Hello Dear Reader

Classic Remakes.

It is one of the most interesting and possible difficult choices to make, remaking a classic. Tonight Thunderbirds Are Go reappeared on our television screens. It had been 50 years since it was first broadcast with, as then, state of the art puppets. Now a new series was ready, so I sat and watched the first episode, “Ring of Fire’ with a clear mind.

Ten years ago, another classic series was remade, Captain Scarlet. This failed due to a number of reasons, wrong time slot, CGI, bad publicity and more. It failed for me for different reasons, the story for one was basically the Mysterions tried to blow up the Earth and failed. So if they failed in episode one what was left for the remaining episodes? A bad start is very difficult to come back from and Captain Scarlet never did. Add to that the music, the various changes and well it was not for me. The SPV sadly missed.

So Thunderbirds. Many had a go at the 2004 live action movie, which I found to be ok. It was a shame some did not back it properly. Now we had news of the CGI/model Thunderbirds remake.  How would this CGI stand up to others? When I was young I was amazed by the might Thunderbirds, the Tracy family, the whole 60 minutes of action. This band of puppets saved people time and time again.

I must now give the normal spoiler alerts here and this is the first time I have taken something apart in this fashion. I have given film and television reviews before, but never given away plots etc.

To rate the first episode; 2 out 5.

Why?

If we start at the hook, the main theme. Barry Gray wrote wonderful theme and incidental music for the Anderson shows. Where was it? The opening theme was sort of there and sort of not. As for the classic danger themes, gone for something nondescript. The plot was rushed at the beginning, maybe a sign that the next episodes will be of just over 20 minutes instead of 60. (Well never 60 when on ITV). The story lacked one major character, Jeff Tracy. Why get rid of the centre of the family and yet keep Gran? No real idea of his ‘disappearance’. Hints but not good enough. And now the problem. Like Captain Scarlett, the main bad guy was back, The Hood. What did he try to do? Basically take over the world by creating a major world earthquake. Did he succeed? You guess. So what next for him?

Add to that the launch sequences of the crafts where so-so, lip syncing failed, Raj from Big Bang is now on Tracy Island, no one is in charge, remote control Thunderbirds (so why go out), you have to manually close Thunderbirds 2 main hatch! There was also for me issues with CGI and model backgrounds looked odd. Tracy island looked wrong, where was the beach? Whats with the countdown every time a Thunderbird takes off? That’s annoying already.  Thunderbird one take-off sequence it goes up instead of down? Also, the distance travelled by Scott to his craft seems a bit long given the move of Thunderbird one up to launch. Thunderbird 2  has a short runway, so what happens when it comes back? Thunderbird 3 will have a problem when more than three people seat on the sofa! There are other issues which puzzle me regarding Sealab’s rescue. (Nice use of the Eagle command module) It’s the little things that once added together really makes a dent.

So any positives? Not that many to be honest. Tin-Tin, but you can’t say that, gets more of a role. Most of the Thunderbird craft look a little better.

I am genuinely sad that this series seems to have lost the magic. Is that me? Am I too old now? I am sure the merchandise will do well (they missed the Christmas boat of course) and it will get fans. For me, I am not sure. Is there a plan to bring Jeff back, we don’t know. They had enough time to say something, but well there you go. I am sure many will not like this review and may will feel the same as I do.

Maybe we should not remake the classics or when they are remade, we just have to accept that they cant be the same.

This time, sorry folks it did not work its magic for me.

Tagline: ‘Please attach the strings’