New Alltel commercial: is it in bad taste?

Apparently you people don't get out much, because roller coasters go over midways all the time... why would this commercial be setting a bad example if the people are in areas that are intended to be accessed by guests? Regardless, we've already pointed out several times that there is a fence between the family and the coaster, which obviously means that they aren't in a restricted zone. Here are some rides that come to mind that prove that being in a cell phone and sunglasses area doesn't mean you're in a restricted area: example 1 example 2 example 3

^

Personally I would have used Corkscrew at CP as a classic example of guests being able to walk in into a falling item hazard zone..

Years ago, had the advantage of seeing some glasses fall one time, fortunately there was one train running and with a quick race to the station I was able to return it to the owner, but not without a 'shame on you for loose item' look.

Mamoosh said:
I'm not arguing anything. If one was to stand under the cobra roll one would also not be standing under the overbanked turn. That's a fact.

You're right about that. But in the scenes where the coaster comes near ground level they are clearly positioned underneath the Cobra Roll. Those are the scenes I was referring to. The scene in the beginning when the little girl finds the 47 cents is a good example.

Tatsu has a couple falling item hazard zones too.

example 1, example 2

I don't see anything "clearly" indicating they're under anything.

The only part of the coaster which has track near ground level which travels parallel in opposite directions is the Cobra Roll. You can see this part of the ride 3 seconds into the commercial then again with the train going the other way 10 seconds in. If you haven't seen it in person you may not recognize this area just from watching the commercial, but since I've rode it over 400 times.....

I am a Verizon user myself, but I do like the Alltel commercials! I know there are so many concerns about why the family is under the coaster, but like a couple of others have said it is just for fun! I think its funny myself!

All of this really doesn't matter because even though the location of the commercial is a real place, it takes place in a made up, "pretend" if you will, location.

But I still stand by my opinion. If the fictional location was actually in the real world, falling objects would probably cause the fictional park to barrier it off (like TTD at CP) or put a net between the ride and the ground so that people were not in danger of getting hit with loose items.

But it's not real, so who cares? The writer(s) wrote the family under the ride, and in harms way, but the family is not real. I doubt the actors were in any danger either.

Off topic - I really like this commercial, but one thing bothers me about a lot of commercials these days. Why are the kids smarter than the adults? It ticks me off sometimes. A lot of commercials these days make parents look like morons and kids very mature. If the kid in this commecial really had parents like that, he whould not be so awesomely rock-star-cool, he would probably be kind of irritating.

LostKause said:
Off topic - I really like this commercial, but one thing bothers me about a lot of commercials these days. Why are the kids smarter than the adults? It ticks me off sometimes. A lot of commercials these days make parents look like morons and kids very mature. If the kid in this commecial really had parents like that, he whould not be so awesomely rock-star-cool, he would probably be kind of irritating.

I blame Gary Coleman.

...the scenes where the coaster comes near ground level they are clearly positioned underneath the Cobra Roll. Those are the scenes I was referring to. The scene in the beginning when the little girl finds the 47 cents is a good example.

Sorry but you're are incorrect.

:04 seconds in - the grassy area is between the overbank and the cobra roll. The camera is pointed eastward, with the entrance gate in the background. The train is heading INTO the cobra roll. The top of the cobra roll is out of frame at the top.

:08 seconds in: "Look I found .47 cents!" - they're in the same position and you can see the train exiting the cobra roll. This and the previous scene were filmed as one shot and split into two during the editing process.

:19 seconds in - mom has joined the group. They are still in the SAME SPOT between the overbank turn and the cobra roll.

At NO TIME is any of the actors actually under the cobra roll.

I can't believe I've watched this lame commercial so many times because of this thread! ;)

Well...if that addict guy would just admit he's wrong....

;)

Well, I don't want to have to watch the commercial again, so I propose we all meet up at the park and do a little reenactment. Then we can all look up and see where we are. Sound like a plan? ;)

Mamoosh said:
:04 seconds in - the grassy area is between the overbank and the cobra roll. The camera is pointed eastward, with the entrance gate in the background. The train is heading INTO the cobra roll. The top of the cobra roll is out of frame at the top.

If the top of the Cobra Roll is out of frame at the top that means they are underneath it. That is the basic point of everything I have posted about this. The overbank is not actually that close to the Cobra Roll. It was edited that way. This will be my last post about this. I've never typed "Cobra Roll" so many times in my life, lol. I'm also sick of watching that commercial.

It's JUST a commercial. I don't see anything negative about it.

^^Either you have no real clue of the ride or park layout or no clue of how a camera operates. Either way, last post or not, you're still wrong about where those actors and the "grassy knoll" are.

coasterqueenTRN said:
It's JUST a commercial. I don't see anything negative about it.

Oh, Tina, I disagree! Losing a retainer on a coaster is a very serious business! Think of that poor kid's teeth! I've thought a lot about it and I'm going to call the American Dental Association... I really think they should be made aware of this. ;)

Call Diane Sawyer and start blaming Mountain Dew!

It's always Mountain Dew's fault, Jeff :)

Mountain Dew is in bad taste....oh, wait, it just tastes bad! - signed, Diet Coke addict... ;)