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Published on Sunday, May 23, 2004 - 12:15pm |
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Early Test Screening of the Theatrical Remake of THUNDERBIRDS is lame lame lame sounding!
Hey folks, Harry here with the most obvious reveal in the world, that the kiddie version of the THUNDERBIRDS isn't nearly as cool as it could have been. That being said - I saw an amazing test of a new THUNDERBIRDS tv show using astonishing new puppets - that take Super-Marionation into the realm of Stan Winston style sophistication, plus moments of freedom of strings via CG and Wire Removal. The result was quite startling... This one shot of Jeff Tracey piloting Thunderbird 1 through what seemed like a heart of a volcano had his rubbery skin glistening with glyceren sweat and just creeping me way the hell out, but in a cool way! The opening lighthouse rescue - was amazing looking, and the kid in me that loved these shows was going... THIS IS WHAT I LOVED! I really hope it gets off the ground, cuz it rules! However, this movie sounds lame lame lame.
Hey guys,
Was looking forward to another boring weekend at home b4 the last week of
college, when two tickets to a surprisingly early screening of Thunderbirds
landed in my lap. So this bright sunday morning, i made my way up to
London's (bizzarely) quiet West End and me and my friend, took our seats as
the show began. One thing of interest was that we were sitting right behind
the man himself: Jonathan Frakes. Now i don't care much for the man, and i
can't get the image of Riker directing thunderbirds out of my head, but it
sure was groovy. Now just to make it clear i'm not a watcher of the
Thunderbirds TV show, so i had to get the lovely lass i was going with to
tell me how accurate it was to the show, but i knew the basic stories and
characters going in.
The story is as follows: Jeff Tracey, Billionaire and Former Astronaut, and
4 of his sons (whose names i don't really know and for good reason) dedicate
their lives to International Rescue with the help of 5 big flying machines,
the Thunderbirds. The 5th and Youngest son, Alan feels left out and wants to
be part of the team. When Jeff and co. become stranded in space when The
Hood tries to tke over their HQ, it's up to little old alan, and some
strange little children to save the day. Cue messages about Family Values,
and finding ure inner strength.
The Good: Anything with Ben Kingsley, Sophia Myles and Ron Cook. Their Hood
(loved those eyes), Lady Penelope and Parker, repectively, were by far the
most interesting, and well acted characters and being the only 3 who knew
how to provide big laughs. What is interesting, was that these 3 are the
only british members of cast featured prominently, which begs the questiong
as to why the whole thing wasn't made with a British cast, therefore keeping
in line with the show. Plus Sophia Myles was hot as hell! Anthony Edwards
clearly had fun with his part as Brain too.
The set design was funky enough, colourful and lively but a bit on the cheap
side. Had the retro feel the film required. Bill Paxton did his part well,
but suffereed from lack of screen time. And of the children only Brady
Corbett comes out winning.
The Bad: The film was made for children, not for fans of the Thunderbirds TV
show. This is what happens when Riker makes ure movie. Yes First contact was
good, but Nemesis? Clockstoppers? He nearly killed the franchise which made
him famous! By focusing on child actors and not the Tracey Family the film
resembles Spy Kids light, with the Thunderbirds themselves hardly making an
appearance. Add to that a weak romance between alan and Tin Tin and the most
annoying geeky kid i've ever seen and u have a bit of a problem.
Not enough time is given to the Tracey Family, hence why i can't remember
the names of any of the other brothers, and the whole thing felt
underdeveloped, especially how Hood and Tin-Tin came to get their mysterious
powers. Also, the Hood's henchmen were ATROCIOUS!
Where the film lacked most was that there was nothing to remember. an early
resuce on a oil rig hints at something big and fast paced to come, but it
never does. This is probably down to a rather low budget, but there are no
set pieces and hardly any action, except for one rather inventive fight
scene with Parker and Lady penelope which, at least for men is very pleasing
on the eye! The end has no punch to it, and there are plot holes galore: For
example, for a famil so dedicated to their secret identity, they didn't seem
to fussed about running around london, displaying themselves to the public.
Well,all in all, i won't be seeing it again, and although it was fun while
it lasted, it leaves a very bitter aftertase in you're mouth. Although,
luckily it has the advantage of coming out after Van Helsing, so it can't be
the worst film this summer!
Oh and watch out for the worst opening credits i think will ever be seen!
If u post this, call me Stewie...
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Reader Talkback
So Fuckwit here has never
watched the show on which the
film was by taxman2001 | May 23rd, 2004 12:26:31 PM | Apologies by taxman2001 | May 23rd, 2004 12:40:15 PM | Uh, Frakes didn't direct
Nemesis by ItAintRight | May 23rd, 2004 12:41:45 PM | I can't respect any reviewer
who uses the letter "u" for
the wor by Rolling_Stone | May 23rd, 2004 12:45:16 PM | i'm not a fuckwit for not
liking a film u haven't
seen... by bradzp | May 23rd, 2004 12:50:02 PM | also... by bradzp | May 23rd, 2004 12:52:49 PM | All I'm saying Brad is that
you need to understand the
source ma by taxman2001 | May 23rd, 2004 12:55:45 PM | nah it's cool by bradzp | May 23rd, 2004 01:03:34 PM | Frakes directed INSURRECTION,
not Nemesis... by TheSumOfGod | May 23rd, 2004 01:09:13 PM | SHREK 2 by AlwaysThere | May 23rd, 2004 01:09:57 PM | One of the MANY MANY things
that was crap with VAN HELSING
was . by taxman2001 | May 23rd, 2004 01:11:40 PM | Uh...Jeff Tracey didn't pilot
Thunderbird One by RobinP | May 23rd, 2004 01:39:12 PM | good reviews by u.k. star | May 23rd, 2004 01:43:58 PM | what do u wanna know? by bradzp | May 23rd, 2004 01:45:02 PM | what do u wanna know? by bradzp | May 23rd, 2004 01:49:27 PM | director not writer by u.k. star | May 23rd, 2004 01:51:48 PM | shrek 2 $125M $105m 3day! by u.k. star | May 23rd, 2004 01:54:30 PM | Why is anyone surprised? by Mosquito March | May 23rd, 2004 01:55:43 PM | Thanx :) by bradzp | May 23rd, 2004 01:57:54 PM | indeed by bradzp | May 23rd, 2004 02:04:46 PM | LOL by bradzp | May 23rd, 2004 02:12:04 PM | what don;t i know? by bradzp | May 23rd, 2004 02:28:36 PM | Van Helsing by bradzp | May 23rd, 2004 02:31:04 PM | excuse me? by bradzp | May 23rd, 2004 02:32:04 PM | well... by bradzp | May 23rd, 2004 02:42:06 PM | homophobic? by bradzp | May 23rd, 2004 02:44:56 PM | now that u mention it... by bradzp | May 23rd, 2004 02:48:50 PM | i thought i had a gd
attitude... by bradzp | May 23rd, 2004 02:49:53 PM | k then by bradzp | May 23rd, 2004 02:57:49 PM | ok then by bradzp | May 23rd, 2004 03:17:17 PM | Don'tcha just luv Sundays...? by Basil Fawlty | May 23rd, 2004 03:29:22 PM | Jesus Christ bradzp, by Fortinbras | May 23rd, 2004 05:39:06 PM | Uni! by bradzp | May 23rd, 2004 05:52:19 PM | THUNDERTURDS. nuff said. by logansden | May 23rd, 2004 06:02:06 PM | damn.... by Darlef | May 23rd, 2004 06:38:44 PM | Yeesh by Magic Hands | May 23rd, 2004 06:42:00 PM | by Fortinbras | May 23rd, 2004 07:04:17 PM | College by Fortinbras | May 23rd, 2004 07:15:00 PM | by darthsilly | May 23rd, 2004 07:59:17 PM | ShadowInc, Trey and Matt were
doing 'Team America', but i
think by Declan_Swartz | May 23rd, 2004 08:24:24 PM | Christ almighty. by raw_bean | May 23rd, 2004 08:34:11 PM | I meant 'are', not 'ar'. by raw_bean | May 23rd, 2004 08:40:53 PM | Oops, and the person in
question is 'fortinbrass', not
'fotrinbr by raw_bean | May 23rd, 2004 08:50:51 PM | Sorry Old Bean by Fortinbras | May 23rd, 2004 08:59:47 PM | I am high by squidman | May 23rd, 2004 11:16:55 PM | 7am in the morning by Wyrdy the Gerbil | May 24th, 2004 01:50:42 AM | MEGAS XLR!!! by FNORDcinco1 | May 24th, 2004 02:09:44 AM | tbirdsvscatwoman by non-existent-man | May 24th, 2004 02:16:00 AM | So no-ones interested in the
trailer? by AtomicHyperbole | May 24th, 2004 03:50:04 AM | Well, that's a surprise. by raw_bean | May 24th, 2004 06:03:51 AM | Oh, and I too managed to glean
a decent grounding in English
fro by raw_bean | May 24th, 2004 06:09:06 AM | Did anyone watch the
Thunderbirds repeats on
British TV (Sunday by workshed | May 24th, 2004 07:05:07 AM | I got 'cad' and 'bounder' the
wrong way 'round, not that
anyone by raw_bean | May 24th, 2004 07:14:43 AM | A slightly more level headed
review by Lightwave7871 | May 24th, 2004 07:42:19 AM | I think it was a POSITIVE
Review! by Deandome | May 24th, 2004 11:53:10 AM | Saw it -- loved it! by Mr Stonky | Jul 18th, 2004 12:52:40 PM |
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