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



S4 Ep.18: Bowled Out

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

BOWLED OUT

Originally Written by

The Rev.W.Awdry

Adapted for Television by

Britt Allcroft and David Mitton 

Air Date:

20/2/95

Plot:

Stepney's visit is coming to an end. Meanwhile a new Diesel came to the Island and was being boastful to the engines. They want to teach him a lesson, but their chance came sooner then expected. An inspector's hat was blown away by the wind and was sucked through the Diesel's air intake and caused him to break down. A train is due out, Duck and Stepney took the train to Crovans Gate for Gordon right on time. Stepney left Sodor with cheers and whistles and the Diesel sulked away without any goodbyes. 

PRO:

- Remarkable modelling of the Class 40. 

CON:

- It's a shame that Stepney and Duck's train aren't fifteen coaches.

- Why did James have a BR style whistle?

First off, I love the Class 40 model that they've made for 'The Diesel', it looks like a BR Class 40 and I do hope that Andrew Brenner brings in another one for the series, show some strong diesels in the series instead of the little ones. But it's a shame that Stepney and Duck's train aren't fifteen coaches and that they started the train from the yard and not at the big station. The episode is good, but its a shame that in the RWS book 'Stepney the 'Bluebell' Engine', there was no explanation why he came to Sodor in the first place. 

Rating: 4/5

S4 Ep.17: Train Stops Play

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

TRAIN STOPS PLAY

Originally Written by

The Rev.W.Awdry

Adapted For Television by

Britt Allcroft and David Mitton 

Air Date:

16/2/95

Plot:

Stepney is enjoying himself on the Island of Sodor. He was with Thomas, Toby and Percy at the yards and Stepney admitted that he missed taking trucks and that trucks are fun. Much to the engines dismay, the trucks can be troublesome. At the harbour, Stepney took some empty trucks and they stopped by a Cricket pitch. Then there was trouble, a cricketer's ball went high in the air and landed in one of his trucks and Stepney and his crew didn't know. The cricketers took their car 'Caroline' to chase Stepney. When they reached the station, they found their ball but Caroline overheated and so Stepney took her and the cricketers back to the playing field.

PRO:

- The chase reminded me of chasing a steam train by car.

CON:

- It would've been dangerous for Percy to catch up towards Stepney.

- Why was Stepney in the middle of the main line? It's not even a siding.

- The conversation with Thomas, Percy and Toby should've been taking place on Thomas' branch line.

I have no problem with the episode, but there are the flaws. First off, the conversation with Thomas, Percy and Toby should've been taken place at Ffarquhar, but in this season, Thomas' branch line is no where to be seen. Second, it would've been dangerous for Percy and Stepney to travel on the same line towards the harbour. Finally, why is Stepney on the branch line when he was resting? What if a train want to get through? But the episode did bring me to the thought of me and my dad chasing a steam train from Sydney to Robertson, in the Southern Highlands of NSW back in 2010.

Rating: 3/5

S4 Ep.16: Thomas and Stepney

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

THOMAS AND STEPNEY

Originally Written by

The Rev.W.Awdry

Adapted for Television by

Britt Allcroft and David Mitton 

Air Date:

10/2/95

Plot:

Thomas was jealous that there is an engine who is more famous then him. Stepney enjoys being on the 'Bluebell Railway', but he was sad that the railway was short and he missed a long run. The driver brought him great news that the manager and the Fat Controller have invited Stepney to the Island of Sodor. On the Island, Stepney worked with Duck, but one night, a special was waiting and Thomas was to be shunted from his branch line to let Stepney's special past. Stepney explained the whole situation and later on Thomas and Stepney became good friends.

PRO:

N/A

CON:

- What's wrong with the title 'Stepney's Special'?

- It would be great to see Edward and Stepney's conversation at Wellsworth.

- Why two coaches for one passenger?

Another adaptation that has not stuck close with the Reverend's story. First off the title, what's wrong with the actual title of the story? You still have the same story and why on earth would one passenger need two coaches? I don't know. Shame they never even mentioned the signal bell codes, it would've teach kids about the signalling system of the railway. Rev. Awdry explained that in the book. 

Rating: 1.5/5

DVD Review: Merry Winter Wish

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

MERRY WINTER WISH

Written by

Miranda Larson 

Jessica Sandys Clarke

Sharon Miller

Episodes:

- Merry Winter Wish

- Thomas and The Snowman Party

- Henry's Magic Box
- Merry Misty Island

- Let It Snow

- Surprise, Surprise

Special Features:

- Guess Who? Puzzles

- Down at The Station: Coal 

- All You Need Karaoke Music Video

Distributed by

HIT Entertainment 

This DVD was to be released for the year 2011. However, due to the controversial Winter Holiday/Christmas issue in British newspapers and with word of mouth by older fans, church groups and Hilary Awdry, the DVD was held back until this year and here it is. Though Australia was the only country that released the 2011 version of the DVD with two non-winter episodes from S13. Also this is the first UK DVD since 'Heave Ho!' (2009) to have more then four episodes as SiF had conducted a poll about the CGI Thomas DVDs that has been released and also this is the first DVD to have no Mr. Perkins, though I can see why. But anyway, let's look and see if this DVD is it worth the money with six Thomas episodes, despite being written terribly? Let's find out.

EPISODES

I can tell that the last two episodes were from the 'Merry Christmas Thomas' DVD that was released to the US last year. I believe that was the DVD that HIT was going to release this year after this was originally intended last year, as the UK audience get the episode DVDs a year after the US, however, due to the reports about the controversy, they probably kept 'Merry Christmas Thomas' for a 2013 release since this was delayed. But that's my theory.

The UK aren't the first country to have more then four episodes on the DVD, Australia has many CGI DVDs with six episodes too, though on this DVD, the last two were not Christmas themed, maybe next time if they release a new DVD focusing on Christmas, they should bring newer episodes?

As stated in my reviews of S13, S14 and S15, there are the bad episodes, filled with the dreaded formula that is very obvious to see in the recent series. I have to say 'Surprise, Surprise' is the decent one here, yes I know I said it's bad, but you can see it sometimes that it tried to be good.

HAPPY 'CHRISTMAS' HOLIDAYS

As mentioned on Roll Along Thomas, the entire DVD has mention the word 'Christmas', due to the outcry from religous groups, older fans and Hilary Awdry. I'm not going through the whole relgious thing about it. But despite that its great to hear the word again, HIT should at least have more episodes focused on more celebrations from different religions.

SPECIAL FEATURES

Despite that there is no Mr. Perkins, it is obvivous why he wasn't shown on this DVD. With the two US releases back in 2010 and 2011, there are two different learning segements and since that this DVD was not released as intended last year, they didn't re-shot the whole thing. But despite that, the features are enjoyable such as the 'Guess Who' and the 'Down At The Station' segements about the importances of coal. And its good to see 'All You Need' having a DVD release as well.

OVERALL

Even though the episodes aren't great and the special features are good, the DVD is of course recommendable to the target audience of the show for Christmas. I give the dvd the rating of:

Rating: 3/5

There are more DVDs coming your way! Australia will get 'Curious Cargo' on November 7th. I'm still awaiting on 'A Very Thomas Christmas' from the US and I'll be getting 'Sticky Siutations' as well from the US for Christmas. This will be the final Thomas DVD release for the UK for 2012 and now we await for more DVDs in the year 2013.  

S4 Ep.15 Rusty To The Rescue

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

RUSTY TO THE RESCUE

Written by 

Britt Allcroft and David Mitton

Directed by

David Mitton 

Air Date:

7/2/95

Plot:

Rusty visits a railway filled with bluebells and line needs to run by a 'bluebell' engine. Rusty went to the Other Railway and spotted an old tank engine named 'Stepney'. Rusty's crew repaired him and now Stepney works on the Bluebell Railway.

PRO:

- The diesel scene was brilliantly filmed.

CON:

- The 'Other Railway' is heavily modified as Crovans Gate.

- The real Stepney was stuck in a siding, but not saved by a Narrow Gauge diesel.

- Why was Thomas at the 'Bluebell' Railway?

This episode is a terrible episode. The episode is obviously a rewrite of 'Escape' and this is a total disgrace to the Bluebell Railway. The real Stepney was of course found on a siding, as according to the story 'Train Stops Play', but he was found by the Bluebell Railway staff and was restored in time for the 1960 season when the railway was first opened. Plus, what was wrong with 'Bluebells of England'?  Sure the story seems short, but it gives us a backdrop on what the real railway really tells us with detail. If the model makers find it hard to adapt it due to budget, why don't they just film the railway and their locomotives during the flashback?  

But I do have one pro towards this episode and that is Rusty confronting the diesels on the Other Railway. It was filmed brilliantly. But this episode is my least favourite of the whole fourth series and I think 'Bluebells of England' would've been more suitable.

Rating: 1/5

S4 Ep.14 Gallant Old Engine

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

GALLANT OLD ENGINE

Originally Written by

The Rev.W.Awdry

Adapted for Television by

Britt Allcroft and David Mitton 

Air Date:

2/2/95

Plot:

Rheneas is coming home but Duncan was still boasting about himself and not caring about the passengers. Skarloey told him the story of how the Skarloey Railway was neared closing. It was a dreadful day and Rheneas' valve gear is jammed! As he was making his way to the station, he was stuck. They could go as far as the next station and in the end, tried but triumph he brought the train home. Duncan was amazed by the story and knew that passengers are important after all. The next day, Rheneas came home, all the engines large and small greeted him warmly. 

PRO:

- N/A

CON:

- What was the point of using the 'Mid-Sodor' set? The two engines are to be at Crovans Gate.

- Although the rain is good for the setting, there were no clouds in the original story, just high wind.

The episode is great, but there a couple of flaws like the Mid-Sodor set being used and that it was raining when really in the book, it was wind. But the episode is OK although not with its Railway Series counterpart. I do like the ending scene with the big engines and little engines all being together at Crovans Gate. 

Rating: 3.5/5