Special Features: The world according to the Alveys

Posted at 10:48 PM EDT (0248 GMT)

Aug. 13th, 2006 -- Robb and Elissa Alvey have "gone around the world" for Volume 7 of their Theme Park Review DVD series. ThrillNetwork Webmaster Steven and Senior Editor Emeritus Chip join forces again to review their latest compilation of POVs and antics from around the world.

Steven: Robb has put together another great set of DVDs.

Chip: I agree. It was an excellent set with a ton of memorable moments.

Steven: Very much so. Disk 1 seemed to cover the moments a lot more compared to previous DVDs, which actually made it a lot more interesting to watch.

Steven: Not just riding the coasters, but their antics all over the world.

Chip: I thought the antics were great. I loved that this DVD wasn't just park, park, park, park. They had short segments in between with hilarious things happening.

Steven: Especially when they deal with the local flavor that we may find gross or taboo, yet is normal in someplace like Japan.

Steven: (Though I'd like to be able to ride coasters in the snow like they do in Japan)

Chip: If you're talking about the TV shows ...

Chip: About those shows, I'm not going to describe them. I just want to say two things: "crotch triangle" and "dog-humping races."

Steven: And fish heads for dinner.

Chip: Japanese TV is crazy.

Steven: Forget Japanese TV... the Japanese are crazy.

Chip: I still don't understand why Togos in Japan are not anywhere as bad as Togos in America.

Steven: I think it's the American touch that ruins them.

Chip: I really enjoyed that a few videos were in Asia, then they skipped over to England, then they came to the United States. It was really different than the normal one-continent coverage they typically do.

Steven: I thought they kind of bounced around a bit, and not gone into a real order (Japan > USA > Europe).

Steven: I liked the global coverage, though.

Chip: One thing I didn't like was that they called it "Around the world," but it only covered select areas in Asia (Japan and China), England and the United States.

Chip: But I'm not knocking it. It was still an excellent video.

Steven: Yeah.

Steven: I just don't want to pay $59 to visit Central Park.

Chip: What was up with that? That's crazy, and the park wasn't extraordinary or anything.

Steven: I've seen bigger parks charge less. Like $25.

Chip: One thing I really liked was the feature called "7 Parks in a Day." I think there's no need to describe what it was about. It was hilarious. Joey lost count after about four parks!

Steven: I liked how they dealt with winter parks. Apparently they haven't lived up north like I have.

Steven: Twenty-five degrees while riding a coaster is balmy.

Chip: I think traveling 40 mph in the snow would be a bit unusual. I'm surprised the parks were still open.

Steven: But then again, I laugh when Tennesseans deal with a dusting of snow.

Chip: I liked that every time they rode a coaster in the snow, they said they were riding a coaster in the snow. Thanks, captain obvious.

Steven: Well, it's an established fact that Californians (and Floridians, as well as anyone else in the southern ends of the U.S.) don't know what snow is like.

Chip: Throw coasters in the mix, and you've got total chaos!

Steven: And without chaos, we don't have a Theme Park Review DVD.

Chip: It's perfect. Robb's train being stopped on Space Mountain at Hong Kong Disneyland fits that mold. What are the odds of stopping in a block brake while you're filming on-ride footage?

Steven: It can happen, especially to someone filming.

Chip: Being stopped for filming is one thing. Being stopped while filming is another.

Steven: But what's the chance of having a whole park to yourselves (Uminonakamichi Seaside Park)?

Chip: That was awesome, and that park's got quite the name! The obstacles over the water were really funny.

Steven: How about that Dan-Friendly water ride? Kinda takes the fun out of water rides, eh?

Chip: Seriously. I'm surprised there were two parks with those. What kind of water ride puts riders in a totally enclosed boat so they don't get wet?

Steven: Maybe the Japanese (and Dan) melt when they come in contact with water?

Chip: Seaside Park had a lot of cool things in it. I loved that "the Quaker" couldn't cross the monkey bars. But Robb messed up crossing stepping-stones.

Steven: I also loved their tour of Flamingoland's Kumali (their new SLC) -- I wonder who couldn't tell they were picking on Vekoma. Though, it's a rather unique SLC compared to the cookie-cutter SLCs.

Chip: That's true, but I bet the feeling is the same as any SLC. The guy on the construction tour called the sections connecting the track segments "smooth as a baby's bottom." Somehow, I think Robb and company had their doubts.

Steven: I can see why. Vekoma seems to have improved on some of their other coasters, though I could be wrong.

Chip: The wheels spun freely, as Elissa showed.

Steven: True. How about the music choices?

Chip: I liked the music for the most part. Some of it was typical top-40 stuff, but other music was fun because it seemed to convey the feeling of the particular park they were at.

Steven: I think the selection is better overall compared to the other DVDs.

Chip: I agree.

Steven: I know it seems to be a typical feeling to have a sense of Deja Vu when it comes to his music selections, but he has assured me in the past that no music was re-used from past footage. It could be the Top 40 effect.

Chip: I actually didn't get that with this DVD set. It was all new to me.

Steven: Except on Disk 3, but those were all submissions by others, anyway.

Chip: Disk 3 was contest entries, so that's a different story.

Steven: It's the fault of those that entered them in the contest. That's it. Well, the best is easily on Disk 1. Almost anything in Japan was my favorite.

Chip: Overall, I thought it was a great DVD set, but not their best. It lacked a little bit of fun, but it's hard for me to say why. I laughed quite a bit, and I loved the Japanese TV. Disk 1 was the best. Usually I like on-ride footage, but the park footage and nonpark footage was really cool.

Steven: I think the footage is maturing -- not in their antics but in how they cover it. Personally I think it's their best yet. Though, the Japanese game show with Beastality (excuse me ... inter-species erotica) was just sick.

Chip: Ha. That was pretty sick. I think they have a better printer too. The DVD artwork and case cover artwork was higher quality than previous sets.

Steven: Their video was also better. They are getting a little better with camera control and editing it seems. It may just be me.

Chip: It seemed that way. The editing was really good. But some of the footage had hiccups in it like the tape was scratched or something. It was hardly noticeable, though.

Steven: That can happen, though I didn't seem to pay attention to it. Anyway, it's worth the $25. Plus, it's not available at your local Blockbuster or on Netflix.

Chip: It's definitely worth the purchase. It's an excellent video. The on-ride footage on disk 2 is great.

Steven: Keep in mind, that Robb is a professional at doing these videos, and he always receives prior permission from park management (which may include using any necessary rigs to hold the camera). Those who are thinking of doing their own POVs should follow the same steps as Robb has, or they can face being banned from a park and their enthusiast club (as has happened before).

Chip: Note that in one instance (Hades), Robb actually duct taped a lipstick camera to the front of the train in order to get the POV footage.

Steven: Well, I can't wait to see what their 2006 UK Trip will bring. Will it be better, or will it fall flat on its face?

Chip: I hope it's better than this one, that's all. Like I said earlier, this isn't up there with their best, even though it is a great video set.

Steven: I just need the money to join them one day.

Chip: ThrillNetwork and Theme Park Review on a trip together? Let the coaster dorkiness run wild.

Steven:

Chip: Exactly.

Theme Park Review, Robb and Elissa Alvey’s Web site can be viewed here.

To check out "Coaster Expedition Volume 7: Around the World With Theme Park Review," click here.

"Around the World With Theme Park Review" is $25.