Blue Mountain Mystery Review

Blue Mountain Mystery Review

The release of Blue Mountain Mystery marks almost a year since the release of 'Day Of The Diesels', with the bad feelings of DOTD looming over them HiT must have been keen to make a good impression with this next film and they certainly did. The overwhelming success of this film is in stark contrast to the success. or lack of, with prior films. 

Blue Mountain Mystery is the sixth Thomas & Friends special and the last one written by 'Sharon Miller'; a name which is implanted on every Thomas fan's mind, sadly not for good cause. Not only does it mark the last film written by Sharon, but it is also the last one animated by Nitrogen Studios, so a lot rides on this film's success.

Plot

Right let’s get started with the plot, I will just briefly out line it, as most of you will have seen it already. Blodin bridge collapses badly damaging Paxton who is sent away to be repaired. Thomas is sent to help out while Paxton is away. Thomas briefly meets a little green engine whom we later find is called Luke, Thomas wants to talk to this engine. Thomas try’s to find out who the green engine is by asking the narrow gauge engine but none of them will give him an answer. Eventually Skarloey tells Thomas about Luke and how he did something ‘very bad’ and he thinks that if he is found again he will be sent away from Sodor. Luke soon comes up to Thomas apologising and asks to be friends. After Thomas is told he is to go back to his normal duties he asks Luke what he did that was so bad. At which point Luke explains how he knocked a yellow engine (which spoke a different language) off a boat, as he wanted to be offloaded first; Paxton hears all of this. Whilst at the diesel works looking for the yellow engine Thomas hears Paxton telling Diesel all about Luke. Thomas speeds away to the Steamworks for further exploration into the yellow engine, he questions Victor if he recalls anything about a yellow engine, at which point Victor makes an exclamation in Spanish. Surprisingly Thomas realises that Victor is the yellow engine. Thomas insists upon Victor telling the full story, which is the same as Luke’s except that a big wave hit the ship making Victor roll backwards, the chains securing him in place were already weak. Luke who was hanging from a crane at this point knocks into Victor who rolls back helplessly into the sea, where he stayed for a long time due to bad weather. Victor was repainted and repaired. Thomas rushes to the quarry trying to beat the diesels, wheh he arrives Skarloey makes the other narrow gauge engines dislike Thomas as they feel he has not kept his promise, as he has told other engines about Luke, really this was Paxton and Diesel. The Diesels arrive shortly. Thomas persuades Rocky to life him onto Owens narrow gauge platform so that Thomas can explain to Luke. Thomas tries to chase Luke forgetting that he is on narrow gauge track, he lurches over the cliff edge only to be saved by Luke. Both engines and up at the lower level of Owen’s platform after a bit of drama. The Fat and Thin controllers arrive, Victor arrives and explains to Luke. Rheneas is painted yellow like Victor used to be. The end.

The Film

We are thrown straight into the action as Rheneas a 147 year old narrow gauge engine is hurtling down the track ignoring warnings of the bridge’s collapse, he brakes only to restart shortly, he last truck rumbles over; the bridge collapses. Rheneas, after going faster than ever is fine and somehow not derailed. Paxton however is buried under a heap of bridge! A final rock thuds on Paxton, making a comical introduction to this character who we all warmed too quickly, more about him later.

The film as the title suggests is based solely around the quarry, which looks great and has loads of interest for the audience. Lot’s of strangely coloured rolling stock, which may look a bit daft however they do add extra interest for younger viewers. Most of the narrow gauge engines are at the quarry. The different levels of the quarry look great, again these add a lot of interest; a great combination of bridges, cliffs, tunnels and of course Owen. We must assume that Duke, Bertram, Duncan, Mighty-Mac and Freddie have been left to work the passenger trains, maybe even Proteus would have had to do some work for a change! I found it a bit odd that Duncan wasn't included in this film as he is still a prominent character in the TV series and is always included with the narrow gauge ‘steam team’ if you like.

Although Sodor is not a particularly large island there always seems to be plenty of space for new characters, buildings and whole locations. Anyway I felt the new characters were good and added  to the story, they weren't just added for the sake of having a new character. Owen is a happy traction engine who pulls trucks up and down the incline, Merrick is a large and sleepy crane. Luke is a cheerful Irish narrow gauge tank engine, Paxton is a friendly Diesel engine and is easily taken advantage of, due to his gullibility. Winston is The Fat Controller’s ‘Track Inspection’ car, he is a car which drives on the rails. He is constantly stopping and starting giving the passengers a bumpy ride! In reality The Fat Controller wouldn't continue to use Winston in that condition, he would just use his ordinary car. So I think Winston is more for humour than anything else, he is funny at first but the joke gets old quickly throughout the film.

Michael Angelis was more enthusiastic in this film making him more enjoyable to listen too. It is really nice to still have him as a narrator, he has had a good career with Thomas and although he has been a little lack luster in latter years he does deserve a lot of credit for his contribution to the development of Thomas & Friends. Rheneas and Skarloey were given Welsh accents for this film (courtesy of Ben Small and Keith Wickham), I thought they were very good and I think The Reverend would approve! Although it is surprising that Skarloey and Rheneas still have a Welsh accent as they only lived in Wales for 1 year and have lived on Sodor for about 146 years, minor flaw but oh well.

Flashback Scenes

Many older Thomas fans where very excited to see the re-done flashback scenes. Thomas went back to the engine sheds after finding out that Luke was afraid of being sent away for doing something very bad, he asks the engine what the worst thing they have done.

Percy starts off with describing how he crashed into the luggage trolley. Percy’s is possibly the best for accuracy, only major difference is that the crash happens in a different place. It was originally set with the yards in the background, they have disappeared. Also the snow is thicker and more defined. Henry is next with his incident with the rain and the tuinnel! The scene is very good, Comparing the original scenes with the news ones is a bit like spot the difference. Henry’s is good arguably because you can’t see very much. Above the tunnel there isn’t a hill anymore, it is just a bridge, other than that the scene is very well made.  Finally Thomas’s. Well there are a number of problems with his. The worst being the Driver and Fireman are still in the cab. The ground has changed to mud, previously it was sand, so completely different colour! A great number of trees have appeared and a mine shaft has disappeared!

Have a look at my video and see what you think:

My Thoughts

Now I hope this review hasn't been too long, finally time for a quick rite up of my thoughts on the film. I enjoyed the film and thought it was well written and structured. Michael Angelis sounded good and brought back a slight feeling of nostalgia. This was a great way for Nitrogen Studios to go out, love that shot of Thomas puffing into to the sunset under the signal box. The film was a great success and I feel it deserved that, a big improvement on all of the other films.

Patrick Foley TTC 2012