Movie Review: Hero of The Rails

2009 saw a new change in the Thomas world. After Season 12 that had a CGI/Model hybrid, 'Thomas & Friends' have gone full CGI as HIT Entertainment went through some budget cuts. To start off the new era, the first movie came out, entitled, 'Hero of The Rails' and for the first time since 2000, there is voices for the characters that in my opinion give more character. It even shows another character from a different country, Hiro, from Japan, the first was Hank from the USA. But now, let's get through, 'Hero of The Rails'. But, you know, the usual:

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

HERO OF THE RAILS

Written by

Sharon Miller

Directed by

Greg Tiernan

Release Date:

12/10/09

VIEWS:

In 2008, Sodor Island have announced that HIT Entertainment will turn Thomas into a CGI show due to budget cuts. Now at first I was angry, excited and worried at the thought, why would you turn such a classic TV series into CGI? But by the time I watched Season 12 on ABC and seeing Nitrogen's Thomas on their website, I thought it was actually great work and it turned out that Greg Tiernan, who is now former director of the show, knows about the show's history and that he's a fan of the Railway Series and is a railway person himself.

The movie provided a jazzed up theme of 'Engine Roll Call' and shows a bit of Disney Pixar kind of 2D animation. I like the intro's now from the Nitrogen era, it makes it more like a movie then a TV episode with the original intro.

The story just shows Thomas restoring Hiro to his natural state as he was abandoned due to his parts not arriving from his home country, Japan. Spencer, who is spending the summer on Sodor with the Duke and Duchess of Boxford and working their new summer house, was wondering what Thomas is up to and decided to track him down. So Thomas had asked his friends to do his jobs while he's away. Hiro was also worried that the Fat Controller would scrap him as he felt he's beyond repaired. As Hiro started to work again, Spencer was near and as the two engines were running away from him, Hiro began to fall apart and he was sure he was to be scrapped.

Thomas told the Fat Controller about Hiro and to his surprise, the Fat Controller and the Duke and Duchess knew who he was and the Fat Controller had told Thomas that he will be restored at the Sodor Steamworks, home of the other two characters, Victor and Kevin. Spencer had made amends with Thomas and Hiro and the three engines worked on the summer house until it was finally done. But Hiro was homesick and in the end, the engine farewelled him and hope he would come back someday (until Season 13 starts the next year.)

The movie is OK, but it has some flaws, mainly the big one is, why is Thomas worried that the Fat Controller would scrap Hiro? Really? The Fat Controller runs a steam railway, why would he scrap a steam engine? I don't know. The speed of James and Toby and the other engines are just unrealistic and the scene were Thomas, James and Toby trapped Spencer with Percy's mail vans would end up being an accident and when Hiro wanted to get away from Spencer, why can't he slow down so he won't be caught? Another thing is the ages of Thomas and Hiro as they claimed Hiro is one of the oldest engines. Thomas was built in 1915 and Hiro's basis the D51 is made in 1936. Which means Hiro is a young engine.

But despite the flaws this movie had excellent CGI and it was a great start for Nitrogen Studio. The story is OK, but it has its flaws.

Rating: 3/5

Movie Review: The Great Discovery

2008 was a bitter year in and out of the Thomas & Friends world. The world had entered an economic recession, The original director of the Thomas and TUGS series, David Mitton have passed away, US narrator George Carlin have passed away as well and also it was the announcement that this DVD special is the last of the full model animation. In 2007, HIT Entertainment had undergone some financial trouble and decided that their shows like 'Bob the Builder', 'Angelina Ballerina' and of course 'Thomas and Friends' would turn into CGI. Thomas would be making its way to Canada's Nitrogen Studios being taken care by Greg Tiernan, who is now former director of the show, who knows about the world of Thomas and the Railway Series. This special also marked the debut of a guest storyteller who is former James Bond actor, Pierce Borsnan, who has a little history with Thomas as he read the stories to his kids at bed time.

Originally, Brosnan was going to be the new narrator of the show for both the UK and US, but for some reason unknown, Michael Angelis and Brandon had the role. You can hear Brosnan's narration bits from Season 12 on the US DVD of 'The Great Discovery' in the 'behind the scenes' feature and on YouTube with the episode, 'Gordon Takes A Shortcut'. But now, let's take a look at 'The Great Discovery', but first:

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

THE GREAT DISCOVERY

Written by

Sharon Miller

Directed by 

Steve Asquith

Narrated by

Pierce Brosnan

Release Date:

6/10/08

VIEWS:

Around the time when this was announced, YouTube was only two years old, the layout was very different in those days before what it is today. The announcement for this DVD came when I first saw an article on Google news that Pierce Brosnan was going to be the narrator of the show. At first, I thought it was just for the US, but it turns out he'll be narrating the UK version as well, this was the first that happened when Ringo Starr took the job. I would say Michael Angelis, but I believe he not that well-known in the US, but he's still a great narrator.

Out of all the specials, this one is my personal favourite. The special makes you feel sorry for Thomas and Stanley, as Stanley is getting neglected by Thomas because everyone likes him more then Thomas, but the special shows the true value of friendship as in the end, you can see that the many engines and Jack and his pack were happy that Stanley had found Thomas.

The setting of Great Waterton looking lost and abandon was just perfect model making and even when its new was perfect. Now I bet there are some people, who have saw this, wondered, what is Sodor Day? Well, just a celebration for the movie with no explanation unfortunately, but in real life, there is a celebration called Yorkshire Day to celebrate the history of Yorkshire in the UK. Even on January 26th, we have a celebration called Australia Day were we celebrate the first fleet coming into the country from England.

The movie even has a great moral towards it. 'Friends are important'. You can friends who can be jerks to you, but, if life gets you hard, your friends are there for you and that is something the TV series is lacking.

Though there are some flaws with the movie. With Thomas landing on the raft, he could've sunk due to his heavy weight as well as running on a rickety bridge, Misty Island Rescue wasn't the first to show this, Thomas flying over a cliff to the other side, how can that happen? There were a few rhyming and pointless dialogue like 'Huffing and puffing' and there was one rhyme in the movie, but at least its not 'Misty Island Rescue'. There was no explanation of rolling river bridge being mended and what was Diesel 10 suppose to be at the quarry and why was he happy with Thomas being found? If Thomas's boiler is filled with water, the crown stays would be broken and why did he whistle after Stanley broke before he had Stanley's coal in his firebox? And why did Arthur tell Emily the news that Thomas was found? She already knew it happened when she was at Great Waterton when Thomas pushed Stanley into the station.

Though this special actually brings many characters that have never been seen in the series for a long time, like Bill and Ben, Molly, Trevor, Terrence, Arthur so on and so fourth, makes a shame that neither Duck or Oliver didn't get a part, but at least they were in Season 12. But the best part of the whole movie is the ending song, 'Thomas You're The Leader'. It was a great send off to the models and their twenty-four years of service, well the show didn't turn 25 until 2009. Yeah the song has a steam team reference, but it shows other characters too, that the recent TV series songs are lacking.

With Pierce Brosnan, I like his narration, it was breathe of fresh air, I like Michael Angelis, but around the time of the new series, he sounds like he was going to sleep to any minute. In my opinion, Pierce Brosnan provided a bed time storybook like narration as he said himself it was very different to him reading from script, instead of reading it to a child. He has some chuckles as he it shows he was having a fun time. But if since this was a send-off to the models, how great would it be if HIT got Ringo Starr to do the narration as he was first. I guess, since he was in the making of his album 'Y Not' at the time, he's a very busy man, but Brosnan did some good work, there are sometimes he can speak in a quiet voice. There are people are not interested in his narration and that's fine, but I like it.

And yes, I know Season 12 used models as well, but this special ended the full model animation and with such great action and story line, this is a personal favourite of mine and is one of Sharon Miller's best work.

Rating: 4/5

Movie Review: Calling All Engines!

Five years have passed since the flop of 'Thomas and The Magic Railroad'. Britt Allcroft stand down her position as chairman and director and the company renamed into 'Gullane Entertainment' and were in production of Series six under the new label. By 2002, HIT Entertainment, the owners of Bob the Builder, Angelina Ballerina and Barney, have successfully bought the rights to the show. In 2005, it was the year of celebration for the Railway Series as the books have turned sixty years old and in celebration, a special DVD feature have been produced entitled, 'Calling All Engines!' which has the return of Diesel 10 and Lady, but not focused from the first film. But first, the usual:

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

CALLING ALL ENGINES!

Written by 

Paul Larson

Directed by

Steve Asquith 

Narrated by

Michael Angelis

Release Date:

3/10/05

VIEW:

2005, I was in my second year of high school at the time and the only news source to know about new Thomas things was Sodor Island and a little site called 'TV Tome', which is now 'TV.com'. I remember first hearing about this back in late 2004 when they said a new feature length special is in the works and by October 2005, I got myself a copy of this movie from 'EzyDVD', which came with free Thomas cards and it was the first Thomas DVD to have the new handle cases. 

When HIT took over Thomas, many DVDs with separate episodes were never sold in Australia and the only S8 DVD that came out with episodes was 'All Aboard With The Steam Team' which came out earlier the same year. To me, 'Calling All Engines!' seems like an extended Thomas episode a little, I don't hate it though, but it just seem that way. But it is still an OK special. Its great to see Diesel 10 and Lady again and yes I know about Diesel 10 being nice at the end, but over the years many people can change their personality, I know a few people outside the internet who are pain to me in my younger years, but with many years passing by, I begin to be friends with them and I see them as nice people. In the RWS, you don't see Gordon bragging on about trucks all the time, minus in his own book, as he has been matured about it and as well him being OK with Pip and Emma taking his usual express in the recent RWS book 'Thomas and His Friends'.

It was also good to see Lady and the Season 4 model of Rusty, even though the narrator says that they were shunting trucks. How could they be shunting trucks? They both run on different gauges. I also like the dream sequence that the engines had, it was heartbroken to think what will happen to them if they aren't really useful, but these things can happen to an engine, minus Percy being a roller-coaster. There was also the return cameo of Derek and Daisy, its a shame that Daisy hasn't got a role, but at least she was mentioned in the learning segment.

But there are some downsides towards this special. Not the story, it's great, it shows a great moral about working together no matter what the differences are, something that many of the recent Thomas episodes are missing out on or repeating over and over again, depends on what you choose really. But the downside is the learning segments. I know they're just for kids, but they're just a complete waste of time and sometimes, they could be obvious and the songs being put into the movie. There were some goods songs actually and some were quite catchy, the 'Busy' and 'Try To Do Things Better' songs are my favourites, but I'm glad they decided to leave them out (the learning segments) out of the next special DVD. Why was Daisy annoyed when they met up with the steam engines? Daisy is one of the diesels that like them. Heck, she works with Thomas, Percy and Toby on the Ffarquahr branch line in the RWS and the early years of the Thomas TV series. Its lucky that the recents writer didn't put her in the recent, imagine her new persona if they did.

The movie has a great story, moral and characters that older and younger fans would enjoy. But the learning segments are OK for kids, but they can be a waste of time and it has a bit of a feeling as an extended Thomas episode, I don't watch the special that much now, but it is certainly enjoyable. 

Rating: 3/5

Movie Review: Thomas & The Magic Railroad

As Australia will begin the world premiere of 'Blue Mountain Mystery', I will be reviewing every Thomas movie this week from 15th - 19th. To start off we begin with Thomas' first feature length film, 'Thomas and The Magic Railroad', but I'm not going Nostalgic Critic style ;) But first:

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

THOMAS & THE MAGIC RAILROAD

Release Date: 

July 14th 2000 (UK)

July 28th 2000 (US)

Starring:

Thomas the Tank Engine (Eddie Glen)

Alec Baldwin (Mr. Conductor)

Mara Wilsion (Lily)

Peter Fonda (Burnett Stone)

Directed by 

Britt Allcroft

Produced by 

Britt Allcroft

Phil Ferhle

The year was 2000, the new millennium. The year were people feared of the Y2K rumours, the year when Sydney was the first city in the world to host the Olympic Games in the 21st century and Thomas the Tank Engine had brought out his first feature length, which was sadly a box office failure. 

VIEWS:

(Please be advise that I'm not here to offend anyone as I'm a fan 

of the British version of the show, please try and understand my

opinions to this movie.)

It's a dead giveaway that this movie is focused to an American audience, look at the title 'Thomas and the Magic Railroad', here in Australia and in England it is referred to as 'railway'. Many of the voice actors have come from the US and Canada, due to the fact the US test audience have rejected the UK and Australian voices because they sound old and scary, though in the teser and theatrical trailer, Thomas and Diesel 10 still have the original voices. 

Thomas is suppose to be voiced by John Bellies, a fire-fighter and part time taxi driver from the Isle of Man, who had got his big break. But was rejected because of the test audience not liking the Liverpudlian accent and making Thomas sounding too old. Michael Angelis was given role as Percy and James and also suffered the hands of the test audience in America, as they say he made them sound old and unconvincing. Diesel 10 was to be voiced by Keith Scott, who plays in other kids films such as 'Blinky Bill: The Mischievous Koala' (1992). But was said that he sound gruff and could scare the young audience. 

What else gives away that this movie is focused to the American audience is also 'Shining Time Station', the show that started Thomas' success in the United States in 1989. Many fans of the US would remember the show, but many fans in the UK and Australia at the time would never even heard of the show, minus Ireland, as they have aired the show in promotion of the movie. 

There's some flaws in the movie, first off, their were no drivers and fireman's in the cabs of the engines and I knew that when I was a kid. The only model figurine we get to see in the movie at the time was Bertie's driver and Edward was never shown in the movie, as his model was never finished in time, which was a shame as he is one of the major characters of the show. But it's also a shame that other characters didn't get to the big screen like Duck, Donald and Douglas, Diesel, Oliver, Toad etc. at the time. The only character that did get a cameo role is Butch during the 'Really Useful Engine' song scene. They could be good to be background characters or having a little minor role. Plus, according to many Thomas fan, there is so much more focus towards the humans instead of the engines. Plus there was also the canning of P.T Boomer (Doug Lennox) thinking that he's too scary for kids and also George the Steamroller, who is to be part of Diesel 10's plans, and Cranky the Crane. Plus so many edits were made thanks to the test audience, one example is Splatter and Dodge meeting up with Diesel 10 at a rocky cliff with his face engraved in it, with no explanation why are they here. But it turns out in the Directors Cut that they work at the smelters yard and they eye at Percy and Toby. Sadly, the edits made no sense for the final cut of the movie and that a Director's Cut is around in the Hollywood valut, for information about it, click on the link below to SiF's mini-site about the movie:

TATMRR Revealed

I liked this movie back when I was a kid, because it was Thomas the Tank Engine and I knew about the existence of Shining Time Station, the show, thanks to the internet when it first came to the world on the US shopping site 'Totally Thomas', but I haven't seen any of the episodes until 2006 when YouTube was around. Looking at this movie now, I don't like it as much and I can see why. I'll watch this movie for nostalgic reasons. But to be honest I have some positive things for this movie. The soundtrack, Humane Mann really out did himself and have made a good rendition of the original Thomas theme in parts of the movie and even though I don't like this movie very much, I do have a favourite scene and that is the chase scene with Thomas, Lady and Diesel. Highly unrealistic for two tank engines going at such speed, but it add great suspense and fear with the wonderful soundtrack. But sadly, this movie is not worth of a watch, but it will be OK for a nostalgic view if you want to reminisce, but kids who watch Thomas now could enjoy it.

Rating: 1/5

Tomorrow: Calling All Engines! (2005) 

Happy 72nd Birthday to Ringo Starr

'Thomas is a tank engine, who lives at a big station on the Island of Sodor.

He's a cheeky little engine with six small wheels, short stumpy funnel, short stumpy

boiler and a short stumpy dome.'

- Ringo Starr (1984)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO 

RINGO STARR

Former drummer of The Beatles, 

Narrator of 'Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends' 

The first Mr. Conductor for 'Shining Time Station'


PEACE AND LOVE!!

Ringo Starr had just released his 16th solo album 'Ringo 2012' which is out now in music stores. 

Now on tour with his 'All Starr Band' in the US. 

In other news, sorry for the lack of posting, but I got something planned for July, August and September. 

JULY

- Thomas Movie Reviews: With Australia nearing the world premiere of 'Blue Mountain Mystery', I will be reviewing the previous Thomas movies from 2000 - 2011. 

AUGUST

- Series 1 - 12 Reviews: Since I'm done with my Season 13 - 15 reviews, I thought to share my views on the episodes from Season 1 - 12. Now this can take up for a few months, so expect those soon. 

SEPTEMBER

- Blue Mountain Mystery Review: Since I'll be attending the new movie with other YouTube Thomas fans in the UK, the review of the latest Thomas movie will come out  around September when the DVD is out as I will be on holidays with my family.

The Railway Series Going Digital

THESE ARE SOLEY UNDER MY OWN OPINION AND NOT FROM THE THOMAS & FRIENDS FAN BASE

Picture from The Totally Thomas Blog

The Railway Series have been growing strong since there re-publication in 2007, along with two new books written by Christopher Awdry in 2007 and 2011. For those people who are new to these books, here is a history lesson about them:

The Railway Series was first published in 1945 by the Rev.W.Awdry. The first book was called 'The Three Railway Engines' featuring three characters like Edward, Gordon and Henry. Originally, Wilbert Awdry wanted the book to focus on three different railways and wanted to end with Henry being bricked up in a tunnel, but the publishers at the time, Kaye and Ward, wanted a happy ending for Henry. The first story was thought up by Wilbert Awdry in 1943 when his son, Christopher, was sick with measles and so his father was telling him a story about an engine who never got out of his shed and since Christopher asked the question, 'What's the engine's name daddy?' the name Edward came to mind and that is were the legacy of the Railway Series began.

The second book was produced a year later and it was entitled 'Thomas the Tank Engine' after Rev.W.Awdry made a wooden model of a little blue engine and called him Thomas. The books have been going on and on, with many past artists and narrators (Johnny Morris and Willie Rushton) for the audio books until 1972 when Wilbert Awdry wrote his last book 'Tramway Engines'. Eleven years later, Christopher Awdry took the pen and released his first book 'Really Useful Engines' in 1983. With the popularity of the TV series took place a year later, the Railway Series were being sold everywhere and Christopher wrote more until 1996 with his final book 'New Little Engines'. A year later, Reverend Wilbert Vere Awdry passed away peacefully due to illness.

1998 - 2006 saw nothing new from the Awdry family as Britt Allcroft bought the full rights. But there has been one book written by him under his label 'Sodor Enterprises' with 'Sodor: Reading Between The Lines' being released in 2005 in celebration of the books' 60th anniversary. The book contains every piece of information from Christopher Awdry himself about the books and its stories. But two years later, the Railway Series made a comeback and he wrote his new book 'Thomas and Victoria'. Four years later, in celebration of the Rev.W.Awdry's centenary 'Thomas and His Friends' was published. With a very rich history this little blue tank engine has, what will happen to the Railway Series in future?

And since we're now in the 21st century were many people have an iPhone, iPad, Kindle or an Android, many books have been turned into digital books and the Railway Series is part of that group on iTunes UK. HIT Entertainment/Mattel and Egmont have released four books of the Railway Series only in the UK on iTunes and they are:

- The Three Railway Engines

- Thomas the Tank Engine

- James the Red Engine

- Tank Engine Thomas Again  

Not only that, but the UK, US and Australia have gotten the narration of Johnny Morris narrated the last two stories of 'The Three Railway Engines' in great quality with the original album cover of 7' records from 1961 as the wallpaper. The Railway Series would provide great nostalgia towards the people who have grown up with the series in their early years and introduce them to the younger generation of Thomas fans and to get them into reading. Only four books have been digitised and are only released in the UK, however they could release them internationally one day in future like the Johnny Morris narration. If you want Egmont to make more of these, buy these books for your children or for your own enjoyment or write letters to Egmont about the Railway Series. Long live The Railway Series!

Rescue On The Rails DVD Review

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

Rescue On The Rails 

Episodes:

Fiery Flynn

James To The Rescue

Edward The Hero

Stop The Bus

Special Features:

Down at The Station: The Level Crossing

Mr. Perkins 

Guess Who?

Well this DVD is not better then the other on 'Up, Up and Away' with the episodes. I'm not much of a big fan of 'Stop That Bus', minus Bertie's full CGI appearence and new voice, but due to Bertie being on a well wagon with no cables attached and seeing how he fell off onto the shake shake bridge and how the way the well wagon was wobbling around earlier in the episode, which is highly dangerous and their was no punishment given, yet Thomas today is suppose to be educational and some of these episodes have no moral lesson to them, minus 'Edward The Hero' as that has a moral about 'Being yourself'. 'James to The Rescue' shows the red engine being discriminated to Toby for being a tram engine and that he can't be a 'rescue engine' because of that and in the end, after James' accident, no apology was given. 'Fiery Flynn', Flynn is a fire fighting engine, he fights fires and fire fighters know what a fire is, yet he goes around spraying water on Edward and Gordon which are obvivously not on fire.

Though I do have to say the features are great to watch. 'Down at The Station' shows some realism of how a level crossing works. Let's hope HIT makes more of these with such other things like signal codes, trucks etc. And the Mr. Perkins segments are always fun to watch, so well done to the actor who plays him. I also like the ending with the many engine drivers in the common room as well as the Fat Controller being put their. The guess who puzzles are alright for the younger viewers, but I do have to say their is one fault for James. Instead of his own whistle, he had Gordon's whistle.

This DVD is OK with some bad episodes, due to the writing and that their are no moralistic backgrounds, minus 'Edward The Hero'. But the special features are entertaining to watch.

Rating: 3/5