After writing my blog post on 'The Royal Engine' back in May 2020, I said that would be my last DVD review for the time being and then two days later this was revealed by Steamteam3211 on twitter. Feels a bit funny to me. Anyway so here's the first episodic DVD release for the year 2020 and here are my views on the DVD itself, but first:
THESE ARE SOLEY MY OPINIONS AND ARE NOT INFLUENCED FROM THE THOMAS & FRIENDS FAN BASE
CARNIVAL DAY!
Written by
Davey Moore
Camille Ucan & Rose Johnson
Episodes
Directed by
Dianna Basso
Produced by
Ian McCue (HIT/Mattel)
Tracy Blagdon (Jam Filled)
Special Features
Meet the Characters - Marcio and Marcia
Release Date
27/07/20 - UK
Distributed by
HIT/Mattel Creations - UK
EPISODES
I look back at these episode and my opinion on them when they were new are still held up. Although I am coming to terms that the international stories aren't too strong compare to what we had in the past. But I try not to do comparisons. It was interesting to learn something different when it comes to Brazillian culture and I still think 'Batucada' was a simple but enjoyable episode. I kind of forgot that the Brazillian episodes were actually good, not great.
Although, I can't say the same about some Sodor episodes. I'm still in the middle when it comes to Percy's episode. I don't like but I certaintly don't hate it and I still don't like 'Diesel Do Right' and I wish the episode was more about Diesel being jealous of Rebecca being praised alot. But looking back at 'Rangers on the Rails', I can't say it was the best but looking at the other two Emily episodes we got the next season, Rangers wasn't too bad for an Emily story. I feel that it was lacking something else though. You can read more of my views about them by clicking the link above.
SPECIAL FEATURES
The only special features we got is the usual 'Meet the Characters' segment and that's it. I find it odd that it's about Marcio and Marcia despite the fact that the episode they were in, 'Thomas and the Forest Engines' was not added in as a bonus episode. Surely for the UK audience they might want to see who these characters are, right? To me they should've kept the characters segments that were in 'Steam Team To The Rescue' for this release instead. They were the central characters from the Brazil episode. This is the thing that I find sad about how low the Thomas DVDs are becoming, when it comes to special features. Seven years ago, which isn't really that long ago, we had intervals throughout the DVD with segments like Mr. Perkins' storytime, The Earl's Quiz, Calling All Engines etc. there were segements to look forward too and something that added more value and entertainment. I mean Mattel and HIT Entertainment had those Mr. Evans segments filmed for YouTube maybe give them a home release? It's just sad how barebones the special features are becoming, hopefully during the hiatus period Mattel and HIT overlook how to make the DVDs more interesting.
The only thing that made it different was that it was for 'Marvellous Machineary', despite that they weren't in the special at all and that the footage was specially made instead of using clips from the one S24 episode they'd appeared in.
I don't know if it counts but the other special thing they had was something not featured in the DVD but came with it and it was the 'Celebrating 75 years of Friendship' poster with all the characters old and new, including the Rev.W.Awdry, the miniature engines and Flying Scotsman. I think it was kind of nice that they'd added that in, although it would've been even more better if were in 'The Royal Engine' DVD given how that was released specially for the 75th back in May but beggars can't be choosers.
OVERALL
Honestly, I kinda see this as an OK release. The Brazil episodes were good enough, entertainment wise, but the Sodor episodes weren't really the best ones from S23. I would recommend the idea of buying the episodes seperatley on iTunes instead, depending on what episode you find more enjoyable from this DVD. That's what I do when these release make their way to Australia. To me, I at least choose the Brazil episodes over Sodor. Anyway I hope after this release we see S21 getting a compliation release soon but the next DVD the UK will be getting is 'Marvellous Machineary' on September 6th, I probably might wait until that one is released in Australia, probably depending when ABC Australia releases it.
OVERALL RATING
5/10
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COMING SOON
MY CGI RE-REVIEW OF
S17-21
