Monday 5 November 2012

DVD Review: A Very Thomas Christmas

THESE ARE SOLEY MY OPINIONS AND NOT FROM THE THOMAS & FRIENDS FAN BASE

A VERY THOMAS CHRISTMAS
Written by
Sharon Miller and Max Allen 

Directed by
Greg Tiernan 

Produced by
Nicole Stinn 

Episodes:
- The Christmas Tree Express
- Ho Ho Snowman 
- Salty's Surprise 
- Emily's Winter Party Special

Special Features:
- 'Thomas' Christmas Journey' Game
- 'Guess Who?' puzzles.

Distributed by
Lionsgate/HIT Entertainment 

HIT Entertainment had released the critically acclaimed 'Blue Mountain Mystery' in the UK, US, Australia and New Zeland. Now the US have two more DVDs for 2012 and today, we'll be looking at Lionsgate's fourth Christmas themed DVD, 'A Very Thomas Christmas' featuring episodes from the recent sixteenth season of 'Thomas & Friends'. 
 
EPISODES
The episodes are all from the recent season sixteen series that have been aired in the US, UK and Australia. The episodes are in their dreaded three strikes formula and are badly written, especially 'The Christmas Tree Express' and 'Ho Ho Snowman', but I find 'Emily's Winter Party Special' and 'Salty's Suprise' the most decent ones.
 
Unlike the UK's recent release 'Merry Winter Wish', they mentioned 'Winter Holidays' as of course the whole Christmas/Winter Holiday PC issue was only for the UK/AUS audiences. However, its not as irritating to hear now.
 
SPECIAL FEATURES
 
The special features are good for kids, the 'Thomas' Christmas Journey Game' was fun and it's better then the other games on the US DVDs to be honest. Its got the old board game feeling when you play it. The Guess Who Puzzles which are Thomas, Charlie and Emily. With Mr. Perkins, it's strange how they didn't put his name up on the DVD menu, instead it says 'Play All' instead of 'Watch Episodes With Mr. Perkins'. But aside from that, the plot shows Mr. Perkins staying at the engines driver common room as he has to start work early as the railway inspector is coming to Sodor. But however, the special features are good on this DVD.
 
OVERALL
Like the UK's recent release, this DVD is OK and is recommendable to the younger audiences, the target range, of Thomas & Friends for Christmas. However, I still find 'Blue Mountain Mystery' to be reccomendable for Christmas this year. This will be one of the last DVDs to feature four episodes as of next year 'Muddy Matters' will feature a fifth episode and who knows, it could be released that way in future DVDs in 2013?
 
Well the next Thomas DVD to be released for America is 'Sticky Situations' on December 1st and I'll be getting that for Christmas this year, so it'll be a late review, maybe around after Boxing Day? Depends on how much time I have after Christmas.


Rating: 3/5