The Show::
Basically the show was a response (even though they wont admit it) to the amazing nighttime shows that we see at the Disney parks and yes even Sea World so it was only logical that Universal did one too, and what would be the premise of the show? Movies, go figure, and balls...big balls. 4 of them actually dotting the lagoon, they certainly were massive and very neat to see at night as they radiated different colors. Inside of them was more than just some lights, their was a set of projectors that would project inside the balls to show the images of various scenes from Universal’s films. It’s what you call cinnesphere technology. On either side of the globes were some pyrotechnic mortars that were uncomfortably close to the audience..I mean when I can feel the heat from the pyro it is too close...anyways..their were also pyrotechnics that would shoot from various locations around the lagoon (from on top of the buildings of course). On the building’s sides were more projections of the Universal films to accent and immerse the audience (and any other descriptor theme parks use). And of course no nighttime show would be complete without lasers, and some vary nice lasers at that.
Scene 1 Opening - So the show began with the obvious Universal logo and some pyro that would fire on the bum bums of the Universal theme..it was actually a great epic intro to a deceivingly epic show...then we saw Jim Carrey appear with a camera (no the big balls couldn’t even make him interesting) and off we went into the first scene with a big bang...acctually two...the first scene really was a great intro into the world of Universal films, their wasn’t too much pyro in this scene but enough t were it felt like a good introduction.
Scene 2 Action - So this is where the show takes a turn to some awesome pyrotechnics and whimsy right...well not so much. Scene 1 ended with the Blues Brothers followed by another burst of colorful pyro. Next the cars from Fast and the Furios appeared on the balls...spheres..For a while their was absolutely nothing except for the ba..spheres..showing action packed movie clips...no pyro...no lasers..no projections on the buildings, just footage (get used to it that’s how the whole show goes). Their were a few moments of explosions like the epic part when Scarface appeared and delivered his “se hello to ma little frien” *boom* line and an explosion occurred in the lagoon, it was a great one of those “that was awesome, great now all of the children are crying” moments. Their was also a pretty great Mummy scene that involved the building projections and some pyro.
Scene 3 Drama- So this is the scene that will advance the show right...I mean now that we are pumped, evil is going to come and we are going to be freaked out.........no...acctually the opposite, we are going to suffer through yet another scene with no pyro (at least this one had wall projections) and be forced to only view footage...this time set to slow music (I really do like the Apollo 13 soundtrack though)...you know what their is nothing to really talk about here so let’s move on
Scene 4 Horror - So the drama scene ended and now everyone is tired and ready to leave...is the finale up now?................no....this scene began with a giant eyeball on the globes and a giant spider on the side of the Back to the Fut....I mean Simpson’s Building. The scene began with Termintor, their were explosions everywhere and you felt like you were in the middle of the battle of the Termintors and humans, and then it...stopped, no more battle or pyro just walls and balls again. (I’m starting to notice a pattern). This scene was obviously horror, and how horrifying it was. Their were gory and grotesque scenes with no epic-ness tied into them so they were merely there for shock value I guess. I mean how can you not have all of the great Universal villains create havok like the Disney ones do in Fantasmic! I mean imagine the epic possibilities..At any rate the scene ended with the worst transition in theme park history a scene from Wolfman that said “When the full moon rises, I’ll turn into a wolf...(another man in the room says) you and fourty million other guys”...really?! That sums up Universal’s horror LEGACY...it’s obvious they were trying to make a joke that would transition us into the next scene which was comedy (you may want to skip that one it’s pretty ugly) but c’mon..they should have just had a scary moment where Jaws is approaching someone about ready to eat them as the dramatic theme is playing behind then abruptly stop it with a record player hault sound effect then play a fart sound effect while an explosion happens in the lagoon...Yes that pissed me off that much...
Scene 5 Comedy - So you are probably wondering why did you stay for this...well I can’t answer that, I was probably still in shock from the transition from Horror to here but I digress...so comedy was next. The music score chosen for this scene was “I Believe” this one started with some pyro (ok now they are just messing with us) and seemed to drag on forever. I’m pretty sure Universal chose the most unfunny moments from some of the funniest movies they possibly could..I mean their are so many quotable lines in American Pie, but “this one time, at band camp” was the only one they could come up with. The Nutty Profesor and yes even Shrek made and appearance....why? Shrek was good as a fairy tale, Nutty Professor was good as...firewood..I mean why have one good and one bad movie next to each other..if anything it devalued the good one. You know what I’m done with this scene...
Scene 6 Adventure - So we are done with comedy (thankfully) and onto Adventure...and how do we get there? How do I explain this in a logical way....um “Kelly Clarkson” *BOOM* If you don’t understand that then you are lucky..if you do I apologize for bringing up old wounds. This scene was rather calm and relaxing with a lot of great scenery and really should have been put in the front of the show after the first scene...you are going to be so surprised but their was no pyro in this scene either..just pretty fly bys..it was very short, very boring, and relied totally on the balls again (wow I really set myself up for that one)
Scene 7 Romance - This one began with Drew Barrymore screaming and the E.T. theme playing in the background (how enchanting)...This one was all about love and did involve some cool pyro...I mean the beginning really surprised you as some red rockets shot up from around the lagoon and exploded with a shimmer and crackle...then towards the middle some beautiful shimmering pyro shells went off in the sky and cascaded down creating a multi-layered effect between the buildings, balls, and sky. The scene went on with some smooches and ended with E.T. delivering the tear jerking line “I’ll be right here” and off he went on his spaceship...as he lifted off around the lagoon planet shells were shot into the sky and a sillouhette of ET, Elliot and his friends were projected on the buildings as lasers filled the sky...it was the best scene I have to say, but the awesome-ness of it came waaaay to late in the show to be appritiated. Moments like that would have made this show do a complete 360 (hardie har), but by the time we were at this scene 14 minutes of random clips, explosions, and Kelly Clarksons had gone by.
Scene 8 Finale - So they really could have ended the show there and I would have been satisfied with it writting it off as average but not too bad....and then they tagged on a vary unnecessary finale filled with, you guessed it...no pyro what so ever..The was basically a rehash of the movies we had already seen and by this time we were bored of them. Now I will give this scene props, the soundtrack was great...basically it was a unique theme that involved a mash-up of different Universal themes that we had just heard, and he very last build up and firework finale was pretty awesome, but again it was very under appritiated because of the cluster f**k we had to go through to get there...the very last few minutes of the show...rather the last 30 seconds of the show put Illuminations last 30 seconds to shame, and I mean that, it was great...watch it by itself on Youtube and see for yourself...pyro going off everywhere, a great soundtrack, and lasers going crazy...in essence what the first 15 minutes should have been...I know before I said the finale was unnecessary and I believe the first half of it was, but the very very end really saved the show from people saying “wow, that was the worst thing I have ever seen” instead they only said “that’ not what I expected”
The Review::
Alright so the show wasn’t that bad and some of the scenes were very clever, but look here is the issue when compared to the other offerings at Universal (Spiderman, Mummy, etc) and when compared to a Disney fireworks show it dosen’t do well. It really wasn’t a spectacular close to the day nor was it a great way for Universal’s parks to be remembered. I mean here is the problem, the last thing you show your guests is going to be the strongest memory...if this was the last thing I saw (and I wasn’t already a huge Universal fan) it would have left a very sour taste in my mouth. The show wasn’t bad, I mean take it and put it into Six Flags and it would have probably done well...take it and put it into Orlando and it just doesn't work. For a resort that I believe was and always is looking for what is cutting-edge I truly believe this show went against what the park is and sets out to do. Maybe I’m being harsh, but I gave the show four tries and felt numb...the tipping point for me was during version 2 of the show where they cut out HALF of the pyro...yeah I don’t think I need to mention how much worse it was. So overall I give this show a 2.5 / 5 not unbearable...but not good...and that is Universal 360.
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