Everyone can agree that we’ve seen some crazy weather across the country in recent years. Some say it’s due to humans, some say it’s just nature, but there’s no denying the ferocity of some of the hurricanes and tornadoes we’ve witnessed lately.

Hollywood has not been one to shy away from the “Mother Nature run amok” disaster movies, giving special effects technicians a chance to shine. 1933 saw what many consider to be the first disaster movie, Deluge, reduce New York to a pile of rubble after an earthquake and then swallowed by a massive tsunami. Recent climate change movies like The Day After Tomorrow and 2012 have been more successful at effects than storytelling.

It’s been 18 years since Twister hit the big screen, showing off what the relatively new field of CGI special effects could do, and this year brings us the Twister on steroids Into the Storm. The story focuses on one really, really bad day for a small town in the mid-west’s “Tornado Alley” with one storm cell after another forming and producing more, bigger tornadoes.

There is also a human element with a team of storm chasers lead by Pete (Matt Walsh), who is only concerned with finding a tornado and getting the shot for his documentary, and Allison (Sarah Wayne Callies), the scientist who prefers data over instinct. She also has a young daughter who is expecting her to come home when the storms begin to hit.

Then we have Gary (Richard Armitage) and his two sons, who have a contentious relationship with dad since their mother died. It’s no surprise when one of the boys with the most resentment finds himself in danger. And then there are the two drunk, redneck yokels who fancy themselves as storm chasers and end up being annoying “comic relief.”

Paths cross, storms form and get more massive and destructive each time, lives are “in danger” and some semi-major characters do die (but do we really expect either of the name actors to die?) in a major twist for this kind of film. And there is a surprising amount of emotion when our main characters are in danger. Callies probably has the most to do between tracking storms, worrying about her daughter and her team, and helping Gary save his kids. Armitage, though, has most of the cliche-ridden dialog and he struggles frequently to keep his British accent at bay (making his performance a bit too wooden at times).

The real stars of the film, though, are the effects artists who have created the tornadoes and fire-nadoes (no sharknadoes however), the collapsing buildings, the flying debris, the cargo planes being lifted off the runway, and the vehicles falling from the sky. You can’t deny that the effects are spectacular and that really is the point of the movie. The only drawback or backlash the film might receive could come from the very part of the country which is most susceptible to these kinds of disasters. I can’t imagine sitting through a movie like this knowing that it could happen for real at any time (and the screenwriter cleverly slips in the notion that there could be sequels on the horizon in other major cities).

But, if you’re a fan of disaster movies, then Into the Storm should definitely be on your radar (see what I did there). It may be implausible at times, but at least it gives you some people to care for while the world implodes around them. (And if you’re wondering, there is even a flying cow — a fake one — seen in the distance which may have been a little wink to Twister.)

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CliqueClack has partnered with Warner Brothers Pictures to offer readers in Maryland and DC an opportunity to attend an advance screening of the new disaster movie Into the Storm starring Richard Armitage, Sarah Wayne Callies Matt Walsh, Alycia Debnam-Carey, Arlen Escarpeta, Nathan Kress, Jon Reep and Jeremy Sumpter.

In the span of a single day, the town of Silverton is ravaged by an unprecedented onslaught of tornadoes. The entire town is at the mercy of the erratic and deadly cyclones, even as storm trackers predict the worst is yet to come. Most people seek shelter, while others run towards the vortex, testing how far a storm chaser will go for that once-in-a-lifetime shot. Told through the eyes and lenses of professional storm chasers, thrill-seeking amateurs, and courageous townspeople, Into the Storm throws you directly into the eye of the storm to experience Mother Nature at her most extreme.

The screenings will take place Tuesday, August 5, 7:30 PM at the following locations:

• AMC Mazza. Washington, DC ALL DC PASSES HAVE BEEN CLAIMED
• Cinemark Egyptian, Hanover, MD ALL HANOVER PASSES HAVE BEEN CLAIMED
• Surf & Sun Cinema, Ocean City, MD

A limited number of passes will be available on a first come, first served basis. Please read and follow the rules in order to be eligible for this contest. There will be no exceptions!

• Comment on this post ONLY with the following: DC, HANOVER or OCEAN CITY. Nothing else. Any additional commentary will result in your entry being invalid.
• You MUST include your FULL NAME — First AND Last — for verification purposes. Entries with only a first name or initials will be invalid.
• ONE comment per person and/or email address. Multiple comments will result in disqualification. CliqueClack reserves the right to discard any and all duplicates or entries that appear to be duplicates. We want to keep these offers fair for everyone.
• Winners will receive a unique GoFoBo.com code which is good for up to two Admit One passes.
• Offer will end when all passes have been claimed or on the day of the screening.

Please note that passes do not guarantee seats at the screening. Seating is first come, first served so plan to arrive early. CliqueClack has no control over the total number of passes distributed, and is not responsible for seating arrangements at the theater.

Have a look at the trailer below and then tell us where you want to see the film. Into the Storm opens in theaters August 8.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBH25XxM-7g

This contest is closed. Winners will be notified by email. Follow CliqueClack on Twitter, Facebook, Google+ and Tumblr for contest alerts, review and breaking news.

CliqueClack has partnered with Warner Brothers Pictures to offer readers in the Boston and Hartford areas an opportunity to attend an advance screening of the new disaster movie Into the Storm starring Richard Armitage, Sarah Wayne Callies Matt Walsh, Alycia Debnam-Carey, Arlen Escarpeta, Nathan Kress, Jon Reep and Jeremy Sumpter.

In the span of a single day, the town of Silverton is ravaged by an unprecedented onslaught of tornadoes. The entire town is at the mercy of the erratic and deadly cyclones, even as storm trackers predict the worst is yet to come. Most people seek shelter, while others run towards the vortex, testing how far a storm chaser will go for that once-in-a-lifetime shot. Told through the eyes and lenses of professional storm chasers, thrill-seeking amateurs, and courageous townspeople, Into the Storm throws you directly into the eye of the storm to experience Mother Nature at her most extreme.

The screenings will take place Monday, August 4, 7:00 PM at the following locations:

• AMC Boston Common, Boston
• AMC Plainville, Hartford

A limited number of passes will be available through a random drawing. Please read and follow the rules in order to be eligible for this contest. There will be no exceptions!

• Comment on this post with either BOSTON or HARTFORD. Nothing else. Any additional commentary will result in your entry being invalid.
• You MUST include your FULL NAME — First AND Last — for verification purposes. Entries with only a first name or initials will be invalid.
• ONE comment per person and/or email address. Multiple comments will result in disqualification. CliqueClack reserves the right to discard any and all duplicates or entries that appear to be duplicates. We want to keep these offers fair for everyone.
• Contest period runs from Thursday, July 24 to 11:59 PM Thursday, July 31. Winners will be selected Friday, August 1st and will be notified no later than Saturday, August 2.
• Winners will receive a unique GoFoBo.com code which is good for up to two Admit One passes.

Please note that passes do not guarantee seats at the screening. Seating is first come, first served so plan to arrive early. CliqueClack has no control over the total number of passes distributed, and is not responsible for seating arrangements at the theater.

Have a look at the trailer below and then tell us where you want to see the film. Into the Storm opens in theaters August 8.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBH25XxM-7g

ALL PASSES HAVE BEEN CLAIMED. COMMENTS ARE CLOSED. PLEASE FOLLOW CLIQUECLACK ON TWITTER, FACEBOOK, GOOGLE+ and TUMBLR FOR CONTEST ALERTS, REVIEWS and BREAKING NEWS.

CliqueClack has partnered with Warner Brothers Pictures to offer readers in the Los Angeles area an opportunity to attend an advance screening of the new disaster movie Into the Storm starring Richard Armitage, Sarah Wayne Callies Matt Walsh, Alycia Debnam-Carey, Arlen Escarpeta, Nathan Kress, Jon Reep and Jeremy Sumpter.

In the span of a single day, the town of Silverton is ravaged by an unprecedented onslaught of tornadoes. The entire town is at the mercy of the erratic and deadly cyclones, even as storm trackers predict the worst is yet to come. Most people seek shelter, while others run towards the vortex, testing how far a storm chaser will go for that once-in-a-lifetime shot. Told through the eyes and lenses of professional storm chasers, thrill-seeking amateurs, and courageous townspeople, Into the Storm throws you directly into the eye of the storm to experience Mother Nature at her most extreme.

The screenings will take place Tuesday, August 5, 7:30pm at AMC Century City.

A limited number of passes are available on a first come, first served basis. Simply comment on this post telling us you want to see the movie, and you will receive a unique GoFoBo code by email good for up to two Admit One passes. We will accept ONE comment per person/per email address. As this is not a random drawing, only one person per couple needs to comment. You must include your FULL NAME (first and last) and email address to be eligible. The first 25 verified comments will be awarded. CliqueClack has the right to discard any duplicate comments or those that appear to be duplicates. Multiple comments from one individual will result in complete disqualification. Please keep these offers fair for everyone.

Please note that passes do not guarantee seats at the screening. Seating is first come, first served so plan to arrive early. CliqueClack has no control over the total number of passes distributed, and is not responsible for seating arrangements at the theater.

Have a look at the trailer below and then tell us you want to see the film. Into the Storm opens in theaters August 8.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBH25XxM-7g