Thomas and the Magic Railroad (2000)
Director: Britt Allcroft
Movie review
From Time Out Film Guide
The Rev W Awdry's classic, early-reading railway stories inspired the quaintly agreeable '80s TV series Thomas the Tank Engine, with its catchy signature tune and Ringo Starr narration. Thomas has, however, suffered a regrettable makeover. Some of the engines, most of the cast and even the narrator have American accents. And that theme tune's gone. Now embellished with Lewis Carroll-style surrealism, the story takes up the series' much exploited theme of the new vs the old. Thomas' elevated position on the magical island of Sodor is again under threat from Diesel, who wants him shuffled off to the sidings once for all. Meanwhile, Mr Conductor (Baldwin) has lost his magic sparkle and, back in the real world, a miscast Fonda is having trouble starting a female engine with the power to put Sodor back on track. If all this sounds convoluted, well, it's a toddlers' film and anything goes.Author: DA
User reviews of this film
-
- Bruce013 said...
- Posted on Apr 23 2009 23:45 My kids and grand children all enjoyed this film. I did as well, and it was all the more enjoyable with little Mara Wilson starring in it. Every time I look after my grandson, we watch this film, so it is great to see the adorable Mara Wilson.
- Report as inappropriate
Cast & crew
Director: Britt Allcroft
Producer: Britt Allcroft, Phil Fehrle
Cast: Peter Fonda, Mara Wilson, Alec Baldwin, Didi Conn, Michael E Rodgers, Neil Crone, Colm Feore, Cody McMains, Eddie Glen full cast
Genre(s): Children's
Duration: 86 mins
Most popular on this site
Features
To the letter
Forty years later, Costa-Gavras's Z still brims with fury.
Mind over matter
David Cronenberg reflects on a most bizarre body: his own corpus of work.
Fool's gold
Can an Oscar win lead to a cursed career? Here are five stories of postaward professional meltdowns.
We are the championed
Terrorists and teens abound in this year's "Film Comment Selects."
A history of violence
Matteo Garrone's kaleidoscopic Gomorrah wallops you with Italy's crime crisis.
True romantic
James Gray exchanges urban amorality for amour in Two Lovers.
Playing in the dark
MoMA salutes pianist Stuart Oderman's 50 years as the one-man sound of silents.
Junk bonds
Cast and crew recall the making of the classic NYC drug drama The Panic in Needle Park.



What do you think?
Post your review now