Superman gets panned by Chicago Tribune

There is a cover story in the entertainment section of the Chicago Tribune today on Superman: Ultimate Flight. You have to be a member to read it. Excerpts:

"..the latest, not-so-great attraction is a bust..."

"Is that all there is?" will be the thoughts of many, after waiting in line for this creampuff of steel.

"Superman commits two cardinal sins: It's slow and boring"

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"Shut it Down" and get the Cutting Torches Out. No need for anyone to ride it if the " Chicago Tribune" panned it. No one is going to ride it anyway, you now how much we covet the Tribune when it comes to coasters.........:( :) ;)

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*** This post was edited by lumpy72 5/2/2003 11:26:53 AM ***

Maybe the Trib writer was just upset that they wouldn't send him to CP.

I hope this was an opinion column (with the writer's name and photo) and not a story. If it's a story, it's just wrong.

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A day is a drop of water in the ocean of eternity. A week is seven drops.

It's interesting, because their is a big, comprehensive story about coasters on the front page, with Superman as the point-of-entry to talk about how far coasters have come, how great they are, etc. And there is a huge pic of Superman. And then underneath that story, there is the review of Superman, which basically says,"Oh, by the way, your ride sucks."
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Buy "Stereotype Be" from Kevin Max at Amazon.com

Wow. That's harsh!

On the flip side, it's kind of refreshing to hear someone tell it like it is. Superman is kind of dull except for the pretzel. That was my inital impression with SFOG's and it was confirmed at SFGAdv.

But still when a major paper nails a ride like that...wow! You won't usually see more than a simple "fluff" piece when it comes to coaster and the media.

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www.coasterimage.com

LG, mo opinion *precisely*. Why even do more than a "fluff piece" anyway. I mean, panning a ride at the local park isn't going to make you more popular with the park OR the locals...

OTOH, I do agree that beyond the pretzel, the ride *could* use a little more of those Vekoma-flyer elements...even SFoG's would have been better had the tunnel been longer (perhaps some misters)...I think it's a good solid ride, certainly nothing exceptional...but *I* am not writing for a second-city newspapaer, either...;)

I read the story. It just so happens that this reporter (who is also a coaster enthusiast) didnt particularly care for the ride. He has his opinion and by all means he should tell the truth on how he felt. Why lie about it?

The GP is still going to love this ride.

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Arena football has arrived in the Windy City. Go "Chicago Rush"

See, this is why I always favored the Chicago Sun-Times newspaper anyway ;). But hey the critics consistantly say that certain movies suck, yet go on to make millions of dollars. People will ride Sup and make their own opiniions. Besides, I'm sure that a large portion of SFGAm's target audience *still* has not ridden both Deja Vu and V2 :)

lata, jeremy

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American troops "have started to commit suicide under the walls of Baghdad. We will encourage them to commit more suicides quickly." Muhammed Saeed al-Sahaf

Chi, I'm not suggesting *lying*, esp. about his opinion. As an enthusiast, I have my own opinions which I freely share with you all, AS fellow enthusiasts....you guys in general have a LOT more experience, and a better idea of what to expect (and notably, what NOT to expect). So I'm willing to give a little more of the "areas that could use some improvement". I wouldn't expect MOST readers of the local paper to have the *experience* necessary to be able to compare/contrast the B&M flyers with the Vekomas....

But, when I'm talking with a GP at a park, I tend to talk UP their park a little....LYING, no.....but perhaps I'll emphasize the positive aspects a bit more, and leave out a few of the more *critical aspects*...;)

But gator, why? The Trib doesnt rely on the park for *anything*. They get very little benefit from SFGAm. So if they pissed SFGAm off, who cares? If SFGAm was swallowed up by a sinkhole, never to be seen again, The Tribune Company wouldnt care one bit. Scratch that, that might be the one time they *would* care. Then they would be able to sell more copies of the self-proclaimed "World's Greatest Newspaper" and get ppl to tune into WGN-TV/Radio and CLTV.

I really have no love for the Tribune Compnay, except for the fact (or even because of the fact) that they own my beloved, yet accursed Chicago Cubs.

But in any case, they have no fear of alienating SFGAm. They *know* that when next SFGAm has a ride to promote, they will *still* be getting a phone call.

lata, jeremy

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American troops "have started to commit suicide under the walls of Baghdad. We will encourage them to commit more suicides quickly." Muhammed Saeed al-Sahaf

I commend him for actually giving an honest opinion of the ride. The fact that I pretty much agree with everything he said (as it pertains to the SFOG ride anyway) helps too.

Tuffy, it was most likely deleted the first time for copying and pasting copyrighted material. It will go again.

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www.coasterimage.com

as far as the time goes, most roller coasters record the time that you leave the station, go up the lift hill, through the track and back into the station as their times. Take batman the ride, the time from the top of the lift hill, till the end of the ride, entering the station, is like 45 seconds. However, it is one of the best 45 seconds in the whole park, in my opinoin.

Ive said it before and Ill say it again after riding X Flight and SFOG's S:UF I much prefer the more intense experience of X Flight, this reporters thoughts were exactly in line with mine after my first ride, the ride did grow on me though.

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Summer 03-CP, HP, Canobie, SFNE, SFWOA, and SFGAm.

Hostyl, you like the Sun-Times? The only thing they have going for them is Roger Ebert and Robert Novak. How can anyone respect a paper where Jesse Jackson is a regular columnist? :)

Back on subject, I tend to think that the GP will be a bit more thrilled than us jaded enthusiasts.

By the way, I respect the guy's opinion, but it's interesting that he pays no respect to the pretzel loop. Even if I don't think the ride is awesome, I have a feeling it will be more interesting than this guy gives it credit for.

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Buy "Stereotype Be" from Kevin Max at Amazon.com

here is the link if they delete my message again. I thought it was deleted beacaue i accidently pasted in the advitisement.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/lifestyle/chi-030502epcoasterbar,1,5887074.story?coll=chi-homepagenews-utl

(Off Topic) Yeah KM, I saw that last week. Of course, being that I do not live in Illinois anymore, I am no longer a daily reader. But as long as I can read the Quick Takes online, and without registering, the Sun-Times will remain a favored paper of mine.

It doesnt hurt that my mom used to work there either ;)

(On Topic) I dont know for how long ppl will gush over the PL. Is it *really* THAT much better than the Vekoma loop? I think that the Vekoma loop is like the NBA (faaaan-TASTIC!), but you dont hear much about that anymore. Rather, all you hear is that the flyers are a heaping helping of horse hockey.

Doesnt matter much though, cause Chi-Milwalkee for will still form 2hours lines for it.

lata, jeremy

I think the main difference between the Vekoma loop and the B&M pretzel is the duration of the G's, not the force. Even then, while it is some serious pressure, it's not what I'm after in a coaster ride. S:UF is little more than a ride credit for me.

With the exception of train design I find the Vekoma a better ride in every way. I even prefer going up the lift on my back and rolling into "flying position" off of the lift. With that said, X-Flight and Batwing still did little for me. That speaks volumes on my S:UF opinion.

However on opening day at SFGAdv, I never heard a single negative comment - quite the contrary, people simply raved over the ride. So you're right...the GP will line up for hours for Superman. At least this pulls them away from the rides worth riding :)

Edited for my ridiculously poor typing skills.

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www.coasterimage.com

*** This post was edited by Lord Gonchar 5/2/2003 12:51:27 PM ***

I think the reporter just misses the intense, aggressive, near-death experience of Shockwave! ;)

I'm also one that loved X Flight when it premiered. It was the most intense coaster I had been on, not on the terms of roughness but the G's and overall feel of flying through inversions. Not sure what I'll think after attending BuzzCon but no paper is going to keep me from my home park, regardless of what they've put in! Plus there won't be any mud below me on this one....

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Brad Sherman
The Headless Horseman awaits thee in 2003!
Arrowed!