Roller Coaster Thrills – The Ultimate Scream
Machines (Dolby)
Picture:
C+ Sound: B- Extras: B- Main Program: B-
There are
a few more special interest DVDs out there on Rollercoasters than you would
think and Roller Coaster Thrills – The
Ultimate Scream Machines (1999) was an early example that combined
multi-angle and multi-channel sound DVD features so fans have a fun DVD to play
back in different ways over and over.
This title is issued by Goldhil Home Media DVD in both DTS and the Dolby
version we are covering here.
Several
of the coasters are based on DC Comics characters (Superman, Batman, The Joker,
The Riddler) and Marvel Comics characters (Hulk, but not Spiderman when this
was made). Others have names like
Dueling Dragon, Gwazi, Medusa, Apollo’s Chariot, Alpengeist, Twister, Volcano,
Raging Bull (no relation to the Martin Scorsese boxing film classic, though
riding it could make you punch drunk), Viper, Ghost Rider, Steel Phantom,
Magnum XL-200, Desperado, Cyclone, and Buzz Saw Falls.
A few of
those have already been discontinued, while changes have befallen some of the
locations covered, but the multi-angle, discrete sound set-ups do their best to
allow you to somewhat approximate the experience of taking a ride on the
various coasters. This does not have the
impact of seeing this in IMAX or actually riding any of these coasters, but the
interactivity is a plus.
The full
frame, videotaped images are pro-analog, and show their age a bit. However, the coaster footage holds up the best
and much trouble was gone through to get the footage, so we give all involved
credit for that. The sound is Dolby
Digital 5.1 AC-3 and is good enough, but all the time I watched, I wondered how
much
better
this would have sounded in the DTS edition.
It also was not a match for the Sony DVD release of the IMAX film Thrill Ride, which also did not have
DTS (and still is not available that way, unlike this DVD), or the interactive
angles function. With that said, the
surrounds here, even in Dolby, still have their moments.
Extras
include the music isolated form all the segments to be played independently,
unusually extended menus to locate the type of coaster or location you might
have in mind, the usual chapters with coasters by name, five extra interview
segments by people on the coasters and four segments on specific coaster parks
that nicely expand the main program.
When the back of the box claims commentary, it does NOT mean audio
commentary on the main program. Otherwise,
these extras are good, as the main part only runs an hour.
The
Hershey trust fund in the supplement section on Hershey Park has, since the release of this
DVD, been the target of sinister liquidation and folding by interests who want
to sell the park off in total or bits and pieces. I am glad the segment reminds us of Milton
Hershey’s original intent. Though it
segments on Kennywood Park are no match for entire DVDs like
Kennywood Memories (reviewed
elsewhere on this site), it still does an admirable job. I just wish it had even more content. Hopefully, we’ll check out the DTS version of
this title down the line. You can check
out both, as well as many other documentary and special interest DVDs available
from Goldhil at their website and www.goldhil.com has ordering information and much more.
- Nicholas Sheffo
