Men in Black: Alien Attack
Encyclopedia
Men in Black: Alien Attack is a spinning, laser-shooting dark ride located at Universal Studios Florida
themed to the 1997 film, Men in Black
. The building housing the ride was made to resemble a pavilion at the 1964 New York World Expo
(similar to the World's Fair
but is fictional) while the towers resemble their real life counterpart.
The ride uses the same technology as The Cat in the Hat at neighboring Universal's Islands of Adventure, but a more intense, fast-faced, and variable version of the vehicle's capabilities.
agent terminating the false program and issuing the "recruits" into Men in Black Headquarters. One of the walls of the exhibit splits, opening up into an elevator, which travels deep into the Earth.
) informs the trainees that an alien prison ship has crash landed in the middle of New York City
. The guns are then "set to full power" as the trainees are instantly launched into the heart of New York, attempting to score as many points as they can by shooting the aliens in their vulnerable areas (the eyes and shoulders). Aliens vary from large, plain-in-sight creatures to small ones hiding in windows and bushes. Certain aliens will fire back causing the cart to spin out of control.
After a brief romp through the city, the two head-to-head vehicles face each other and pass on either side of a large green scanner. The scanner reveals that the opposing car is really full of aliens in disguise, thus prompting a shoot-out between the two paired vehicles. Both cars race to shoot the other's "fusion exhaust port," a glowing red light atop their vehicle. A hit causes the opposing vehicle to wildly spin out of control, offering more time to collect points while they spin.
The battle between the cars comes to an end when Jay appears on a giant television screen in Times Square, alerting the riders to "get their game faces on" because a "really big bug" has been found. Turning the corner, riders come face-to-face with the Giant Cockroach Alien known as the Edgar bug from the first film. The bug is immune to the weak guns' laser fire, so Zed orders the riders to press the much-dreaded red button(which activates the Subatomic Thermonuclear Disruptor). There is a small window of time when the button is effective, and the first rider to press the button during this window are granted a 100,000 point bonus (average first time riders will score about 40,000 to 60,000 points, without the bonus, while experienced riders with good aim will already be anywhere between 350,000 to 700,000 points). Both cars enter into the bugs mouth and spin out of control amid fog and strobe flashes.
During the wind down, Agent Jay (played by Will Smith
) will comment on the scores, comparing the two cars' average (one commentary might read: "Y'all over here got a C, you passed. Y'all got an F, only cause I can't give you a G."). The two carts separate to view the final scene; if your cart achieves a low score, an alien "Coach" will appear, saying "Basically, you zigged when you shoulda zagged! You gotta learn when to run and gun and when to lock and load baby. Try again!" and Agent J saying "Better luck next time, slick!" or "Not bad, slick... but not good enough" before the riders are "neuralized." The vehicle with the best score pulls up to an alien "Tailor" finishing a black suit and telling the riders " your suit will be ready next Wednesday", however Agent J will say "That was pretty hot, wasn't it? Too bad you're not gonna remember any of it" and neuralizes the riders anyway.
With the rider's memories "erased," the vehicles re-enter a retro-themed atrium with the "Universe & You" logo on the wall in front of them, and the big question answered: "Are We Alone? Of Course We Are!" Riders then exit into the Men In Black Gift Shop.
Universal Studios Florida
Universal Studios Florida is an American theme park located in Orlando, Florida. Opened on June 7, 1990, the park's theme is the entertainment industry, in particular movies and television. Universal Studios Florida inspires its guests to "ride the movies," and it features numerous attractions and...
themed to the 1997 film, Men in Black
Men in Black (film)
Men in Black is a 1997 science fiction comedy film directed by Barry Sonnenfeld, starring Tommy Lee Jones, Will Smith and Vincent D'Onofrio. The film was based on the Men in Black comic book series by Lowell Cunningham, originally published by Marvel Comics. The film featured the creature effects...
. The building housing the ride was made to resemble a pavilion at the 1964 New York World Expo
1964 New York World's Fair
The 1964/1965 New York World's Fair was the third major world's fair to be held in New York City. Hailing itself as a "universal and international" exposition, the fair's theme was "Peace Through Understanding," dedicated to "Man's Achievement on a Shrinking Globe in an Expanding Universe";...
(similar to the World's Fair
Bureau of International Expositions
The International Exhibitions Bureau is an intergovernmental organization created to supervise international exhibitions falling under the jurisdiction of the Convention Relating to International Exhibitions....
but is fictional) while the towers resemble their real life counterpart.
The ride uses the same technology as The Cat in the Hat at neighboring Universal's Islands of Adventure, but a more intense, fast-faced, and variable version of the vehicle's capabilities.
Summary
Exterior Queue
Guests approach the building under the guise of visiting an exhibit called The Universe & You - Are We Alone? which has been transplanted from the 1964 New York World's Fair. The exterior queue is flanked by posters advertising extraterrestrial activity and microphones giving "updates" on the fair.Pre-Show
Guests are then ushered into the building and into the retro-themed exhibit. The 1960s narration, however, is cut short by a MIBMen in Black
Men in Black , in American popular culture and in UFO conspiracy theories, are men dressed in black suits who claim to be government agents who harass or threaten UFO witnesses to keep them quiet about what they have seen. It is sometimes implied that they may be aliens themselves...
agent terminating the false program and issuing the "recruits" into Men in Black Headquarters. One of the walls of the exhibit splits, opening up into an elevator, which travels deep into the Earth.
Interior Queue
Upon exiting the elevator, guests enter a hallway within the secret MIB Headquarters. Traveling down the hall, they pass the film's famous "worm guys" on break, several interactive doors to various labs, and through the alien scanners. At the end of the hallway, guests overlook the immigration and controls room, with a large video screen broadcasting the training information and alien twins, Bob and Bhnxaxx operating controls. They then move into the weapons room, and finally into the training facility, where a training vehicle awaits.Ride
Pitted against another team of players (riding on a separate vehicle), the recruits board their training vehicles equipped with laser guns, called S4 Alienators("Jumbo Judy") and proceed into the training room, blasting at cardboard cutouts and crudely-drawn images of aliens amid flashing red lights. Soon, however, Zed (played by Rip TornRip Torn
Elmore Rual "Rip" Torn, Jr. , is an American actor of stage, screen and television.Torn received an Academy Award nomination as Best Supporting Actor for his role in the 1983 film Cross Creek. His work includes the role of Artie, the producer, on The Larry Sanders Show, for which he was nominated...
) informs the trainees that an alien prison ship has crash landed in the middle of New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. The guns are then "set to full power" as the trainees are instantly launched into the heart of New York, attempting to score as many points as they can by shooting the aliens in their vulnerable areas (the eyes and shoulders). Aliens vary from large, plain-in-sight creatures to small ones hiding in windows and bushes. Certain aliens will fire back causing the cart to spin out of control.
After a brief romp through the city, the two head-to-head vehicles face each other and pass on either side of a large green scanner. The scanner reveals that the opposing car is really full of aliens in disguise, thus prompting a shoot-out between the two paired vehicles. Both cars race to shoot the other's "fusion exhaust port," a glowing red light atop their vehicle. A hit causes the opposing vehicle to wildly spin out of control, offering more time to collect points while they spin.
The battle between the cars comes to an end when Jay appears on a giant television screen in Times Square, alerting the riders to "get their game faces on" because a "really big bug" has been found. Turning the corner, riders come face-to-face with the Giant Cockroach Alien known as the Edgar bug from the first film. The bug is immune to the weak guns' laser fire, so Zed orders the riders to press the much-dreaded red button(which activates the Subatomic Thermonuclear Disruptor). There is a small window of time when the button is effective, and the first rider to press the button during this window are granted a 100,000 point bonus (average first time riders will score about 40,000 to 60,000 points, without the bonus, while experienced riders with good aim will already be anywhere between 350,000 to 700,000 points). Both cars enter into the bugs mouth and spin out of control amid fog and strobe flashes.
During the wind down, Agent Jay (played by Will Smith
Will Smith
Willard Christopher "Will" Smith, Jr. , also known by his stage name The Fresh Prince, is an American actor, producer, and rapper. He has enjoyed success in television, film and music. In April 2007, Newsweek called him the most powerful actor in Hollywood...
) will comment on the scores, comparing the two cars' average (one commentary might read: "Y'all over here got a C, you passed. Y'all got an F, only cause I can't give you a G."). The two carts separate to view the final scene; if your cart achieves a low score, an alien "Coach" will appear, saying "Basically, you zigged when you shoulda zagged! You gotta learn when to run and gun and when to lock and load baby. Try again!" and Agent J saying "Better luck next time, slick!" or "Not bad, slick... but not good enough" before the riders are "neuralized." The vehicle with the best score pulls up to an alien "Tailor" finishing a black suit and telling the riders " your suit will be ready next Wednesday", however Agent J will say "That was pretty hot, wasn't it? Too bad you're not gonna remember any of it" and neuralizes the riders anyway.
With the rider's memories "erased," the vehicles re-enter a retro-themed atrium with the "Universe & You" logo on the wall in front of them, and the big question answered: "Are We Alone? Of Course We Are!" Riders then exit into the Men In Black Gift Shop.