I walked in just as the previews were starting, and was a bit startled to find that I had the entire theater to myself. It's only five days since the movie opened, after all. No matter how bad it was, I was sure that some mislead child of the sixties would have felt that their own offspring shouldn't be permitted to leave childhood without having Thunderbirds inflicted on it. And yes, three previews into the action, in plenty of time to take in the opening credits, one lone man arrived with a young boy in tow. They sat several rows behind me, and I didn't hear a peep out of either of them during the entire movie.
Have no fear, no spoilers here. I know at least one other person is planning to see the movie, and I don't want to ruin anything for them. A few comments are mandatory, though.
1. No, it wasn't as bad as I feared. Then again, I was fearing some catastrophe like Star Trek 1 turned out to be. With expectations that low, I couldn't help but be somewhat pleasantly surprised. In all honesty though, if you take this for what it is (a live action version of a kid's marionette show from the mid-sixties) then you shouldn't be too disappointed.
2. The music was an especially pleasant surprise. I worried that they'd come up with some piece of overworked melodramatic tripe that I wouldn't be able to associate any fond memories with. I worried for naught.
3. I'll admit to some disappointment over the fact that we didn't get to see as much Thunderbird action as I'd hoped. I'd heard some rumblings that people didn't like the "new look" of the ships, but I didn't see anything wrong with what I considered to be minor updates.
4. More disappointing was FAB1; all I can say about that is that Ford Motors obviously poured a lot of money into the movie, and maybe next time (if there is a next time) someone should consider some bids from Toyota or Chrysler instead.
5. The opening credits were a little off-putting. It was as if the movie had a low expectation of itself, and was determined to live down to it. Still, if the credits are the worst part of a movie, then I guess Frankes could have done worse.
6. Kingsley and Edwards were both wasted in their roles. This was a movie that depended not on acting or even on familiar faces, but banked on a big nostalgia factor from the audience. If Thunderbirds 2 is made (and I understand they're waiting on the office numbers from Thunderbirds 1 to decide), I sincerely doubt we'll get a chance to see either of those two reprise their roles.
So don't go expecting a masterpiece of cinematic art, but if you were planning to go, then be reassured that it wasn't as bad as all that.