Thunderbirds (Widescreen Edition)
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Movie Reviews of Thunderbirds (Widescreen Edition)
Movie Review: Mystifying hostile reation to great FAMILY film...
Summary: 5 Stars
The negative reaction to the THUNDERBIRDS movie has left me reeling. I am truly aghast that such an enjoyable family film has been dismissed (and in such a vitriolic manner) by so many people.
Quite what they were expecting is beyond me, but I am reminded of the hostile reception meted out to THE PHANTOM MENACE, another enjoyable family film pulled apart by the 'adult' fans because it didn't meet their narrow view of what made a STAR WARS film 'good'.
If those with an overly negative view of THUNDERBIRDS can put their hands on their hearts and say they disliked it because it was a bad film then there's not much I can do to change their minds (I happen to disagree most strongly). But to dismiss it because it wasn't made to their expectations or that "too much was changed" is a little selfish. I have just finished watching the film again on region 2 DVD and I enjoyed it even more the second time around. Hearing director Jonathan Frakes state on the commentary that he was proud of the fact that the film only contained one single gun (which was never even fired) lifted my spirits and reinforced what he was trying to do. It's very sad to hear the commentary all the way through, as it's clear that Mr. Frakes believed in THUNDERBIRDS and that his hopes for a sequel have been completely destroyed by the cynical attitudes of modern times.
Then we have the critics... don't get me started on the critics! It seems these people are obliged to destroy at least one high-profile film release every year in an attempt to prove they know what they're talking about and this year, THUNDERBIRDS was drawn from the hat. Their reviews were unforgivable given the trash they heap praise upon (SHREK 2 was a "fun family film"?), but what's even more annoying is that the public believe them.
If I become aware of a film that interests me I will go and see it no matter what critics say. I seem to be part of a dimishing section of the (British) public that is able to 'make their own mind up' instead of believing what's fed to them by the press.
I suspect THUNDERBIRDS will do well on DVD in the run up to Christmas, but that's small consolation when you realise that a potentially brilliant franchise has been strangled at birth.
I apologise for the aggressive nature of this missive, but I feel a grave injustice has been done. THUNDERBIRDS was a superb family film and I have yet to see or hear of any children who disliked it. In a time when "heroes" are a thing of the past this film attempted to give them something pure to look up to. Now it's dead and finished. why shouldn't I be angry? I've been robbed of something special too.
Movie Review: No strings attatched - and it is FAB
Summary: 5 Stars
FACT: Thunderbirds (TV) is the brainchild of Gerry Anderson.
FACT: THUNDERBIRDS (Film) is the baby of Johnathan Frakes
FACT: Frakes loved Thunderbirds and was determined to bring a sense of fun, wit and excitment to THUNDERBIRDS.
FACT: I and my brother were both very cynical of this film being any good.
FACT: We subsequently saw the film THREE TIMES in the cinema and have brought all of the non-kiddie products related to it, including the DVD.
FACT: THUNDERBIRDS IS FAB!
Okay, as you can see, I like this movie. Dangerously. I'm 17 and I've quite happily sat three times through a film intended for kids and every time I leave smiling and boppin' along to Busted's theme.
I will be the first to admit it has it's problems. i.e. I'd like to see more of the ships themselves, and in some of the CGI work you can see the strings (TB2 going through Tower Bridge doesn't look quite...right), but it really sparkles with quality, from the actors to the director, everyone clearly had a ball making it.
Seeing the DVD extras and listening to Frakes' commentary reinforce my feelings. On set, everyone smiles and laughs, Frakes peppers his commentary with a surprising amount of humor (example, at the end of the credits when TB2 appears carrying his name: "And it's directed by (GASP), look at that, Jonathan Frakes").
One thing I'm surprised he didn't make a joke of though is that when the gantry flips over towards the end with the Hood hanging from it is that the exact same thing happened to himself in Star Trek; Nemesis. Go figure.
FACT: Because of some very bitter critics, THUNDERBIRDS 2 will never be made. And it should be. Frakes drops hints and ideas for a sequel, such as a developing relationship between Jeff and Penny and the possibilities that Tintin's powers present to a sequel. He clearly wants to do it, and believed THUNDERBIRDS would be sucessful enough to justify 2. As another reviewer said, it's heartbreaking.
Another bonus for the DVD was the little clips from the TV show dotted in the extras, and I now know for sure which format I prefer.
Give it a chance. Don't be told what to think by the critics, buy this DVD, and try and boost it's takings Sky-High at 15,000mph, then TB2 has a chance of taking off.
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THUNDERBIRDS ARE GO!
Movie Review: Thunderbirds are F.A.B. (with a caveat)
Summary: 5 Stars
Please think twice about taking a young child to this movie (that's my caveat). My five-year-old, who is a great fan of the TV shows and movies and leads a secret action-packed life as a junior Thunderbird was nearly in tears about 25 minutes into the film and begged to be taken home. I think some of his distress was caused by what was going on with John and Thunderbird 5 (seeing marionettes in physical danger is very different from people even when you've been reminded that the people are not really being hurt). The rest of the problem was caused by the very high level of sound in the theater (was it really meant to be deafening or was it a theater error?) that made every sound seem ominous, and the larger than life action looming over him on the screen. It was just too intense. However, I give the movie five stars because my teenager and husband who stayed for the entire movie loved it. My son related to Alan, who seems to be about his age. He liked the action and special effects (Derek Meddings would have approved), the ending was what he was expecting and he was happy with it. My husband was also impressed with the special effects and the Thunderbird vehicles. This movie is not meant to be a carbon copy of the TV show and it's not meant to be a heavy serious drama that will change society as we know it. It's a summer movie. Appreciate it for that. And remember, Pinocchio was very different when he became a real boy too. Oh yeah, the "blooper" another reviewer mentioned seeing--some wires holding something that was floating?--was probably intentional, a little wink to the TV show where wires could be seen everywhere. Another wink was that the TV show would use human hands when they needed to show a fine motor action like pressing a button and the movie used a puppet hand for the same thing. So take your teenager or pre-teen to this movie where the hero gets grounded and still manages to save the day, but think twice about taking the little ones.Movie Review: "Thunderbirds" are totally F.A.B.!
Summary: 5 Stars
Ok, so it's not the movie we long-time Thunderbirds fans had waited so long to see. But it's still a heck of a lot of fun to see these gorgeous manifestations of the Thunderbirds...and the ships aren't half-bad, either! Yes, we know their proper name is "International Rescue," and that they use a frequency so secure that The Hood (or Transom, a new character, played here by Rose Keegan) shouldn't have been able to track Thunderbird 5's location, and yes, the boys' birth order is thrown off and Brains is too old...but it STILL works. (And, to their credit, Alan is as big a spoiled brat here as he is in the series)! Beyond all else, it really is so amazing to see Thunderbird 1 zipping and soaring over and around Thunderbird 2 and to see a realistic-looking Thunderbird 3 reaching rarified atmosphere, as well as to see those four elder, handsome Tracy boys stringless (finally!) that it's almost easy to forget that they don't get to do much of anything! (And, sadly, that's what is unsatisfying about this outing). The film is worth it, though, for the twenty minutes or so in which they DO do something! Best moments: Lex Shrapnel, excellent as the platinum-tressed, ever-marooned John Tracy, is so believably stricken after the attack on TB5 that it's truly chilling; Philip Winchester's giddy flights as Scott Tracy aboard TB1; any time Dominic Colenso (with his acrobatic hair) graces the screen as the serious and steady Virgil Tracy; and, most surprisingly, Anthony Edwards as a seriously funny, rubber-faced Brains. Kudos also to Bill Paxton for bringing the compasionate Jeff Tracy to the screen in style, and especially to Sophia Myles and Ron Cook, who steal the show as Lady Penelope and Parker. They are the pink of perfection!
Forget the tepid reviews by the clueless and lame comparisons to other kids films and sign on with International Rescue again...or for the first time! You really will love this film! It's totally F.A.B.!
Movie Review: Worthy addition to a Cult Classic
Summary: 5 Stars
Like many fans of the _Thunderbirds_ TV series, I was skeptical about the movie--particularly after I found out that Frakes would be directing. I'm happy to report that my skepticism was unfounded. Although I can't say I'm overly impressed with Frakes's direction (just one too many shots of the boom dropping into frame for my taste), I was completely blown away by one thing--this film never deviates from the spirit of the original TV series. From the storyline to the acting, from special effects to the use of TV style direction (loads of extreme close ups in this one), _Thunderbirds_ remains an optimistic vision of the future from the 1960s.
No, the film doesn't ask the deeply moral and ethical questions that _Spiderman 2_ does (a movie to which _Thunderbirds_ is frequently compared), nor are _Thunderbirds'_ special effects and direction up to the standards set by the other film. So what? Few movies live up to those kind of standards--why _Thunderbirds_ is being slammed for aspiring to a different set of standards is beyond me.
Simply put, _Thunderbirds_ is what it has always been: campy, rollicking good fun. Like the TV series, this movie is a cult classic. Anyone who attempts to read the film any other way is missing the point.
(And to those who have suggested that Sophia Myles is miscast as Lady Penelope, I have one thing to say: You are SOOOOO wrong. Her portrayl of the character was dead on--from Lady P.'s laisse faire attitude to her distain for anything non-pink, Myles pulls this one off. And the chemistry between Myles and Cook (Parker) is precisely that of the original series. Indeed, Myles and Cook are the best part of the film.)