Thunderbirds Are Go!

[ray gower]

Synopsis
Zero-X, a manned exploration mission crashes during lift-off on its maiden flight. Two years later an investigative committee finally concludes sabotage, and decides to call on the services of International Rescue to oversee security at the impending second launch. The second Zero-X successfully reaches its destination, but encounters unexpected hazards, ultimately leading to another call for assistance on its return to Earth. International Rescue respond, and once again Thunderbirds are GO!

It is easy to be honest: The Thunderbird marionette films are not as good as the series.

They contain all the elements that made Thunderbirds great:- Superb models, spectacular effects, masses of 'Big' action, plenty of story and there were the puppets themselves. All created to work on little more than a kitchen table (Hollywood big buck film makers please note).

Even the marionettes are no more wooden than some of their popular breathing competitors, despite the obvious technical difficulties.

The problem is that there are the incidentals. In this case Alan Tracey's dream sequence, which even if it was topped by Cliff Richard and the Shadows, give space fillers a bad name.
This one 10 minute stretch is the bit that fills the mind. Which is a pity; The rest is a great example of how to create a serious children's action adventure that does not treat kids as mentally deficient.

And just to warn the Politically Correct crowd off. At the end, we see all of our heroes in a night club, puffing on well stuffed Cuban Cigars.