The Premise

A deadly virus is spreading and only my team of doctors can stop it. Our team plummets deep underground to our top-secret military lab. There, our mentor left us the clues to create the antidote and save the world, providing we don’t contaminate the lab, and set off the self-destructing quarantine procedure giving us only an hour to save our lives, and the world…

The Puzzles

The Virus has roughly 22 puzzles, all packed into one laboratory set with many bells and whistles, including the virtual reality descent to our lab, which was such a great way to set up our scenario and begin the immersion. My 6-person team of scientists (plus Bob, our guard), fit nicely in the space and everyone always had something to do to move our progress along. The space was used brilliantly; almost every surface was utilized. And I loved that the puzzles kept with the laboratory theme – no puzzle seemed random.

Other escape rooms I’ve done tend to be very linear. One puzzle will open one lock and can then be disregarded. The Virus was not that simple. Pieces of the larger picture were found within smaller puzzles, which then combined into another puzzle, while we had to keep yet another puzzle in mind. Certain off-the-cuff remarks from Bob (I’ll talk more about him shortly) were called back later in the experience, dovetailing nicely into the conclusion, which was very much a team effort.

Bob is one of the creators of The Virus and acted as our guard for the duration of the room, giving hints when asked, and suggestions when we were close to being on the right track. Bob is able to answer any and all questions thrown his way, however if you’re playing to stay “alive,” the limit is 4. When we first arrived, “Creator Bob” gave us the rundown of the room and rules, got our waivers signed, and locked up our belongings. A few seconds later, “Guard Bob” hurried over, addressing us all as doctors, and led us to our task. His enthusiasm and commitment to character were incredibly fun and infectious (see what I did there?), and elevated the experience that much more. He was magic!

The Point

Our Virus Team

I won’t beat around the bush: This is a difficult room. The maximum number of people is 8 and we had 6, all of which were needed. We definitely needed Bob’s help for several things, but we kept it to under 4 questions so we could potentially stay “alive.” There was a slight blip in the game when a folder was misplaced, but Bob hurried over to rectify the situation. We ran out of time on the last puzzle, but when I asked Bob if we could finish, he let us – we finished just a minute over our 60-minute time limit. Considering there was a mistake within the room, Bob considered us “winners” and handed out a tasty antidote to celebrate.

In Get the F Out’s new space downtown, they plan to build two more rooms and the themes sound amazing. I had such a fun overall experience that I can’t wait until the other two rooms are built and I can go try them out. If you’ve done several escape rooms and are ready for the next level, please check this place out! And if you’re not used to escape rooms, get the maximum number of people together and check this place out!

The Virus is open Thursday-Sunday. Tickets are $36/person and very much worth it.

Book Here: http://www.getthefoutroom.com/

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The Premise (from 60 Out):

“After Da Vinci’s passing, he left his favorite pupil, Salai, a gift. This gift was greater than anyone could ever suspect, a secret room filled with some of the most challenging riddles and puzzles known to man. It is Da Vinci’s last unsolved mystery and now you have a chance to unravel some of his greatest work.”

Go team!

My team of puzzle-masters was led down a hallway and told a brief story about Da Vinci and his relationship with Salai. Our guide showed us the door to Da Vinci’s laboratory, filled with gadgets and contraptions to help us escape, and we were on our way. We immediately scattered, trying to figure out the multitude of riddles and puzzles that adorned the walls, tables and sometimes ceiling. All the puzzles were made of wood and metal, with several clues written on “ancient” parchment. Paintings lined the worn walls, as light streamed in from the stained-glass windows. The extremely intricate and well-thought-out production design added authenticity to the room’s theme.

Most of the escape rooms I’ve done have had an actor as part of the room, guiding us and available for hints. This room did not have an in-room guide; it did, however, have a bell we could ring for clues if we got stumped. Da Vinci’s Secret incorporated more “active” puzzles than I am used to, which I enjoyed immensely. We had to pay attention not only to the puzzles, but to what we, ourselves, were doing within the room(s).

Might there be a clue here?

Keeping Busy

This room was very well utilized, and we were rarely idle. Many of the puzzles incorporated several gadgets at once, and multiple members of our team at once. It felt very inclusive, from the smallest riddle to the larger picture. There were tactile puzzles as well as logic puzzles, some which spanned across two locations. I have to say there was definitely something for everyone, and nothing was too obtuse to figure out.

Being a 75-minute room, some of the puzzles were difficult and some were cut-and-dry, but the overall effect of the room was nice and challenging, especially for the escape room enthusiasts I went with. With 15 or so minutes to spare, we turned our attention to the bonus puzzle in the room. It had nothing to do with escaping, but held a prize we could keep if we finished it and escaped the room in our allotted time. After working on the bonus unsuccessfully, and through our own oversight and neglect, we ended up scrambling frantically through the last five minutes, escaping with only SEVEN SECONDS to spare! Talk about an adrenaline rush!

Not only was the room detailed and well-thought-out, incorporating some of Da Vinci’s famous works, but there were also several puzzles laid out in the lobby to get our brains working before we went in. Da Vinci’s Secret was one of the best escape rooms I’ve done. I was extremely impressed with the production design and the quality of the puzzles themselves. I can’t wait to try out another room by 60 Out.

60 Out has 4 different locations around the Los Angeles area, each with multiple themed rooms to choose from.
https://www.60out.com/

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It was a dark and stormy night…

My team of detectives and I stepped through the door and were transported to 1888 Whitechapel, twisted playground of Jack the Ripper. It was dark and musty as we cautiously stepped around the bloody crime scene, looking for clues, trying to piece together who could have committed such gruesome murders. Serial killers like toying with their prey, and the Ripper was no exception, leaving a trail of breadcrumbs for us to follow in his deadly wake.

The evidence was collected and we headed back to the station for processing, speedily putting the pieces together before Jack could strike again. We desperately sought for his next kill site among the papers and maps and data we had gathered from the crime scene, looking to his past crimes for a pattern. We had what we needed, but were we up for the task in the violent cat-and-mouse game he had left us?

An historic experience

The Jack the Ripper room at Maze Rooms, Culver City (there are several different locations under the Maze Rooms umbrella) was less of an escape room and more like traveling back in time. The production design was meticulously researched, thought out and reproduced. There was nothing in the room(s) that was not accurate for that time period. From the newspaper articles lining the alley in Whitechapel to the crime photos in the station, maps, typewriter and authentic top hat, everything immersed us in history, adding to the urgency of the task at hand.

The puzzles throughout were nice and varied, and my group of 6 all had something to do, especially at the station. Nothing was too abstract or random, and everything stuck with the theme. The payoff was pretty awesome and spooky, but I wish the final challenge was a little more difficult; we had no problem putting it together quickly. Parts of the experience were slightly scary, but overall, it was a great thriller attraction and I absolutely loved the genre and historical component.

Behind the scenes

We got to speak with the creators afterward, and they filled us in on the minutiae within the room that we might have missed in our haste to solve the crimes. It was apparent how much dedication and passion they had for the theme, which only added to our enjoyment. I wish we had more time to take in all the details they had left for us.

As an added bonus, the creators gave us a sneak preview into their next room, and told us the gist of yet another future room, and they both sound completely amazing. They are striving to make a name for themselves in this saturated industry, and I believe their upcoming rooms (as well as Jack the Ripper) will take them above and beyond their expectations. I seriously cannot wait to try them!

Keep an eye out for The Dragon’s Lair (Coming Soon)

Book your Jack the Ripper experience:
https://la.mazerooms.com/quest/jack-the-ripper/

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Go with a friend

I’ve been to Halloween nights at other parks, but this was my first foray into Magic Mountain’s Fright Fest. I was treated to a preview of their delicious ghoulish grub menu, given an express pass bracelet and sent into the darkness to discover the monsters lurking within.

SCARE ZONES

The Surge marks the opening of every Fright Night, the monsters of the evening are unleashed from the gates of Gotham City. The wandering Scare Zone actors came out in their respective groups: Nightmares, dark-light twisted fairy tales; Terror-tory Twisted, robotic steampunk monsters; Exile Hill, ghouls and zombies; Damned ‘n Disguise, morphing masquerade party-goers; and Demon’s Door, demons and spirits from Hell. Finally, the back-by-popular-demand Suicide Squad team emerged to the rousing backing of “Bohemian Rhapsody.” This was a fun event, but also very crowded and too brief. It was also not as scary as it could be in the lingering sunlight. I much preferred the Escape, when at an hour before closing, all the monsters from all the Scare Zones congregate in Demon’s Door outside the Main Gate and interact with the park guests as they leave. A clown on stilts next to a demented white rabbit and a demon – it was a monster mash for sure!

Much like my co-worker Ryan S. Davis in his review last year, the stand-out Scare Zone for me was Nightmares, where bedtime stories (such as Alice in Wonderland and Pinocchio) take on a new and twisted tale. Decked out in black-light decorations, and accompanied by Danny Elfman’s brilliant Edward Scissorhands score, the menacing whimsy was just magical; It was more than scare actors jumping out at us. The new Scare Zone this year is Damned ‘n Disguise, located in the Metropolis area. Through the use of lighting, music and costumes, the masquerade changes before your eyes, from rock ‘n’ roll to Victorian and more, all with a sense of the macabre, of course.

MAZES

Most of the seven Mazes – Aftermath 2: Chaos Rising, Red’s Revenge, Vault 666, Chupacabra, Willoughby’s Resurrected and Toyz of Terror 3D – are oldies but goodies, while the new Dead End finds you feeling your way through the darkness with only the menacing laughs of Malachai and sporadic gruesome displays to guide you. The tamest is Chupacabra, sporting a Dia de los Muertos theme, although there is a touch of gore. Willoughby’s Resurrected is a Victorian mansion full of ghosts, urging you to stay with them. Vault 666 started off as a research facility, but now its human-animal hybrids run amok and terrorize the guests. Toyz of Terror 3D finds you in the twisted workshop of a toy-maker gone insane. Don’t get too comfortable, as the glow-in-the-dark 3D visuals make it difficult to know if you’re really seeing what you think you are, and escaping is harder than expected.

My two favorites were Red’s Revenge and Aftermath 2: Chaos Rising. Red’s Revenge is the dark and morbid story of what happened AFTER the Little Red Riding Hood we all know. Red went crazy after the incident with the big bad wolf and turned to the woods, where more menacing wolves jump out of the darkness and trees look angry and alive. The sets and props were just phenomenal. Aftermath 2: Chaos Rising is the story of Ash Valley when threatened by the release of a deadly virus. People are turning into monsters or dying from the outbreak and we need to make it to quarantine zone alive. We were hurried through a spacious outdoor maze, through the fog and crashed cars, down the deserted (or are they?) corridors of a police station, hopefully to safety. The sets here were also outstanding, and the use of thick fog was spooky and added to the tension, hiding creatures waiting to get us.

ENTERTAINMENT

In addition to having your wits scared out of you, there are also multiple opportunities for other kinds of entertainment. Club 6-Feet Under offers dim lights, ghoulish grub and spirited drinks while a DJ spins top hits above the dance floor. Voodoo Nights takes up the stage in front of Full Throttle, boasting a lively cover band surrounded by dancing guests and sneaky demons. The only performance I was unable to see was the Hypnotist at the Golden Bear Theater, but I hear some content may not be suitable for minors. And, of course, the rides. Terror Tracks brings you all the coasters you know and love, but in the dark!

TIPS

• Come earlier in the day for more family-friendly activities, like trick-or-treating and pumpkin patch crafts.
• If you want to get to all the Mazes plus some rides, get the Express Pass. You’ll have a shorter wait.
• Save Red’s Revenge and Aftermath 2: Chaos Rising for last.
• Stick around for the Escape to interact more with the scare actors on your way out.
• Stop by (and spend time in) the Nightmares Scare Zone. There are a lot of decorations to see and appreciate.
• Enjoy some (mostly) shorter lines for the rides and get coaster thrills in the dark!

More Info:
https://www.sixflags.com/magicmountain/special-events/fright-fest-night

Buy Tickets:
https://www.sixflags.com/magicmountain/store/tickets

The post Fright Fest is Upon Us – Halloween at Magic Mountain appeared first on Media Geeks.

The Premise

In Dr. Crowl’s search to rid the world of genetic imperfection and create a utopia of “worthy” humans, he created The Laboratory as a way to further his experiments while simultaneously weeding out those who are of no use to his new society. Subjects are given 60 minutes to prove their worth, or a knock-out gas bomb will detonate and the subjects discarded. But if the puzzles are completed and bomb disarmed, the subjects will find themselves in Dr. Crowl’s new paradise.

Escape the Laboratory, located downtown in what seems to be turning into a hotspot for escape rooms, is not like other rooms I’ve done. Instead of focusing on finding pieces of the puzzles, we had a large chart on the wall that walked us through the multitude of tasks in the room (i.e., A + B unlocks C). For our group of six we had five rows of five tasks  (it changes based on group size), all culminating in unlocking one of five locks on the gas bomb.

Once we got in the room, instead of the usual scattering to find what we could, we took in the chart and picked a track/row to work on individually, or with multiple people as it came down to the end. What worked well in this format is when someone got stuck on one of their puzzles, it was easy to pop over to their track to help out, or even switch tracks with them. I finished my track up to the last puzzle, which I couldn’t figure out, so I helped other people along their tracks until we got closer to the end. Then someone else was able to pick up my last puzzle and find the combination.

The Puzzles

There were a lot of different types of puzzles that incorporated almost all of the senses, plus types of gadgets I’d never seen before, in addition to the “normal” word/logic/number puzzles. And, like any other room, the level of difficulty ranged depending on a person’s strengths and weaknesses. For example, I took over some word and spot-the-difference puzzles, while my friends did the think-outside-the-box or fiddling-with-pieces ones. Of course, when a track was completed, more people could help with whatever tracks were left to help speed things along.

Some of my friends were disappointed that they didn’t get to participate in or see all of the puzzles in the room, as they were focused on their own track. I didn’t entirely mind it, because I was able to get the satisfaction of solving my tasks. Plus, our host went over puzzles we might have missed after we were done with the room, which was nice. I also think that, while most of the puzzles were individualized, the last puzzle was very much a group effort, and a greater pay-off when we completed it in time. It was the best final group puzzle that I’ve seen thus far.

While the room was a laboratory, and the puzzles fit into that theme, the story of why we were stuck in there could have been a bit stronger. I also think the types of locks could have been varied a bit more; they were generally combinations or lock-and-key.

Overall, while some of the other escape rooms I’ve done have had more in-depth themes and narratives, Escape the Laboratory is a great experience. It has a ton of interesting puzzles, a fantastic finale, allows the entire group to be engaged, and requires different types of logic and reasoning that lets everyone have their time to shine.

Test your worthiness:
www.escapethelaboratory.com

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Of all the haunts I did last year, The 17^th Door was my favorite, so it had a lot to live up to. This year, its third, with a continuing story and all-new sets, did not disappoint. The new location in Fullerton has been turned into Perpetuum Penitentiary, where Paula (the central character from last year’s haunt) resides. Paula has led a very traumatic and abusive life, leading her to insanity and eventual infanticide. Now a resident of Perpetuum, an incarcerated Paula urges us to help her find a way to escape, but we may go insane in the process.

Beginning with a VR (virtual reality) segment (available as a $12 add-on), we, as new inmates of Perpetuum, are given haircuts and tested physically before being sent to the real-life warden for the rules. Do not touch the actors, the actors may touch you, say “mercy” if you want to skip a room for whatever reason. Then our group of 7 was sent on our way to experience the horrors that lie within. From the use of water to hydraulics, from crawling to feeling our way around in complete darkness, we went from room to room, pushing ourselves further and further out of our comfort zones. I also don’t want to give too much away; the anticipation is so much fun.

I don’t think this year’s narrative was as strong as last year. Paula is incarcerated, and the rest is pretty much just a hellish prison theme, which they did brilliantly. I think they could have either lost the Paula storyline altogether and started over, or they could have made the narrative more prominent. If someone missed last year, it might be unclear who Paula is and why we should care. However, the execution of the theme was impeccable, the sets fantastic, and all the actors stayed in character which really added to the immersion. There were one or two little things set-wise that could’ve added a little something, but overall it was very well-crafted.

This is also the most physical haunt I’ve been to (excluding immersive theater). You will crawl, you will get jostled and touched, you will feel claustrophobic and uncomfortable, you will get shocked, and you will get wet. Heed the Warning signs plastered in the lobby. However, if you don’t want to do a room, you can say “mercy” and skip only that room. Your experience doesn’t have to end there, which I really appreciated (even though I did not say “mercy”). The logistics are also really innovative to The 17^th Door. You don’t end up in a train of people, seeing all the scares up ahead. For all intents and purposes, you’re alone with your group. Your group waits for the green light above the next door before proceeding, each room lasting around a minute. Of course, that doesn’t mean you’re safe while you wait. You never know what is lurking in the darkness.

I really can’t stress enough how much I appreciate the time, thought, and construction of this haunt. Lost in the maze of rooms, I was always excited to see what the next one had in store for us. And even at 35 minutes, I didn’t want it to end. I want to continue seeing how The 17^th Door grows, progresses and gets even better next year. It remains one of my favorites!

The 17^th Door runs select dates through 10/31.

Tickets:
www.the17thdoor.com

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A popular podcast and upcoming Amazon Prime TV show, Lore seems the perfect fit for Creep LA. Using different episodes as inspiration for their vignettes, Creep LA was able to pack their hour-long event with content. More an immersive play than haunt, Creep LA explores the blend of history, folklore and urban legends, which are rich in creepy imagery.

Led into the basement of The Reef downtown, our group consisted of 8 people. We were given bandannas to cover our mouths as a reminder not to speak during the event. After a brief stop in the study of an author – the room littered with thrown-out ideas, photos and notes – we were instructed to “Follow the man into the woods.”

Walking down a dark, candle-lit hallway led by a man dragging a shovel with nothing to hear but the scraping, the further we went into the twisted fairy-tale world of Creep LA’s Lore. As we came into the woods, fantastically creepy and well-done, the vignettes began. Unfortunately, the first encounter was a bit too obtuse for my taste; I wasn’t sure what the story was, and it took much longer than I think it needed to. Maybe it lacked enough dialogue to explain the concept, but the space allowed the audience to walk around, explore, and choose which actor to watch, which was interesting.

The subsequent scenes moved along more smoothly and didn’t have an issue with conveying their story. However, because of the open layout of the venue, some were difficult to hear due to other scenes bleeding over. Creep LA tried to minimize this by waiting quite some time before letting the next group in, but there were still issues. The covered “cabin” sets were a lot better for sound in this regard. The actors within stayed in character well, sometimes in heightened states of emotional distress, which I imagine takes its toll.

While the guests don’t affect the narrative, Creep LA’s Lore is immersive. You might be touched, moved or have to interact with the actors. Some of your party will be separated and brought back together later, making for fun conversations afterward in the bar/exit lobby to see what you missed. However, I do wish I could’ve seen everything Creep LA had to offer, as I was definitely interested in the themes.

The Takeaway:

While still entertaining, Creep LA’s Lore was light on information, the WHY of the scenes and what they mean to our current cultural mythology regarding vampires, fairies and more. Since I hadn’t listened to the Lore podcast before going to Creep LA, the richness was lost on me, but I still enjoyed the experience without having any prior knowledge of the stories. If you’re a fan of Lore, Creep LA is a fantastic companion piece, and a positive promotion for the upcoming show.

From fairies to cannibalism, from a deranged doctor to a demonic doll, there was always something interesting for the audience to absorb. I also have to mention how intricate and amazing the sets were – creepy woods, a cottage, a hospital room, a mental ward, a graveyard, and more – all with distinct decor and props. Despite a slower start, the scenes really picked up toward the end, leaving me with a renewed sense of wonder at urban mythology.

NOTE: There are strobe lights, complete darkness, small spaces and sensuality.

Creep LA’s Lore runs on select dates through November 12.

Buy Tickets: http://www.creepla.com/

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The Premise:

You and your team of treasure hunters stumble upon an Egyptian tomb. As the door slams shut behind you, leaving only an hour’s worth of air, you must find a way to escape or the tomb will be yours as well.

The Puzzles:

One of three rooms, the Curse of the Mummy room is billed as the hardest, with only 6 participants allowed. The room is sparse, with Egyptian statues, wall adornments, a pyramid standing in the center, and several lock-boxes. I liked that the timer was a sand hourglass in the corner. It was a nice touch.

The puzzles weren’t super difficult, but they were non-linear which was a fun challenge. We would sometimes have to start an interesting puzzle, move on and then come back to it. Most of the puzzles were thematically relevant, and some were nicely interactive. There were one or two where the entire group was involved, but most of them were of the one-at-a-time variety.

I wish there were more puzzles throughout the room, ones that the group could work on together, as well as more ornamentation. We were told afterward that several decorations (and even a puzzle) had to be taken out due to attendees destroying them, which is extremely unfortunate; it ruins the experience for everyone. I also would have liked different puzzle mechanisms, as they were almost all combination locks, and the Egyptian theme lends itself to more creativity. While there was a narrative, it was very brief, and didn’t match the online story at all. I think, as this is more catered toward young adults, they might be less concerned about the story line.

On the plus side, there were one or two stand-out puzzles in the room, and a handful that definitely gave us pause and utilized different kinds of reasoning and logic. The puzzles themselves fit the theme and incorporated cute props, some which we erroneously overlooked, costing us time. The last puzzle involves a sarcophagus and the group could all participate in the finale, which is always a positive way to end an escape room.

The Point:

While MagIQ’s room offerings might be too easy for escape room enthusiasts or a more mature crowd, their three rooms are perfect for family entertainment or parties for younger escapees. The themes aren’t scary and they encourage problem-solving and cooperation, things everyone can use more of these days.

Try out MagIQ’s rooms (Secrets of Wizardry, Pirate’s Den & Curse of the Mummy):
https://magiqescaperoom.com/los-angeles

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The bagpipes were playing, the tartans were on display, the whiskey was flowing, the caber was being tossed… The 25th Scots Festival had come to the Queen Mary.

The Food

The Scots Festival’s Celtic Culinary Corner offered a variety of traditional Scottish fare, like scotch eggs, various meat pies, fish ‘n’ chips, and bangers and mash. Special demonstrations were held featuring some of the more “outlandish” Scottish foods – sticky toffee with candied bacon, strawberry beaujolais, smoked salmon whiskey cheese soup, beef brisket, and the infamous haggis. For the less adventurous, meal options also included a pizzeria and a Mexican food truck. Throughout Vendor Valley, visitors could find even more treats – shortbread, jams & jellies, kettle korn, and old tyme ice cream – among the merchant booths, which were stocked with a variety of tartans, Celtic jewelry, old-fashioned weapons, and clan information available for purchase.

In addition to food, the Scots Festival included several pubs – the Barrel Room, Nessie’s Nest VIP Lounge overlooking the Athletics Area, and Greyfriar’s Pub on the Queen Mary – as well as whiskey tastings throughout the day.

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The Entertainment

After indulging in a meat pie or scotch egg, visitors could take in the sights and sounds of the Scots Festival – stilts performers, Scottish country line dancing, Celtic harp and fiddle performances, and drum or bagpipe competitions. The Scots Festival also featured the Queen’s Court Ceremony, with beautifully dressed entertainers overlooking the events, and sometimes posing for pictures. Every few hours, performers would reenact and demonstrate the Royal Scottish Grey’s calls to arms. The demo was punctuated by gunfire and the occasional cannon blast.

New to the Scots Festival this year was a falconer demonstration spotlighting different birds of prey. Trainers showed visitors the likes of hawks and owls, which onlookers were sometimes even able to touch. The Border Collie sheep-herding demonstration was also a very popular attraction. Visitors got to watch as the enthusiastic and happy dogs excitedly followed their trainer’s directions and kept the sheep together. Followed by a beautiful rendition of several nations’ anthems, the main daily attraction was the Grand Parade of Massed Bands and Clans. Decked out in their clans’ tartans, clan and band members took turns parading around the event playing their drums and bagpipes.

The Scots Festival also had more hands-on entertainment for the wee lads and lassies in attendance. Areas were cordoned off to show children how to shoot a bow and arrow, or toss a caber. An obstacle course was set up for the brave little ones wanting to show off their feats of strength. On the tamer side, children could also enjoy getting their faces painted.

The Highland Games

On the Queen Mary itself, the Scots Festival held a day-long darts competition for teams and singles interested in registering. But, of course, it wouldn’t be a Scots Festival without the infamous Highland Games. Throughout the day, several groups of athletes (both men and women) vied for points in the traditional sports of stones, hammer throw, weights for distance, weights over bar, sheaf over bar, and the famous caber toss. Dating back hundreds of years, these track-and-field-like events tested and honed the strength, skills, and techniques of Scottish warriors.

I really enjoyed the idea that all the athletes were in this together. Each person rotated through different positions during each event; when it wasn’t their time to compete, they either warmed up or helped out measuring another athlete’s distance/height. While waiting for their turn, there was also a sense of camaraderie between the athletes, and between the groups.

My favorite event to watch was the hammer toss. With daggers on their shoes, athletes dig their feet into the ground, and swing a 16 lb (for the women) or 22 lb (for the men) hammer around their bodies several times to gain momentum before letting it go over their shoulders, backward. There were many very impressive throws, the hammer sometimes landing over 70 meters away. In the sheaf toss, athletes take a pitchfork to a burlap sack filled with straw and try to get the sack over a bar starting at 12 feet in the air, and raised progressively throughout the rounds. The crowd watched and cheered as the record (33.3 feet) was almost broken, an athlete last getting it over the bar at 32 feet. The final event of the competition, and likely the most identifiable, was the caber toss – athletes pick up a large, tapered pole and try to toss it, end-over-end, in a straight line. In one of the men’s groups, only two competitors were able to successfully toss the caber, and it was a close call, coming down to how straight the caber landed in front of them. The athletes – and the crowd – cheered enthusiastically.

Overall

The Queen Mary Scots Festival was a lot of fun – from the entertainment, to the food, to the Highland Games, there was something for everyone to enjoy. I found the Highland Games especially fascinating and found time flying as quickly as the heavy stones from the athletes’ hands. The Scottish phrase, “Failing means you’re playing,” comes to mind when thinking of the Scots Festival – it’s better to do badly than not participate at all.

Keep an eye out for next year’s festival!

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Skyscraper is Dwayne Johnson’s new action movie. For most people, that’s enough to know if you’re interested. The (former) Rock has become almost a brand unto himself. Here’s why this one deserves your attention.

The Past

Here is a list of the big summer movies from 1996. This was my formative year of Hollywood blockbusters. I graduated high school and my first job was at a local theater.

Independence Day, The Rock, Twister, The Nutty Professor, The Cable Guy, Mission: Impossible, The Frighteners, Dragonheart, Eraser, The Island of Dr. Moreau, Escape from L.A. Along with smaller budget horror, comedy, and kids’ movies of course.

What do you notice about this list? ZERO comic book movies. One TV show adaptation (The Mission: Impossible movies were not yet a franchise), one remake of a famous book, and one sequel to a 15-year old movie. Most of the big films were original ideas, written for the big screen–not adapted. They weren’t all winners, but at least they were something new to see!

The Present

Now here are the big movies of summer 2018:

Avengers 3, Deadpool 2, Solo: A Star Wars Story, Ocean’s 8, Incredibles 2, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, The First Purge, Ant-Man and the Wasp, Hotel Transylvania 3, Equalizer 2, Mamma Mia! Here we go Again, and Mission: Impossible-Fallout. Every single one of these is a sequel/adaptation/spin-off, etc. of something else. Nothing is new in risk-averse Hollywood.

Finally getting to my point, I’m not here to complain about the lack of originality. I’m here to praise the one truly original blockbuster this summer: Skyscraper. (Side note: for the sake of this review, let’s acknowledge I mean “original” as in “not adapted from an existing property.”  We all know Skyscraper is not “original” as in “never been done before.”)

The Skyscraper

If you had to sum up Skyscraper in one pithy quote, it’s like a remake of Die Hard on steroids. The tallest building in the world is about to open in Hong Kong. It’s over 200 stories tall and includes a waterfall, garden, exterior wind turbines, and the “8th Wonder of the World” at the top. Dwayne Johnson is an ex-military security expert brought in with his family to give the final sign-off. Naturally, terrorists try to destroy it for some evil reason, and Dwayne does what he does best to rescue his family from the Towering Inferno (ahem).

If it sounds a little generic, maybe it is. However, the execution here is great. I loved the new Avengers, but the fact is that nobody knows what superheroes and alien planets look like in person, so we can’t fairly evaluate how realistic they are. Everybody knows what buildings and fire look like, so the special effects here are more impressive because you can compare them to what you know to be true. For the life of me, I can’t believe there’s not a 200-story tower in Hong Kong right now. This stuff looks real!

The interior scenes are almost equally impressive. Many of them are real sets, and the style on display is like the swankiest Vegas hotel ever built. Taken together, this is architecture porn of the highest level, and I was genuinely sad when the bad guys started blowing up this beautiful fake building.

The Characters

Neve Campbell plays the wife, taking care of the kids for most of the movie. And guess what? Here is a chance to use the word original literally. She is not a stereotype from other action movies. She makes no stupid decisions, she is not a damsel in distress, and she does everything smartly and capably. She plays an important role throughout and is a great example of how to treat secondary characters, let alone women in film.

In another example of modern sensibilities, Dwayne Johnson’s character is an amputee. He lost his left leg below the knee in the military service. It’s acknowledge, but never made a big deal of. There’s no speech about how he’s had to overcome so much adversity. It’s simply part of the character. Although the detachable leg does feature prominently in a couple of action scenes, and Dwayne is perhaps a bit too mobile for someone with one leg, it’s still a great effort at writing more diversity into characters.

The villain was not an actor I recognized, but he was solid as the bad guy, with a Jean Reno vibe. This was a relief after what I felt was a very subpar villain performance by the C-list actor who played the military commander in Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom. There are very few secondary characters though. It’s mostly a one-man show, and if you’ve only got one man, it’s hard to find one better suited to carry a movie like this than The Rock.

My one criticism is that the ending doesn’t quite work as well as it should. It stretches logic a bit too far, and (personal pet peeve) doesn’t deliver enough comeuppance.  However, it’s good enough and everything leading up to it is top-notch.

The Future

Studios’ hunger for franchise shows no sign of abating. Who knows how much longer they will risk big budgets on summer action films that don’t already have a built-in fanbase? Movies like Skyscraper are already the exception. I hope they don’t become extinct. If you’re tired of spandex and movies with numbers in their titles, give this a shot.  Hell, even if you like those but just want to meet some new characters and support original scripts, this is a fun one.

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