ALL SCI-FI

Brent Gair · Mission Specialist Joined: 21 Nov 2014 Posts: 466

This is generally considered the gold standard of the Supermarionation shows. It's hour long format made it premium feature viewing for kids in the mid 1960s. Like Lost in Space, Thunderbirds was required viewing for somebody of my age (being 7 years old when it debuted). Everything about Thunderbirds was on a grand scale compared to previous Gerry Anderson show: more characters, more gadgets, more special effects.

It's generally understood that Thunderbirds was the victim of a short run because it was unable to secure a U.S. network deal.

THUNDERBIRDS is the only Supermarionation show available entirely on Blu-ray (one episode of Fireball XL5 is on BD). There are actually TWO different BD releases of Thunderbirds. The Japanese release maintains the preferred 1.33:1 Original Aspect Ratio. Unfortunately, the Japanese set is extremely expensive; costing a few hundred dollars. Alternately there is the UK release which has been reformatted for 16:9 widescreen. The image quality is superb. I don't approve of reformatting old shows for widescreen TV. That being said, my principles can be "bought" when the price of the OAR is way too expensive Smile

. The fact is that the UK Blu-ray set is dramatically cheaper. It currently sells for the equivalent of about $50.00!

The UK set is region free and plays on North American players and TVs. I own it. However, do be advised that the standard definition extras are in the PAL format and won't play on North American sets. So you can watch all of the episodes with no problem...but not the extra features.

Pow · Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2015 4:08 pm Post subject:

I have read different accounts regarding the unfortunate fact that Lord Lew Grade was unable to secure a deal with the 3 American networks for Thunderbirds.

Gerry Anderson, Derek Meddings, & their crew were excited over this potential deal because it would have significantly increased the budget for the series.

One story has it that there was a bidding competition between the networks when one of them, for reasons unknown, decided to pull out. The other 2 networks were suspicious that the network that ceased participating in the bidding somehow knew something that they did not.
So the other 2 networks then stopped all bidding & the entire deal collapsed.

What a shame. If it was able to be sold to one of the networks we could have had many more years of the show with an increased budget.

Eadie · Galactic Ambassador Joined: 14 Dec 2013 Posts: 1670

Brent Gair · Mission Specialist Joined: 21 Nov 2014 Posts: 466

scotpens · Posted: Mon Jan 26, 2015 11:31 pm Post subject:

Some of Thunderbirds' miniature work was amazing -- almost good enough for a live-action show.

It's vehicle porn!

Crablogger Sequence:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jS-KCjzd5SE

Roadlayer Sequence (I love how the monster machine lays down an asphalt road complete with white lines!)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWcvEB6NYpA

A bag of tangerines to the first person who correctly identifies the greebly in the yellow circle.

scotpens · Posted: Fri Jan 30, 2015 1:03 am Post subject:

^^ Do I hear any answers? Any guesses? Any rags, any bones, any bottles?

(Crickets chirping)

Okay, here it is: That thingie in the yellow circle is a chrome bumperette from the AMT model kit of Bill Cushenberry's "Silhouette" custom car.

orzel-w · Galactic Ambassador Joined: 19 Sep 2014 Posts: 1865

Many generations of crickets would have passed before I came up with that.
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...or not...

WayneO
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orzel-w · Galactic Ambassador Joined: 19 Sep 2014 Posts: 1865

Here's five minutes of heresy I ran across.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LtYOJeiO9Y
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...or not...

WayneO
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Krel. · Guest

I have been lucky in my life that my parents not only approved of my love of the fantastic, they actively encouraged and fed it. I was given the REMCO Hamilton's Invaders toys, the MPC spacemen, Mattel's Major Matt Mason, and other SF toys. Then one Saturday my Mom dropped me off at Westside Theater to see a movie. Thunderbirds Are Go!

I grew up in the 60's watching British tv shows on American tv. The Avengers, The Saint, Secret Agent Man and others. But to a kid, it was the Gerry Anderson shows. Supercar, Fireball XL5, and Stingray. We never got the others in my area, so "Thunderbirds Are Go!" was a mind blower! I even bought the DVD when it became available. Watching the DVD brings back good memories.

David

Bud Brewster · Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2015 11:01 pm Post subject:

That YouTube video was funny, but I tried not to laugh.

The road layer segment was terrific.

And I know just what to call this machine -- a Weapon of Mass Construction!
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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)

Brent Gair · Mission Specialist Joined: 21 Nov 2014 Posts: 466

Some wonderful news for home video fans wanting to see this as it should be.

As noted earlier in this thread, I recently purchased the UK Blu-rays which are of excellent quality but are, regretably, croppped to 16:9. There is a Japanese release in proper 4:3 but it costs an arm and a leg.

Shout Factory is coming to the rescue with a domestic North American release of THUNDERBIRDS on June 09. Early indications (not confirmed) is that this will be a 4:3 presentation. Shout says these are new transfers.

Thunderbirds: The Complete Series

The Gerry Anderson Collection
Released: June 09, 2015 Available in US/Canada

$55.97

Pow · Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2015 8:30 am Post subject:

As a long time fan of Thunderbirds, I was eager to see the 2015 TV series Thunderbirds Are Go! It utilizes both CGI & miniatures.

Well, I'm very impressed with both the superb production values for the new show, as well as the writing. They have humor but its not camp, corny humor.

Adults can enjoy the show because it doesn't aim the stories just to children. Its more sophisticated than that.

The Thunderbird vehicles pay homage to the 60s series vessels but they've also been modified for the better.

Thunderbirds 4 & 5 are the most noticeable in having a different design & it works very well.

Some great touches are: The sashes that the Tracy boys wore as part of their uniform are eliminated.

They now wear a utility belt where their sashes were. Each belt matches the color of the specific Thunderbird vehicle being operated by the pilot.

On the upper part of the utility belt is the IR lettering for International Rescue. When the IR is touched it lights up & serves as a transmitting/receiving comm device.

Sophisticated Holograms come into play for operating some consoles, especially on board the space station.

The producers, designers, writers, FX team have done a wonderful job recreating the beloved Thunderbirds.

Bud Brewster · Posted: Wed Aug 02, 2017 3:21 pm Post subject:

Bud Brewster · Posted: Mon Aug 07, 2017 11:15 am Post subject:

alltare · Quantum Engineer Joined: 17 Jul 2015 Posts: 349

Shout Factory has posted the complete first episode of THUNDERBIRDS on Youtube, in 720p. It looks good to me, and the actual Blu-ray image is probably much better. I missed this series as a kid. I think I'll buy these discs — better late than never.

https://youtu.be/wLiH4xrCITI

UPDATE: The videos have been removed from YouTube.