Hollywood Popular Artists

May 17th 2012, 13:47

So the summer movie season is officially in full swing, with all kinds of big blockbusters hitting theaters each and every week, offering up action-packed experiences of the highest cinematic quality and the best visual effects studio money can buy. And no matter how impressive the 3D or digital technology, there's only so much you can experience from your seat in a crowded movie theater.

For those of you thrill-seekers out there who are looking for a little extra bang for your buck and willing to take a trip to the west coast, Universal Studios has taken the best elements of the fancy cinematic 3D technology and incorporated it into their latest, cutting-edge attraction with "Transformers The Ride 3D." Think "Star Tours" but with amped-up, in-your-face-battle-action involving Optimus Prime, Megatron and trusty Bumblebee.

MTV News was lucky enough to snag an invite to come check out the ride just before it opened to the public. Here's a rundown of what to expect:

The ride is built around several aspects that will be familiar to fans of the film franchise. As you enter the ride space you are swept up in joining a tactical effort to stop Megatron and the Decepticons from mounting an attack and getting control of the AllSpark. As soon as passengers are belted into their EVAC vehicles, the real fun begins and you are literally thrown into the middle of a robot battle. The individual passenger cars weave in and out of the story, with stylized 3D projections in front of you that make it seem as though you're part of the fight. The actual movement of the cars includes major twists and turns, as well as huge butterfly-inducing drops that simulate the cars flying through the air and dangling from Transformers' finger tips. Not to mention the characters literally get in your face via the projections and 3D glasses.

In collaboration with Industrial Light & Magic, Universal created a ride with high definition 3D media that brings every metallic feature of your favorites to life. The ride also uses advanced flight simulation technology. Every move in battle sends you whipping through air, crashing into buildings, flipping your sense of reality. It truly is a multi-sensory, adrenaline-jolting experience.

During our disembarkation, one of our colleagues pointed out that the 3D rides are likely a glimpse into the future of what movie-going might become: highly-technical, multimedia and multi-sensory extravaganzas. We can definitely see the value in transforming (no pun intended) more popular film franchises into theme park rides, particularly when Universal has produced such a fun alternative to the "Transformers" movies with its entertaining and satisfying new attraction.

-additional reporting by Azia Celestino

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