It’s a big call, but Tornado Alley has some of the best visuals you are ever likely to see on the big screen, and the fact that you can view it in IMAX and in 3D only makes it even more spectacular. When nature puts on a show like the storms of the plains of America it takes a brilliant director like Sean Casey to capture it this well.
In Tornado Alley we see the scientific research team known as Vortex 2 as they try to use a massive amount of equipment to gather new research into why Tornadoes form in the area of the United States known as Tornado Alley. At the same time director, Sean Casey is trying is hardest to drive his Interceptor vehicle into the heart of a tornado in a bid to be the first person to ever do so.
For fans of the TV series Storm Chasers this docco is an absolute must-see. In the show Casey regular comes across as the bad-guy but in his own docco you do get to see more about the man of himself and his passion. It’s probably not enough to have you ‘barracking’ for him in Storm Chasers but it is enough to make you admire him. Firstly, for the reason that he has spent eight years making this docco and secondly because he truly has a natural eye as a director. Not only does he capture the heart of a tornado (with footage that has to be seen to be believed) but his stunning footage of storm-cloud patterns is sensational.
Casey has actually created a brilliant docco with Tornado Alley. He provides the spectacular footage and has your heart-in-your-mouth as he and his driver, Marcus Gutierrez race towards tornadoes but the Vortex 2 also provide enough scientific background to make this docco both educational as well as entertaining. Add that to the fact that Bill Paxton’s (Haywire, TV’S Big Love) is interesting without becoming overpowering and you really do have the perfect docco.
Even people that normally find doccos as dull as ditchwater will be amazed by Tornado Alley. This certainly isn’t like the doccos that put you to sleep in school, it’s amazing visuals and heart-racing thrills with have you on the edge of your seat with adrenalin pumping. If you only see one docco this year…make sure it’s Tornado Alley.
Year: 2011
Director: Sean Casey
Stars: Bill Paxton, Sean Casey
Classification: G
Runtime: 45 mins
Rating: 