Thrill Ride: The Science of Fun (1997) User Reviews

Wheeeee!!!

[strong-122-478885 · 6/10 · 16 April 2015]

This 40-minute documentary really didn't spend too much time when it came to out-lining the evolution of the amusement park "thrill ride" from the past. No, it didn't.

Instead it zoomed in at full-throttle on the high-tech, 3-D, motion-simulator rides of today that feature super-awesome CGI effects by such tech-wiz designers as Ben Stassen (this documentary's director).

In these state-of-the-art thrill rides (that use NASA technology) - "Illusion" is, of course, everything.

So (if you've got a big-screen TV set) - Buckle up, sit back, and hold onto your seats for a total adrenaline rush on the ultimate, amusement park, thrill ride of them all.

*Note* - The one thing that seriously marred this documentary was the irritating "old miner" character who repeatedly popped up in this otherwise entertaining presentation to offer his worthless and unwelcome remarks to the audience.

They should have showed us the top 10 rollercoasters in the US.

[ldsky · 5/10 · 6 August 2000]

The movie was not what I expected they only took you on one rollercoaster. I wanted to at least go on a simulated ride of 3 or 4 rollercoasters not just 1. They also should have used someone else to narrate because the charater was distacting and annoying. They also did not give names and locations of the rides they showed. To much detail about the effects and not enough on the rides themselves.

A Great DOCUMENTARY

[Opie-7 · 25 June 2002]

First off, "Thrill Ride", like many other IMAX movies, is a DOCUMENTARY. In my opinion, "Thrill Ride" was a great DOCUMENTARY. It talks about the progress of amusement park rides and the creation of flight simulators. It takes you on a rollercoaster, and some simulated rides.

But I keep hearing people complain that it wasn't the "WHITE KNUCKLE" movie experience that they expected to see. The title itself, "Thrill Ride: THE SCIENCE OF FUN" is a dead giveaway that the movie is about the science of thrill rides, thus a DOCUMENTARY.

Overall, the images were outstanding, the narration was boring, the sound was great, and the "prospector" tour-guide was annoying, but funny.

Not what I expected

[bcsiegfr · 4/10 · 16 August 1999]

I expected to see a movie about thrill ride. What I saw was an interminable advertisement for the new cinedome/imax "rides" that cost so much money at places like Las Vegas. There was only the barest minimum about actual roller coasters. Most people leaving the theatre expressed the same disappointment. Most of us who care already have an idea of what goes into rendering. The rest of the people just wanted to have some fun. All were disappointed...