Sarah Thunder's World Travels: London

By: Sarah Thunder

     Thanks for the review for Transformers: the Ride - 3-D, Andrew! I can't wait to check it out! Anyway, we're still here in London. Filming has kind of stalled because of two things. First, because of the Olympics, the entire city was packed, which made it hard to enforce our closed set policy (which explains why I'm not allowed to share any photos here). On top of that, assistant director Barry Hollows had to leave the set when he was offered $20 million to direct the follow-up to his smash hit film Zombie: Genesis, which is titled Zombie: Exodus (watch it here). As it is implied at the end, Barry won't back on the set anytime soon, so another assistant director, Mark Winters, was hired temporarily.

     However, we're shooting the first big action scene for the movie today, so I can't write much right now. I've been practicing parkour along with the other actors for this scene for the last few weeks. Usually, we would have stuntmen do this, but Barry said, before he left to direct Zombie: Exodus, that the actors should do their own stunts. His reasoning is that it makes the movie more believable and that it cuts production costs, even though it sends our insurance through the roof. This may be a weird and unsafe idea, but with Barry Hollows, nothing surprises me anymore.

     Hold on. That's the PA speaking. We're having lunch right at noon, then we start filming immediately after. I really hope jumping off of and on to moving vehicles is easier than it looks. Well, I have to go eat now. Until I write again, happy travels!
     Update by Andrew: Because of the ongoing expansion of the Mustache Maniacs Film Co. website, the design for this travel journal has now changed. Details from our San Diego trip are coming soon.

Photographs from Universal Studios Hollywood

By: Andrew Bermudez

     Sorry that I'm a little late on this. We've been very busy with another weekend vacation and have now gotten the chance to put this up. Coverage of our weekend trip to San Diego will be compiled this upcoming weekend and week.

     Besides Transformers: the Ride - 3-D, Universal Studios Hollywood also have several other attractions, mostly shows. Here are some pictures from this relatively small (but not too small) theme park.

A foolish adventurer who dared to defile Imhotep's tomb lies in the line for Revenge of the Mummy

Some street performers play some up-beat ragtime tunes on Baker Street.

The NBC Universal Experience features changing exhibits that showcase props, concept sketches, animation puppets, and more from NBC Universal's movies and television shows.

Alfred Hitchcock's bungalow.

In order to enter King Kong 360 3-D, the Studio Tour tram must make a 180 turn! Get it?  *GROAN*.

The DeLorean from Back to the Future.

Artificial rain makes up for dry days in Southern California.

The Special Effects Stage, in its new location, is a really good show; maybe even better than the original version of this show.

     Though a little hard to get to, Universal Studios Hollywood is certainly worth a day trip. If you want to visit the park (and brave the notorious L.A. traffic to get there), be sure to visit their website to buy tickets, plan your visit, check operating hours, and more. However, you won't find a show schedule on the website; you'll pick that up along with your map at the front gate.

     Well, that's all for today. This weekend, I'll put up the photos and share my thoughts from San Diego, as well as spell check and update the 2009 vacation photo gallery. Until then, happy travels!

What's New to Do: Transformers: the Ride - 3-D at Universal Studios Hollywood

By: Andrew Bermudez

     Prepare to be immersed in the largest battle zone you may ever see aboard the brand-new motion base dark ride, Transformers: the Ride - 3-D! This is what the ads have been saying about Universal Studios Hollywood's latest attraction.

     Now, to be honest, I wasn't anticipating this attraction as much as the other new attractions that opened this year, like Cars Land at Disney California Adventure and the LAIR at the Los Angeles Zoo. True, I do like to see the latest technology, but...uh...let's just say that I'm not the biggest fan of the Transformers movies (I despised the second film in the series, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen). But, as the saying goes, don't judge a book by its cover; or, in this case, theme park attraction by its concept. So, let's get started.

     Transformers: The Ride - 3-D rests in the sound stage on the Lower Lot that used to house Backdraft and Special Effects Stage (the latter of the two moved to the Upper Lot). The front of the new attraction is graced with a mural of Optimus Prime and Megatron battling in front of a massive explosion. Below the mural is the entrance to the ride.

     Even if you are not familiar with the Transformers storyline, the story of the attraction is still easy to follow. You, the guests, are the latest recruits for N.E.S.T., or Non-organic Extraterrestrial Species Treaty. Their job is to assist the Autobots, a group of heroic transformers lead by Optimus Prime, in protecting Earth from the evil Decepticons, who want to destroy Earth and the Autobots. As you progress through the line, you find out that N.E.S.T. is housing the All-Spark, which can turn any electronic or mechanical device into a Transformer. You are just about to begin your training, but before you can, the Decepticons unleash an attack on the base, intent on stealing the All-Spark. You are then ordered downstairs, where you'll be evacuated, along with the All-Spark, aboard EVAC.

     In past attractions, the ride vehicle acted solely as a means of moving the guests through the attraction. However, with both this attraction and Disney California Adventure's Radiator Springs Racers, the ride vehicle has now, literally, become a character in the story. In this attraction, EVAC is an Autobot who serves as the ride's vehicle.

     Here, the set-up is done; the ride now begins. Using motion base and 3-D technology, you aim to escape the city, but the Decepticons ambush you at every corner. The Autobots provide enough covering fire to allow you to escape, but soon you're on your own with nowhere to hide. Megatron even tries to lower you're spirits by snarling, "Cowards run. Heroes fight." But EVAC is now done with running. He lunges at Megatron and uses the All-Spark to destroy his body. With Megatron gone, everyone returns to N.E.S.T. as heroes.

     Despite my dislike for the movies, I really enjoyed the attraction. The quality of the line alone is top notch, and the ride itself seamlessly blends storytelling into its action to give the battle plausible context. The 3-D looks great, the sensory effects work really well, and the fact that the attraction is a motion-base dark ride rather than a simple simulator is a great touch. All-in-all, this is what I feel the movies should have been like. I highly recommend it if you plan on visiting Universal Studios Hollywood or Universal Studios Singapore (the Universal Studios Orlando version is currently under construction), even if you don't like or haven't seen the movies. It's a great addition to the park.

A Visit to the Richard Nixon Presidential Library

By: Andrew Bermudez

     Recently, my family bought a house down in Yorba Linda, which is in desperate need of repair. While the needed maintenance can be troublesome, the house has an advantage in that several tourist attractions are a short distance away, including the Richard Nixon Presidential Library!

     It was very early in the day, and since it can get hot by the afternoon in a Southern California summer day, we decided to check out the outside first.

     The main outside area consists of a reflecting pool flanked by two wings of the building. It forms an image similar to the National Mall at Washington D.C., which we saw a few years back. Near the reflecting pool is a rose garden and the burial site of Richard Nixon.

     Also outside is the original house that Nixon was born in. Almost everything about the house is original, from the original bed spreads to the original instruments Nixon used in his childhood and even the original dinner table. Even the location of the house is original; it wasn't moved one bit from its original site (according to the tour guide, the only movement the house made was vertical; it was lifted so that the foundation could be replaced).

     Another outside exhibit is Marine One, Nixon's presidential helicopter. This also had a short tour, which showed what was where, including who sat where. What I was surprised about was how small it was, especially in height (I actually banged my head when I was exiting). Regardless, it is still an important part of the museum and Nixon's life.

     From there, we went on inside, where we checked out a replica of the White House's East Room and a special exhibit about Pat Nixon, Richard's wife.

     Inside the special exhibit, there were many artifacts on display, including Pat's many dresses, the cage that carried the National Zoo's first giant panda from China to Washington D.C. (which we also saw a few years back), and the one and only "Washington Crosses the Delaware" painting! We did not get a picture of the painting, but we were taken back by its sheer size. It was an amazing piece of art that added to the exhibit.

     After that, we paid a visit the main gallery, which focuses on Nixon's political life. It starts with Nixon's election to congress and his involvement on the Committee of Un-American Activities. From there, it traces his life as vice president and his first bid for the presidency in 1960. After losing the election, the exhibit then traces his family life, then to his election as president and all that he did during his presidency, including ending the Vietnam War and opening connections to China. The exhibit ends with a look at the Watergate Scandal and his life after leaving politics.

     While it is not as good as some of the other presidential libraries, such as the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library (which I may be visiting again soon), it is still a good place to visit. However, be warned that in the main gallery, there aren't a lot of artifacts, though the ones they do have are real for the most part. However, the number of artifacts featured is still greater than the flashy Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library, which only had a handful situated in a back corner of the main rotunda. If you want to visit the Richard Nixon Presidential Library, check out their website for operating hours, admission rates, special events, and more.

     Well, that finishes today's post, and not one bad joke (Yay!). Next time, I'll be heading down to Hollywood to see something new that has "transformed" that area's tourism. Can you guess where I'm heading next?