Customer Reviews

Thomas The Tank Engine And Friends - New Friends For Thomas [VHS]

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

Those stories are new!
Gordon & Spencer:
The Duke & Duchess of Sodor pay a visit to the engines, and bring with them Spencer, their own private engine. He is sleek, shiny, fast and full of pride. Gordon is jealous and feels that he is not the proudest engine on the line. However, disaster strikes when Spencer runs out of water! It is up to Gordon to save him and redeem himself of his stolen title.
Emily's New Coaches:
Emily is a new steam engine who has recently arrived on the Island of Sodor. She accidentally takes Annie and Clarabel, and Thomas gets annoyed by this. But soon, Emily saves Thomas from crashing and he apologises. As a reward, Emily is given new coaches.
The Spotless Record:
A new tank engine from the LMS called Arthur arrives on the island. He has a spotless record which means he's never been naughty or left a mess. TFC puts him to work with Thomas & Percy. Arthur's first job on the island was to take a train of closed vans full of fruit to market. The trucks started to sing rudely and Thomas then plays a trick and tells Arthur that TFC doesn't like the trucks singing and that Arthur should stop them from doing just that. This soon leads to an accident and Thomas then owns up.
Peace & Quiet:
Murdoch is a new arrival on the Island Of Sodor, but the only thing he wants is a bit of peace and quiet. However, this isn't very likely when he comes across a flock of runaway sheep.
Jack Jumps In:
Thomas delivers Jack the Front Loader to a construction site where a team of vehicles from the Sodor Construction Company -the "Pack" is working under the supervision of Miss Jenny. But Jack gets too excited about working and Miss Jenny wonders if he is too keen to join the Pack.
A Friend In Need:
Jack and the Pack are back. Jack is still on trial and although popular with the Pack Miss Jenny is still unsure about whether to keep him. When Ned the Steam Shovel accidentally breaks the bridge, Jack holds it up so that Thomas and his train can cross, and Miss Jenny decides that Jack has proved himself and lets him join the Pack.
Five New Engines In The Shed (music video)
The song featuring Emily, Murdoch, Arthur, Salty & Harvey.

Wow, is this ever a vehicle for inventing more new characters! The song at the end is about five new engines in the shed, but that is not counting all the endless construction vehicles in the weird construction oriented story. It wasn't a bad story but really doesn't go with the Thomas world. Some of the new characters are cool but we only saw them briefly and it just seemed like a money making scheme. The different narrator was distracting, he was OK but not what we are used to, I didn't like how he does Sir Topham Hatt but otherwise he was fine just different. Though I understand that he is the one who narrates them as originally shown in Great Britain.

Overall not one I am eager to see again, fortunately we did not buy it just rented it. Of course my 2 year old loves the new trains though. They are cool to look at especially Spencer.

This is the first release of any of Thomas season 7 episodes in the US, and season 8 is currently in production.

In my opinion, Season 6 was a bit of a mess. Writers were brought in for the first time and the episodes were written quite untidily in general, and they were all quite similar to each other.
In season 7, a new production staff partially have come in and improvements have been made, the new episodes are a lot better and on this new DVD we get an example of that with the 4 new characters. The only thing that spoils this release is the inclusion of a spinoff atempt "The Sodor Construction Gang" which blatently attemps to copy Bob The Builder and fails misserably.

The stories-

Gordon and Spencer. Writer Lee Pressman. Gordon meets a Duke's engine Spencer who is large, big headed and silver, and Gordon soon teaches hima a lesson.

Emily's New Coaches. Writer Jan Page. The new Scottish engine Emily takes Annie and Clarabel without seeking permission from Thomas.

The Spottless Record. Writer Paul Larson. New engine Arthur is keen to stay clean.

Peace and Quiet. Writer Jan Page. New engine Murdoch wants some peace.

And then come the two stories "Jack Jumps In" and "A Friend In Need" Writers Phil Fehrle, Jonathan Trueman, Abi Grant. Thomas is the only train in these two as they try to introduce a new set of contruction workers, but in doing so they have produced the worst two Thomas episodes ever!

So a lot of new engines and characters and a new narrator to the US, Englishman Michael Angelis who has done it in the UK since 1991. He's a pretty good narrator, you certinly won't think he's any worse than Alec Baldwin sounding like he's falling asleep!

A good buy for any Thomas fan, or if you're children aren't Thomas fans then let them try it!

I picked up a copy of this video at my local k-mart. I have no clue why it was out ten days early. Anyway, I've watched it a lot. The new characters are great. Arthur, Murdoch, Emily, Spencer, and Jack and the Pack. Spencer was a temporary character, which stinks, because he's cool. But the others are great too, though the Pack didn't really seem like a Thomas item. But what happened to Trevor, Terrance, George, and Bertie? Oh well. This video is great. Lots of new character, but not many old ones. By the, for those who were wondering, the narrator is Michael Angelis. He is really good, except with Sir Topham Hatt. Good Video. Hope you all enjoy it!

A new DVD is called: New Friends for Thomas. Well anyway, I watched this DVD and it's great! All these great 6 episodes narrated by Michael Angelis in America. Why isn't Michael Brandon a narrator on this DVD too. I'm sure it's a better deal that I can get instead of buying individually. But they should make an updated version of a new name: Thomas' New Friends. Don't forget to meet: Spencer, Emily, Murdoch, Arthur, Jack and Alfie. Watch out, Max is trouble, but that's what Jack takes a joke. Here are the stories featured on DVD:

-Gordon and Spencer
-Emily's New Coaches
-The Spotless Record
-Peace And Quiet
-Jack Jumps In (Part 1)
-A Friend In Need (Part 2)
-"5 New Engines In The Shed" (Music Video)

Well there you have them, I hope this review has been helpful to you.

By Michael Higham

I Just received the tape. It is okay. but the storyteller is different!!!!!!!!! The stories are:

Gordan And Spencer: The Duke and Duchess come with their engine,Spencer. They say Spencer is the fastest express engine. Spencer never stops for water.When Spencer runs out of water on a hill. Gordan rescues him.

Emily's new coaches: Newly arrived Emily meets Thomas at the station. But, when she takes Annie and Clarabel by mistake, the engines are mad. When she saves thomas from a crash, she is delighted to get brand new coahes.

The Spotless Record: A new tank engine, Arthur,arrives on the island and Sir topham hatt talks about his "Spotless record". To get Arthur to be naughty,Thomas pulls a trick on him. when the cars Trick Arthur, Arthur crashes.Arthur is Upset. In the end, friends are made Between Arthur and Thomas.

Peace and Quiet: When there is so much work. STH brings in Mordoch, a very strong engine. All he wants is peace and quiet. When he runs into sheep, he gets annoyed.When Done with his work, he appoligies to Salty and Harvey

Jack Jumps in: Jack, the loader joins Jenny Packard and "the pack". he meets Alfie the Excavator and become friends. But when jack is unsafe, Jenny has Second thoughts.

A Friend in Need: The next day Jack begins to listen. he and Alfie work together. But when Ned the steam shovel breaks the bridge, jack tries to hold it up bravely. in the end, Jack is in the pack.

Let me start off with saying how much I hated Alec Bladwin's narrations. He thought Stepney and Iron Arry and Iron Bert needed Austrailian accents in order to sound good but he did away with the Donald and Douglas accents George Carlin did so well. Michael Angelis sounds old but he narrates better than Alce Baldwin. I've also said that they don't ever use the characters they have so why bring new ones. The answer is so that they can sell the wooden trains and Take-Along Thomas. I think that they should either create a new series with Jack and Alfie and their crew or they should do away with them all together the series should still be focused on trains.

Ok now for the review part I liked the 4 new trains introduced but they rushed in introducing them becuase none of them were in another episode. Harvey and Salty had yet another minor role they haven't had another major role since their debut tape Salty's Secret. The new trains are Spencer a fast engine who belongs to the Duke and Duchess, Emily the first girl train to become part of the Sodor railway not counting Lady who was only in the movie, Arthur a tank engine who follows the rules and he behaves himself, and Murdouch a ten wheeled engine who enjoys peace and quiet. There are also 7 new trucks, cranes, and bulldozers named Jack, Alfie, Max, Isabella, Oiliver, Byron, and Kelly. Jack is the new truck who helps out Thomas when a bridge collapses and he is eager to help out. The episodes are prety good but they needed to introduce all of these characters in two tapes because they introduced too many. It is still a good tape and I would buy it if I were you.

I Thought This Thomas DVD was very Nice! I Like alll the new characters and those of you who are saying Michel Anglies narration is bad I don't agree! I Thought His Spencer and Murdoch Voices were Great! Here Is What I Thought:

Gordon and Spencer A+
Emily's New Coaches: A-
The Spotless Record C+
Piece and Quiet: B
Jack Jumps In: C-
A Friend In Need B-

Five New Engines In The Shed Song: A++ (I Liked That Song!)

In all It was a great Thomas DVD, except the 2 jack episodes!

Thomas and his friends aquire new freinds. First, Gordon has a rival engine that think Gordon is less than himself in "Gordon and Spencer". Sadly, this the only episode with Spencer in it. Then, a female steam engine named Emily accidentally takes Thomas' coaches by mistake and Thomas gets very cross with her. But, Thomas is saved by Emily and she gets her own coaches! Third, an impressive LMS tank engine has a "Spotless Record" that gets on Thomas' nerves. So, he plays a trick on him. Fourth, a awsome, huge steam engine named Murdoch comes to Sodor and seeks peace and quiet. Sadly, he comes across run away sheep, but gets what he wishes for. Then, Jack a front loader comes to join a pack of construction crew with new freinds such as Alfie the excavator, Oliver the excavator, and others. Next, Jack is a girder when the bridge breaks and Thomas crosses! Finally, a song dedicated to 5 new engine friends, Salty, Harvey, Murdoch, Arthur, and Emily. This video is awsome and if you like engines such as the A4, 9F, or a 4-2-0, then this is your movie!!! For train lovers! AWESOME narrator!

New friends for Thomas is an alright Thomas tape. I did not care for the new narrator, Michael Angelis, very much because he's not very creative on the voices(Alec Baldwin sure was)and some times you cant even understand what he's saying at all. The stories are okay but not as good as the other ones since they aren't the ones written by Revrend D. Awdry himself.
Stories are:

Gordon and Spencer 4/5:
Gordon meets Spencer, the Duke and Dutchess' private engine. He thinks that he's the fastest engine in the world and refuses to take Gordon's advice about taking on plenty of water. Soon enough, Spencer ends up breaking down on Gordon's hill and Gordon must come and help him.

Emily's New Coaches 4.5/5:
Emily is the newest engine on the Island of Sodor. One day Sir Topham Hatt tells Emily to learn her new route and take some coaches around the island. The only coaches she can find are Annie & Clarabel, but she doesn't know this yet. As she is touring the island, Emily whistles to all the passing engines but no one whistles back. Emily just can't seem to understand why everybody on the Island of Sodor is so unfriendly.

The Spotless Record 5/5:
Meet Arthur, a tank engine with a spotless record, meaning he has never been naughty or gotten into an accident before. While working with Thomas and Percy, he refuses to join in on bumped the silly freight cars. Thomas soon comes up with a trick that will ruin Arthur's spotless record for good.

Peace and Quiet 5/5:
Meet Murdoch, a big strong engine who has come to the Island of Sodor to help pull the big and heavy freight trains. Murdoch soon finds out that everyone on the island enjoys talking to each other, but Murdoch would much rather prefer some peace and quiet. The next day, Murdoch gets to travel through the peaceful countryside, at last he has his peace and quiet, but not for long.

Jack Jumps In 4.5/5:
Meet Jack, the cheerful tractor who has come to work with a construction crew called The Pack and see how his first day goes. First he can't find anybody to work with, then he encounters a big bulldozer named Max, and then he jumps in to help to soon and ends up in a sticky situation.

A Friend In Need 4.5/5:
After weathering his first day with The Pack, Jack is given a second chance to behave. But when the chance comes for help again, will Jack jump in where he doesn't belong again or will he have learned from his mistake?

5 New Engine In The Shed(Music Video) 4/5:
A music video that talks about all the new engines in the shed.

I also think there were to many uneeded characters in this one(Think "The Pack" which includes Alphie, Max, Byron, Oliver, Ned, Kelly, Izabella, and the newest member, Jack) I doubt if they will ever show half these characters again. In fact, the only character they do show now is Emily. Overall, this is a fairly decent Thomas video, 7 out of 10.