Customer Reviews

Thunderbirds Set 1

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Yes, yes, yes ... dunderklumpen Parker is tripping all over his cockney vowels and Tintin (the non-francophone version) is demurely aiding (wink, wink) Alan, but how can you resist a world where technology is always fallible (planes exploding, reactors exploding, grandma exploding - just kidding) yet can only be saved by the same, now infallible, technology. A feature film with non-stringy actors is being made of this series - it's a guaranteed flop already. You can't tell these stories today with the wide-eyed enthusiasm of thirty years ago. Also, when Thunderbirds was made, the directors were making mini-feature-films. Now, alas, even our biggest films are made to play on TV, just like a movie-of-the-week. It'll look like a Star Trek episode - neat, clean-cut and sanitary with all the soul sucked out of its CGI animated pores. What it won't have is Lord Lew Grade sitting behind it, marvelling at its imagination, egging on its producer, giggling like a large cherubic baby. The original can't be anything other than FAB - a Fully Aknowledged Broadcast.

I grew up on Thunderbirds and loved every minute of it. To see the shows rendered in DVD quality picture and sound provides an awesome viewing experience, especially if you have surround sound with a good sub-woofer! The explosions and the Thunderbird launches sound incredible. Highly recommended as are all the other Thunderbirds DVDs in the series.

Ahhh.... the wonders of childhood. Yes, I remember the Thunderbirds and I'm glad they're back in the states. I went out and brought one of those multistandard vhs player (plays pal) just so I could buy and watch these guys. This was and still is a great childrens series. I had all of these tapes except one and now thanks to the new release from Carlton I have that one too. They still need work on the menu though. You can watch the movie but not select certain scenes in any given episode but I don't care. Buy this you won't regret it.

This series bring back memories of my childhood, an epoch that lives in the past never to resurface again, an epoch of mindless fun, carelessness and true feelings and emotions. An era of innocence and purity. Sigh.... Sigh....

When I was a kid I remember sitting in front of the television eagerly waiting for the Thunderbirds to come on. But that was then. There weren't that many shows for young audiences and 24-hours-a-day cartoon channels didn't yet exist...
As much as I played up the Thunderbirds to my six year old son,
and as excited as he was when I first popped in the VHS, the story did not hold his attention for more than ten minutes and after a good half hour of fidgeting, he finally admitted that he was bored. Maybe for older children?

this 1st set is a must have for Thunderbirds fans! if you only
buy one set you should get this one for sure ! actually set 1 & 2 are my favorite ! the sound and color are crisp and clear like
it was made yesterday ! it's a real classic.

It was the 1960s-- Stereotypes still existed, bad guys were obviously bad, good guys were obviously good. The Thunderbirds were obviously good guys, and obviously marionettes. The Anderson special effects are very good, even if some of the underwater scenes were obviously shot through an aquarium! The DVD captures all the nuances of the show, including the strings! (: The plots are at least as good as a James Bond flick.

Remember that the Andersons and ITC went on to do UFO and SPACE:1999. The special effects on these live action shows were of the same style as on the Thunderbirds (except the strings were easier to hide in space!). I kept thinking that UFO and SPACE:1999 ought to have splashed the "SUPERMARIONATION" logo on the screen!

I never realized that my favorite kiddie shows were all done by the same person - T-birds, Fireball XL5, Stingray, etc. This first set is great. I was pleasantly surprised at how well the episodes held up - and how often the ideas have been copied. Yea, the effects are cheesy, the "acting" over the top, and the overall effect campy, but it's 60's TV. It was in COLOR. It was in Supermarionation. It even had sound. And strings. And plenty of fire. What else could a kid ask for? If you even liked the series, you'll enjoy this memory-trip.

Money well spent, definitely. This DVD set is very impressive on all counts and truly packed (over 5 hours of entertainment!). Back in the mid 60's, THUNDERBIRDS were huge on Brazilian prime time television. I use to sit in the living-room with my father and younger brother, hypnotized by the show, although we only had black and white TV in my country back then. Now, over thirty-five years later, I can't help but wonder at the cool perfection of the whole enterprise, the complete devotion and seriousness of the producing team -- so much care and talent in every little detail! Make no mistake, this is no nostalgia lure, it is still really thrilling and magical with that kind of pure Zen pleasure in its optimistic display of futuristic technology and gadgetry without a trace of the cynicism and irony that prevail lately. In fact, these remarkable puppets look and act far better than many a real-life actor today... The soundtrack and music score are also of the highest standards, the picture quality a delight.

This is truly a great adventure series. I am from New Zealand and grew up with the Tracy family and their Thunderbirds aircraft and International Rescue outfit. Considering that it is nearly 35 years old the spacial effects are still impressive. I recently purchased the set 1 and 2 for my 6yr old son as a nostalga trip to my childhood so as to share some of my past with him. He is now hooked on the series and loves it.For Christmas I purchased the Thunderbird aircraft (made by matchbox) thru E-Bay and he was thrilled.
I am sure that this will appeal to any young child. Good always gets the upper hand over evil and the plots are easy to follow but to a young person still have plenty of action and adventure. The puppetry is great and every now and then you can spot the strings which adds to the nostalga without detracting from the appeal. In a world that is crying out for heros who selflessly seek to help others I feel this is a great example.
Alltogether a good program for both children and even enjoyed by many adults, especially myself.