Thunderbirds represented something that kids had never had before - a completely serious near hour long program with action, plot and real dialog. These weren't programs that were just thrown together for a twenty minute entertainment package. These were meticulous movies.
When your watching and involved in storyline, marvelling at the incredible special effects (which quite amazingly still look good now), the strings are completely un-noticed. These really were mini movies. It even had music by the legendary John Barry (AKA Dances with Wolves, James Bond etc). These movies contained people (puppets maybe - but real people when you're watching) that drank alcohol, smoked, chatted up women and tried to kill people - and it was aimed at children. But all of this had a spill over effect. Adults loved them too, and indeed, kids even now get just as involved, just as excited and just as enthusiastic as we did when the show was new. It is incredible long lasting in its appeal in a way virtually no other program of that age is.
As a side line, watch them now and be amazed at how many Thunderbirds inventions are now reality - it makes you wonder if this didn't stoke the ideas of the young then and consequently become real now.
Gerry Anderson famously said that he regretted in many ways Thunderbirds because it pigeon holed him as a kids show maker and stopped him being able to make "real" movies. Except of course in the ultimate irony, what he made has ended up being far more memorable and long lasting than any movie he could possibly have made.
Out now as a remastered Blu-Ray collection, it is in every possible way the epitome of perfect family viewing. Enjoy.
When your watching and involved in storyline, marvelling at the incredible special effects (which quite amazingly still look good now), the strings are completely un-noticed. These really were mini movies. It even had music by the legendary John Barry (AKA Dances with Wolves, James Bond etc). These movies contained people (puppets maybe - but real people when you're watching) that drank alcohol, smoked, chatted up women and tried to kill people - and it was aimed at children. But all of this had a spill over effect. Adults loved them too, and indeed, kids even now get just as involved, just as excited and just as enthusiastic as we did when the show was new. It is incredible long lasting in its appeal in a way virtually no other program of that age is.
As a side line, watch them now and be amazed at how many Thunderbirds inventions are now reality - it makes you wonder if this didn't stoke the ideas of the young then and consequently become real now.
Gerry Anderson famously said that he regretted in many ways Thunderbirds because it pigeon holed him as a kids show maker and stopped him being able to make "real" movies. Except of course in the ultimate irony, what he made has ended up being far more memorable and long lasting than any movie he could possibly have made.
Out now as a remastered Blu-Ray collection, it is in every possible way the epitome of perfect family viewing. Enjoy.