Customer Reviews

Thunderbirds Are Go!

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

IR to the aid of the world alliance aircraft again!
The marionettes leave a lasting impression in this far fetched plot about Martian attacks and rocketships colliding to the earth.
Magnificent preformance by Cliff Richard (Jr.) and the Shadows with their instruments "are really [far] out." Alan gets to dream and save the day, but the roles of the other boys are minimal.

Great to add to any sci-fi collection and a must for gerry anderson fans.

FAB

When I was very little, about twenty years ago, I remember watching a movie with these puppets with my brother and all I remembered was the name "Thunderbirds". I kept remembering that I liked the movie and thought it was neat, almost like a James Bond type of cleverness. I was looking it up on the internet the other day to see if it would ever be playing on any cable stations and found that is was only playing in Europe. Then I thought to look it up here at Amazon, and found many of the Thunderbirds movies. It brought back a lot of memories. I bought this video for myself and my two boys - ages 7 and 8. I wasn't sure how they would like it as compared to today's moves, but they ended up liking it alot. What really impressed them was the cool ships and the James Bond like atmosphere and equipment. The fact that the puppet's mouths didn't always look like what they were saying didn't bother them much. And there actually was more action in the movie than I remembered even though the start of the movie was slow. I thought that Zero - X ship was never going to get off the ground! I can't believe Amazon still sells these old movies and am so glad they do. I plan on buying the other videos.

As a child, I enjoyed Gerry Anderson's other supermarionation productions; Supercar, Stingray, and most notably Fireball XL5. When Fireball went off the air, I was despondent until the release of the Thunderbirds. I watched the television broadcasts religiously. Thunderbirds Are Go and Thunderbird 6 are fantastic movies that are now being enjoyed daily by my four year and myself. My only critisism is that the full complement of craft are not represented in either of the feature length productions. Anyway, I'm happy to see the television broadcasts are being released February 27, 2001. That is my birthday and my son (and daughter) have promised me this special gift. F.A.B. Here's to living in the futuristic past. ~T

My son (age 6) came across another T-birds movie at the video store & wouldn't stop talking about it, so I looked here & discovered Thunderbirds Are GO. Well, my kid now thinks I am the coolest dad in history. He's watched it faithfully twice a day for a week--I'm begining to worry! When I found that it was a 34 year old film I was astounded with its quality of character development and technical accuracy (I'm an aerospace journalist)--much of the story is plausible if we could ever afford it! The dream sequence is hilarious. I especially like "Brains" a 60's era Nerd who helps the Thunderbirds. All he needs is a pocket protector.

I hope someone makes a new release of the other T-birds titles.

AHHH!! I must have seen this piece of pure 60's kids-film-that-adults-love-more, more than 50 times. And I STILL get a kick out of it! Considering it was made an astonishing 34 years ago, this movie version of the incredible television series still manages to impress with its special effects, tonque-in-cheek humour and action. In fact, if you love Austin Powers, James Bond and the (TV!) Avengers, then you'll LOVE this. The design of the massive ZERO-X spacecraft is actually rather good and might even work very well in reality, but would be VERY expensive to build. But you see, that's part of the appeal of the 60's Gerry and Sylvia Anderson productions. They were larger than life, gloriously impractical and very groovy. There were hard working, smart and very canny artists behind this and other 'Supermarionation' productions. And they did corporate franchise stuff years before Star Trek and Star Wars, but with only half the cynicism and twice the heart. Do yourselves a favour: If you're unfamiliar with them, trust me and buy ALL Thunderbirds, Captain Scarlet, Stingray and especially UFO products. And I'm VERY glad that DVD versions of this stuff is now available. They deserve it!

You are lucky to have a chance to get this film. First, quality videos of all the Supermarionation pieces are few and far between. If you have had to rely on bootlegs, you won't want to miss this chance to see a crystal clear version! If only it had been letterboxed!

The famous dream sequence is worth the price of the video alone. Lady P is perfect, never more ravishing than when she whisks him away -haven't we all versions of this dream? I know I have.

I also think the camera work is very good. And the music, God! Also amazing. Buy it while you still can.

Just to briefly correct the reviewer from Massachusetts on July 2nd, this film does NOT use footage from Captain Scarlet as Scarlet was filmed AFTER this - the only link being a Zero-X mission. It is good to see a TV series transcend so well to the big screen, the effects work (considering this was filmed in 1966) is A-1, Zero-X is a stunning piece of hardware and the Martian Rock Snakes scenes are some of tne most eerie and spectacular in the picture. Pure escapism!

Blatantly using footage, props and plot from the first episode of "Captain Scarlet", as well as a couple of their own episodes, Man is off to Mars to see what it can see. But before they get there, they have to solve a case of sabotage aboard the fascinating "Zero-X" space vehicle. And who you gonna call? International Rescue and their amazing machines! Once they get to Mars, however, they are attacked by rock snakes. Let's face it, this is not a fantastic movie, but for fans of Gerry Anderson's work, THIS IS A MUST-HAVE!!! All the caracters are here, including the amazing Lady Penelope, and her Butler, Parker. This movie and the TV show it was based on made me want to do this kind of thing for a living. Now I'm an artist for a computer game company -- close enough for now.

Of special note: Special Miniature Effects by Derek Meddings, famous also for doing all the effects on the James Bond movies. Meddings died in 1995, a sad day for Anderson fans and Bond fans alike.

Sean.

The bits of Thunderbirds Are Go are very interesting. Whenever I watch the movie, I couldn't wait for the big launch of Zero-X. My other favourite bit is when Alan Tracy dreams that he goes to The Swinging Star with Lady Penelope to watch Cliff Richard Jnr. and The Shadows. My most adventurous and climaxing part is when the International Rescue Team (i.e. Scott, Virgil, Alan, Gordon and Brains) save the Zero-X crew from death before the rocket crashes into Craigsville. The funniest bit is when I see the International Rescue team (excluding Gordon) in their disguises at The Swinging Star. The last bit is one of my favourite bits, when this brass-and-percussion marching band performs the theme music.

Zero X is man's first mission to Mars. Unfortunately, sabotage destroys the first attempt and so two years later International Rescue is called to oversee the successful launch. Later after a dangerous encouter on Mars the crew of Zero X is again in danger when one of the support wings is damaged and sends the craft crashing to earth. International Rescue is again called to save the day and the lives of ther men. I can say that Thunderbirds Are Go is one of the few movies I have seen over and over again. But then I've been a fan for years. When one considers the technical detail of the show alone, it is impressive - the first movie to be filmed in Supermarionation. Derek Meddings got his experience as SFX man in these programmes. Consider also the impact of the rerun in non-US countries of the original serties after over 30 years Thunderbirds has a great following, perhaps only after Star Wars and Star Trek. Children from all ages will be fascinated by these life-like toys and dolls (okay puppets). Should you buy it? F.A.B! END