America’s Greatest Roller Coaster Thrills (DTS)

 

Picture: B-     Sound: B+     Extras: C     Film: B

 

 

Outside of feature films one of the most interesting types of DVDs are the ones that allow you to experience something, in this case the thrill of riding on a roller coaster!  Since it would take quite some time and money to actually go around all over the U.S. and experience some of these thrill makers, it is nice to be able to experience them in the presence of your home and maybe even pick and choose your next destination point for vacation.

 

Goldhil has put together a DTS edition of their coaster covering some of the best coasters up until about 2000 for this program.  Some of the material is dated, but some of these coasters still hold certain records.  Here are the coasters featured:

 

Incredible Hulk

Dueling Dragons

Gwazi

Medusa

Apollo’s Chariot

Alpengeist

Twister

The Great Bear

Riddler’s Revenge

Superman, The Escape

Volcano, The Blast Coaster

Raging Bull

Viper

Joker’s Jinx

Ghostrider

Superman

The Steel Phantom

Magnum XL 200

Desperado

Cyclone

 

Each coaster is broken up by location across America as well as the type of coaster that it is.  By doing this, we are able to check out the coasters from a regional standpoint as well as the type that they are and how they compare to other coasters in their class.  This was a smart way to break up the DVD and each coaster is given a little introduction explaining its design as well as the region that it is in.  There is also insightful commentary provided by the filmmakers and director of photography, which give more depth to the story as well.  You can also check out the coasters in various angles, which also add a different dimension and allow you to experience each coaster in various ways.  You can also check out the original score for the film. 

 

Digital Versatile Disc is the essential meaning behind DVD, and this is exactly a blueprint DVD in terms of versatility allowing the viewer to experience the all multimedia aspects of the material.  The only way to top this would be to actually RIDE the coasters!  This is as close as it comes!  The DVD presents the material in a full frame ratio, which gives a block style look to the material and works best for this type of presentation.  The new DTS 5.1 mix far surpasses the counter Dolby 5.1 mix, which is also an option as well.  Sound is generally more towards the middle part of the soundfield in the DTS mix, which offers a more natural feel and sound is spread more throughout, where the Dolby maintains a much more frontal type of sound design.  The DTS also has a more prominent lower and higher end sound design, which also makes for a more naturalistic audio experience. 

 

Overall this is a fun package that even with its dated material is fun, which few DVD’s can claim to be.  This also works as a nice demo disc for the type of material that DVD can offer as well as some of the better quality offered in non-feature film programs.  You can order this and other titles exclusively from the distributor at www.goldhil.com which still also carries the Dolby-only version reviewed elsewhere on this site.

 

 

-   Nate Goss