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Frankly, I am a collector of classic television - or "telly" as our cousins in Britain say it. And from that land came the producer/creator team of Gerry and Sylvia Anderson. More recently famous for their "Space:1999" sci-fi series where the Moon, along with a large manned base, is blasted out of Earth orbit and flung across the cosmos in the loveable over-the-top type of premise so common in most of their creations. Earlier, in the 1960's, they produced a string of shows featuring marionette "actors", beginning with "Supercar", "Fireball-XL5", "Stingray", "Thunderbirds" and many others. This last involved an obscenely rich engineering patriarch "Mr. Tracey" and his 5 sons who assist him in running the world renowned "International Rescue" - based on their private uncharted secret island - which in each episode used their varied craft (5 different vehicles of Jules Verne imagination quality) to help people in grave peril anywhere in the world. The trick was that no one knows just who "International Rescue" really is; all their "assignments" come to them through their agent in London - one "Lady Penelope". In this first "Supermarionation" movie (consult also the later "Thunderbird 6" release) "International Rescue" comes to the aid of helping the second 5-man mission to Mars attempt, after the first was destroyed by sabotage. The prevention of a second sabotage attempt is only the beginning of their adventure... This - and its hard to call it an "animated" tale with its marionettes and fantastically done miniatures - is a wonderful example of some of the best entertainment we used to thrill to on Saturday mornings "back in the day"!Read full review
It all began, some forty years ago, and I had just returned home from the Viet Nam War. My little brother was watching his Saturday morning cartoons when, I realized that, what I was listening to sounded familiar. I looked up and realized that I was watching an old episode of a long forgotten TV show that I used to watch when I was a young boy myself. I was watching an episode of the THUNDERBIRDS. As I watched, I was thinking that this was so exciting to me because it was bringing me back to a place when I was the same age as my little brother with all of the same dreams of adventure and all of the same exciting tales of make-believe that were dancing around in my head. I felt like a kid again. And, I'll admit that, that was a great feeling for me. The Thunderbirds weren't just a boring series of uninspired Saturday morning cartoons that were flat, computer-generated, two-dimensional renditions of toy animals, cars and phony-looking spaceships. The Thunderbirds were the real deal! They were three-dimensional, almost real life characters that I felt like I could just reach through the TV and touch. I was amazed at my reactions and how, by just watching this old episode of the Thunderbirds, I was feeling inside. I was feeling like I was seven years old again and that was a good thing since coming home from the Viet Nam War hadn't been one of my top ten good times that I had experienced in my life. Almost forty years have passed since that day watching that episode of the Thunderbirds in front of the TV and now, I've found myself, once again, sitting in front of my huge flat-screen HDTV watching another episode of the Thunderbirds and I'm lovin' every minute of it. This series is so much fun to watch. It is well produced and the story lines are top-notch. Since it's inception, Supermarionation has set the standard in the world of puppetry and has had no equal since. The special effects creations of Derrick Meddings were cutting edge and helped make the Thunderbird series extremely fun and exciting to watch. Derrick Meddings went on to become one of the most respected creators of special effects both, in television and on the silver screen in the James Bond movies. I would venture to say, that every one of Gerry Anderson's "Supermarionation" series, including the "THUNDERBIRDS ARE GO", are all climbing to the top of the CULT CLASSICS.Read full review
The Thunderbirds series of SuperMarionation puppets were a great combination of marionettes, puppets and props that are unequaled to this day. The thought, detail, and creative energy come through in each viewing. And it all was influenced from the other things going on in society and movies in the '60s! From James Bond to very, very cool flying craft, operating gadgets and wardrobe; it is all good! For kids it was a marvel. Every kid wanted cool toys like the rocket ships, vehicles, and other advanced stuff the Thunderbirds got to use. For the people creating this series it was like getting to play with cool toys for the guys, and stylish dolls for the girls. Kids today have all the "hyper" action cartoons with weird occult-like characters, and people wonder why their kids are ADHD or have other problems when they go to school and can't settle down. This series is entertaining and interesting in a lower key way. Take a trip back to the 60's and see some quality entertainment that appeals to both the kids and parents. My young nephew loves this stuff!Read full review
This was an excellent purchase for me as I paid a very low price for it. The Thunderbirds Are Go! TV program was a very old and dear childhood memory of mine. I started thinking about some of the cooler shows that I remembered as a kid and now that I'm an old kid, I have started reclaiming some of those memories just for the fun of it. This movie was one of those reclamations. The care and thought that went into the production of this movie is truly amazing. I know that CGI is the king of effects now days, but when this movie (and the TV series) aired it was truly something new, original and cutting edge. I, like the creators, prefer to call the characters of the movie marionettes instead of puppets. As they are very complex and are far from being a puppet show. From interesting James Bond type plots to squealing smoking and melting rubber tires this movie has a lot going for it. It is certainly a fun for all ages movie. Young and young at heart will enjoy the blinky lights, thrilling death defying escapes and cool gadgetry that abound in this film. I still give it two thumbs up after all this time.Read full review
It's the Star Wars of it's time. Some of the gadgets and scenes from the Thunderbirds TV series and movies are referenced in some of the blockbuster movies from mid 60s they 2018 (i.e.: JB 00*, Abys*, ..... MIGP). Watched TV growing up and I still find the plots to be applicable today. Currently own/watch both movies and some of the TV series DVDs. I'm a BB if you haven't guessed. Both the TV series and movies may not be conducive for the PG13 and below audience. There is adult violence in them. Recommend parents/guardians screen first.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
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