Leofwine_draca THUNDERBIRDS ARE GO is a big screen outing for Gerry Anderson's popular puppet TV series and the good news is that it's a successful one. This successfully captures the magic of the show and is as exciting adventure as you could wish for. I always find myself impressed that Anderson's productions don't pander to kids in any way, instead telling adult story lines that just so happen to have puppets instead of actors on the screen.A wealth of British voice talent helps things considerably and I would even go so far as to call this realistic, at least in the attention to detail. It says something that the puppets are more animated and have more character than many of the so-called TV stars of our modern age. The cameos by Bob Monkhouse and Cliff Richard help to make this a lively experience, and the globetrotting storyline is as explosive and action-packed as you could wish for. Fab? Yes, it is!

preppy-3 Filmed in Supermariomation (seriously). Feature film version of a kids TV show that used marionettes. I'm too young to remember the show and the movie assumes you already know the characters so I was little confused about what was going on. It opens with a long sequence of hilariously obvious miniatures helping launch a rocket--the first manned mission to Mars. However it's sabotaged and crashes. They try it again--and the Thunderbirds help them. It seems the Thunderbirds are a group of sons and their dad who help fight evil by jumping into their rocket ships and...doing stuff. They're helped by Lady Penelope--a beautiful rich English woman who (I guess) is a worker of theirs. This involves a trip to Mars, rock creatures (don't ask) and tons of footage of the rocket ships flying...and flying...and flying...What drivel! If you were a fan of the TV show when you were a kid you'll probably love this--but to those of us who never saw the show it's incomprehensible and just plain dull! Also there's a lllooonnnggg pointless dream sequence when Alan dreams of dating Lady Penelope and it even works in a sing sequence with Cliff Richards and the Shadows (and wait till you see the obvious banana filling in for the moon!). The dream sequence adds zero to the plot and has got to be the most obvious example of padding I've ever seen in a motion picture. The plot (what there is of one) is slow and juvenile and the special effects are incredibly silly by todays standards. The herky jerky motions of the marionettes quickly becomes tiresome too. I will admit there are some impressive visuals but they can't overcome the stupid plot and clichéd characters. A sleep-inducing bore. I give it a 4.

sjmsurveyors When considering the standard of the film making quality its important to remember the age group at which the film is aimed at. Similarly the technology around at the time.It beggars belief to see that there are individuals that are today criticizing the standards of what is fast approaching animation that is an entire working lifetime ago.Having been a childhood fan of Fireball XL5, I watched the 'ZERO X' (Thunderbirds are go)film at the ABC Cinema in Birkenhead when it first came out. I remember the basic storey line and still appreciate the quality of a film from my childhood. Whilst Equally noting its standards by those of todays it still remains good for young children today.Long may these films remain available in accessible archive records for all to access.Steven

tfrizzell Tedious and demented mess that has puppets (not a misprint) involved in outer space exploration, sabotage, rescue missions and even risqué behavior. Laughably stupid picture that has a small following even today and has recently inspired a live-action remake with Ben Kingsley (!?) and a demented parody by the makers of "South Park". Meant to be innovative and unique in 1966, "Thunderbirds Are Go" is little more than a weak Saturday morning matinée idea with few financial resources and even fewer brain cells. Sleep-inducer that should be ignored by all. Even the youngsters will get sick of the creepy creatures that admittedly have about as much talent as many Grade-D performers in Hollywood today. Turkey (0 stars out of 5).