Louise writes:
As my son is an big Thomas fan, I leapt at the chance to review this new feature-length DVD starring the talking train and his chums. Thomas-fever had actually died down a little in our house but thanks to the film has been well and truly re-awakened. In the first fortnight of owning it, I think we must have watched it at least fifteen times, and on at least one occasion it was watched twice in one day – I’m not sure you can get a better review than that!
When Thomas begins spending more time with new firefighting engines, Flynn and Belle, his best friend Percy feels left out and finds himself heading over to the dieselworks, where he is befriended and made to feel important by manipulative engine, Diesel 10. Percy’s pride means he is unable to see that Diesel 10 is actually planning to take over the steamworks and
I have to admit, I was a little uncertain about some of the subtext of the film – the idea that there is a group of engines who are the ‘bad ‘uns’, come from the wrong side of the tracks (ha!) the rather, well, ghetto look of the dieselworks and fact that Diesel 10’s objective is to take over the nice part of town did seem to me to have elements of ‘them coming over here taking our jobs’ which did not sit very comfortably with me. I couldn’t help but feel sorry for the diesels in general because of their poor working conditions – yes, Diesel 10 isn’t a nice engine, but it’s not hard to see why when the Steamies are so dismissive of the Diesels!
However, I don’t think it was meant that way (at least, I hope it wasn’t) and is instead supposed to be a story of what many childhood friendships go through – when you feel your friend is snubbing you and so turn to someone who isn’t all they seem to be. It’s a cautionary tale of not getting manipulated by someone who promises it all, and probably not a story of class struggle and or/discrimination! When the Steamies and the Diesels get together to restore the dieselworks at the end, there is more of an element of ‘we’re not that different after all’ which gets my full approval! As it all seems to work out rather nicely in the end too and my son’s main concerns were that everyone be happy in the long run so once again I think I am maybe seeing sub-text where there is just… well, text!
Plot issues aside, both my son and my daughter loved it and I’m sure would give it a full five stars! Thankfully they haven’t started singing the awful song at the end though!
Thomas and Friends: Day of the Diesels is available from £6.99
