Thunderbirds Are Go: when them puppets did films (retrospective).
Our damn fine Stam Fine is back with his take on the two Thunderbirds films from the 1960s, based on the classic TV series of the same name from Gerry and Sylvia Anderson’s Supermarionation television series. The 1966 British science fiction puppet film Thunderbirds Are Go was produced by their firm, Century 21 Productions. Thunderbirds Are Go, written by the Andersons and directed by David Lane, is about the spaceship Zero-X and its human crew’s trip to Mars. When the spaceship Zero-X experiences a problem during re-entry, it is up to International Rescue, with the help of its cutting-edge Thunderbird machines, to activate the crew’s escape pod before the spacecraft crashes to Earth.
Despite the film’s poor performance at the box office, its wit and humour have earned it a devoted fan base. The movie is hilarious and ludicrous at the same time. File under so awful that it’s really rather entertaining. The story is ridiculous, the characters are flat, and the visual effects are embarrassing. The thing is, it all fits together. The movie is fantastic and will make you happy just by watching it.
The film’s wit is its strongest suit. The movie is packed with hilarious one-liners and physical gags. The film never shies away from making fun of itself, and the characters are all stereotypes. Several heartwarming scenes, such when the Thunderbirds save a baby from a burning building, can be found in the movie as well.
Thunderbirds Are Go is not the film for you if you want something that will keep you entertained as well as make you think. Nonetheless, if you’re in the mood for a fun flick, and if you liked the Thunderbirds TV show, you should definitely check out the film. It’s also an excellent choice for a family movie night. Audiences of all ages will enjoy the film immensely.
