Explosions Go Boom

Feb 8th

Universal Studios packed a lot of punch. I've been to several amusement parks in my life time. Off the top of my head, the parks I can remember going to are: both Disneys, California Adventures, three of the Six Flags, Sesame Street (when I was a little one), Canobie Lake Park, Knott's Berry Farms, Busch Gardens, and Hard Rock Park. They've all had thrilling rides, not the least of which being behemoth roller coasters (King Da Ka in Six Flags, New Jersey being the fastest one in the world). Universal Studios, to my initial disappointment, is all but coasterless, so if you seek fast moving thrill rides then avoid this park like seventy thousand deadly plagues.

Universal Hollywood more than makes up for its lack of steel wonders with simulated thrills and more explosions than the battle of Normandy. Where Disney's Imagineers master the art of making the imaginary enter the realm of reality, Universal's have mastered the art of boom. Several live action shows feature death defying stunts. Waterworld is the best live action show I've ever seen at any amusement park. You won't believe all the action scenes (and timed explosions), and none of it comes off as cheesy. It is at least ten times better than the sucktacular movie of the same name.

The Simpsons ride, Terminator 2: 3D, and the Studio Tour are some other highlights. The new Simpsons ride took everything that makes the Simpsons, well, the Simpsons. Terminator 2:3D is the most expensive movie made per minute (according to several sites at least), partially because it features live actors interacting with the 3D movie, and special effects. At one point Arnold even pops out of the 3D screen and seamlessly becomes a live actor look alike. The Studio Tour was the best part for me, since I am somewhat of a movie buff (I just love the art of storytelling in general). They took us to the actual outdoor sets of many recent famous movies, including War of the Worlds, and the Grinch. They also showed us how rain, flood, and earthquakes are created in movies. We even drove through Wisteria Lane, the place where Desperate Housewives was filmed, and the Bates Motel from the infamous Psycho movie.

If you have any interest in Blockbuster movies your heart will pulsate with excitement at Universal Theme Park Hollywood, but thrillseekers should seek elsewhere.

Tomorrow, I take a 16 hour flight to Australia and end up in Melbourne two days later. I really don't know how my legs are going to survive this flight. Either way, see you on the other side.

Keep it level!

Jonathan De Costa