Thomas and the Magic Railroad Review

Thomas and the Magic Railroad

Release Date: 8th December 2000 - Australia

Production Companies

Gullane Pictures

Destination Films

Isle of Man Film Commission (in association with)

Britt Allcroft (Thomas) Ltd.

The Magic Railroad Company

Genre: Family

Rating: G

Runtime: 85 minutes

Budget: $19,000,000 (estimated)

Box Office Gross: $19,749,009 (Worldwide)

Plot Summary

In the Island of Sodor, where Thomas and his friends reside, things do not look good when an evil diesel engine named Diesel 10 and his two cronies, Splatter and Dodge, arrive and intend to cause trouble. Even Mr. Conductor, the magical being who always travels between Sodor and the human world of Shining Time, is low on his gold dust. It is up to a resourceful young girl named Lily, who is on her way to visit her grandfather before she meets Mr. Conductor, along with Thomas and his friends. They embark on an adventure to find more gold dust and save the Magic Railroad.

Cast

Peter Fonda - Grandpa Burnett

Stone

Mara Wilson - Lily

Cody McMains - Patch

Alec Baldwin - Mr. Conductor

Russell Means - Billy Twofeathers

Didi Conn - Stacy Jones

Michael E. Rodgers - Mr. C.
Junior

Lori Hallier - Lily's Mum

Jared Wall - Young Burnett
(Voice)

Laura Bower - Young Tasha
(Voice)

Edward Glen - Thomas (Voice)

Neil Crone - Diesel 10/Splatter/

Gordon/Tumbleweed (Voices)

Colm Feore - Toby (Voice)

Linda Ballantyne - Percy
(Voice)

Kevin Frank - Dodge/Bertie/
Harold/Henry (Voices)

Susan Roman - James (Voice)

Shelley Elizabeth Skinner -
Annie/Clarabel (Voices)

Britt Allcroft - Lady (Voice)

Philip D. Fehrle - Spectator (Cameo) (Uncredited)

Keith W. Strandberg - Passenger (Cameo) (Uncredited)

Crew

Creator/Writer/Producer/
Director - Britt Allcroft

Based on the Railway Series -

Wilbert Awdry

"Shining Time Station" Creator - Rick Siggelkow
Writer - Robin Kingsland

Executive Producers - Brent Baum, John Bertolli, Nancy Chapelle, Charles Falzon, Barry London and Steven Stapler (Uncredited)

Producer - Phillip D. Fehrle

Co-Producer - Mark Jacobson
Creative Consultants - Neil Crone and Kevin Frank

Steam Railroad Consultant - Linn Moedinger

Dog Trainer: Isle of Man - Julie Tottman

Animal Trainers: Toronto - Dawn Barkan and Stacey Basil

Production Designer - Oleg M. Savytski

Art Director - Lucinda Zak

First Assistant Art Directors - Jason Knox-

Johnston and Mark Scruton

Associate Set Designer - Charles Dunlop

Set Decorator: Isle of Man - Cheryl Dorsey

Set Decorator: Toronto - Caroline Gee

Costume Designer - Luis Sequeira

Hair Stylist/Makeup Artist: Pennsylvania -

Pamela Peitzman

Cinematography - Paul Ryan

Location Manager: Isle of Man - James Clearly

Location Manager: Toronto - Rob Gwynne

Unit Production Manager: Pennsylvania Unit - 

Keith W. Strandberg

Special Effects Supervisor: Isle of Man Unit -

Peter Hutchinson

Special Effects Coordinator - Laird McMurray

Special/Visual Effects Supervisor - Bill Neil
Visual Effects Producer - Mike Chambers

Visual Effects Producer: GVFX - Dave Axford

Visual Effects Co-Producer: GVFX - Sasha Jarh

Model Supervisor - Steve Asquith

Creative Consultant: Model Unit - David Mitton

Key Model Builders - Dave Aisling,

David Johnston and Jason Ehl

Director of Photography: Model Unit - Terry Permane

First Assistant Camera: Model Unit - Nigel Permane

Film Editor - Ron Wisman

ADR Editor (Uncredited)/Sound Supervisor/

Supervising Sound Editor (Uncredited) -

Nelson Ferreira

Original "Thomas" Music and Songs -

Junior Campbell and Mike O'Donnell

Lyrics - Don Black and Sue Ennis

Songs/Music - Hummie Mann

Review

I remember watching the Thomas the Tank Engine series at a young age. It was back when I had it on VHS. As I got older, I outgrew it. Even today, small children still watch the show. Some adults enjoy the series but not the later seasons. It may be due to HiT and later Mattel that owned the series. Recently, I started rewatching the original British series. I hate to admit that I have rewatched the episodes of Thomas, so please try not to laugh. I never wanted to review any Thomas movies because they were all preschool-oriented, but I made an exception. I have mixed feelings about seeing this film again. I am doing this to have it as a tribute to Peter Fonda, who has recently passed away and is one of its main actors.

I had not heard many good things about THE MAGIC RAILROAD, not because it spun off from a children's show but because the movie seemed bizarre and inconsistent. I read an article about the film that was changed and truncated by the studio. Test audiences complained about it for several reasons. One was that a few character voices proved too old for the engines. And secondly, one villain was too scary for younger kids. These changes would confirm the perceived "Americanisation" when international critics were unfamiliar with Shining Time Station. This American kids' show existed when Thomas was at the peak of its popularity.

Another problem with MAGIC RAILROAD is that some fans suggested that the feature may have derailed the franchise. It also may have led to Britt Allcroft stepping down as head of Gullane. Allcroft helped co-found this company, which HiT later bought in 2002.

MAGIC RAILROAD is cutesy yet too confusing, and the plot is easily convoluted and meandering. That is why it got re-edited. The mouths of the trains are unable to move. It has been an ongoing problem since the TV series. However, the transition to CGI is not possible until 2008. The acting from the late Peter Fonda is not engaging for a kids' film as the character he portrays is quite similar to his role in Ulee's Gold. Alec Baldwin does his best with Mr. Conductor, but unfortunately, he overacts. Mara Wilson painfully interacts in her performance as Lily. Also, James's voice sounds too feminine and boyish.

I urge you, viewers, to watch the TV series and, for one time, watch the movie and compare it to the kids' show unless the director's cut is released.

Star rating: (3/10) Disappointing

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