Thunderbirds Are Go (International Rescue Edition)

Amazon.com

Inspired by such disparate influences as Bonanza, James Bond, and the pop culture of '60s London, Thunderbirds burst onto the British television scene in 1964. The Tracey family of International Rescue consisted of retired astronaut and widower Jeff (a dead ringer for John Forsythe), and his five sons, each with his own Thunderbird rocket ship. They were assisted in their operations by the likes of Phil Spector look-alike Brains and Lady Penelope of the pink Rolls and baggy-faced chauffeur, Parker. The Hood, who bears an uncanny resemblance to the Yul Brynner of The King and I, is their archenemy. Thunderbirds Are Go was creator Gerry Anderson's first full-length feature. If the pacing is uneven and the supermarionettes (electronic puppets) not as expressive as the Claymation figures, it's an entertaining introduction nonetheless. The plot doesn't make much sense, but the special effects by Derek Meddings, who would provide the miniatures for several Bond features, hold up surprisingly well. And some of the set pieces are a real treat, particularly the Mars rescue and the dream trip to the Swinging Star, a cross between a '50s drive-in and a Christmas tree ornament. Cliff Richard and the Shadows contribute a couple of groovy numbers and perform--marionette style--at the Star for the entertainment of youngest son Alan (the "Little Joe" of the family) and the stylish Penelope, a plasticene version of Julie Christie. That surrealistic sequence alone is worth the price of admission. (Ages 5 to 12) --Kathleen C. Fennessy

Description

Blast off into interplanetary adventure with the first feature-length film starring the International Rescue team: millionaire ex-astronaut Jeff Tracy, his five stalwart sons, the fabulous secret agent Lady Penelope and, of course, their incredibly futuristic fleet of Thunderbird rescue ships! When the might spaceship Zero X is sabotaged on its first take-off for Mars, International Rescue is summoned to provide security for the second launch attempt. But after the ship successfully reaches its destination, it is attacked by rampaging alien life forms! Once again, the brave and resourceful International Rescue team is called into action. Can the team help the damaged ship re-enter Earth's atmosphere and prevent a crash-landing with devastating consequences?

Customer Reviews:

My four year old loves it!.......2007-01-20

This is a classic collection of the old Thunderbirds - marionette wires and all. My four year old son invites all of his neighborhood buddies to watch - all have become huge fans.

Hours of peace and quiet. A parent's dream.

Thunderbirds are Go!.......2006-07-03

I read a review that this dvd was worth the purchase if only for the dream sequence. That person was right, but really the whole thing was well worth the purchase. You have to watch the interviews at the end as well. Every person who watches this finds something interesting, entertaining and amazing in it.

If you're a fan, get it!.......2004-11-01

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!

One of Gerry & Sylvia Anderson's Best Supermarionations.......2004-09-06

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).

THUNDERBIRDS ARE GO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.......2004-07-28

, 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.

Thunderbirds International Rescue Edition 2-Pack Gift Set (Thunderbirds Are Go / Thunderbird 6)

Average customer rating:

Absolutely F.A.B.!!!
MY SON LEARN ENGLISH WITH THUNDERBIRDS & FUN
The Fabulous Thunderbirds!
Heavy-duty futuristic hardware, explosions, and...puppets
Not to bad

Thunderbirds International Rescue Edition 2-Pack Gift Set (Thunderbirds Are Go / Thunderbird 6)
Starring: Sylvia Anderson , Ray Barrett , Alexander Davion , Peter Dyneley , and Christine Finn
Director: David Lane
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00022PZ56
Release Date: 2004-07-20

Amazon.com

Thunderbirds Are Go followed the remarkable success of the Thunderbirds television series, bringing the three-dimensional puppet animation adventures of International Rescue to the big screen. Set in the 21st century, there is no attempt to explain the background story: as in the TV show International Rescue is a private family organization who uses high-tech craft to rescue anyone in peril. Here it's the first manned flight to Mars that's in danger, as International Rescue foils a sabotage attempt at the launch, then race to avert disaster when the spaceship returns to earth. What could have made a 50-minute TV episode is expanded to feature length with Martian "rock monsters" and a surreal dream-sequence involving Alan Tracy, Lady Penelope, and "Cliff Richard Jnr" & the Shadows, with a new song performed by the real Cliff and the Shadows. In the theaters, Thunderbirds Are Go was competing against another British children's TV sci-fi spin-off, the equally colorful Daleks' Invasion Earth 2150AD, and would be followed by Thunderbird 6 (1968). Yet apart from more complex model work, a bigger orchestra, and even bigger explosions, on TV this plays like a widescreen double-length episode.

Thunderbird 6 revolved around a new addition to the lineup of International Rescue's five emergency craft. The plot sees Lady Penelope, Alan, Tin-Tin, and Parker as the only passengers on the maiden, round-the-world flight of a futuristic airship, which is hijacked in a bid to capture Thunderbirds 1 and 2. From the moment Alan arrives on a Bond-style jetpack, the film veers away from the TV show into espionage adventure territory, and while the only people International Rescue rescues are their own members, they kill a fair number of bad guys. The global tour means there are more locations than ever, and though the story takes a long time developing, the Die Hard-on-an-airship finale delivers the most explosive set piece of Gerry Anderson's career. As for Thunderbird 6, opinion remains divided as to whether it's an ingenious twist or a disappointing gimmick, but the movie's blend of model and live-action footage results in two superbly staged stunt sequences. The Andersons would make one further feature film, Journey to the Far Side of the Sun (1969). --Gary S. Dalkin

Description

THUNDERBIRDS ARE GO!
Blast off into interplanetary adventure with the first feature-length film starring the International Rescue team: millionaire ex-astronaut Jeff Tracy, his five stalwart sons, the fabulous secret agent Lady Penelope and, of course, their incredibly futuristic fleet of Thunderbird rescue ships! When the mighty spaceship Zero X is sabotaged on its first takeoff for Mars, International Rescue is summoned to provide security for the second launch attempt. But after the ship successfully reaches its destination, it is attacked by rampaging alien life forms! Once again, the brave and resourceful International Rescue team is called into action. Can the team help the damaged ship re-enter Earth's atmosphere and prevent a crash-landing with devastating consequences?

THUNDERBIRD 6
The Tracy team are back in action in another riveting adventure! This time it will take all of their combined effort - and the cunning wit of their colleague Lady Penelope - to defeat an international ring of terrorists who've targeted International Rescue for destruction! While on the maiden voyage of the fabulous new passenger vessel "Skyship One," Lady Penelope is shocked to discover that the original crew has been killed and replaced with a ruthless gang of hijackers who want to use her to obtain classified information about the International Rescue team! As the hijacked super-plane circles the globe on a collision course with catastrophe, Penelope must outwit her captors and send an urgent SOS to get help from her fearless cohorts…before it's too late!

Customer Reviews:

Absolutely F.A.B.!!!.......2006-02-18

Like many Thunderbirds fans around the world, I've watched these exciting TV shows as a child. Unlike the ubiquitous unoriginal and uninspired children's shows nowadays, the Thunderbirds shows provided plenty of imaginative, captivating, and exciting adventures! This gift set contains two VERY entertaining, widescreen, full-length movies in Dolby 5.1 Surround Sound and features many extras such as commentaries by Silvia Anderson (producer) and David Lane (director), theatrical trailers, photo galleries, quizzes, and many featurettes, etc.....Lots of FUN stuff. These digital re-mastered movies are just amazing: the pictures are sharp, colors vivid, clear sounds/music, and most artifacts like marionette lines removed. I especially enjoyed the H.M. Royal Marine's performance of the Thunderbirds theme during the closing credits: THUNDERBIRDS ARE GO!!!

MY SON LEARN ENGLISH WITH THUNDERBIRDS & FUN.......2004-10-17

I AM A MOTHER AND A KINDERGARDEN TEACHER TOO, AND I FOUND WITH MY "THUNDERBIRDS" COLLECTION AN EASY WAY TO TEACH ENGLISH TO MY KIDS, AND THEY REALLY ENJOY THIS TWO CHAPTERS BECAUSE THE SUBTITLES AND THE MAGIC FORMULA OF SUPERMARIONATION MAKE THEM FELL INSIDE THE MOVIE... IN "THUNDERBIRD 6" WE CAN FIND THE WHOLE TEAM IN A RESCUE ADVENTURE...AND IN THE "THUNDERBIRDS ARE GO" THE VISUAL AN SOUD EFFECTS ARE GREAT....

The Fabulous Thunderbirds!.......2004-08-10

The works of Gerry and Sylvia Anderson have diminished little since their salad days in the 1960s.
The release of 'Thunderbirds are Go' and 'Thunderbird 6'to DVD to coincide with the theatrical release of the live action movie in theaters soon,is a delight to see once more.
I hadn't seen these movies since their intial release in 1966 and 1968 respectively but my memory told me the second one was a little better,and I was right.'Thunderbirds are Go' gets a little long in spots and is at times a bit disjointed in plot while 'Thunderbird 6' generally moves along very well.
While working with marionettes and miniature sets was nothing
new,the Andersons took the two where no man or woman had gone before and made it almost an artform in itself.The Andersons' imaginations on the Thunderbirds series and the many others they had running and working at the same time like 'Stingray' and 'Fireball XL-5'(my fave)showed the unbelievable talent and skill they possesed.And to see how well these films still stand up today is a fine testament to that.
Sure you can still see the wires from time to time but the main thing was the tapestry they wove with their myriad of plot devices coupled with the working and integrating of the marionettes with live sequences/actors.In fact in 'Thunderbird 6' try to differentiate between the miniature Tiger Moth biplane and the real thing(...or was it?).And was that the marionettes hand or an actors?
Furthermore the Andersons took the entire thing beyond just this and made each individual marionette into a genuine character with all the foibles and emotions one sees with live actors.With just the right dialogue and nuance they pulled you into that world and you "believed".This hadn't been done before nor has it since.
The only other work that comes close and achevied similar results in another related but different medium was Jim Henson and the Muppets.
Much of the Andersons work inspired many pros in the motion picture field for years and does to this day,especially those that work with miniature sets so important in countless pictures involving SFX.
So here's a tip of the hat to you Sylvia and Gerry Anderson.
You did GOOD!!!

Heavy-duty futuristic hardware, explosions, and...puppets.......2004-08-10

I was so surprised that I liked these movies a lot more than I thought I would. These films were obviously a labor of love for Sylvia and Gerry Anderson, and their extra efforts show in every frame. Derek Meddings' designs are just incredible; it's easy to see how he was hired to do the futuristic model effects for the James Bond movies. And the dream sequence in "Thunderbirds Are Go!", in which Cliff ("Devil Woman", "Little in Love") Richard and the seminal group The Shadows are modeled by perfect marionette replicas (in what could quite possibly be the first MTV-type music video ever) is alone, in my opinion, worth the price of both DVDs.

The only quibble I would have with both movies would be in the pacing. There are quite a few slow points in these films (e.g., the launches of the Thunderbirds, the rollout of the Mars vehicle in "Thunderbirds Are Go!" which goes on for a full 10 minutes!). The finely detailed work in the sets and the marionettes well deserve this extra ogling time, though, and I believe kids will particularly be impressed by the "hardware" displayed and won't mind the plodding of these scenes.

The extras are fun, too. Sylvia Anderson and David Lane discuss all the trials and tribulations of pulling off high-tech science-fiction adventure with a cast of 18"-tall puppets.

Not to bad.......2004-07-28

I have only seen "Thuderbirds are Go", and I will write a reveiw for when I see "Thunderbird 6". I was excited when I heard about this set because, when looking on the web for these 2 movies, I found that they were only available in Region 2. When I heard about this, I thought it was a best episodes DVD. I was glad when I saw that it contained the movies. I saw the first film and was a little dissapointed. It was entertaining but there almost totally useless sequences, but my biggest gripe is that the first Zero X takeoff was way to long, especially since I got this set to see the main characters, and they didn't appear for 10 minutes (maybe longer, I didn't time it). Aside from those complaints. I enjoyed the film and I intend to watch the second one. The punch out ships are pain, but I love the magnets, and the behind the scenes featuretees. But, I recommend that, if you never seen Thunderbirds, start with renting a series disc (I never saw an episode, but I heard they were better) If you want a complete set, get this and the series box set. The first movie was entertaing, just a few slow spots. I think Tin-Tin is cute.

Average customer rating:

My four year old loves it!
Thunderbirds are Go!
If you're a fan, get it!
One of Gerry & Sylvia Anderson's Best Supermarionations
THUNDERBIRDS ARE GO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thunderbirds Are GO [Region 2]
Starring: Sylvia Anderson , Ray Barrett , Alexander Davion , Peter Dyneley , and Christine Finn
Director: David Lane
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00005ATB6

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

My four year old loves it!.......2007-01-20

Thunderbirds are Go!.......2006-07-03

If you're a fan, get it!.......2004-11-01

One of Gerry & Sylvia Anderson's Best Supermarionations.......2004-09-06

THUNDERBIRDS ARE GO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.......2004-07-28

Average customer rating:

My four year old loves it!
Thunderbirds are Go!
If you're a fan, get it!
One of Gerry & Sylvia Anderson's Best Supermarionations
THUNDERBIRDS ARE GO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thunderbirds Are GO [Region 2]
Starring: Sylvia Anderson , Ray Barrett , Alexander Davion , Peter Dyneley , and Christine Finn
Director: David Lane
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

( T ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

ASIN: B000059L8B

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

My four year old loves it!.......2007-01-20

Thunderbirds are Go!.......2006-07-03

If you're a fan, get it!.......2004-11-01

One of Gerry & Sylvia Anderson's Best Supermarionations.......2004-09-06

THUNDERBIRDS ARE GO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.......2004-07-28

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