Rating: 
Summary: THUNDERBIRDS ARE GO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Review: , 4, 3, 2, 1 ...................... THUNDERBIRDS ARE GO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is an excellent movie guaranteed to entertain the entire family.
If you love famed SUPERMARIONATION creator Gerry Anderson's series THE THUNDERBIRDS, you will be in for a treat watching this movie. All the elements which made the series a huge hit is here in this movie.
This MOVIE was made just after The Thunderbirds television series was cancelled. Many of the props, puppets, vehicles etc appear in this movie, giving the movie a hidden lost episode FEEL. The DVD is in widescreen format as was released in movie theatres back in 1966. The DVD transfer is pretty clean, but since the movie was shot in 35mm format and letter-boxed back in '66, the movie is not as clear as one could hope for. I would say the quality is about the same as the television series, which is not too shabby. There is a few extras including about 3 short documentarys about the movie with interviews from Sylva Anderson. These interviews are OK, but I would have like to see more, They run very quick (about 10 minutes apeice).
The actual PLOT of THUNDERBIRDS ARE GO is not exactly very inventive. Some of the series premises and plots are rehashed, given a new coat of paint and reused. But, in my opinion, if you are a Thunderbirds fan, this movie is a MUST. You will enjoy it. Also, famed rock and rollers CLIFF RICHARD JR. and The SHADOWS appear in cameos as MARIONETTES !!!!!!!!! This is very strange. They even do a song which is very mid 60's Beatlish. and accompanying this some is a,, believe it or not, MUSIC MARIONETTE VIDEO of the whole band !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Trust me, it will put a smile on your face.
THUNDERBIRDS ARE GO is a MUST.
Rating:
Summary: The Child In Me Sez...
Review: 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!
Rating:
Summary: F.A.B .
Review: 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
Rating: 
Summary: One of Gerry & Sylvia Anderson's Best Supermarionations
Review: Between September 1965 and December 1966, British TV viewers had the opportunity to watch a program featuring a family (the Tracy's) represented by marionettes. The family members had devoted themselves to rescuing others (also played by marionettes) who had gotten themselves into various forms of trouble, usually due to some type of technical difficulty, weather or sabotage. Calling themselves "International Rescue", the Tracy family was more popularly known by the various high-tech vehicles that they used: the Thunderbirds, which was also the name of the TV program.
Consisting of 32 episodes (26 during its first season and 6 during its second), BBC-TV cancelled "The Thunderbirds" early into its second season. Knowing that their show had been cancelled, the show creators, Gerry and Sylvia Anderson, produced a feature length film entitled "Thunderbirds Are Go" that was released in British theaters 10 days before the final television episode aired on December 25, 1966. The film's fictional story was about the first manned space flight to Mars using a spacecraft called "Zero-X". On take-off, the Zero-X crashes. Two years later, an investigative committee concludes that the crash was due to sabotage. With the impending take-off of the second Zero-X mission, mission commanders decide to ask International Rescue for assistance with security. However, International Rescue has never provided security, as its mission has been limited to helping those who are already in trouble. After thinking it over, John Tracy (voice of Ray Barrett) decides to assist. Involved in the security efforts are Jeff Tracy (voice of Peter Dyneley), Gordon Tracy (voice of David Graham), Brains (voice also done by David Graham), Scott Tracy (voice of Shane Rimmer), Alan Tracy (voice Matt Zimmerman), Virgil Tracy (voice of Jeremy Wilkin), Lady Penelope Creighton-Ward (voice of Sylvia Anderson) and her chauffeur Parker (voice also by David Graham). After the launch of Zero-X, its crew makes an interesting discovery on Mars before returning to Earth; but their return landing may require the International Rescue's assistance again. Keeping up with what was then popular 1960's culture, the Anderson's created marionette versions of the British pop band "Cliff Richards and the Shadows" and featured the band's song "Shooting Star" in the film.
Two years after "Thunderbirds Are Go" was released, one more Thunderbirds feature-length film was released two years later: "Thunderbird Six". Though no new Thunderbirds episodes or feature-length films were ever made using Gerry and Sylvia Anderson's "supermarionation" technique, a steady cult following of the show that has lasted nearly 40 years brought about the production of a live-action version that was released in theaters in 2004. Aptly titled "Thunderbirds" and directed by long-time "Star Trek" actor Jonathan Frakes, the 2004 film did not live up to most Thunderbird aficionados' expectations.
Overall, I rate the 1966 supermarionation film "Thunderbirds Are Go" with 4 out of 5 stars. It continues to be a very entertaining film even after nearly 40 years, though it may seem somewhat campy by today's standards. Other TV series that the Anderson's successfully produced using supermarionation include "Supercar" (1960-1962, supermarionation), "Fireball XL5" (1962), "Captain Scarlett and the Mysterons" (1967) and "Joe 90" (1968). After that, the Anderson's started producing live-action TV series that include "U.F.O." (1970-1971) and the more familiar "Space: 1999" (1975-1977).
Rating:
Summary: THUNDERBIRDS in Their First Full-Length Feature Film!
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: THUNDERBIRDS in Their First Full-Length Feature Film!
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: The Anderson's masterpiece !
Review: Entertaining feature length version of the famous 1960s kids show. Special effects are very impressive considering the technology of the day . There's a great sense of humour at work in this film. The Cliff Richard send - up is a riot. I was lucky enough to see it on the silver screen at "The Astor Theatre" here in Melbourne earlier this year. It was presented on a double bill together with "Thuderbird 6" which was the sequel as I understand. The latter title wasn't quite as good as the first but still fun. "Thuderbirds are Go" is almost the "Fantasia" of the stop action / diorama school of film making. Gerry and Sylvia Anderson's masterpiece.
Rating: 
Summary: beware of european VHS-system
Review: I recently bought this video but didn't have the chance to watch it, çause it's a different VHS-system than the european. So wacth out if you're buying abroad !
Rating:
Summary: If you're a fan, get it!
Review: If you're a fan of the TV series, I guarantee you'll love this movie. It's all original material (no solar probe recycling), with a few fancy camera shots to show they have a budget. Plus, it has more of everything you love from the series: suspense, gaping plot holes, inane sci-babble, and utter hilarity. If you don't have it, what are you waiting for? GET IT NOW!
Rating:
Summary: Restricting thunderwear
Review: 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
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