Originally Posted By HauntedMansionFan Took a ride on Maelstrom last week -- I couldn't believe the sad shape the attraction is in, it doesn't look like it's been upgraded at all since it opened in 1988. Maelstrom is such an EPCOT gem, I'd love to see a full refurb. Any chance of that happening?
Originally Posted By RoadTrip Yes, a full referb and a new movie. The movie really sucks tremendously. Any Showcase movie should make people want to visit the country and should be shown BEFORE the ride. No one wants to sit through a movie AFTER the ride. You aren't going to sell many people on making a trip to Norway to view the three-headed trolls or offshore oil platforms that the ride displays. Show people stuff they want to see when they view the movie. If they want to know how it is done they should view Impressions de France... one of my FAVORITE Epcot attractions. FANTASTIC score accompanying scene after scene of such beauty that they could probably sell me airfare to get there if it were offered on my way out!
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA The movie after the ride is odd -- very counter to how Disney usually produces attractions. Although, while dated, the movie is quite good. The little kid looking at the old Viking ship and flashing back in history. Not cool?
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<Although, while dated, the movie is quite good. The little kid looking at the old Viking ship and flashing back in history. Not cool?>> I don't know about others, but it doesn't give me any reason to visit the country. Norway is a land of great beauty. They could do much better.
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA Indeed, Road Trip. Although I always thought the cutie Norwegian cast members were reason enough to want to visit. Back in the late 80s - early 90s they sure were cute.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<Although I always thought the cutie Norwegian cast members were reason enough to want to visit. Back in the late 80s - early 90s they sure were cute. >> Hard to top those buxom sweeties in Germany though... ;-)
Originally Posted By RoadTrip Das ist wahr. FINALLY... first time in 53 years I've used my High School German!!
Originally Posted By FerretAfros The movie was essentially made as an advertisement for the 11(?) companies that formed the pavilion's original sponsorship consortium. They wanted to show off their cutting-edge nature, which simply hasn't aged well in the last 25 years (check out the outfits on the fashion models!). I think it's still fun, but mostly for its kitsch factor, which is simply off the charts For what it's worth, when I visited Norway many years ago, most of the places that we actually saw were shown in the film (including the viking ship museum). Given the pavilion's setup, where boatloads of guests back up on the dock until the theater is opened back up, it's tough for them to produce anything longer than about 5 minutes, which is hardly enough time to really do anything justice, especially a place with such interesting natural geography. It would be great if they could redo the film, and make it 'mandatory' viewing rather than leaving the doors open for guests to walk through, but it's just a really awkward setup to work with Also, since the pavilion lost its sponsors (about a decade ago? see also: princess buffet) it will be difficult to convince Disney that it's worth spending the money on, even if it is one of the oddest attractions on property
Originally Posted By danyoung >... which simply hasn't aged well in the last 25 years (check out the outfits on the fashion models!)...< I don't notice the models' attire that much, but I sure notice that cutting edge computer system!
Originally Posted By Witches of Morva ORDDU: Malestrom is also disappointing because it's such a short little attraction. What there is of it is very well done. But it needs to be longer. It needs-- ORGOCH: --a lot more trolls! Cain't never have 'nuff a them!
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt "They wanted to show off their cutting-edge nature, which simply hasn't aged well in the last 25 years (check out the outfits on the fashion models!)." Wait, they haven't updated the Norway film since EPCOT opened? I'm sitting in front of my computer holding my head in disbelief. How complicated can it be to draft a script and send a Disney film crew to Norway to put something together? How long is the film? Like less than 5 minutes? Those poor Norwegian cast members must be horrified.
Originally Posted By sjhym333 The movie in France is also the original one. Disney doesn't the need to update things like the movie I guess. The movie at the end is part of the storytelling. You ride the attraction that talks about trolls and polar bears, you disembark in a small town and the movie shows modern Norway. I believe the movie was directed by an award winning Norwegian director. I have never been a big fan of the movie, but I guess at the time it worked. I worked on Norway for several months for Imagineering and then operations. What a mess.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros The movie for France has aged much better, IMO. It focuses more on the scenery and traditional aspects of culture with wide-angle shots, where you really can't make out the clothes or cars too much. Yes, there are a couple scenes that look dated (the bikers come to mind), but for the most part it still resonates well with audiences I also think that using a traditional score full of well known classical pieces really helped them overcome any potential aging issues. The Norway film uses modern music to show off a modern country; the trouble is that the film is now a time capsule rather than a contemporary showcase
Originally Posted By RoadTrip Yes, Impressions de France is still very enjoyable for the reasons you indicate. It still pulls in good crowds without being a part of any other attraction. Could the Norway film do that? No way!!
Originally Posted By plpeters70 I'd love to see them rip-out the theater and use that space to extend the ride. The Maelstrom has great potential, but after the trolls, just ends too quickly. Another couple minutes of ride time would really help - especially if he scenes were created with more of the quality like they have at the beginning of the ride.
Originally Posted By mrkthompsn I remember the day it opened. The reversing boats was "amazing technology" back then.
Originally Posted By CDF2 While I can certainly see that those of you who frequent Epcot would like to see Maelstrom changed, let's not forget that for the first time visitors or for those that might visit Epcot every 5 or 6 years Maelstrom is a fine attraction. Sure, the movie is a bit dated and one would think that a new one could be produced that might make guests want to stick around. But there is no way you are going to hold up those repeat Epcot guests who are just interested in the ride and who bolt through the theatre before the doors close on the other side.
Originally Posted By tashajilek I was a first time visitor and I loved Maelstrom. We always skipped the movie though, looked very dated and boring.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip I disagree. Impressions de France is still a well attended attraction and receives positive reviews and it is nothing BUT a movie. Given a quality film like that, I'd skip the lame Maelstrom ride and head straight for the movie.
