A Disappointing Continuation

Close shines in drama with strong language, adult themes.

One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

While it is a pity that the story wasn't told with more visual finesse, this is trivial compared to our real-world problems. It takes a good movie to put that into perspective.

___Thundercats 2011___---The Thundercats Remake!!!---It was the middle 1980´s when kids around the world went...----"THUNDER....THUNDER....THUNDER....THUNDERCATSSS H000000..."----for the first time during the recess at school, Two decades and a half later, an interesting remake featuring many of the original elements but adding new interesting characteristics to the plot arrived to the screens and even when it was not as successful as its predecessor, it granted us some episodes that will remain jewels to the cartoon enthusiasts of all ages. Either if we are talking about the original 80´s version or the 2011 remake, the Thundercats are an important part of our pop culture and a very rich set of stories that takes us from Eastern tales to the Ancient Egyptian Culture and from the Outer Space to faraway dimensions.David del Real. 2018.

Reboots are very tricky. On one hand (or paw), what's the point in them if you're just going to do a beat for beat remake of the original? On the other hand, there are essential elements that you simply don't mess with. Getting that balance just right is the key to successfully relaunching a brand or franchise.Cartoon Network's 2011 reboot is a pretty bold enterprise, radically re-imagining many elements of the Thundercats mythology, changing their personalities and interpersonal relationships, and completely dropping many of the original series' iconic elements. The result, sadly, is a series that feels the need to cut off its nose to spite its face.The changes here simply don't work. While the new mythology feels like it was thought out more thoroughly beforehand than the original, it's often too cluttered and convoluted for its own good. The characterizations also don't work. For dramatic purposes I understand the need to introduce some conflict amongst the previously "Kumbaya" Thundercats, but what should've lasted a few episodes was dragged out, resulting in characters that just aren't very likable.Artistically, the anime-influenced animation is handsome and effective, but the new character designs lack the iconic punch of the originals. The same goes with the music. The score is serviceable, but generic, lacking the instantly recognizable leitmotif of Bernard Hoffer's original.In the end, Thundercats 2.0 just never comes together. It's clear that a lot of time and effort went into it, but the result is a sum less than the total of its parts.

One thing sums up how horrible this new version is. Lion'O's "Thunder, Thunder, Thunder, Thundercats Ho!!!", is now "Thunder, Thunder, Thunder, Thundercats? Ho!" When an actor throws a statement uttered as a question into a battle cry it's really bad.The original series contained a lot of things that didn't make sense. But that was OK because it didn't try to be realistic or serious. It was consistent in itself because it didn't try to explain everything. The new version tries to be dark and more realistic, and by trying to do it is inconsistent in itself. It explains things, but in ways that don't make sense.BTW, dark has become a formula. The "dark" formula dictates that each episode begins with a recap of some past episode, and that heroes experience conflict within their group. Often, and it happens in TC 2011, those conflicts suddenly disappear as if they never existed, only to reappear when needed.The new series tries to create character depth, It tries to make the bad guys more sinister and dangerous. But after their introduction the characters become cardboard cut outs, and the danger they posed disappears. The treatment of the Jackal and Monkey are two examples. They start out by beating the Thundercats easily, but soon become just like the originals - easily defeated every time.The pacing of this series is also strange. In the midst of a life or death rush for the stone of war, or whatever it is, the series takes time out to have a little thieving adventure with Kat and the horribly voice acted Kit. With all the explanation and re imagining, the show falls flat with its own weight. At one point Lion'O laments that Mumra holding the Sword of Plundera changes the balance of power. But two episodes later Mumra is trying a scheme of the week, no Sword of Plundera in sight, to knock off the Thundercats. He isn't even using his vast army, which Lion'o and the Tcats couldn't face even with the sword of Plundera and the Sword of Omens.It makes as little sense as the original. But the original never tried to make sense. Because the new version tries, it fails.Good riddance.

Thundercats was originally conceived in 1983 but didn't hit the screens until 1985/86, it fittingly became a cult TV hit, it was faster paced and sleeker than He-Man and fairs slightly better in retrospective, spawning a tonne of merchandising like it's counterpart. An update or film version have been arguably long overdue.There's no talking Snarf in the latest version but the major difference with the Thundercats 2011 is the setting, there's no 3rd earth, it's Thundera, that is in a Planet of the Apes sort way with flashbacks throughout. There's glimpses of Star Wars, Stargate and other sci-fi, but it borrows from the best. The characters dynamics, look and their relationships have been slightly tweaked. The mains given a more mature edge that allows exploration of conflicting divergences. Those familiar with the original will recognise new incarnations of reworked sub characters usually the antagonists.Thundercats 2011 is reminiscent of He-man more so than its 1985 predecessor due to Thundera's Eternia-like feel and borrows from plenty from the recent Lord of the Rings trilogy especially in look during battle scenes including the civilians going underground. That aside, the animation, stories and dialogue are extremely entertaining and there are plenty of nods to the original series. It also includes a cameo from the original Lion-o voice actor Larry Kenney.However, don't be mistaken it is different and not in a bad way, strikingly the episodes are very emotionally charged even more so than the original series. There are a few main characters that are omitted in the first fistful of episodes but that's not to say then may not grace the screen in later outings.To really enjoy Thundercats 2011 most will have to put aside the cartoon they fell in love with. This is a darker distinctly styled incarnation yet thankfully it stays true to the original spirit of the Thundercats.