Class Action Park (2020)
August 27, 2020 1:53 PM - Subscribe
A new documentary covering the world's most infamous amusement park, through the eyes of guests, staff, and others finding themselves in the orbit of both the park and its larger than life owner.
The documentary covers the history of infamous New Jersey amusement/water park Action Park, from its origins in the excesses of late 70s-80s Wall Street through the heyday of the park in the 80s to its decline and sale in the 90s. The documentary can be divided into two halves - the front half focuses more on the insanity of the park and the over the top nature, while the second half gets into the cost in injuries and lives the park claimed, as well as how the park's "anything goes" ethos was a reflection of the dark side of 80s culture. In addition to contemporary video of the park, the story is punctuated with the recollection of guests, staff, and others caught up in the events surrounding the park.
The documentary covers the history of infamous New Jersey amusement/water park Action Park, from its origins in the excesses of late 70s-80s Wall Street through the heyday of the park in the 80s to its decline and sale in the 90s. The documentary can be divided into two halves - the front half focuses more on the insanity of the park and the over the top nature, while the second half gets into the cost in injuries and lives the park claimed, as well as how the park's "anything goes" ethos was a reflection of the dark side of 80s culture. In addition to contemporary video of the park, the story is punctuated with the recollection of guests, staff, and others caught up in the events surrounding the park.
My take is a lot less positive than janelle's.
I feel like the filmmakers were cowardly. They didn't do anywhere near enough to examine the moral rot beneath the place's design. It put a bandaid of "yeah, there was something culturally and psychologically strange about everyone having fun in such a dangerous place" on top of a bunch of interviews of people who had shit-eating grins plastered on their faces while talking about the circumstances that literally led to people's deaths.
It.... It was tonally strange, and it didn't commit to a perspective, is what I'm saying.
posted by meese at 11:59 AM on September 6, 2020 [2 favorites]
I feel like the filmmakers were cowardly. They didn't do anywhere near enough to examine the moral rot beneath the place's design. It put a bandaid of "yeah, there was something culturally and psychologically strange about everyone having fun in such a dangerous place" on top of a bunch of interviews of people who had shit-eating grins plastered on their faces while talking about the circumstances that literally led to people's deaths.
It.... It was tonally strange, and it didn't commit to a perspective, is what I'm saying.
posted by meese at 11:59 AM on September 6, 2020 [2 favorites]
The ending was so tonally off it nearly gave me whiplash.
posted by Gin and Broadband at 5:06 AM on October 26, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by Gin and Broadband at 5:06 AM on October 26, 2020 [1 favorite]
About a half hour too long. And, yeah, a little cowardly.
posted by Don.Kinsayder at 7:29 AM on March 7, 2021
posted by Don.Kinsayder at 7:29 AM on March 7, 2021
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posted by janell at 12:10 PM on August 29, 2020