I don't normally write reviews but sometimes something moves me enough to inspire me into action.
As a 60's kid Gerry Anderson was as important a name to me as Walt Disney, or Cubby Broccoli. Gerry made shows that left a lasting legacy as well as an imprint on my childhood & British culture (& beyond).
This documentary focusses on what made the man, not just the shows, & the events which influenced those shows & their characters. If you're not too familiar with Thunderbirds, Space 1999 or the other tv programmes it's still a balanced, nuanced & interesting piece of film making by Gerry's son, Jamie. It's not ultra reverential or sycophantic, but adopts a warts & all approach, even pointing out Gerry's flaws & failings. It shows him as human which just endears the subject matter to the viewer even more. It doesn't try to whitewash him or attempt to deify him in the way many modern documentaries & families do with someone so iconic & culturally influential. I found that an incredibly refreshing approach.
As I've grown older I've revisited many aspects of things which played a part of my life including some of Gerry Anderson's programmes. However in this I enjoyed learning about the man himself, the people who orbited in (& out) of his life, & how those events affected the productions.
Despite some of the reviews here I for one didn't object to the inclusion of "clips" from the shows which punctuated the piece throughout as if to add levity & humour, particularly if the segment dealt with disturbing or dramatic issues. Besides, it seems to be commonplace in many current biographies in recent times. It's most filmmakers shorthand & punctuation these days.
In conclusion I'd urge viewers to watch this if given the chance, even if you're not a 60's child who was brought up on the shows like "Thunderbirds" which were made mainly for kids with "puppet stars", or for the family & fans of SciFi in the form of "Space 1999" or "UFO" when Gerry finally got to feature real actors.
This is really more of a film about a very interesting, even introverted British filmmaker & producer of great British tv programmes. There's not many in that field that are as deserving of such a laid bare for all biography, or can be regarded by fans of the medium as a truly great British Icon. Give it a watch.
