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Thunderbirds - Set 2

Thunderbirds - Set 2

List Price: $39.95
Your Price: $35.96
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A fun blast from the past
Review: A fun blast from the past. as a kid, I always found Thunderbirds fascinating but also a little creepy. Here they are in gorgeous DVD with excellent remastered sound. As an adult, you realize that many of the episodes drag a bit through their 50-minute length, but that doesnÕt affect the sheer fun-factor of watching these classic episodes! Thunderbirds Are Go!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Please Carlton, release the other episodes and films on DVD!
Review: Everything in my review of Set 1 applies here too. Two things I forgot to mention there were Barry Gray's brilliant incidental music, and the Frank Lloyd Wright-esque architecture on Tracy Island.

Can't wait for when (if?) Carlton will release the other 20 episodes and 2 feature films on DVD! And how about UFO, too!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: F.A.B!
Review: I have just watched the whole Thunderbirds re-run on the TV over here in England. Once again, I still find myself dropping everything to sit and watch this fabulous show 35 years after it was originally broadcast (I was 5 yrs old at the time). When I was a kid, you either wanted to be Scott Tracy who piloted Thunderbird 1 (fast rocket, first vehicle to the disaster area), or Virgil Tracy who piloted Thunderbird 2 (fairly fast carrier with some cool rescue stuff stashed away in the pods), or Alan who piloted Thunderbird 3 (space rocket). I don't ever remember any of my friends wanting to pilot Thunderbird 4 (small yellow submarine that didn't do that much) or Thunderbird 5 (space station). My best friend Peter wanted to be Lady Penelope with the Pink Rolls Royce, but that's another story! Buy the DVD, the picture and sound quality are F.A.B. These discs are considerably better value than the ones released in the UK. This is for all you grown up 'boys' out there - If you're going to buy one action packed DVD this month, buy this one, I promise you you won't be disappointed!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Awesome Series!
Review: I remember watching this series as a kid, it was awesome then and it's awesome now. Watching this again, 24+ years later, I was realy surprised at what I was watching, it was so wierd. I was almost scared by their strange hollow eyes that seemed to follow me but not see me, and the strange way they spoke almost seems like they were doing a language experiment of some sort. I was really impressed with how puppets, models, and occasional footage of real people( a hand turning a knob, someone walking down an alley) and combined it with some real wierd dialog to make a facinating and enthralling series that really engages the imagination.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Awesome Series!
Review: I remember watching this series as a kid, it was awesome then and it's awesome now. Watching this again, 24+ years later, I was realy surprised at what I was watching, it was so wierd. I was almost scared by their strange hollow eyes that seemed to follow me but not see me, and the strange way they spoke almost seems like they were doing a language experiment of some sort. I was really impressed with how puppets, models, and occasional footage of real people( a hand turning a knob, someone walking down an alley) and combined it with some real wierd dialog to make a facinating and enthralling series that really engages the imagination.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Excellent series
Review: In the mid-1960's, Gerry Anderson, who was well-known for creating several TV series that used puppets, created what would ultimately go on to be his master work - Thunderbirds. For those of you not familiar with the series, here's a brief summary. In the 2060's, a man has assembled a rescue organization. His five sons use high-tech equipment to rescue people who would surely die otherwise. Unfortunately, the 2060's aren't too peaceful, as there are many villains and disasters waiting to happen. Read on for a list of the major characters, and why each is important.

-Jeff Tracy: The main man. An ex-Air Force pilot and astronaut, he put together the International Rescue organization, in which his five sons operate high-tech equipment to rescue people from dangerous situations.

-Scott Tracy: Jeff's oldest son, you could call this guy the "leader" amongst the brothers. He's one of the two with dark hair. Like his father, he served in the Air Force. He pilots Thunderbird 1, a rocket-powered aircraft that can reach virtually any point in the world in just hours.

-Virgil Tracy: Jeff's other son with dark hair. He pilots Thunderbird 2, a large craft generally used to transport rescue equipment, or at times, transport Thunderbird 4. His voice actor didn't return for season 2, so he sounds different in the last few episodes.

-Alan Tracy: One of Jeff's blond sons. He is the pilot of Thunderbird 3, a rocket that is used in space rescues and in reaching the space station, Thunderbird 5. In the first episode, he speaks in a voice not his own because his voice actor hadn't yet been hired.

-Gordon Tracy: Jeff's son with curly hair. He pilots the only aquatic Thunderbird, number 4.

-John Tracy: Jeff's other blond son. He is in charge of the space station, Thunderbird 5, which can monitor pretty much any point on earth.

-Brains: This guy is an engineer that helped Jeff put together the International Rescue organization.

-Kyrano: A caretaker on Tracy Island. He doesn't know that Jeff's sons are a part of International Rescue. His half brother is The Hood, IR's arch enemy.

-Tin Tin: Kyrano's daughter. She doesn't see much action, but goes on a rescue every now and again.

-Grandma Tracy: Jeff's mother. She isn't too important, but in one episode she is placed in a near-death situation.

-Lady Penelope: Internation Rescue is strictly a rescue organization; they don't pursue criminals. That's why they hired Lady Penelope. She was a rich girl who found life boring, so she took up espionage.

-Parker: Lady Penelope's butler. Unquestionably the ugliest puppet in the series. His primary role is driving Lady Penelope around in her pink Rolls Royce, FAB 1.

-The Hood: Most bad guys in the series are in a few episodes only, but The Hood is the most reoccuring nemesis. He is Kyrano's half brother, and seeks to take pictures of the Thunderbirds, although this is highly illegal. Unfortunately for him, Thunderbird 1, the one he usually tries to photograph, has an automatic camera detector. He is never actually named in the series, but was given this name years later, due to being a master of disguise.

No question, Thunderbirds is a dated series, but it has stood the test of time. Other reviewers are disappointed that the puppet strings weren't digitally removed. What's the big deal? It's obvious these guys are puppets, so why bother removing the strings? It's good to have the series on DVD, but if you REALLY want to learn about the series and its creator, Gerry Anderson, watch the episodes on Tech TV. Each episode gives you some interesting facts, and sadly many of these can't be found on the DVDs. But if you want your episodes commercial-free, DVD is the only way to go. Take my advice - If you're going to get episodes on DVD, get the box set. It may be a tad pricey, but if you get it, you'll be saving money ... Regardless of who you are, I suggest checking out this series...

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A look back to the 60's future.
Review: My husband loved this show and now my 4 year old is hooked. Great for space loving kids.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A look back to the 60's future.
Review: My husband loved this show and now my 4 year old is hooked. Great for space loving kids.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: A little less F.A.B. than set 1... but F.A.B. none-the-less.
Review: My standard disclaimer applies.

I am not reviewing the artistic merits of this release. I happen to like this rather weird series but that does not mean you will. I will, however, review the technical merits of this release.

There are a few more obvious decompression artifacts present in this boxed set than were present in the first. These artifacts are generally brief and in scenes that are difficult to compress properly. They generally did not distract me enough to take my mind off the story so I can sort-of overlook them.

I really hate decompression artifacts so for me to say I can "sort-of overlook them" is a ringing endorsement.

Otherwise, the image is stable and bright. There are a few film flaws and some scenes are a little grainy. But, quite frankly, I expect this from a 35 year old TV show. The sound was given the same surround treatment as the sound in the first set. Both DVDs in this second set sound pretty good.

Despite a few film flaws and obvious decompression artifacts in this set, I thoroughly enjoyed watching it. I do not regret ordering it one bit.

It is, however, less perfect than the first set so I can't give it a full five star review. But I think it deserves four and a half stars, at least.

If you liked Thunderbirds Set 1 or enjoyed the show when it was on TV, I think you will enjoy this second DVD set. It's F.A.B.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A great trip back to when sci-fi TV kicked
Review: Not just this set of episodes, but the Thunderbirds saga as a whole. Now there's tremendous news that Volumes 3 and 4 will be coming out for Thanksgiving. No details yet on the episodes or whatever extras may be included, but figure 6 more episodes in each set. So that's 24 of the 32 episodes which will be seen. It still holds up well, even 35 years later. I'm glad A&E has seen fit to release two excellent Gerry Anderson series, two of his best.


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