Monday 4 May 2015

DVD Review: Trouble on The Tracks

THESE ARE SOLEY MY OPINIONS AND NOT INFLUENCED FROM THE THOMAS AND FRIENDS FAN BASE

TROUBLE ON THE TRACKS
Episodes

Written by
Andrew Brenner
Paul Larson and Laura Beaumont 
Mark Huckerby and Nick Olster

Special Features
The Earl's Quiz - Percy's New Friends and Slippy Sodor
Calling All Engines! - Salty and Paxton
Mr. Perkins' Storytime - Pop Goes the Diesel and Toby's Tightrope
Mr. Perkins' Postcards - The Dieselworks and Ffarquhar Quarry

Release Date
20/04/15

Distributed by
HIT Entertainment (UK)

EPISODES
I like the episodes they've added even the last two. They fitted them well with the theme of the DVD which I do enjoy rather then what they've done four and five years ago as the DVDs being released now give the recent episodes more of an identity on what they're related too. For my views on these episodes, click the link below the picture of the DVD.

SPECIAL FEATURES
It was a bit of a surprise to see two Mr. Perkins segments this time. For the Railway Series segments we have 'Pop Goes the Diesel' as shown in the American version and 'Toby's Tightrope' with additional illustrations from Lorraine Marshall. I like it how also they're not out of place as it keeps in relation of DVD's theme. I will say that some of Marshall's illustrations in 'Toby's Tightrope' were not good. One of them is the FQC trucks, they look low down and not high enough to meet the same height as Toby's. Not that it's bad or anything. Her illustrations in 'Pop Goes The Diesel' however were good with the trucks' expressions. The stories were narrated well. 

'Calling All Engines!' is the same as usual, we know the characters from the show and understand their purpose and personality. The Earl's Quiz is not good with the choice of episodes. Kids of course will like them though. We also have two postcard segments of The Dieselworks, like in the US copy and Quarries. The Dieselworks postcard segment does tend to talk more about the Dieselworks while the Quarry was pretty much a little bit about the quarry and the engines there as well. It's not bad but I think it need some work such as telling kids on why quarries are important. 

Probably the biggest talk of the DVD is the trailer for the upcoming DVD special 'Sodor's Legend of The Lost Treasure' which will come out on DVD nearing the latter of 2015. For my opinion on the trailer, please click here.

OVERALL
I think it was a good DVD and much like the US copy with some additional segments that really didn't make it out of place for theme. There are well written stories, while not perfect, had some effort put into to, as well as the presentation, that could at least satisfy kids of the show. 

RATING:
8/10