Honestly, I really have no idea why every year at the Deep Discount sale I pick up the new Thomas discs. Maybe it's a weird nostalgia from my childhood but every time I try to give the new episodes out all I see is the complete abolition of any railway terminology and customs replaced with goofy dialog catering to the under 3 crowd.

While much of this started in the Britt Allcroft years it has steadily spiraled out of control where Thomas is no longer about connecting children with the railways of the past but more about crashes and morality tales. I'm not saying that Thomas should be a serious show about history, but when the original stories were rooted in fact you could really feel as if the stories, minus the fact that trains were talking, were actually real.

So we have another disc of crap. The worst part is when they take the classic narrow guage engines like Skarloey and give them the reasoning power of a toddler instead of showing children that with age comes experience and wisdom.

Labels: Thomas

Thomas & Friends: Milkshake Muddle: Here's the newest release from Thomas featuring a few episodes from season 9. This is about standard for the releases before with a few lesson heavy stories, some "educational" stuff in the middle and then a song or two.

I think I've covered everything Thomas before in previous posts but I do feel that some things do need to be said. First is that no matter how much I whine, moan and grown, the product will not improve. That is because HIT could care less about the guy who is 24 watching this stuff and really is only interested in those who are around 4 years old and watching this.

I have given up and I somewhat have accepted that all future releases will be just like this one where stories are based on a less (not spreading rumors or working together) and less upon the whole character driven stories of before. Engines will drive themselves and the purpose of the whole railway will be for children's parties.

We'll never see Culdee tell the story of Godred becoming smaller and smaller but we will get a new engine each week.

Labels: Thomas, TV Shows

Thomas & Friends: On Site With Thomas: The last of my Thomas DVDs are finally in so with work lasting until midnight this week, I had to find something to do during the long hours at the help desk.

This disc, as the cover suggest centers around the construction machines like Jack. Thomas and Percy make small appearances along with Sir Topham Hatt but most of the disc is about Miss Jenny and her construction equipment. This is not necessarily a bad thing but at times I felt more like I was watching Bob the Builder than Thomas.

Labels: Thomas, TV Shows

Thomas & Friends: Thomas' Halloween Adventures: I know that I am a month late on this one but I didn't get it until the Deep Discount DVD sale. While I am no fan of Halloween I am somewhat of a completionist when it comes to Thomas.

The material here is a collection of previously released material on other discs with a Halloween theme. Sadly, I didn't check this one out and just picked it up for completion's sake. It's too bad as I doubt I would have bought it had I known.

Pass on this one unless you must have every Thomas DVD.

Labels: Thomas, TV Shows

Thomas & Friends: Hooray For Thomas & Other Adventures: In the recent Deep Discount Super Sale, I got a lot of Christmas shopping done. I tried not to buy much for myself but I did get most of the Thomas DVDs that I had not yet bought. Having some free time when the girls were on the PC allowed me to watch this while waiting for dinner.

Most of the stories are in the new style where absolutely all railway rules and regulations are gone. Of course, as someone told me, in the world of train regulations trains don't exactly talk. Putting this aside the episodes are quite interesting at times and some are pretty well written and directed, especially the episodes which feature good human character dialog. I like seeing how they bring Sir Topham Hatt and Lady Hatt more into the stories and keep things consistent by referencing older characters like Jem Cole.

I have mixed feelings about these new Thomas DVDs as a regular reader could easily point out. However I've decided either the episodes are getting better or they are starting to grow on me. Although it probably helped that they did not have the annoying CGI bumpers or Dora the Explorer like games. This release proves that the stories stand well on their own without the annoying extras just as they did when I was a kid.

Labels: Thomas, TV Shows

Thomas & Friends: Come Ride the Rails: Do you ever feel sometimes that you are clinging to a TV show long after it jumped the shark? I'm sure a lot of people felt that way when they watched Steve Urkel went up into space, or when Elmo took over Sesame Street. I really do feel that with each new DVD of Thomas & Friends I buy, I watch the show sink more and more into a big ugly mess. One only needs to look at my other entries here on the blog to see that.

One good addition on this was a feature to skip all the nonsense between the episodes and just watch the stories. It sure saves the skip button on my DVD remote from getting a workout.

Labels: Thomas, TV Shows

Thomas & Friends: Tales from the Tracks: More episodes from the long passed its prime show. Watching Thomas is in some ways like watching an actual train wreck: it's bad and it just gets worse but you keep watching it. As I seem to be buying and watching these, I should at least offer some criticism of what is wrong with the show and perhaps what could be fixed.

The first thing I would change is to get back to reality. Trains do not have free will over where they go and don't go. These are done by the driver, signalmen, shunters et. all. The early stories acknowledged this and even used it for plot points. It seems now that engines just go off on their own and do as they please. This is also extended in that very little actual railway business seems to happen on the Island of Sodor. While the railways used to be used in Awdry's stories for moving passengers, shunting, hauling goods trains and the like, the engines are now there only for whatever whim the Fat Controller has for the day. (e.g. The kids need ice cream so we'll send Thomas for that!) The Rev. Awdry stressed realism in his stories (as real as talking engines can be) with many of his stories being based on actual events. That respect for the way a railway was run should be extended to the show as it once was.

My final gripe would be how political correctness has hit Thomas. While the original stories were written in the 40s and thus some question them as outdated, this is not an excuse for neglecting older characters to push female characters like Emily. The PC police have also added black people in the crowds. The worst has to be that Thomas readily takes part in the "War on Christmas." The same show that had a Christmas episode now refers to Christmas as the "winter holiday season." Gag me with a spoon.

So that's the state of things on Sodor. I think the only saving grace is that the Thin Controller is introduced, even if he is called Mr. Percival. Perhaps someone at HIT is reading the books? I doubt it very much. In the meantime can we please have the Season 2 boxset?

Labels: Thomas, TV Shows

Thomas & Friends : Percy's Chocolate Crunch: Here is another collection of Thomas & Friends episodes which are good as far as the newer episodes go. The highlight was definately the episode with the opera singer. There's also one story featuring the narrow guage railway, which is always welcome in my book.

I'm afraid that Thomas DVDs have become a bit routine and it's very hard to rate them. If you enjoy this sort of thing you already know what to expect.

Labels: Thomas, TV Shows

Thomas & Friends: Salty's Secret: Continuing with the Thomas kick I've been on with the new arrivals from Deep Discount. Included here are six stories and three more characters are introduced with a side effect of three more toys to sell. The stories are standard Thomas the Tank Engine fare post Awdry.

What I do like is how human characters like the fogman as well as Trevor's driver, Jem Cole, are brought up and mentioned.

On a side note, while generally I don't enjoy all of the Sing-Along songs, I did really enjoy this one, "James the Really Splendid Engine."

Now that the Deep Discount items are in, my backlog is back up to 215. I suppose I should get cracking!

Labels: Thomas, TV Shows

Thomas & Friends : Thomas & The Jet Engine: When the Deep Discount DVD sale came around, it was time to fill in some of the gaps in my collection. I decided to get a bunch of the Thomas DVDs I did not have. This one came in today and of course, I had to watch it.

The stories on this disc are more of the ridiculous nature that strays from the original stories by the Rev. Awdry. The title story is filled with silliness that makes me wonder if the people at HIT understand what the appeal of Thomas is. For all her faults Britt Allcroft at least made the show entertaining. Oh how I pine for more of those grand stories that the Awdry's did. If only HIT and Christopher Awdry could reconcile.

Labels: Thomas, TV Shows

Thomas & Friends: Make Someone Happy: This one was quite good and is before the total shark jump. It doesn't have the flaws the new show has and is still quite interesting. I give this one a thumbs up and it will probably be watched around the house several times in the next few weeks.

Sailor Moon: Season 1 - Disc 6: More goodness with Sailor Moon finished.

Labels: Thomas, TV Shows

Thomas & Friends: Steamies vs. Diesels: There's very little battle n this one and with only four episodes I would call this quite the ripoff if you get it for full price.

One side note that I wish to speak about is the new director, Steve Asquith. His style is much different than David Mitton, whose style was to set it up like a children's book with very little animation outside of the trains rolling along and the eyes moving. Camera pans were almost non-existant so despite the poor scriptwriting and bad music, I have to comment Steve Asquith for adding interesting little touches here and there.

Labels: Thomas, TV Shows

Thomas & Friends: It's Great to Be An Engine: I got this in a dual set at Wal*Mart with Steamies and Diesels for $14.88 for the pair.

As I see more and more of the new Thomas episodes, the more I realize that the show has jumped the shark. The shows are being made more and more for smaller children. That is not to say that I don't enjoy the fantastic model work, cinematography and the like. The weakness is instead in the writing staff. As the age of steam becomes a more and more distant memory, there are fewer and fewer people who remember what it was like when the Reverend Awdry wrote the original stories.

If I could offer some more critiques to those who write for Thomas, it would be to do more research on the Railway Series and British railways in general. Also, stop talking down to your audience and stop the "moral of the story" centered episodes.

Labels: Thomas, TV Shows

Thomas & Friends: Spills & Chills: As my Thomas collection nears completion, I finished watching this volume which has Alec Baldwin doing the voices. It's not bad, actually with the exception of the Boulder episode (too unbelievable) but I especially liked how Stephen and Bridget Hatt made appearances again. It's always nice to see continuity.

Labels: Thomas, TV Shows

Thomas & Friends: Calling All Engines: Let's face it, Thomas the Tank Engine has jumped the shark and thus has reached the point of no return. In the last DVD, I commented how the shows were too simplified and too unrealistic. I know that engines can't talk but at least railway terms and rules were kept. This event was just bordering on rediculous. For example, the dream sequences made me really want to take the disc out and stop watching.

To those behind Thomas (HIT Entertainment) for your own good, please, PLEASE hire Christopher Awdry at all costs or at least some writers who can remain faithful to the original stories.

Labels: Thomas, TV Shows

Thomas & The Really Brave Engines: While the original source material long used up, and the whole deal of Christopher Awdry no longer writing Thomas stories, the series was bound to run out of ideas sooner or later. While the stories are nothing new (Toby's Windmill is a near carbon copy of Henry's Forest) they are still entertaining. The biggest gripes I have is that the classic theme is gone. In its place is a sort of rinky dink theme accompanied with CGI! Sorry Thomas, but you've jumped the shark.

Labels: Thomas, TV Shows

One more I forgot to write about last night.

Thomas & Friends: Thomas & His Friends Help Out: I have this on VHS but it was nice to get the DVD, I guess. It came in a boxset with two other discs I didn't have, but it was nice to see on DVD.

Labels: Thomas, TV Shows

Okay, in recent days I have received five dvds that I ordered and watched that many and thus the backlog barely has blipped. Of course this means that I have a nice collection to talk about.

Thomas & Friends: New Friends for Thomas & Other Adventures: This was my first experience to the mad world of the post Carlin episodes of Thomas and so I watched it first. Michael Angelis of Coronation Street narrated this American release like he has narrated all the British ones since Ringo left the show in 1991. The narration wasn't bad but I found that the moving away from the main engines and making stories about all these new engines gives HIT a chance to sell toys, but removes itself from the Rev. Awdry's stories too much.

Thomas & Friends: James & The Red Balloon: More Thomas, this time with Alec Baldwin as the narrator. He's alright, but certainly not as good as Ringo was. I did like how Edward got a story based around him. He was always a favorite of mine and I felt that the first engine was always neglected. New stories from the Skarloey Railway is also welcome as well, even if Rusty does look a little fat.

Thomas & Friends: Cranky Bugs & Other Thomas Stories: While the title character of Cranky from this disc is a rather boring and unexciting edition to Sodor, the disc really shines with Lady Hatt's Birthday Party. Seeing the Fat Controller working as a fireman and falling into a mud puddle made it worth the price of the disc alone.

Thomas & Friends: Best of Gordon: A decent collection with George Carlin and Alec Baldwin episodes. While I prefer the Ringo Star dubs, it was nice to get some of the older stories on DVD, although with Thomas, I end up double and sometimes triple dipping.

King Kong The Animated Series Volume 1: The old Rankin Bass show is finally on DVD. While the animation wasn't really much better than other Japanese made shows of the time like Speed Racer, it was a lot of fun to watch. When King Kong originally aired, there was another cartoon that ran with it called Tom of T.H.U.M.B. about a secret agent janitor who was shrunk, along with his Asian comrade, by some top secret ray the government was making for some unknown purpose. Anyway, the two fight against the group M.A.D (Maladjusted, Antisocial and just Darn Mean) All fun stuff and for under $10 I recommend any animation fan pick these releases up.

Labels: Cartoons, Thomas, TV Shows