Be a kid again and take every child you know to see it!

pannpost

My 6 year old is the toughest audience for any movie.  He hates crowds and suffers a form of claustrophobia.  So when he insisted he had to see Thomas and the Magic Railway, even knowing how much he loves Thomas (he has every character) - I was sceptical about how much of the movie we'd get to see before he started wimpering that we had to go home - as he had through the 5 other movies we had taken him to see.

Well he surprised me ... not only did he sit with rapt attention throughout the whole movie, but then we went and saw it again!

I was a little concerned that the quintessential "Englishness" of the movie would be lost when given the Hollywood treatment, and the actors would take the focus.  I was so pleased however to find that the trains were still the stars.  We loved "C" Junior too (that accent ooo!!!)  He was terrific - and despite being a little apprehensive about Alec Baldwin playing Mr Conductor I thought he was great too.  Blending in the Island of Sodor background with the phone call from the Fat Controller (Sir Topham Hatt) to Mr C was a nice touch as well.

Anyway, I know we'll probably go to see this again at the Cinema (at least one more time) and then I'll have to endure the nagging until it comes out on video, but it's worth it.

Everyone who doesn't have children, borrow one or two or just go on your own and get in touch with your inner child.  After all, everyone loves trains.

score 10/10

pannpost 23 December 2000

Reprint: https://www.imdb.com/review/rw0659126/