RMweb Gold Barry Ten Posted April 5, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted April 5, 2015 Hi all, Recorded it and watched it late last night , after the kids (two teenage girls!) had gone to bed. As a 48-year-old who still remembers the excitement of waiting for the originals to come on each week - and the envy of noticing it was still being run on ITV Midlands when my area, Anglia, was running Survival or something - I thought it was a really good effort. Wherever I lived as a child, whether it was Wales or Cornwall, Thunderbirds never seemed to be shown on that region. Frustratingly, you'd see it in the TV Times listings for the other regions, but never ours! We also never got Captain Scarlet, although Joe 90 and UFO were shown occasionally. Eventually a lad (Steve) moved to our school from the North East, and he had all the info on the episodes - he'd even seen Stingray! I remember him telling me how great some of the episodes were, and yet all we had to go on were one or two dog-eared Thunderbirds annuals and the Dinky model of TB2! I must have been ten or eleven by the time the two films were shown on ITV, and then by the time I'd gone to Comprehensive school, HTV Wales started showing re-runs of the original Thunderbirds in the late 70s, but by then I was much older than the intended audience. I still enjoyed seeing them, though. I'm 49 now, and that lad from the North East is still a mate, even though he lives half way around the world! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium steam-driven boy Posted April 5, 2015 RMweb Premium Share Posted April 5, 2015 (edited) Hi, I shall certainly record to watch later further episodes, as with New Captain Scarlet (admittedly that also suffered horribly from the ludicrous broken-up insertion in a kids package schedule) the 'kid pacing' removes for me the build up of tension brilliantly achieved by AP/Century 21 and that, as a Mr Hitchcock often opined, denies the audience the opportunity to respond emotionally - blink and it's over just results in it feeling pretty empty to me. That might be fine for a modern Saturday morning target audience as it's currently scheduled, but the original style of production aimed a lot higher without boring the then just-back-from-school broadcast majority. Jeff has most likely been removed to boost the notion that the kids can do just as well without... It's very well made, the visuals are well produced apart, I thought, from some of the road undulations FAB1 had to negotiate which would for sure attract criticism if portrayed on an exhibition model railway. Again, some of the deliberate clunkyness can be fun but too much undervalues the product to my mind. I'm not too concerned over the revamp of the vehicles, a bit Lego-ey which may have some marketing influence(?), but no harm done really. I did wonder if John Scott sitting upright at launch would be corrected... Folding wings on TB2 in the pod bay does resolve a much questioned functional aspect... Fast-forward tv shown credits save modern-world valuable advertising timing. Vastly better, on the whole, than that Frakes-led awfulness (save the wonderful Mr Kingsley as The Hood), although designed to appeal in much the same way to much the same audience that reportedly Mr Anderson quite rightly tuned down the offer of much needed funds to endorse. Regards, Gerry 8) Edit: John/Scott - what was I thinking? Edited April 5, 2015 by steam-driven boy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold 30801 Posted April 5, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted April 5, 2015 BTW Amazon will sell you nine DVDs of stringy goodness for only £12.80 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Griffin Posted April 5, 2015 Share Posted April 5, 2015 Brilliant. I can't wait for the next one. There were so many links to the original. Examples Sea lab- inspiration from Atlantic inferno? Sea lab scientist. Dr meddings- Derek meddings. Original series model maker, designer of FireFlash. Dish reflecting Suns rays onto town, original series 'Lord parkers 'oliday. Alan's embarrassing talk with kayo in TB3- reference to Alan and TinTins relationship. Alan fixing satalite kayo says 'just like fixing the TV' original series reference operation crash dive. Alan fixes FireFlash TinTins states 'just like fixing a fuse' And brains' robot, like Breyman in original series. All in all I was impressed. My 4 year old loved it too. The only real niggle is do they really need Pete Dyneleys voice over at every craft launch. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium steam-driven boy Posted April 5, 2015 RMweb Premium Share Posted April 5, 2015 Hi, The itv Easter 'treat' was in showing the (what I've seen as produced) two-parter as one - as usual these days 1hr = approx 43mins without ads, I guess the launch voiceover won't get too annoying when shown in the normal format, there won't be that much time for too many launches! Regards, Gerry 8) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold gwrrob Posted April 5, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted April 5, 2015 It was on ITV2 Thursday 2nd April at 8.00pm Reggie and Thunderbirds - No Strings Attached, with Reggie Yates, I quite enjoyed it, as already mentioned a lot of the people involved in the project were already fans, and that showed through. I have not seen the 'new' Thunderbirds yet, cheers This is on ITV this afternoon at 4.05pm. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul.Uni Posted April 5, 2015 Share Posted April 5, 2015 Reggie and Thunderbirds - No Strings Attached on itvplayer https://www.itv.com/itvplayer/reggie-thunderbirds-no-strings-attached/series-1/episode-1-reggie-amp-thunderbirds-no-strings-attached I noticed it the titles in the background for Lady Penelope, you have the well known London attractions: the London Eye, the ITV studios and the Elizabeth Tower. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
34theletterbetweenB&D Posted April 5, 2015 Share Posted April 5, 2015 Unlike runner beans, lacks charm for lack of strings. As kids we were always shouting at the Hood to get on and invent scissors, instead of all this over ambitious tech. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
F-UnitMad Posted April 5, 2015 Share Posted April 5, 2015 (edited) The original toy Thunderbird 2 was by Dinky (they did Lady P's pink Rolls Royce too*). Early version was correct green (which my mate had) later version I had to make do with was metallic blue with red legs it was oneof my very first modelling re-painting projects!! * The radiator used to flip down so a missile could be fired. This led to the tiny RR mascot on the top of the radiator eventually breaking off. Mint models with an intact mascot are worth mega-money on the Collector's market, apparently. Edited April 6, 2015 by F-UnitMad Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bennyboy Posted April 5, 2015 Share Posted April 5, 2015 (edited) : for example, I didn't believe Gordon would jeopardise the rescue of 3 people to check out something in an underwater cave. He could've gone back later! Cheers Ben A. Yeah, it was really weird the way that Gordon just decided to go off on a personal errand in a middle of a rescue! Has he forgotten the name of the organisation that he works for? Edited April 5, 2015 by bennyboy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Storey Posted April 5, 2015 Share Posted April 5, 2015 I miss the strings, and I do not like the way they have changed Lady Penelope, but mainly the music was CARP. There was a hint of the original music in the opening credits but then it was all bland lift music - no beating the drums or crescendos to the theme tune. What have they done? However, the actoress who plays Bird in Bluestone 42 is the voice of the new character, Head of Security, most excellent. The models are more refined but not even to Star Wars levels of realism, even though the plot and dialogue was good, even quite funny in places. It looks like they have left the issue of whether Jeff Tracy is really dead quite open. I am not quite sure from what origin the new "Brains" hails, a cross between India and Scotland maybe? The character is similar, although not quite as nerdishly funny - more emphasis on the brilliance. Perhaps this is necessary these days for impressionistic small humans. I will continue to see how my c.50 years ago rose-tinted memories cope. My grandson is not yet old enough to give his opinion, so I must watch on his behalf.. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium polybear Posted April 6, 2015 RMweb Premium Share Posted April 6, 2015 Watchable, but doesn't even come close to the original, sadly Has given me a pretty good idea for a new entrance to the railway room though.... polybear 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Butler Henderson Posted April 6, 2015 Share Posted April 6, 2015 Not that bad - the CGI figures left a bit to be desired, compare with the CGI in the Life of Pi and it was obviously done to a limited budget. Probably best to see how the half hour normal episodes fare before judging it solely on the hour long special - after all how many programmes have had a special extra long episode which is poor compared to the normal run. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeeleyBridge Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015 I sat eagerly waiting for the first episode to be shown back in the sixties, I wasn't disappointed. I watched all over again with my daughter in the early 80s, then again with my sons in the early 90s. I introduced my youngest grandchildren to Supercar ,Stingray and Thunderbirds and they love them all just as much as I did 50 years ago, the Andersons got something right. I can't see this (seemingly) mutant turtle DNA affected International Rescue lasting 50 years. The only thing that was right was Parker's voice. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlackRat Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015 Puppets in 2014 is like asking a youngster to listen to music on a wind up gramophone. Ok, Marionettes, you can still see the strings tho lol Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold bcnPete Posted April 7, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted April 7, 2015 (edited) Watched it last night on catch up with my two boys (14 and 11) who I had brainwashed when they were younger by buying them the original dvd's and Tracey Island etc. Overall we thought it was quite entertaining with some nice references back to the original. We did all agree that it was all a bit too rushed though..We used to enjoy seeing the Thunderbird pod released in the water and hear the door slowly open etc...or each of the craft lifting off elegantly rather than bish bash bosh. That said, one can appreciate that life moves forward and to keep the attention span of children, perhaps they felt the need to keep it busy...my two managed to put down their iPhones/iPads for the duration...which is something of an achievement... Edited April 7, 2015 by bcnPete 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul.Uni Posted April 11, 2015 Share Posted April 11, 2015 Looks like 'Trapped In The Sky' has been remade. For me todays episode felt better paced although there were still some niggles (although the target audience wouldn't care). I think that in the first episode the plot took a bit of a backseat as all of the major characters and the Thunderbird craft, along with respective launch sequences, had to be introduced in the 45 minutes. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Ramblin Rich Posted April 11, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted April 11, 2015 I've just caught up "up demand" and quite enjoyed the enhanced versions of the craft and Parker being the grey ninja! Not sure of the physics of space flight but when Thunderbird 3 extends its grapples it reminds me of Blake's 7 Liberator.... http://www.hermit.org/Blakes7/Essays/Pics/killr194.jpeg Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
darren01 Posted April 12, 2015 Share Posted April 12, 2015 Saw it today but the timing was out, said it was on for half an hour, ended at 22 mins past and the included an add brake? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul.Uni Posted April 18, 2015 Share Posted April 18, 2015 Spoilers for todays episode: The Mole Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Phil Bullock Posted April 18, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted April 18, 2015 Bring on the Mole!!! Excellent Phil Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul.Uni Posted April 23, 2015 Share Posted April 23, 2015 Preview for 'Fireflash' 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul.Uni Posted April 25, 2015 Share Posted April 25, 2015 Todays episode: https://www.itv.com/itvplayer/thunderbirds-are-go/series-1/episode-4-fireflash 'Fireflash' is based on the original series episode 'Trapped In The Sky'. There are quite a few nods to 'Trapped In The Sky' most obvious being the music during the second landing attempt. 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold gwrrob Posted April 25, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted April 25, 2015 http://www.culttvmanshop.com/Thunderbirds-Fireflash-reissue-1350-scale-from-Aoshima-_p_2547.html A kit is also available an excellent remake that episode. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul.Uni Posted April 28, 2015 Share Posted April 28, 2015 Trailer for the next three episodes: Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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