Thunderbirds Review

Thunderbirds


Release Date: 16th September 2004 - Australia


Production Companies
Universal Pictures (present)

StudioCanal (present)

Working Title Films
Tracy Films (Uncredited)

Distribution
Universal Pictures Australia


Genre: Family/Sci-Fi

Action/Adventure

Rating: PG

Runtime: 95 minutes


Budget: $57,000,000

Box Office Gross: $28,283,637 (Worldwide)


Plot Summary
Former astronaut/

entrepreneur Jeff Tracy has been running a top-secret organisation named International Rescue. He and his four older sons are a team of heroes called Thunderbirds that pilot five incredible machines. Together, they have been saving people's lives amid ongoing disasters.

But today, their home, Tracy Island, located around the Pacific Ocean, has come under siege by a criminal mastermind known as the Hood, who has trapped them in space and intends to use their hi-tech rescue vehicles and technology for his evil plot. Only the youngest son, Alan Tracy, is left on the island to stop the Hood and his plans, but has he got whatever it takes to save his

family and the world?

Cast
Brady Corbet - Alan Tracy
Bill Paxton - Jeff Tracy
Vanessa Hudgens - Tintin
Anthony Edwards - Ray
"Brains" Hackenbacker
Ben Kingsley - The Hood
Sophia Myles - Lady Penelope
Phillip Winchester - Scott Tracy
Lex Shrapnel - John Tracy
Dominic Colenso - Virgil Tracy
Ben Torgersen - Gordon Tracy
Soren Fulton - Fermat Hackenbacker
Rose Keegan - Transom
Ron Cook - Parker
Bhasker Patel - Kyrano
Harvey Virdi - Onaha
Genie Francis - Lisa Lowe
Deobia Oparei - Mullion
Johannes Zadrozny - Panhead
Nicola Walker - Panhead's Mother

Crew
Director - Jonathan Frakes
Based on the TV Series - Gerry &

Sylvia Anderson
Story/Screenplay - William Osborne
Story - Peter Hewitt
Screenplay - Michael McCullers
Executive Producers - Liza Chasin
and Debra Hayward
Producers - Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner
and Mark Huffam
Co-Producers - Jo Burn and Chris Clark

Casting Directors - Fiona Weir

and Mary Selway

Production Designer - John Beard

Vehicle Designer - Mike Trim

Supervising Art Director - Thomas Frankish

Set Decorator - Joanne Woollard
Costume Designer - Marit Allen

Assistant Costume Designers - Jacqueline Durran

and Jane Petrie

Hair & Makeup Designer - Peter Swords King

Director of Photography - Brendan Galvin

"A" Camera Operator - Des Whelan

Steadicam Operators - Rupert Power and

Roger Tooley

Unit Production Manager - Angus More Gordon

Unit Manager - James Grant

First Assistant Director - Tommy Gormley
Second Unit Director/Director of Photography:
Second Unit - Shaun O'Dell
Action Director/Stunt Coordinator -

Paul Jennings
Special Vehicle Supervisor - Graham Kelly

Special Effects Supervisor - Paul Corbould
Special Effects Coordinator/Buyer -

Jess Lewington
Visual Effects Supervisors - Mike McGee
and Mark Nelmes
Model Shop Supervisor - Bill Pearson
CGI Supervisor - Craig Lyn

Lead Effects Technical Director - Nordin Rahhali
Editor - Martin Walsh

Supervising Sound Editor/Sound Designer -

Glenn Freemantle

Re-Recording Mixers - John Hayward,

Richard Pryke and Andrew Caller (Uncredited)

Foley Artists - Phil Heywood and

Adrian Medhurst

Music - Hans Zimmer

Additional Music - Ramin Djawadi

Additional Arrangements - James Dooley

and Mel Wesson

Music Supervisor - Nick Angel

Recording Engineer - Geoff Foster


Review
I watched a few episodes of Gerry Anderson's classic Supermarionation TV series THUNDERBIRDS and the first movie. However, the live-action adaptation by director Jonathan Frakes failed to live up to my expectations. The sound effects were more for a cartoon than live-action, and the movie felt similar to Spy Kids. Because it only focuses on the younger characters like Alan Tracy, Tin-Tin and Fermat instead of all five Tracy brothers. And worst of all, this film changes the Thunderbirds' nemesis, The Hood, from being a master of disguise to having strange powers. The positives include the acting of Bill Paxton, Sophia Myles, Ron Cook and Ben Kingsley and the emergency teapot. The CGI effects are decent, and the music score is terrific.

THUNDERBIRDS could have been a more faithful live-action film adaptation. The movie is a no-go for fans of the original TV series. It might appeal to those unfamiliar with the original classic show.

Star rating: (3/5) Average

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