Rollercoaster
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Movie Reviews of Rollercoaster
Movie Review: Read my lips: this is NOT a disaster movie
Summary: 4 Stars
The fact that this movie has been long classified as a disaster flick is utterly ridiculous. There is a horrific "accident" on a roller coaster at the beginning of the film, but that's it as far as disasters go. The incident provides us with some insight into the mindset of a psychotic, nameless character played by Timothy Bottoms. Rollercoaster is an above average cat-and-mouse thriller that provides a lot of suspense, and an entertaining performance by George Segal.The later part of the movie takes place at Magic Mountain amusement park near Los Angeles--well before Six Flags bought it and then ruined the Revolution roller coaster that is heavily featured in the film. Seeing Revolution as it was when it first opened (at the time the only modern coaster to incorporate a 360 degree vertical loop) was both interesting and a little sad. Revolution is barley recognizable today since the surrounding foliage has all but completely hidden the ride. Six Flags has also added numerous brakes that almost completely stop the train several times, and the most uncomfortable shoulder harnesses imaginable. Many similar rides built around the same time (and by the same manufacturer) are currently in operation without all this added hardware. Enough said about that.
Rollercoaster is a fine suspense thriller. Just prepare yourself for a serious time-warp back to the mid 70's. The twangy electric guitar music, clothes and hairstyles date this movie quite a bit. Remember lip gloss? However I truly enjoyed Rollercoaster, and it also provided me with a nice, long forgotten ride on the once proud and famed Revolution. Shame on you Six Flags.
Movie Review: Jaws in an Amusement Park?
Summary: 4 Stars
I vividly remember seeing this movie in the theater as a kid -- it was summer and a few years after Jaws. The gimmick was "Senssurround!" but we really believed it -- it did seem like the theater shook during some of the rollercoaster scenes.
Watching it now, many years later, it holds up well as a Jaws-inspired 70s film. In the summer people love to go to the beach....or to an amusement park. Imagine Timothy Bottoms as the shark -- the director surely does -- as he swims around the amusement park, while Lalo Schiffrin provides a Jaws-like menacing score, before Bottoms slowly and methodically strikes again.
George Segal makes a decent Brody, though it's impossible to look at his performance now and not think it's a bit camp. You have the same crew of town elders like you do in Jaws, seeking to suppress and downplay the threat due to business concerns. And you have the same summer kids, in their 70s outfits and feathered hair, enjoying what should be innocent fun...until Bottoms strikes again.
As a reviewer mentioned, there is a short clip of Sparks performing at Magic Mountain in the final showdown, which is a plus. And a very cute and very young Helen Hunt.
In all this is an enjoyable, slightly campy, view down memory lane, when all it took to scare you was a land shark and some big speakers.
Movie Review: A true classic
Summary: 4 Stars
I just watched this movie for the first time since 1977 when it was released. It was every bit as enjoyable on T.V. (with help from a surround sound system and bigscreen) as I remembered it in the theatres. It takes you back to the semi-innocent 70's and brings back memories (for those of you old enough) of what theme parks were like back then.I think a lot of credit should be given to Timothy Bottoms for his outstanding performance as the bomber/terrorist. He really stole the show with his quiet, devious, loner-esque character with the choir-boy face. He reminded me of the villan played in the movie Dirty Harry. What ever happened to Timothy Bottoms?
My favorite part of the movie is where George Segal's character is being led around Kings World theme park by the bomber in an attempt to lose the tail being put on by the FBI. It was an ingenious and believable plan that had everyone fooled.
It all adds up to a tense and exciting movie with a creative plot and excellent actors to complete the package. If you can get used to the bell-bottom pants and polyester again, you'll really enjoy this thriller. Cheers.
Movie Review: Top notch suspense thriller!
Summary: 4 Stars
The title of this film may make it sound a bit silly. This is not another cash in on the 70's disaster craze. Rollercoaster is a first rate suspense thriller with crisp dialoge, assured direction and some nail-biting suspense scenes. The plot concerns an extortionist's (Timothy Bottoms)plans to blow up rides in the worlds most famous amusement parks, and a safety inspectors (George Segal)attempts to stop him. This film is marred only by the dated soundtrack and some hideous leisure suits. It all comes together in one of the most suspenseful climaxes in film history. If you have a Dolby Digital home stereo with a subwoofer, you'll have the added bonus of being able to watch the film in "Sensurround". It's too bad they didn't remaster the rest of the sound in discrete 5.1 channel. Those points aside, this film was an excellent addition to my DVD library, and would be an enjoyable film for anyone.Movie Review: The Poseidon, the Inferno and the Rollercoaster!
Summary: 4 Stars
This is more of a psychological thriller than it is a disaster film although given the cover art and that it was made in the seventies when those types of movies were in their prime, one would probably categorize it as such. Although unlike The Poseidon Adventure or The Towering Inferno, the enemy here is not mother nature wreaking havoc with fire, water or killer bees (as in the poorly executed film The Swarm). Rollercoaster is a disaster film at the hands of one human being. An unbalanced man who after sabatoging a roller coaster at a popular amusement park, begins to blackmail the authorities and rollercoaster executives with more bomb threats if they don't give him what he wants. If you are guessing he wants the root of all evil, you guessed correctly. This was definitely a fun thrill-ride and worth having in your DVD collection. It also stars a pre-teen Helen Hunt who would later go on to battle mother nature in Twister.