TheVAFan Never in many a day have I ever seen a film so pitful, so awful, so gut bustingly bad, you would want to smash your TV up in anger and the sight of the dreadful thing.That thing is Thomas & The Ma *Coughcough*, sorry about that, I seem to have drank the wrong bottle of Cola. Ahh yes, Thomas & The Tragic Failroad.This should in no way under any circumstances be considered a film, instead it should be called a 90 minute patience test that would even make an avid fan of the franchise go bananas.Is there anything good though? Well yes there sort of is, Hummie Mann's score was good for the most part and I liked the voice acting. Some were good (like Neil Crone as Thomas), some were painfully miscast (Susan Roman as James).Still at least the voice actors put on better performances than any of the miserable, lifeless, so called human actors this film has to offer.These are not actors, these are dead lifeless vessels we're staring at.The one that really takes the cake is Peter Fonda, who is so awful in this film it's not even fun to watch.He looks and sounds so bored and his line delivery is so stilted, you'll be thinking he got drunk.How he didn't get a Razzie I'll never know? I know mate, those glory days of Easy Rider are way behind ya pal.Alec Baldwin's irritating as Mr Conductor and only Mara Wilson (in her sad final role) seems to be doing better but it's still not saying much.On the other hand, the villain Diesel 10 is crap, not menacing in the slightest, he's about as scary as a cute plush bear at a toy store. He and his useless comedy sidekicks are just here to be your typical clichéd Hollywood villains who laugh... a lot.Newcomer Lady is quite frankly dull as incredibly soggy dishwater, she's hardly in the film and when she does appear she STILL does nowt for most of her screen time! Talk about a useless pile of scrap if I've seen one.Plot's an old of cobbles too and the dialogue is so cringe worthy, it's not even funny. It's just depressing to listen to.It's so awful the train's mouths don't even move. It's like it's god damn ventriloquism! So crappy plot, useless villain, useless new character, lifeless performances all around (except for the voice cast) and ear bleedingly bad dialogue. Yep, another film to add in my bad books.I just love how everyone says that this should have gone straight-to-video.Nah guys, you're putting it way too mildly there. Straight-to-the nearest bin-where-it-should-never be seen again is a far more better option.No wonder Britt Allcroft buggered off after the film died at the box office.Now off to the scrapyard you go so I can never remember this film again.It's certainly caused a lot of *Snigger* confusion and delay.The Fat Controller certainly wouldn't approve. At least he ain't in it though.

billsybob_uk For a film that I think is an absolute pile of tosh, it has kept my 3 year old enthralled time after time for almost a year. My 5 year old doesn't like it, but my 3 year old son loves it. It kept my attention for all of a few minutes before the laptop came out, but on the 4th or 5th viewing I had to find out what it was that was so enthralling to a 3 year old. There's just enough magic and storyline, and in places it is quite magical and touching (just put yourself in their shoes!). If you have little children don't dismiss this - it will guarantee an hour or so's quiet time for you, and I suspect will be held in the memory a bit like Wizard of Oz is in mine (well, maybe I'm a bit optimistic there!)

tez_mike HiYes most of you are correct, the story is cheesy, without much substance and not much like the English cartoon - However - this is a kids film! My little boy is actually sat there now in awe of it, most of the kids this film is aimed at probably don't really understand the plot anyway all they see are trains, little people and gold dust!So what if a lot of the engines have an American accent, I'm sure children don't really care - I don't!What a great cast, Alec Baldwin, Frenchie from Grease and the girl from Matilda, I'm sure thats enough for the adults and if its not, go on your laptop/do some cleaning while your little one sits down peacefully (which hardly ever happens) and watches this film in wonder.Great film for kids under 8.Tez

kylehaines96 Director Britt Allcroft give Thomas The Tank Engine his big screen debut with Thomas And The Magic Railroad. The film is about Mr. Conductor played by Alec Baldwin is losing his supply of magic gold dust. He needs to get more gold Dust from an engine named Lady who supplies gold dust but due to a mean engine named Deisel 10 destroying her that is not possible. She is under repair from Burnett Stone played by Peter Fonda and his granddaughter Lily played by Mara Wilson. The film is just excellent the cast is great and heartwarming. A lot of people disliked this but they have to understand that when it went to test audiences they had to make so many cuts and rewrites because the test audience deemed the movie either too frightening, too long or too americanised and if you don't believe me go to wikipedia and look at the very long list of cuts and rewrites. And also I am sick and tired of people say the film was so American just shut up and enjoy it for what it is.Rated G.1hr 24min/84min.****/****