Thomas the Tank Engine: Attention, all trains! – Thomas and Friends: Calling All Engines! (2005)

Directed by: Steve Asquith | 60 minutes | family | Dutch voice cast: Erik de Zwart

Thomas the Tank Engine is without a doubt one of the most famous trains in the world. Many children aged up to about six years share the adventures of the sometimes mischievous locomotive and his many friends. The creator of the stories surrounding the blue steam train is Reverend W. Awdry. His ‘Railway Series’ is still popular to this day, not least because of its film adaptation. ‘Thomas the Tank Engine’ is very popular in many countries and many little ones in the Netherlands also watch the stories told by Erik de Zwart, himself a great train enthusiast. Beatle Ringo Starr once recorded the stories in England! Now ‘Thomas the Steam Locomotive: Attention all trains!’ Finally available on DVD, it is certain that many children will enjoy this new film. In Germany, for example, the film has been out for a bit longer, there it has even been shown in the cinema!

One day the fat controller tells us that an airport is being built on the island of Sodor. This allows even more tourists to visit the island and that means more work for the locomotives. They are very happy about that, because the thing they like to do is work hard, so that they can feel useful. Both steam and diesel locomotives run on the (fictional) island of Sodor. There has been a feud between the two types of trains for quite some time, each of whom thinks his own kind is best. Thomas is mischievous and bumps into a wagon belonging to Iron ‘Arry and Bert (two diesel locomotives), so that the wood they had to transport ends up by the crane next to the wagon. And Diesel is tricked by Thomas because the latter does not couple a wagon with stones and wood to Diesel, but a wagon with bananas. And every child knows that you can’t build with bananas… But Thomas soon comes back from his jokes when it turns out that the depot where the locomotives rest at night from hard work is broken and the construction of the airport has been delayed. .

The fight between the locomotives continues for a while, culminating in a day when each locomotive needs a good wash at the end of all the oil, paint, coal and grit that has ended up on them. The fat controller comes by to say that there will be no tourists this summer, because the airport does not arrive on time. That night all locomotives have nightmares. Thomas then realizes that there is only one solution: they have to work together with the diesel locomotives!

‘Thomas the Steam Locomotive: Attention, all trains!’ was filmed in the same style as the TV series, so it is very recognizable for the children. The big difference is the interactive riddles in between. The viewers can solve a riddle when Thomas asks for their help. The interactive part is computer-animated, but looks very nice. Another difference is that there are more songs in this film. Given that a movie like this probably isn’t just once in the DVD player, there’s a chance that these songs will be sung along in some time!

With ‘Thomas the Steam Locomotive: Attention, all trains’, the makers have succeeded in filming a fun and exciting adventure of the popular Thomas, which will be close to the world of Thomas fans. In any case, the film is much better than the American film ‘Thomas and the Magic Railroad’ from 2000. Attention all Thomas fans, there is a new story by Thomas out!