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Review
This is the original. The one and only Universal Studios Hollywood, the place where movie history was, and still is, made. The incredible Steven Spielberg has his office here, Ron Howard and Brian Grazer run Imagine Entertainment from the backlots, Robert Zemeckis and Alfred Hitchcock worked in the studios. Movies like ‘Back to the Future’, ‘Indiana Jones’, ‘War of the Worlds’ and ‘Apollo 13’ were all partially shot on these grounds and many sets from your cinematic memories are still standing, accessible to everyone on the studio tour. If you have $199 to spare, book the VIP studio tour: it’s a great deal!
Four major thrill rides make it one of the world's best theme parks as well:
• 'Jurassic Park': terrific flume ride featuring John Williams' ear-pampering soundtrack, primeval jungle, broken cages, moving dinosaurs, falling cars and a brilliantly staged surprise at the end
• 'Revenge of the Mummy': well-themed back-and-forwards roller coaster in the dark, different to and a bit less thrilling than the Universal Studios Florida version that goes by the same name
• 'Terminator 2 3-D': fabulous 3-D movie experience, directed by Titanic genius James Cameron and theme park legend Gary Goddard in 1996 and starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and Linda Hamilton. Full of surprises and great effects that go far beyond simple 3-D. Considering it's well over a decade old, this 'movie ride' is tremendously exciting and so are the performances of the live-actors.
• 'Transformers': added in 2013, this is the finest and wildest 3-D ride to date, fitted with some awe-inspiring dive-into-the-screen moments.
A must-visit when you are in Los Angeles! In fact, Universal Studios is better than anything else you'll find on the tourist paths through Hollywood.
Universal Studios Hollywood from above
The real studio sections of the park
The Back to the Future area that burnt down shortly after
Waterworld stunt show
Jurassic Park Shoot-the-Chutes water ride
Jurassic Park from above
Entrance to the Jurassic Park section
Inside Jurassic Park
Dinosaur animatronics (this one is a little bit stiff)
Raptor cage
Car falling
Final splashdown
Studio Tram at Universal Studios Hollywood
Mexico section (this is where parts of Indiana Jones 4 were shot)
More Mexico: this area is flooded when the Studio Tram passes by
War of the Worlds setting
Crashed airplane appearing in Spielberg's War of the Worlds
Real studio surrounding
Entrance to the Mummy roller coaster
Mummy setting in the queue
Revenge of the Mummy coaster car
This escalator brings you from the Lower Lot the the Upper Lot
It's quite a distance between the two
Escalator crowds
Terminator 3-D cinema
House of Horrors, a walk-through ghost house
Hamburgers in the Upper Lot
Simpsons Ride under construction
View down on the Lower Lot (where Jurassic Park and Mummy are located)
Movie geniuses Steven Spielberg and Ron Howard work from here
Update 2013: entering the King Kong cave, a new addition to the Studio Tram Tour
Inside King Kong: 3-D projections on both sides of the tram
Mesmerized Asian visitor
Another novelty to the tram tour: Jurassic Park scenery
Transformers character posing with the kids
Transformers: The Ride
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