European Extravaganza DVD Review

As promised, here ya go!

Theme Park Review Coaster Expedition Vol. 6
“European Extravaganza”
By Albert Lam

Last year, they conquered the Far East. This year, they go east, but not too far, in order to tackle (and I quote) 26 parks, 100 roller coasters, 8 countries, and 43 McDonald’s hamburgers. Yes, the Alveys invade Europe in Theme Park Review’s latest volume of theme park roller coaster goodness. Volume 6 is a bit more mature than last year’s version, but it’s all in light humored fun. This year’s escapades feature Robb and Elissa in their usual goofy characters and Dan Argona reprising his role of the serious Italian (who doesn’t like water). Joining the trio, however, is Westcoaster’s resident Jew and Hebrew Hammer, Joey Mandel, who delivers a performance of a lifetime. But more on that later.

At first glance, this might seem similar to TPR’s European Coaster Odyssey set from three years ago, since they do visit many of the same parks. But the Euro Extravaganza DVD achieves a depth that ECO could only dream of. Every year, Robb and Elissa outdo themselves, and this year is no exception. Taking advantage of their connections, the TPR ringleaders managed to secure special permission to restricted access areas in several parks. This means viewers get unique shots from lift hills, mid course brake runs, transfer track areas, and other zones that only professional film crews might access. It’s pretty darn cool seeing Expedition Ge-Force speed up the elevator lift, crest over the lift hill, and plunge down its first twisting 90 degree drop, all from up close.

Then there’s the on-ride POV footage, which is the smoothest it’s ever been thanks to Robb’s nifty little hip-mounted lipstick camera. This gives footage that is so steady it looks like it came out of a Discovery Channel special! And it’s certainly a testament to the great lengths Robb and Elissa will go to make a great product! The lone side effect of the lip stick cam is that it sometimes creates a hue or saturation shift when a coaster crests a hill or bottoms out on a valley, since the vertical direction change confuses the pixel interlacing, but that problem is only noticeable on cloudy day conditions, and it’s not much of an issue when the tradeoff is superior smoothness.

Enough about the technical stuff, though, this DVD contains what all five previous volumes have: FUN! Granted, there’s the usual assortment of gorgeous theme park atmosphere views and thrilling coaster shots. But then there’s the spontaneous hilarity of random Elissa-smothering, Joey-taunting, and Dan-wetting. With Elissa, then there’s an orca mascot at Hansa Park who really likes her. And I mean REALLY like her. In a very close, touchy, “lets hug forever” manner! Indeed, a laugh is never far away, especially considering that the usual Robb and Elissa antics are now accompanied by the stellar performances of their Westcoaster brethren, Joey and Dan! Joey, especially, takes the cake for Best Actor in a Leading Role for his part in “Monkey Bars over Water,” a delightful saga set in Farup Sommerland where Joey tries his best to swing across a set of monkey bars located over a waterway, but can’t quite seem to muster up the willpower to try. It’s in-the-moment humor at its best, and although Joey probably won’t appreciate everyone having a raucous laugh at his expense, lets all laugh at him anyway. As for Dan? Just watch what happens when he interacts with water. Or rather, when water interacts with him.

There are plenty of other incentives besides random goofiness though. Exhibit A: the girls. Plenty of beautiful, young European girls, providing scintillating eye candy for all the guys out there. From hot Danish chicks to hot Swedish lesbians to hot Italian dancers, this DVD has them all. Adding to the risqué… NUDITY! Well, animated nudity anyways. Animated animal nudity. Confused? Just peruse the Bon Bon Land segment (or as I like to call it, the European Park of Sex Ed on Farms). Cows having wardrobe malfunctions, ants urinating in buckets, dogs farting and defecating… this park is definitely messed up! If that’s not enough, there are promiscuous animatronics in Parc Asterix and naked statues in Europa Park. You know, in case footage of awesome coasters like Balder, Falken, Booster Bike, Kanonen, Expedition Ge-Force, Colossos, Heiße Fahrt (the most amazing wild mouse I’ve ever seen), Daemonen, and the MICHAEL JACKSON COASTER aren’t enough to entice you.

Yes, this DVD set has it all. Roller coasters, gorgeous theme parks, sexy ladies, perverted animals, huggy mascots, fantastic cinematography, even Dave doing his hilarious (and perhaps superior) version of the world-famous Elissa Escalator Dance—all packaged in 22 video segment synched to an upbeat and happy mix of rock, pop, and dance music, the kind we’ve come to expect from any Theme Park Review video set.

The bar has been raised… again… and I defy any coaster fan to watch this video and not be entertained. And with a second disc of ride footage as well as a third disc with half of the 2005 TPR Video Contest qualifiers (the other half will come out on the next DVD, due out early 2006), Coaster Expedition Volume 6 will literally provide hours of wonderful theme park goodness. A round of congratulations to Robb and Elissa, who’ve done it yet again. It’s definitely a good thing you didn’t quit doing these.

Information and ordering procedure is available at the Theme Park Review website:
http://www.themeparkreview.com/coastervideos.htm

The 3-DVD set retails for $30. Buying other sets can decrease the cost per volume.

*** This DVD is rated PG-13 for mild language, sexual innuendo, animated animal nudity, sexual animatronics, naked statues, on-ride goofing off, and way too damn many Vekoma coasters. ***

Running Times:
DISC 1 – 76 minutes
DISC 2 – 78 minutes
DISC 3 – I didn’t bother to measure

Song List:
Um... yeah... I'm going to let Robb edit this post and either post the song list here, or just delete this last line. Taiko Tounge

Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2005 1:32 am Post subject:

WOW, great review, Albert. I hope I´ll get my package, today! Then I´ll write a review, too!

--Sören

Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2005 5:17 am Post subject:

Those are some well-written reviews, Ted and Albert. You would have thought I'd have earned at least a nomination for my re-creation of the escalator song, though... Taiko Tounge

dt

Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2005 8:28 am Post subject:

my review gets no mention Taiko Cry Red

Face Book · Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2005 8:44 am Post subject:

^ You wrote a review?

--Robb "Joe your review is so awesome that I'm going to eat my shoes." Alvey

Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2005 11:20 am Post subject:

Face Book · Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2005 8:04 pm Post subject:

They guys over at www.coasterradio.com have posted their review and WOW I am so flattered!

http://www.coasterradio.com/articles/article035.html

Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2005 10:46 pm Post subject:

Wow, that review from coasterradio.com was really good! That makes me more curious. I hope I get the package, soon!

--Sören

Posted: Thu Oct 20, 2005 3:23 pm Post subject:

Try this link, sorry guys!

http://www.cnajunkies.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=93

Katie, who is a diphead today.

Face Book · Posted: Tue Oct 25, 2005 12:05 pm Post subject:

Thanks again everyone for the great reviews!

I'm about to compile them all for the DVD page so if there are any more reviews out there, please let me know.

--Robb

	Theme Park Review Forum Index -> Theme Parks, Roller Coasters, & Donkeys!	All times are GMT - 8 Hours Goto page Previous 1, 2, 3, 4 Next
Page 2 of 4