Intense, gripping, stylish and poignant

Boring

A Disappointing Continuation

The film makes a home in your brain and the only cure is to see it again.

What can I say about Star Tours that hasn't already been said? Star Tours is a motion simulated ride created by the minds of George Lucas and Disney. Original Disney was going to make a ride based on the Black Hole, but the cost was very high back in 1986, so it was crapped. Disney decided to partner with Lucas to create Star Tours. Disney purchased the four military-grade flight simulators, that cost $500,000 each, and designed the ride's structure. Lucas and his Industrial Light & Magic team created the film for the ride. On Jan 9, 1987, the ride opened to a large number of Star Wars fans who were dressed as SW characters. The Disneyland park stayed open for a 60hr marathon due to the demand for the ride.As for a ride itself, it a space tour bus that is suppose to take you to the forest moon of Endor where the Ewoks live. If you recall, this was where the battle took place in the Return of the Jedi movie. When you enter the ride it's like a spaceport boarding terminal. Before you get there though you have to walk up and down ramps with lights, animated droids, conveyor belts and pulleys moving around inside a caged areas. You also get a chance to see C-3PO and R2-D2 who will speak to you as you go by. There is also a mock-up version of the StarSpeeder 3000, which is what you will be boarding. Once you get to the loading dock, a ride attendant will line everyone up to board the ride. A video is shown before you board. It tells you where to sit and how to fasten your seat belts (you'll need the seat belt). It's pretty funny video as Star Wars alien characters are in it and it's a hoot.Once the doors open you move all the way into the last chair and fill up the seats. The front window of the speeder is covered at first, but it eventually lifts up after everyone is seated. You finally get to meet Rex, the RX-24 droid who pilots the StarSpeeder 3000 to Endor. He starts chatting to the guests and tells them about the ride and where you'll be heading. He also tells you that this is his first flight. Rex is voiced by Paul Reubens (aka Pee Wee Herman) and he's very funny. Outside of the window you'll you'll see you are docked inside the space station. Eventually the ship starts to move as you head to the launch tubes, but Rex makes a mistake and the ship heads down the wrong tunnel. Hang on.I'll leave it at that. All I can say is watch that first drop. lol!! What makes Star Tours special is the sense of speed and feel of the shuttle flying. When you go into light speed, you'll feel the ship lunge forward as your back and head gets pressed into the seat. It's a very cool effect. When the ship banks and dives, so do you. It's a wonderful ride that must be experienced by everyone. Once my daughter is old enough, I'll take her on this. For an even better experience, try Star Trek Experience at the Hilton in Las Vegas. It's at least 2x's better then Star Tours and their shuttle has windows on the sides. Another ride to try with a similar feeling is "Soaring...". It's a hang gliding ride simulation. This can be found at Adventure Land in California and Epcot in Florida. The line is usually very long for this ride. Have fun.

Star Tours (1987, D: Richard Edlund) A fantastic ride which seems to be just as good every time. The ride does age, as does everything and could do with an upgrade. The projection system for instance is currently a Laserdisc based unit through an LCD system. It needs to be upgraded! But the ride in itself is just as great as ever. The ride is placed in all Disneyland parks, you cannot go to any of them without going on this ride!

I must say that I was a little surprised to find out that an amusment park ride was listed under IMDB. But, it does use film, so I guess. For those who have never expereinced Star Tours, you are missing out. This is one of the best rides at Disneyland park. Even though there is always a line, it is worth the wait.

It has been years since my experience but it is still a vivid memory. Judging this movie solely on the film, there are excellent graphics and it tells a story that makes you belive you are actually involved in the film. The ride simply adds to this story and make it an "attraction."