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The Terminator returns -- in 3D
Author: By Richard P. Carpenter, Globe Staff
Date: SUNDAY, May 19, 1996
Page: B14
Section: Travel
ORLANDO, Fla. -- The Terminator is back, and he's in your face. Literally.
This time around, Arnold Schwarzenegger's sarcastic cyborg is the hero of a
wild new attraction at Universal Studios Florida that blends a
three-dimensional movie with just about every other kind of theme-park
technology: animatronic robots, motion simulation, ear-shattering stereo and
surprising special effects. And, oh yes, real people, too.
The 12-minute show, titled ``Terminator 2 3-D, the Battle Across Time'' --
T2 3-D for short -- has been up and running since late April, and crowd
reaction has largely been, ``Wow!'' Universal, after all, did spend $60
million to elicit those wows.
The 3-D film builds on the action movie ``Terminator 2: Judgment Day'' and
has the same director, James Cameron, and same stars: Ah-nold, of course, plus
Linda Hamilton, Robert Patrick and Edward Furlong. The movie represents $23
million of the total cost, of which a reported $1 million was paid to
Schwarzenegger for 14 days' work. Frame for frame, it is the most expensive
live-action film ever made.
The story, which is really secondary to the special effects by Stan Winston
and John Bruno, has the swaggering Schwarznegger continuing to be a good-guy
Terminator who, oddly, has been programmed to speak English with an Austrian
accent. With his young sidekick, Furlong, he travels to the Los Angeles of
2029 to take on the evil technology outfit Skynet and its army of mechanical
killing machines. A real-live Schwarzenegger look-alike hops on a Harley and
roars right into the film (well, he appears to, anyway) and the action is on.
Animatronic robots rise from the sides of the theater and blast away at the
audiences. Mechanical hunter-killer probes take to the air and buzz out of the
screen. (Schwarzenegger smashes one, and with typical laconic humor tells the
beeping wreckage, ``Stop whining!'') The live actors, meanwhile, dash in and
out of trap doors.
As the show nears a climax, a giant mechanical creepy-crawly creature
called the T-1,000,000 walks among the three adjoining 23- by 50-foot movie
screens, poking its nasty limbs at audience members, some of whom may be
screaming pretty loudly by now. Schwarzenegger does battle, there are a couple
of surprising special effects (which I won't reveal) and the Terminator utters
his trademark line, ``I'll be back.''
So, apparently, will a lot of thrill-ride fans, whose senses may not have
been able to absorb all the special effects the first time around -- like the
smell of sulfur when weapons are fired or the feel of the wind whistling by
during the flight of the hunter-killers. Such effects don't come simply: A web
of more than 100 miles of cable is woven through the attraction to activate
the audio, video, computer systems and other oh-so-technical equipment. The
audience does its part, wearing 3-D glasses, masquerading as safety goggles.
(And, inevitably, after the show, some audience members are heard doing bad
Schwarzenegger imitations.)
A two-minute pre-show also has its moments -- or at least its moment. The
sinister company Cyberdine Systems is trying to convince the public over
television screens that it is really a warm-hearted outfit. To illustrate its
benevolence, the firm shows Orlando Magic basketball giant Shaquille O'Neal
wearing a tiny red Cyberdine Vision Enhancer in his eye -- and actually
sinking a foul shot. You can be certain that Floridians in the T2 audience
cheer wildly over that.
Along with T2 3-D, there are more than three dozen other attractions at
Universal Studios Florida, ranging from a stage show for the kiddies starring
that lovable purple dinosaur, Barney, to a ``Jaws'' ride in shark-infested
waters, to a journey to gentle E.T.'s home planet, to that still-incredible
simulator ride through space and time, ``Back to the Future.''
And speaking of the future, Universal Studios Florida is busy transforming
itself into Universal City Florida. The multibillion-dollar expansion will
include a second theme park featuring five ``Islands of Adventure,'' opening
in 1999, and a massive entertainment complex called the E-Zone, opening in
1998. Also scheduled for completion between 1999 and 2005 are five themed
hotels, a golf course, a convention center and on and on.
Already open, however, is the Universal City Travel Co., which, among
other things, offers a three-night package that includes unlimited admission
to Universal, Sea World and Wet 'n Wild, along with lodging and transportation
to and from the parks.
All of this, along with Disney's ever-growing empire and the dozens of
other area attractions, can mean only one thing: It's getting increasingly
difficult for vacationers to say ``Hasta la vista, baby'' to amazing Orlando.
SIDEBAR:
IF YOU GO . . .
Universal Studios Florida is in Orlando, about one-half mile north of
Interstate 4. The admission price includes all attractions and shows. A
one-day ticket, including tax, costs $40.81 for ages 10 and older and $32.86
for ages 3 to 9. A two-day ticket costs $58.30 and $46.64, respectively.
Three-park hotel packages begin at $159.
Although Terminator 2 3-D is already operating, a grand opening will be
held sometime in June, with Arnold Schwarzenegger attending. The attraction
has a seating capacity of 700 people and can accommodate up to 2,400 guests an
hour. Nonetheless, expect a line.
Universal is open 365 days a year. The park opens at 9 a.m. but closes
anywhere from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m., depending on the season and other factors.
For more information, call (407) 363-8000.
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