Saturday, 31 January 2015

DVD Collection Update: January 2015

Disney Planes: 3D Blu-Ray Combo Pack
Well I got this one at Toys R Us for $32 because my Disney Planes regular DVD got scratched. It is disappointing that you go spend $24 on a Disney DVD and a few months latter you can't play it.


Thomas & Friends DVDs: Percy Takes the Plunge
This one was $13 and it has seven old style episodes on it that are now in digital. I didn't notice who the narrator was yet though.


Two Bob the Builder DVDs
These two were found at Wall-Mart for only $2.47 each, and that's one of the best DVD prices I've seen. The disc titles are Hold on to Your Hard Hats!: Project Built it Series and New to the Crew. I like the old animation style on these and am collecting them because the new style of Bob is coming in latter this year and the old ones might go out of stock. Bob the Builder DVDs are only forty to forty-five minutes long.




Saturday, 17 January 2015

Episode Review: Season 18 - Samson Sent For Scrap

Written By: Mark Huckerby & Nick Ostler
As Seen on DVD: Dinos & Discoverys

Summary
Scruff was taking some scrap to the scrap yard, but it was to heavy and he broke down. Samson shunted Scruff to the Steam Works where Sir Topham Hatt told Samson that he was going to collect scrap with Harvey until Scruff was fixed. Samson and Harvey collected two piles of scrap, but then Samson saw a bike lying by a fence post, and he thought it was scrap so Harvey collected it.

Next Samson saw one of Bertie's bus stop signs and thought it was scrap to, so they put it in the truck. Up the road Sir Topham Hatt's car had gotten a flat tire, but then they discovered that there wasn't an extra one in the trunk, so they went to get one. While they were gone Samson took the car because he thought it was scrap to.

Then Sir Topham Hatt came back with the tire and Bertie pulled up with the bike owner and they raced to the scrap yard. Scruff got there first and told Reg to stop unloading. Sir Topham Hatt told Samson he had caused confusion, and that his car wasn't scrap, then a part fell of the car and they all laughed.

Review
Well, this episode reminded me a little bit of a Sharron Miller episode, and  there was some rhyming in it. It's nice to have Harvey back in the series again, but why did he listen to Samson when he knew he was wrong?

Friday, 16 January 2015

Episode Review: Season 18 - Emily Saves the World

Written By: Paul Larson & Laura Beaumont
As Seen on DVD: Dinos & Discoverys

Summary
Duncan and Rheneas were discussing there most exciting delivery's, then Emily came by with a load of sand for the docks and over heard them. Now Emily felt bad that she hadn't delivered anything special. Once she got to the docks she asked Thomas if he had pulled anything special, he said a he pulled a rocket engine that pushed him all over Sodor at supersonic speed.

The next day Sir Topham Hatt had a special for Emily, it was a giant globe for the animal park. Instead of taking the globe to the animal park, Emily decided to find some engines to show it to first. Then the globe ropes cut on the bridge tunnel, and it flue off on to Hiros car. but Emily didn't even notice.

Then Emily tried to show Thomas the globe, then Emily realized she had lost it, and went to find it. The globe was now rolling down Thomas' branch line, so Thomas went on a siding and let it past. Emily chased the globe all the way to the docks were it fell in to the sea. Captain happened to be there so he pushed it back and Cranky lifted it back on Emily's flatbed.

Then Emily went to the animal park, Sir Topham Hatt said she was late and had caused confusion, but got there in the end. Then the globe was put in place in the animal park, right in the center. Thomas said that was Emily's most exciting delivery,  Emily laughed and said it was a little to exciting.

Review
Well, it's nice to see Captain have a little roll in an episode again, as we haven't seen him science Misty Island Rescue. Bill and Ben's joke about the stinky laundry was funny, but there was one mistake. When the globe hit the signal mans glass window rolling of Hiro's truck it should have broken the glass. Over all this episode was great.

Thursday, 15 January 2015

Episode Review: Season 18 - Samson at Your Service

Written By: Davey Moore
As Seen on DVD: Dinos & Discoverys

Summary
When Samson first arrived on Sodor it was dark. Samson was bringing the new dinosaur models for the Erals dinosaur park. Samson didn't know the way, and was to proud to ask anyone. So he got lost and wound up at the Blue Mountain Quarry and didn't arrive at Ulfstead Castle until morning.

That day Sir Topham Hatt had a job for Samson. He had to take some stone from Blue Mountain Quarry to the mainland. But first Samson had to get some coal. Then Samson accidentally took Gordon's express coaches, while Stanley tried to tell him he made a mistake again, but he wouldn't listen.

Now Gordon was late for the express, so Sir Topham Hatt told him to take Annie and Clarabel and for Thomas to use Henrietta. Once Samson got to the Blue Mountain Quarry he realized that he took coaches instead of cars, so he raced back to the yard. On the way Sir Topham Hatt told Samson he had caused confusion.

By the time Samson got back to the quarry it was dark, so Samson's trucks were filled, but he had to spend the night at the quarry again because it was to late to go back now.

Review
The engine's face expression's on this episode were very funny, and it was nice to see Stanly again. Sir Topham Hatt has been driving Winston for three year's now, so why doesn't he know how to use the brake yet?

Wednesday, 14 January 2015

Episode Review: Season 18 - Timothy & the Rainbow Truck

Written By: Davey Moore
As Seen on DVD: Dinos & Discoverys

Summary
Bill and Ben liked playing jokes on the engines. They played a joke on Salty and Marion, and then they told Timothy that they had lost a multi-colored truck. Timothy didn't realize it was a joke, so he went all  over Sodor looking for it.

Then Timothy arrived at the docks and found a garbage truck that was painted all the colors of the rainbow. Timothy took it back to the clay pits where Bill and Ben explained that it wasn't the truck and what they had said was a prank. Then Sir Topham Hatt came and told them they had caused confusion and delay, and that they would have to do wast collection duty for a while.

Review
Why did Timothy believe Bill and Ben's joke if he knows they play tricks on him all the time? Not much else to say, but I did enjoy the shot with the rainbow at the beginning.

Tuesday, 13 January 2015

Episode Review: Season 18 - Millie & the Volcano

Written By: Andrew Brenner
As Seen on DVD: Dinos & Discoverys

Summary
Samson and Harvey were unloading the dinosaurs for the dinosaur park. Harvey was asking Samson the names of the dinosaurs, but he was getting the names wrong. Then Harvey was lifting a head to another dinosaur, but Millie got scared as Harvey tilted it the wrong way. Samson said Millie was a silly little engine for being scared.

Then Harvey unloaded the model volcano and Samson explained to Harvey that volcano's erupted, and Harvey said that was dangerous and dropped the volcano. He didn't know it was just a module. Latter Millie had an idea to scare Harvey and Samson. She had the groundskeeper light the bond fire right behind the model volcano, so it looked like it was erupting.

After that the Eral said is wasn't good that Millie played a trick on Samson and Harvey. Latter the dinosaur park was open, and Millie gave Sir Topham Hatt and Dowager Hatt a tour. They all got scared when they went by the head that moved, but Sir Topham Hatt said it was fun to pretend. And the all laughed and roared.

Review
Wow, Harvey is talking again! And it's strange that the dinosaurs were taken apart on the flatbed, when they were together in the last episode. How did they get them apart without them all falling off?

Episode Review: Season 18, Episode 21 - Marion & the Dinosaurs

Well, this is a surprise for me, I was sure season 18 was over and that Dinos and Discoveries was going to be season 19, but I was wrong. There are six more episodes of season 18. At this point it is unclear what episode number this is because they haven't aired on TV yet.

Written By: Andrew Brenner
Seen on DVD: Dinos & Discoverys

Summary
Marion was digging at a construction site, and she slept there that night. In the middle of the night she woke up and saw dinosaurs, she told her self that it was a dream and went back to sleep. In the morning she saw them again. Then Marion was so scared she raced backwards all the way up to Ulfstead Castle.

She nearly rammed in to Stephen and Millie who were waiting for a special shipment. Then all three of them saw the dinosaurs and raced inside the castle and had the drew bridge closed. Then they opened it and realized that they were fake dinosaurs and Marion wasn't scared anymore. Samson explained that he was new to Sodor and was a day late because he got lost at the Quarry and had to wait till morning for proper directions.

The Eral explained that he was building a dinosaur park so people can see what the real dinosaurs looked like.

Review
This episode was great. Thomas was in it, but it's nice that Andrew Brenner is writing stories for the new character's and not just Thomas. Marion is still an annoying character with her talking, but I like Samson's character. They didn't really explain why Samson was on Sodor very well, they just said he was new.

Monday, 12 January 2015

The Adventure Begins UK Trailer Released

Today the You Tube user TTTE Archives uploaded the trailer for the upcoming DVD titled "The Adventure Begins". It is a forty-four minute special explaining how Thomas got to Sodor and it also shows James' accident with his wooden brake. This is a special DVD for Thomas' 70th anniversary and another feature length movie will follow in the same year.


I'm sure the movie will explain a lot more stories from the railway series, but they can't show everything in a one minute trailer. I can't wait for this to come out, but one let down is that the DVD release is a Wall-Mart exclusive. 

Sunday, 11 January 2015

Episode Review: Season 18, Episode 20 - The Perfect Gift

Air Date: December 17th, 2014(US)
Written By: Davey Moore

Summary
Percy was delivering Christmas tree's, extra mail, and then he went to the scrap yard to drop off a load. He saw Reg there, and he asked him if he thought it was gloomy there, and Reg said not really. Then Percy saw Thomas at the sheds, he asked Thomas if he could take an extra tree, and he said yes, so the next day Percy took the tree to Reg, but when he got there Reg had accidentally crunched it up.

Reg said they get lots of old tree at the scrap yard, but Percy was still determined to get Reg some Christmas decorations. After that Percy went to Knapford Station to take some passengers to the town square for a Christmas sing-along. Percy took the passengers to the scrap yard instead, they tried to sing with Percy, but Reg was to noisy. Reg said he was to busy to listen to the music anyway.

After that Percy tried to find a present for Reg, but he couldn't. The next day when Percy went to the scrap yard he told Reg that he couldn't even find him a gift, but then Reg showed Percy his scrap Christmas tree, and he was happy. Then Reg gave Percy a scrap Christmas tree star, and it was put on Tidmouth Sheds. And everyone said Merry Christmas.

Review
It was strange that Percy never did take the passengers to the town square, but rather pulled them all over the Island and they never complained.

Saturday, 10 January 2015

Episode Review: Season 18, Episode 19 - Duncan the Humbug

Air Date: December 17th, 2014
Written By: Davey Moore

Summary
It was Christmas on the Island of Sodor and all the engines were happy except Duncan. He was always in a bad mood about the cold weather. At the first station he told Rheneas about the cold weather, then he told Rusty that there wasn't enough sand, and he told Skarloey that his extra passengers made him late. When Rusty, Rheneas, and Skarloey arrived at the Depot they talked about how Duncan was complaining to them. Then Thomas came and said the Christmas decorations at the Depot should cheer Duncan up, but when he got there they didn't. 

Then Thomas told Duncan that he was going to get a new coat of paint for Christmas, and Rusty said that Mr. Percival had the same idea, so now Duncan was still grumbling, but looked forward to a new coat of paint. But when Duncan got to the Steam Works Mr. Percival was there talking to Victor, then he told Duncan that he could have a new coat of paint tomorrow if he was cheerful for the rest of the day.

Then Duncan had to wait at the station for passengers when Skarloey came and asking how he was, he said every thing was fine. Then he went to a level crossing, but the gates were stuck, so he had to wait and the passengers hummed a tune, Duncan was about to blow his whistle, but Rusty came and he smiled.

Latter that day Duncan was on a hill and Luke was hauling a Christmas tree. Then Duncan forgot to be cheerful and realized he put Luke in a bad mood, so he pushed him up the hill. Now he was disappointed that he wouldn't get his new coat of paint. But the next day he went to the Steam Works anyway to apologize to Mr. Percival about what he had done. Mr. Percival said he would get a new coat of paint for helping Luke up the hill and that he was wrong to ask Duncan not to be grumpy because that was how he was.

Friday, 9 January 2015

Episode Review: Season 18, Episode 18 - The Last Train for Christmas


Air Date: December 18th, 2014(US)
Written By: Andrew Brenner

Summary
It was Christmas Eve, and people were still hurrying home with there family's on the Island of Sodor. Thomas, Oliver and Duck were clearing the lines, then they stop and Thomas tells them that tomorrow they could go to there sheds because there where no trains on Christmas.

Conner was on the mainland collecting passengers for Sodor, but the train was full before a boy and his parents could get on, but Conner said he would be back because there was one more train before Christmas. By the time Conner got to Knapford Station he was late, so Sir Topham Hatt told him to hurry because there was  more snow on the way.

As he was leaving the station the Slip Coaches said to take them, and Thomas told Conner that you could uncouple with out stopping. Latter after all the engines were clearing the line, then they went back to Knapford Station and Sir Topham Hatt announced the mainline closed, but when Thomas and Percy asked about Conner coming from the mainland he decided to re-open it.

The engines soon finished plowing, but Emily was having trouble near Vicarstown Bridge. Then Hiro came from the other direction and finished clearing the line just in time for Conner. Then Conner started to release the slip coaches at the different stations on Sodor, but Thomas saw one that didn't make it to the station and kept going to he shunted it back to the station.

Once at Knapford Sir Topham Hatt thanked his engines and said Merry Christmas, then they went home. Thomas thought he saw Harold, so he said Merry Christmas to him, but Thomas never knew it was really Santa Clause.

Review
I enjoyed this episode and the joke about Harold being Santa Clause was funny. There isn't much else to say, but I did like the fact that they said Merry Christmas instead of Happy Holidays.

Thursday, 8 January 2015

Episode Review: Season 18, Episode 17 - Long Lost Friend

Air Date: December 18th, 2014(US)
Written By: Mark Huckerby and Nick Ostler

Summary
It was Christmas on Sodor and Cranky was unloading cargo at the dock's as always, but then there was a heavy load, it was Gator and Salty told him that Percy would like to see him. There was also a load of  salt that came on the boat, but the clip board got wet so the dock manager didn't know where it was supposed to go. He told Gator to take it to the Quarry, and Gator said he might see Percy on the way.


On the first signal Gator saw Thomas. Then Thomas rushed to the yard to tell Percy the news, Percy was excited and said it would be the best Christmas ever. When Gator got to the Quarry the person there told him to take the salt to the Steam Works. Then Percy heard that Gator was at the Steam Works from Owen, so he raced off there.

But right as Percy got there gator left for Knapford Station, once there Sir Topham Hatt told Gator that the salt was for the docks, so it turned out he didn't have to take it anywhere in the first place. Then Thomas told Percy that Gator was looking for him because Percy thought Gator didn't want to see him, and it turned out Gator thought the opposite thing.

Percy raced to the docks and rammed in to the salt thinking that Gator was catching a boat at the docks again, but it turned out he was staying, long enough to clean the salt off him anyway. Salty said they didn't need two Salty's on Sodor and they all laughed.

Review
This was a funny episode and had some good joke's in it. I didn't really like the anamition on Percy's smile, there was just something not right when they transferred the engine's over from Nitrogen's computer to ARC's, if they did that. Other than that the episode was great.

Wednesday, 7 January 2015

Welcome to the New Year, A little Late.....

Well it is now 2015 and I have not blogged for about a month for private reasons that won't be discussed publicly on the Internet. I will be reviewing the rest of season 18 and the reviews will be there own posts.

I  want to get some of the 2015 70th anniversary Thomas Wooden Railway item's and if I do there will be reviews of them on my You Tube channel raretwrhunter which at this point has 56 subscribers, and that's good for one year hardly making any video content.

I'm excited for this year because it's Thomas & Friends 70th anniversary and Hit Entertainment/Mattel are going to release some great merchandise relating to the railway series and there will be a new movie as always.

The first DVD of the year is Dinos & Discoveries and it's all ready available for pre-order on Amazon, and will be released on March 3rd. This disc will have season 18 episodes on it including Emily Saves the World.