On the flight from Dallas to Orlando, they managed to (barely) shoehorn in a viewing of Thunderbirds. Allow me to say, that's the best $21 for a DVD I've never spent.

While not the abomination that some folk consider it, and bearing in mind (a) it has the Thunderbirds air/space/watercraft in it (boo-yah!), and (b) I enjoyed Howard the Duck, the movie is still ... disappointingly lightweight, illogical, and inconsistent in tone.

There are about three B-grade movies in here (straight action-adventure, rebellious teen coming-of-age, camp goofiness fest) at war here, and none of them survive enough to give the movie the scarred and feeble but all-too-necessary heart it would need. With material like this, you either take it seriously, or you don't. This tries to have it both ways. You either play it consistent with the original or you simply take inspiration from it. This tries to have it both ways. And you have to decide on your demographic (original fans, kids, adrenaline junkies), and this tries to have it all ways. As a result, it's muddled, muddled, muddled, and -- aside from some sheer coolness moments -- unmemorable. Pity, that.

And who the hell had some gambling markers on Ben Kingsley that forced him into a starring role in this? Or was he a fan of the original, and only too late realized what he was involved in?

Glad I saw it, but glad I didn't buy it. Until it shows up used at $2.47 on Amazon, some time in January.

Filed under :: Media - Movies :: Travel - WDW 04
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