Rated PG
Directed by Jonathan Frakes (Clockstoppers)
Starring Bill Paxton and Ben Kingsley
Rental! (Yeah, don’t pay theatre prices for this one!)
Thunderbirds was no “Spy Kids,” but some kids will like it. Kids just aren’t as picky as adults, so they’ll miss the “cheese” factor. If you don’t believe me, rent “Mac and Me” with a 6 year old.
Kids will like the humor and the action of Thunderbirds. Adults will groan throughout.
The Good:
- The film kept your attention with chase scenes, fights, and cool gadgets and vehicles.
- The characters of Lady Penelope and Parker were pretty funny.
The Bad:
- If you don’t have kids, you’ll want to skip this one.
- The acting is that of a Saturday afternoon special.
- The spaceships look like “miniatures.” (Hey, maybe they are . . .)
- The opening animation sequence was really lame. And they need to take a lesson from any Bond film- start with the action- then go to opening credits, if at all.
- Fans of the old series will hate it.
Does the film have anything objectionable in it?Pretty harmless. I brought my 8 year old daughter to the screening and never cringed. The young character “Tintin” wore a few outfits that I wouldn’t let my daughter wear, but that’s about it.
Conversation Starter
Three Simple Questions (with Answers You May Be Looking for):
- What are some of the messages or themes you observed in this movie?
- How do you suppose we—as serious Christ-followers—should react to this movie?
- How can we move from healthy, Bible-based opinions about this movie to actually living out those opinions?
