounding a small lake. Other than the "1790" indicator, only the costumes made the time clear. This struck me as universally applicable. Many scenes throughout were emotionally strong and superbly acted. "Tornado", the main character's name, was compelling and intriguing. I was surprised by the way she talked, as something about it felt too modern to me. The cinematography was beautiful and the soundtrack fit perfectly. A small budget film showing a period of transformation in Tornado's life. In order to move my 8 rating to a 9 or 10, I'd have wanted to know more about the characters lives before the events of the film started and to have had deeper, more specific emotions shared between some characters. I'd see it again.