Home of the 3D Thrills

Home of the 3D Thrills
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Directors Stan Winston, James Cameron and John Bruno (left to right) have moved the Terminator franchise into new directions with the ground-breaking short film T2 3D. © Universal Studios, Inc.

Could film-inspired theme rides be the next generation of sequels for big visual effects blockbusters? © Universal Studios, Inc.

Wow, makes you want to run out and spend almost 50 bucks to get into the park doesn't it? That's what linking the name of a blockbuster film and the thrill of an amusement ride is supposed to do. This phenomenon has long been used to boost theme park attendance, and it seems now that every "big" film franchise is getting its own amusement ride.

What does all this mean in terms of where digital wizardry is going, especially when the likes of Cameron, Schwarzenegger, and Digital Domain are getting into the business of making what may be called virtual roller coasters? Could T2 3D be the new direction for visual effects movies as Arnold said?

Well, with millions spent on the revolutionary theatre and sound system, anything like this attraction coming to the Emmaus, Pennsylvania's of the world is very unlikely. Yet it does give a new avenue for visually creative minds to create stunning adventures. With eye-popping spectacles like The Lion King and Titanic making it to Broadway, it's not a stretch to think that this combination of live theatre and cinematic magic will stop growing. If you think this new direction will replace artistic substance with adrenaline generating gimmicks, you may be right. However, most visual effects-laden movies are not created to enlighten us on the ever growing plight of the whooping crane anyway. Part of seeing visual effects in the theatre is the thrill. So it seems, the logical approach is to move these kinds of movies into the land of roller coasters. What is your average action flick but a thrill ride anyway? To Universal Studios and the Terminator 2 3D ride? When I'm looking for some simple thrills, "I'll be back!"

Rick DeMott is the Associate Editor of Animation World Magazine. Previously, he served as Media Coordinator for Hollywood-based Acme Filmworks. He holds a BA in Film/Video from Penn State University with a Minor in Comperative Literature.