Based on a creative puppet show from the 60's, this years "Thunderbirds" boasts a well known cast headed by Bill Paxton and Ben Kingsley and was directed by Star Trek's Next Generation's Jonathan Frakes. While the show is filled with great technical effects the story is hardly sophisticated and is made for kids in the genre of "Spy Kids", with less humor and lots of dialog that is straight out of the 60's television world from which it came.

Evil villian Kingsley has extorted the Earth's favorite rescue heroes, The Thunderbirds, into doing his will by trapping Paxton's family and gaining control of the machines to rob banks, etc. The Thunderbirds are helped out of this sticky situation by Lady Penelope (Sophia Myles) who drives a pink, flying car-cool! As a matter of fact, the take off scenes are some of the best parts of the film. Her man servant Parker plays his role equally tongue-in-check, played to the hilt by Ron Cook. Anthony Edwards, from the "very serious" drama ER, is the Thunderbird's resident geek, along with his son ( you can tell by the matching geek glasses.) The chief kid star is the youngest of the Thunderbird's family and wants so much to prove himself. This movie helps him to achieve that as he and his small co-stars lead the way to rescue their family. It is all good fun and most of violence is G rated stuff which is good for this day and age of movie making.

Excellent , sharp picture with bright colors and elaborate sets to recreate the Thunderbird's world make this film a real fantasy land. Based on a secret island, the Thunderbirds home setting is fascinating-so much so it is afeature in the extras. The soundtrack is what you would expect from 5.1 Dolby, and make the sophisticated machinery even more realistic. This disc also has 5.1 Dolby in Spanish and French.

Commentary is provided by director Frakes on a separate audio track and the disc includes a number of cute extras to watch including : Secrets of Tracy Island Revealed Lady Penelope's Pink World Creating the Ultimate Action Sequence Lady P & Parker Lose Their Cool: Fun & Stunts FAB1: More Than Just a Car-very cool A music Video by Busted and a theatrical trailer It's a good variety of extras to enjoy-at least once.

Not being a Thunderbirds die hard fan frrom the 60's, I can't really compare this film much with the original show but Frakes has definitely captured the atmosphere of the original show from what I can remember. Whether this is good or not, is up to you. The film has excellent effects and cheesy dialog throughout and would be a good candidate for a Friday night rent.