I just saw a commercial for the Thunderbirds movie. I was wondering if anyone knows if the ships in the movie were done as CG or did someone actually make shooting models?

Cheers,
Ray

probably a mix of both.

A Taylor has the kits for sale already on the Fab Gear website. I think they are from Bandi?

Almost entire film is done with CG for the effects. A large model oil rig was built for the opening scenes, a large monorail crossing the Thames and a large close up section of the front of Thunderbird two. A model of TB2's launch ramp was also built but subsequently scanned and appears as CG in the film.

There's more about the movie over on Starship Modelers forum here:

http://www.starshipmodeler.net/cgi-bin/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=17898

Well looks like its a worthless hunk of junk...(what a surprise!!!!) wait for dvd release and rent dont buy.
Buy the original Gerry Anderson series and watch them the way they were meant to be.

I hate it when people tell me a movie is great, that I must see it and when I do I am really disappointed ("The Matrix" sticks out in my memory). The thing about "Thunderbirds" is that my expectations are really low, so I can go to see it and not be disappointed. Either it'll meet or exceed my expectations.

I'll go and see it. I'm a big enough Thunderbirds fan to give it a chance. I'll let you know if it tanks after I've seen it.

Jim

For what its worth, the trailer that I saw recently leads me to believe that the special effects and vehicle shots will be well done and exciting.

Huzz

IR is one of the greatest concepts ever. A family rescues people, for free.
And yet 3 movies have tanked, including this one. Spy kids 5 is the best they can do.
I saw the commercials where Bill Paxton as one the Tracys, does his usual whiner role.

I ain't goin'. It didn't happen. It doesn't exist.

I wonder when someone will do a Thunderbirds movie?

Grabted the original was a show FOR kids, but it was still ABOUT adults. This remake looks be an excercise in kid-empowering.

I'll reserve judgement until I see it myself or until I read enough reviews that share a common opinion.

Huzz

Don't worry. There will be hundreds to choose from in the next week or so!

There was an almost full page article in one of the weekend newspapers here in New Zealand. It was about Gerry Anderson and his non involvement with the Thunderbirds movie.

A short synopsis:

Gerry was in talks with Working Title films to be employed as a creative consultant.
Talks broke down... Gerry says he was told that they had all the consultants they needed. Working Title says Gerry didn't like any of their concepts especially the new FAB1 (I have to agree with Gerry, but I do like the new Thunderbirds designs) so they parted company. Gerry did not like the idea of marooning most of the Tracys on the space station and having Alan, TinTin and Fermat (Brain's son) save the day.
There seems to be a fair bit of ill feeling between Anderson and Working Title.
In fact Gerry has asked that his name does NOT appear on the credits. (He would have got a "Based on Thunderbirds created by Gerry Anderson" type credit)

Apparantly Sylvia Anderson (Gerry's exwife and co-creator) has said that she loves the concepts of the new movie.

Gerry made the comment that he would have liked Peter Jackson to have directed the movie. Peter is a big Thunderbirds fan and Gerry felt that he would have treated the project with respect.

Gerry is currently based at Pinewood Studios (Where Thunderbirds is being shot) working on a new CGI version of Captain Scarlet. He has 123 staff and they have completed the first two episodes. No release date was mentioned.

And just as an aside..

If you (Or probably your wife or girlfriend) has brought or hired the DVD "Love Actually" starring Hugh Grant.... Look in the special features menu on the DVD as the first trailer for Thunderbirds is there.

FAB
Alien

Whats with the kids?

If my memory serves me right I thought that the show was mainly adults?

I thought the show was mainly disturbing-looking puppets, but that was probably the medication. :drunk:

Sylvia is saying she loves the concept because (a) she's being paid to say it, (b) she was the next best thing they could get next to Gerry in order to give the impression it is endorsed by at least half of the team that made the original and (c) given her wholly inaccurate and rambling commentaries on the various DVD's, I'm not sure she even remembers the original! I'm sure that there might even be a hidden (d) in that she's deliberately doing it because Gerry isn't.

It still doesn't make the movie any good. Kids will probably love it but the same can be said for Barney the pink dinosaur.

And I notice on Yahoo movies that Thunderbirds has been out in the US for 2 weeks and hit the charts at 11th then slipped to 15th. And its only grossed $5.6 million in the US.. That spells B O M B to me..
Again I quote John Lassiter of Pixar.. The three rules you must follow in making a good move are: Story Story Story.... Even the cool Thunderbird machines couldn't save it...

Oh well.

Alien
Todays Kiwi (New Zealand) Language Primer:
"flat stick" or "flat tack: full speed, as fast as possible, as in 'he was going flat stick when I saw him'

On it's 3rd weekend it's at no. 20. One theatre in Texas took in $27.50 on sat night.
UPDATED. No. 29 actually, below such bombs as the day after tomorrow, garfield and catwoman.

Thunderbirds are No.
Thunderbirds are Go-ing to bomb.
Thunderbirds are Stop.
Chunderbirds are Slow.
5-4-3-2-1-Zero.

I read that starship modeller thread. DX SFX says;

"Let's put the shoe on the other foot. Consider that we Brits make a Star Trek film written down for ten years or younger where a teenage Mr Chekov has to fend off the Klingons from Starfleet Headquarters with Spocks seven year old son and a twelve year old Uhura. They can only shoot the Klingons with hilarious foam canons while attempting to rescue Kirk and the rest of the crew from a spacestation they're marooned on. The Enterprise is redesigned (that's a Ford Enterprise in this case) for no other reason than to flog toys and the Klingons can not only fly/levitate but all they want is to break into Earth's banks and steal the money. Am I painting a picture? "

He could write for hollywood.

"TheThunderbirdsAreGone!"