Product Details

• Actors: Harry Shearer, Paul Harper, Cassandra Peterson, Neil Armstrong
• Directors: Ben Stassen
• Writers: Ben Stassen, Kurt Frey
• Producers: Ben Stassen, Charlotte Huggins, Kim Nelson-Frey, Pierre Lebecque
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, NTSC
• Rated: G (General Audience)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Sony Pictures
• VHS Release Date: June 30, 1998
• Run Time: 38 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 0767810627
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #451,977 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Ever since a daring fellow in France constructed the first rudimentary roller coaster nearly 200 years ago, people have eagerly sought thrills and chills on the most frightening rides they could find. Featured in this video are the royalty of today's white-knuckle adventure rides, including high-tech roller coasters in Tampa's Busch Gardens and the Big Shot ride in Las Vegas which magnifies its intensity by being perched atop a skyscraper. Originally filmed in 70mm, the footage of the rides is intense even on the small screen. But the video loses velocity during segments explaining how the technology of thrill rides has merged with movie special effects, and the video never fully recovers from the uneven pacing. The material covered is consistently interesting, but there's no escaping the reality that explanations of how rides are conceived are no substitute for the fun of the rides themselves. But if the video never fully lives up to the promise of its first several minutes, there are still scenes in the video that are heart-stopping, and it does provide an entertaining look at the science of thrill rides. --Robert J. McNamara

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not very thrilling, September 2, 2000

By 

Joe Campbell (Goodwater, AL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Thrill Ride - The Science of Fun (Large Format) (DVD)

This was my first rollercoaster DVD purchase and I am terribly disappointed. I was expecting more "front-seat" coaster rides. I am afraid now to purchase other simular titles. I would prefer no sound other than actual effects of track noise and rider whoops, screams and yells.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Boring, January 30, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Thrill Ride - The Science of Fun (Large Format) [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Buy one or all of the videos from the Thrill Rides box set instead of this selection. The video centers more on simulator attractions than "regular" thrill rides, which, in my opinion, isn't exciting unless your couch at home is moving violently like a simulator itself. You learn more about the science AND history of thrill rides in the previously noted video set as opposed to "The Science of Fun."

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars GREAT!, April 5, 2002

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Thrill Ride - The Science of Fun (Large Format) (DVD)

This movie was great but not really about roller coasters. They were more focused on simulators and computerized graphics.It is probably alot more thrilling to see in the Omni Theatre.All in all,it is a fun and interesting movie to watch.