DVD Review: ‘Doctor Who: The Doctors Revisited – First to Fourth’

Article first published as DVD Review: ‘Doctor Who: The Doctors Revisited – First to Fourth’ on Blogcritics.

In honor of Doctor Who‘s 50th anniversary this year, the BBC is releasing a special on each of the eleven Doctors. Each airing is approximately half an hour of documentary about one of the Doctors, and then a full serial in which they star, making it several hours of footage for each. Recently, the First through the Fourth of these were released in a four-disc DVD set.

For fans of the modern Doctor Who, this is a real treasure trove. If you’re like me, you’ve only seen a handful of the old episodes (there are a lot of them), or perhaps none at all. This set gives you a quick overview of who each Doctor is, how the show changed with each new incarnation, and a bit about the actor who played them, making you feel somewhat informed as we approach the big anniversary event. People actually involved in the process are interviewed, giving their unique insights.

The first four were an interesting group. First came William Hartnell, whom is iconic in being the forefather to everything that came after him. At this point, the series was still in its infancy, and the writers hadn’t figured out exactly where they were going with things yet. The Doctor had a granddaughter, the only extended glimpse we get of his family and his life before the series, which seems strange. Yet, he also fought the Daleks and the Cyberman and had various companions during his tenure, establishing a basic structure that continues through today.

Then, Hartnell left the show and, rather than cancel it, someone came up with the brilliant idea that the Doctor would regenerate as a totally different person. Patrick Troughton was cast, and he sets that standard for departure in each new incarnation. Troughton didn’t play an impression of Hartnell, but he kept enough of his predecessor to make it a continuation. It’s a brilliant move that could have gone terribly wrong in hands other than those that guided it, one that has never been successfully repeated by any other series since.

After Troughton comes Jon Pertwee, who, to me, is whom I think of when I think of classic Doctor Who. Eccentric and wise, Pertwee is the caring elderly man who can also run around and be daring. He brings some of his own self to the part, including a memorable car for the Doctor to drive in. He also finds Sarah Jane Smith (Elisabeth Sladen), perhaps the most famous of all companions, whom pops up many times over the years with several Doctors, and his long exile on Earth shifts the format of the show show for awhile.

Fourth is Tom Baker, the longest-serving Doctor. With his curly hair, loud scarf, and otherworldly personality, Baker definitely makes his mark. He serves as a transition between the first batch and the second of the older years, not quite fitting in with either group as well as the rest fit with one another, but definitely being memorable in his own right. A lot changes occur during the Baker years, especially the phasing out of UNIT, who had been quite integral to Doctor Who for awhile.

Along with the somewhat in-depth examination of each of the first four Doctors, four complete four-part serials are presented on the DVDs, just as they aired. The stories included here are “The Aztecs,” “The Tomb of the Cybermen,” “Spearhead From Space,” and “The Pyramids of Mars.” Each of these are carefully selected and are good representations of the periods from which they hail. Not exactly typical episodes, but also not too far from the norm, they are well chosen glimpses of the fine men who brought the Doctor to life and great reminders of how the show has lasted so long.

There aren’t any special features to speak of, but the introductions and interviews are themselves special features when you think about it. These discs are extras in the larger scheme of Doctor Who, the ultimate bonus inclusions in the series set.

Doctor Who: The Doctors Revisited – First to Fourth is available now.

Blu-ray Review: ‘Doctor Who Spearhead From Space’

The newest Doctor Who release is the first ever classic serial on Blu-ray! It also possibly contains the only episodes of the series’ original run that will ever get the high-definition treatment because, unlike other Who episodes,  it was shot on film due to a strike at the BBC.

As far as picture quality goes, don’t go in expecting to see something as crisp as detailed as movies and shows filmed in the past couple of decades. But it does look stunningly better than any other classic Doctor Who release I’ve ever seen, a real step up from the DVD version of this very story. The menus, in particular, are fantastic. The colors are vividly real, and one can see every pimple on a face’s closeup. The soundtrack fares about the same, maintaining the original sound, which isn’t the sharpest, but lacking the static and noise that most of these older episodes contain. Overall, while dated, the look and sound is impressive, better than I’d dared hope for.

The four-episode story on this release is Spearhead From Space, the season seven premiere that is not only the first one starring Jon Pertwee as The Doctor (the Third, for those keeping track), but also the first Doctor Who filmed in color. It is the first episode that Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart (Nicholas Courtney), whom we’d seen before, is featured as a series regular. It introduces Dr. Liz Shaw (Caroline John) as the new companion. Additionally, the episode has a new title sequence from the first six years, and was the first story aired outside of the series’ normal Saturday night time slot.

As the story begins, our titular character is exiled on Earth, in a hospital no less! At the same time, meteorites are falling, one of which contains an intelligence that can manufacture Autons, which it plans on using to take over the world. UNIT could really use the Doctor’s help in dealing with the invasion, if only they knew where he was.

Spearhead from Space is as much a story about the Doctor as it is about the adventure the characters are undertaking. The concept of regeneration is a new one for Lethbridge-Stewart, who has a hard time believing that this is the same Doctor he has worked with in the past, albeit in a different body. The process of the Doctor switching bodies is still relatively new to the series, and Lethbridge-Stewart serves as a nice vehicle for the audience to access the concept so vital to the mythology.

This serial also sets up the Doctor’s next big arc. He is marooned on Earth at the whim of his fellow Time Lords. The Doctor isn’t too pleased with the situation, but makes a deal with UNIT to make things more tenable. This is a character out of his element, which is always fun to explore. Pertwee seems to be the perfect actor to execute this particular plot.

It is interesting to me that a being of almost pure thought, who has escaped the bounds of a physical body, is still interested in controlling the rest of the world. Yes, the intelligence contains some powers that help it accomplish things it could not as a normal life form. But it seems so much less efficient to not have any limbs. And why is it so concerned with forcing others to its will? What does it need with Earth? Spearhead from Space is far from the only sci-fi story to ponder these questions, continuing one of the strangest themes in the genre.

Rather than recycling the extras from last year’s Special Edition release, the blu-ray Spearhead From Space has only a few bonus materials, but they are fresh and rich in quality. There’s a forty-plus minute profile of Pertwee, with those who had the pleasure of working with him telling us what he was like. A half hour looks at Caroline John. Plus, there’s a short, sometimes side-by-side, comparison with notes on how the picture was converted to high definition, in case anyone doubts the improvement is worth it. The title sequence material alone isn’t very interesting to the casual fan, but I’m sure some will find value in it.

In short, the Spearhead From Space blu-ray is an essential must-see for any Doctor Who fan, or anyone interested in the conversion of old film in general.

DVD Review: 'Doctor Who - The Green Death Special Edition'

Article first published as DVD Review: 'Doctor Who - The Green Death Special Edition' on Blogcritics.

The Green Death, now available as a two-disc Special Edition DVD, is the tenth season finale of the classic British science fiction series Doctor Who. Originally aired in six parts in the spring of 1973, it is notable as the final serial in which Jo Grant (Katy Manning) serves as The Doctor’s (Jon Pertwee) companion.

As The Green Death begins, Jo and Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart (Nicholas Courtney) set out to investigate the mysterious death of a miner, one whose body has turned green. Jo initially assumes the cause is environmental, despite a local chemical company’s insistence that their process is safe and produces little waste. She has the support of Professor Clifford Jones (Stewart Bevan), whom she is quite enamored with.

Of course, as The Doctor discovers when he finally arrives from Metebelis Three, a planet he has been longing to visit for the past few serials, the situation is a lot more complicated than a little pollution leaking into the ground. The employees of the chemical company, along with UNIT’s Captain Yates (Richard Franklin), have been brainwashed by BOSS, a super computer intent on controlling the Earth. And the waste isn’t just killing people, but producing giant maggots, which turn into giant flies. Gross!

The Green Death is relevant as an environmental story, a topic as relevant today as it was in the 1970s. Sometimes there are hidden and unintended consequences, though there aren’t usually aliens involved. This Doctor Who serial takes something familiar and bends it to the show’s unique spin, producing a realistic-seeming, entertaining, and important story.

It also is part of the proud science fiction tradition of a computer trying to control people. From Star Trek to The Terminator to The Matrix, this scenario has been explored a number of different in ways. Doctor Who lends itself well to this type of tale, and this is a welcome adventure in the genre.

A few things in the script happen a bit too conveniently, such as The Doctor’s souvenir from Metebelis Three turning out to be exactly what is needed to save some people. However, there are also some wonderful connections to other serials, with the Metebelis storyline tying nicely into continuing arcs. While Doctor Who used to be (and sometimes still is) largely procedural, serial elements are always appreciated.

Jo’s departure from Doctor Who is handled pretty well, even if it all happens a bit fast. Unlike some companions, she gets an ending fans should enjoy, both serving the character, and feeling like a progression based on what happens within the six episodes, as well as her earlier tale. Quite satisfactory.

As most fans of Doctor Who DVD releases know, these Special Editions from the BBC always deliver on the amount of bonus features. Among the typical offerings included are PDF materials, an audio commentary with familiar voices actress Katy Manning, script editor Terrance Dicks, and producer Barry Letts, and a photo gallery. But there is so much more present, as well.

One of the best inclusions is an eleven minute mockumentary sequel, in which an investigative report is done on the chemical company featured in The Green Death. A number of guest stars from the episodes participate, and this kind of tie-in seems not only appropriate, but far ahead of its time, as it would fit nicely with the “web-based extras” many shows offer today. A more serious “Making of” is included, too, along with featurettes on visual effects, Wales, interviews with guest star Stewart Bevan and writer Robert Sloman, and a bit with Russel T Davies about Doctor Who‘s modern rebirth. Plus, there’s a second audio commentary track featuring people involved in Doctor Who not spoken to the first time around, and more.

It’s also worth mentioning that although Manning’s Jo did not return to Doctor Who officially, she did pop up in the modern spin-off series, The Sarah Jane Chronicles. Two episodes from that show that aired in 2010 with Manning and Matt Smith as The Doctor are also on this DVD set.

In short, it’s another home run for the BBC and Doctor Who fans everywhere, a wonderful story with a ton of bonus features. Doctor Who The Green Death Special Edition is available now.

DVD Review: ‘Doctor Who – The Mind of Evil’

Article first published as DVD Review: ‘Doctor Who – The Mind of Evil’ on Blogcritics.

One Doctor Who serial that has not yet been released on DVD (until now) because of difficulty in producing or restoring a color copy is The Mind Of Evil. Considering that this six-episode serial features a showdown between the Doctor (Jon Pertwee) and the Master (Roger Delgado), one of the Doctor’s greatest foes, it is surely one that fans will want to see. Now, they have their chance, as The Mind of Evil recently got a two-disc release.

The Mind of Evil is one of those stories that appears to be about one thing, and then revelation by revelation, changes into something else entirely. The original problem introduced is a machine that removes evil from the brain of criminals, but some of the “cured” keep winding up dead. Then, we find out about an issue between the Chinese and the Americans at the First World Peace Conference. Finally, the Master is shown to be the real culprit of the unrest. It’s this continuously-escalating device that gives the beginning of the story real umph, and because all three still matter past their first focus, it’s a rich, layered story, even if a few have complained about the Master’s seemingly-incoherent plan.

The battle of wits between the Doctor and the Master, two Time Lords with radically different values and points of view, is one that never gets old. They have fought through many a serial, including an arc only a few years ago during David Tennant’s tenure as the Doctor. Any encounter the two share is worth watching, and The Mind of Evil is part of that proud tradition.

What is really interesting is that the Master’s greatest fear is the Doctor, a dynamic that does not go both ways. We see the Doctor terrified by Daleks, Cybermen, and fiery hell, but not the Master, whereas the Master’s vision, when exposed to the fear-inducing device, is of a giant Doctor. I think it is this fixation on the Doctor that keeps the Master coming back and staying relevant, while the Doctor has foes with bigger-scale plans to worry about, so he often underestimates the Master until they are face to face.

Besides the Doctor / Master stuff, there’s plenty left for UNIT, including Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart (Nicholas Courtney), Sergeant Benton (John Levene), and Captain Yates (Richard Franklin), to do, and Jo (Katy Manning) gets involved in the story, too. While the title of Doctor Who is accurate in that the show has always been, and will always be, about the Doctor, I have really enjoyed the periods in the run where the Doctor has a team, which has sort of happened this past year in Matt Smith’s tenure, though not to the extent as during the Pertwee era. The Mind of Evil makes use of that group in a nice way, and I really appreciate the ensemble chemistry.

This is the first DVD release of The Mind of Evil. As such, it is not a Special Edition, nor does it have quite as many extras as the last couple Doctor Who titles put out, which were. But that does not mean it skimps on the bonus features, still needing two discs to fit everything in.

The audio commentary for this serial is provided by Manning, regular participants Barry Letts and Terrance Dicks, director Timothy Combe, stunt arranger Derek Ware, guest actors Pik-Sen Lim and Fernanda Marlowe, and moderated by Toby Hadoke. On top of the photo gallery and PDF materials, there is a twenty-two minute “Making Of” that was produced in 2009, a revisit of the filming locations in the present day, and a look at the BBC Television Centre circa 1971. All of this combines to give a very full presentation, one worthy of a Doctor Who release.

Doctor Who The Mind of Evil is available now.

DVD Review: ‘Doctor Who Inferno – Special Edition’

Article first published as DVD Review: ‘Doctor Who Inferno – Special Edition’ on Blogcritics.

Inferno, which originally aired in May and June, is not only the final serial of 1969-70s seventh season, but also the last seven-part Doctor Who adventure. Additionally, it is the last episode which features Caroline John as the Doctor’s companion, Liz Shaw, so there are a lot of “lasts” in these installments, the most recent batch to get the Special Edition treatment in a two-disc DVD set.

Liz doesn’t officially leave in Inferno, but after a mere twenty-five episodes, amounting to four serials, she disappears between this tale and the next one, only being mentioned in passing after. The actress is said to have reported being bored playing Liz after only their brief span, though enjoyed portraying her opposite in the alternate pieces of Inferno. As such, some of her best work on the series can be found on these discs.

The story of Inferno is an important one, just as relevant today as when the episodes aired. Earth is looking for a new energy source, and “the Inferno” is a project to find it, courtesy of drilling deep down into the planet. Unfortunately, as we’ve discovered in other energy projects in the real world, there are unintended consequences, and things go terribly, terribly wrong. It’s a call to save the planet as much as it is an exciting television program, one that judges the things we do in our quest for power harshly.

Doctor Who chooses to show these disasters as an alternate reality, one in which the Doctor (Jon Pertwee) falls into while using his universe’s Inferno to try to repair his broken TARDIS. In the other world, Inferno is much further along, and the planet is not a very nice place. The Doctor’s friends are among the new villains, and somehow the Doctor must convince them not only of the truth, but also get them to assist him in returning to his own timeline.

Inferno gives regular characters Liz, Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart (Nicholas Courtney), and Sergeant Benton (John Levene) lots of room to play with their familiar personalities. Haunted by a world torn asunder, they are not the same people on the other side, and one can sense the delight the performers take in finding these new aspects of the characters.

Because of this cool alternate world, done for budget reasons, rather than story, though it works very well, and the environment messages within the episodes, Inferno stands out as a top notch entry in the Doctor Who library. It is also rated consistently as one of the best serials ever by a number of critics and rankings, so you don’t just have to take my word for it.

As is usual for a Special Edition, buyers get both an updated video and picture quality, as well as the regular PDF materials, photo gallery, and audio commentary, this one featuring Courtney, Levene, Terrance Dicks, and Barry Letts, the latter two of whom are regular contributors to the DVD releases. There is also a deleted scene, a introduction to the Pertwee era, and visual effects promo film.

On top of the typical, there are quite a few extended featurettes, making for nearly as much “extras” footage as there is for regular episodes. Among the offerings in this bout are a look at UNIT’s family (Part One), the fourth part of a five piece saga chronicling the efforts to keep Who going while not on the air, a stunt team reunion, and a “Making Of.” For some of these, they do build off of past releases, so you may want to check out the older titles to view the completed feature. But even when taken alone, there’s some rich back story and source material here.

Doctor Who Inferno Special Edition is available now.

Doctor Who fights The Claws of Axos

This month, perhaps due to the release of a modern-day Doctor Who set, only one of the classic serials gets the DVD treatment, instead of the usual two. But it's a pretty good one, and a Special Edition, at that.

Titled The Claws of Axos, these four episodes aired in the middle of season eight, way back in 1971. The most interesting thing about this, that will set it apart from many of the other old releases, is that season eight has a large arc, spanning multiple serials. As such, The Claws of Axos exists as a stand alone story, but also as part of something much bigger. Allow me to explain.

As the episode opens, the Doctor (Jon Pertwee) is trapped on Earth, the Time Lords having taken away the memories he needs to fix the TARDIS. He is growing weary of UNIT and the other military-minded humans, wishing he didn't have to bear witness to their violent streak. When something crashes near a power plant in Britain, the tension between the Doctor and UNIT comes to a head, as UNIT wants to fire missiles, and the Doctor thinks that they need to figure out what the aliens' intentions are first. The Doctor scores a point when he decrypts a distress call from the ship.

At first, the aliens seem friendly enough. They need fuel, and are willing to trade Axonite, a rare material that can replicate, for it. This would end hunger and starvation for the entire world. But then, a friend is captured by the Axons, and finds the Master (Roger Delgado), whom they thought had left Earth, within the bowels of the ship. Clearly, there is more going on here than first glimpsed.

I really like the clash between the Doctor and the humans in this episode. Being played by a human, of course, and looking like one, it's sometimes easy to forget that the Doctor is an alien, and not like everyone else on Earth. This is not the case in this serial, where he very obviously considers himself apart, and better. While UNIT has to remain somewhat sympathetic, as Lethbridge Stewart (Nicholas Courtney) and Benton (John Levene) recur on Doctor Who often, Chinn (Peter Bathurst), who tries to cut the UN out of any deals with the Axons, hoping to win rewards solely for Britain, has no such constraints. The Doctor does still love humans, but this is exactly why he can't live and work among their government, at least not in the present. We are just too flawed a species.

The Doctor usually seems more evolved than mere mankind. Obviously, he travels through time and space, and so has seen a lot. But he also often has a stronger sense of right and wrong than most species, or, at least he believes that he does. The Claws of Axos actually tests this mettle, and see him making what appear to be some questionable choices in the service of escaping our planet. Not only is this more relatable, allowing chinks in the armor of the character, but it also knocks him down off his high horse, even while allowing him to be right and save the day.

The visual effects in The Claws of Axos are attempted too early in film history. In the special features, you will hear about how the people making Doctor Who just couldn't wait to use the latest technology! And yet, while the result may have been impressive in the day, it seems incredibly hokey now. The disappearing effect is OK, considering, but some of the aliens get just a bit too laughable, like piles of spaghetti, or someone rolling around in a colored blanket. It's a good thing that there's a strong story here, with wonderful moments for several characters, especially the Doctor, so this can be overlooked.

The special features on the Special Edition two-disc DVD include an audio commentary with Barry Letts and actors Katy Manning and Richard Franklin, far less crowded than the normal large group. There are almost a half hour of deleted and extended scenes, some PDF materials, and a photo gallery. Something cool for die-hard fans who wish they could be on set is seventy three minutes of studio recording that survives, which includes things like background conversation and recording breaks.

Among the featurettes are a "Making Of" and an interview with Michael Ferguson, who directed the serial. Katy Manning narrates a look at the locations that were used in shooting. But the best inclusion is "Living with Levene," in which frequent Doctor Who DVD contributor Toby Hadoke spends some time in the recent past with John Levene. Levene puts on a bit of a show, as Hadoke notes, and tells some stories that not all of his former co-stars might appreciate! It's really a fascinating thirty-five minutes, for the personality showcased, as well as the tidbits from the past.

The Claws of Axos Special Edition is definitely worth a look, even if you checked it out back in 2005, when it was originally released on DVD. The writing holds up beautifully, and the extras make it a pretty cool find.

Doctor Who The Claws of Axos Special Edition is available now on DVD from the BBC.

If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter! Check out my website, JeromeWetzel.com! Article first published as DVD Review: Doctor Who - The Claws of Axos Special Edition on Blogcritics.

Doctor Who looks for "The Ambassadors of Death"

Doctor Who: The Ambassadors of Death is one of the longer serials in the franchise. Running seven episodes, this tale originally aired from March through May in 1970, serving as the third story in season seven. It has recently been released as a two disc DVD set.

The Ambassadors of Death is a tale on bigotry and the clash of cultures. Three astronauts return from space, but are taken captive by General Carrington (John Abineri). When the Doctor (Jon Pertwee), Liz (Caroline John), Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart (Nicholas Courtney), and the rest of UNIT investigate, it is discovered that there is more going on than meets the eye, and the whole thing is really tied into a negotiation between some aliens and the UN.

It's very hard to talk about the plot of The Ambassadors of Death without giving too much away. There are so many twists and turns in this story that what viewers think is happening is frequently turned on its head. The serial keeps one guessing for quite some time as to what is actually going on, and it's only when the truth comes out that the Doctor and his friends can do something about it.

A story like this may be exactly what some fans are looking for, but the writing proves uneven. This can likely be chalked up to the fact that it was originally written for the Second Doctor, and then the writer had to try to adapt it to the Third, a feat he had quite a bit of trouble with. After a number of failed drafts, others stepped in to quickly refine the script, which resulted in a story that has a lot of promise at first, but doesn't play out as interconnected and solid as one might hope. As such, the result is a bit convoluted, and sometimes one may wonder if there aren't too many twists, changing perception over and over again.

That being said, there are a lot of good elements to The Ambassadors of Death. Most of the episodes end with an engaging cliffhanger that will make you want to keep watching. Pertwee and the other performers are amazing, as usual, doing their very best to sell the material. The initial concept is also interesting, looking at something our own country's history has had to deal with, forgiving past, sometimes tragic and accidental wrongs, and overcoming preconceived notions, as well as a look at the human soul. Overall, it is not a bad effort.

The Ambassadors of Death had almost as much trouble getting to this DVD release as the writers did delivering an acceptable shooting script. Much of the story was not preserved in color, and the ultimate release is put together from a variety of sources, with much restoration. Considering all this, the look is pretty decent and consistent throughout, the team behind these new Doctor Who DVDs proving once more just how much talent they have.

Doctor Who: The Ambassadors of Death has plenty of special features. The audio commentary features actors John, Courtney, Peter Halliday, and Geoffrey Beevers, as well as Terrance Dicks, Roy Scammell, Derek Martin, and Michael Ferguson. It is once again moderated by Toby Hadoke. The photo gallery and PDF materials are included, as usual.

The set also includes a trailer, and a featurette that looks at the Third Doctor. Best of all, though, is "Mars Probe 7: Making the Ambassadors of Death" with Dicks, Scammell, Ferguson, Derek Ware, and Margot Hayhoe. It delves into the story behind this serial, and thankfully gives more insight into what went into the finished product. It certainly helps with the overal enjoyment and appreciate of the story to watch this.

Doctor Who: The Ambassadors of Death may not be the best Doctor Who release to come out this year, but once you look into all of the challenges associated with this particular serial, the efforts behind what has been delivered deserve a lot of respect and praise.

Doctor Who: The Ambassadors of Death is available now on DVD.

If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter! Check out my website, JeromeWetzel.com! Article first published as DVD Review: Doctor Who - "The Ambassadors of Death" on Blogcritics.

Doctor Who ducks the Spearhead From Space

Doctor Who - Spearhead From Space begins with our titular character exiled on Earth and in a hospital. At the same time, meteorites are falling, one of which contains an intelligence that can manufacture Autons, which it plans on using to take over the world. UNIT could really use the Doctor's help in dealing with the invasion, if only they knew where he was.

Spearhead From Space, the first serial of season seven, marks several important firsts. This is the first episode featuring Jon Pertwee as the Doctor, the Time Lords having forced the character's regeneration at the conclusion of the previous season. It is the first episode that Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart (Nicholas Courtney), whom we'd seen before, is featured as a series regular. It introduces Dr. Liz Shaw (Caroline John) as the new companion. Additionally, the episode has a new title sequence, and marks the first time a Doctor Who serial was made in color. It was the first story aired outside of the series' normal Saturday night time slot.

With so much new, Spearhead from Space is as much a story about the Doctor as it is about the adventure the characters are undertaking. The concept of regeneration is a new one for Lethbridge-Stewart, who has a hard time believing this is the same Doctor he has worked with in the past, albeit in a different body. The process of the Doctor switching bodies is still relatively new to the series, and Lethbridge-Stewart serves as a nice vehicle for the audience to access the concept so vital to the mythology.

This serial also sets up the Doctor's next big arc. He is marooned on Earth at the whims of his fellow Time Lords. The Doctor isn't too pleased with the situation, but makes a deal with UNIT to make things more tenable. This is a character out of his element, which is always fun to explore. Pertwee seems to be the perfect actor to execute this particular plot.

It is interesting to me that a being of almost pure thought, who has escaped the bounds of a physical body, is still interested in controlling the rest of the world. Yes, the intelligence contains some powers that help it accomplish things it could not as a normal life form. But it seems so much less efficient to not have any limbs. And why is it so concerned with forcing others to its will? What does it need with Earth? Spearhead from Space is far from the only sci-fi story to ponder these questions, continuing one of the strangest themes in the genre.

Seeing that this is a Special Edition release, the Extras are plenty. There are two audio commentaries, one featuring Courtney and Shaw, and the other with script editor Terrance Dicks and producer Derrick Sherwin, as well as a Production Notes subtitle option. The typical photo gallery and PDF materials are joined by trailers for the serial.

Two featurettes give the fans what they are seeking. Eighteen minutes are spent discussing the challenges faced by converting the series to color. Another 22 minutes go behind the scenes with Pertwee, Dicks, Sherwin, Barry Letts, Robin Squire, and Christine Rawlins.

As usual, the picture and sound has been remastered. Also, as usual, it is far from perfect, but is a huge improvement over what has been available in the past, which is understandable, given the age and quality of film. In fact, this is the only serial shot entirely on film, rather than tape, and thus is the only classic Doctor Who story that even has a chance of a Blu-ray edition at some point. The way Doctor Who is consistently and lovingly restored is a testament to the importance of the series, and makes the extras icing on an already delicious cake.

Doctor Who - Spearhead from Space Special Edition is available now.

If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter! Check out my new website, JeromeWetzel.com! Article first published as DVD Review: Doctor Who - Spearhead From Space Special Edition on Blogcritics.

Doctor Who vows Death to the Daleks

Death to the Daleks, the third serial in the eleventh season of Doctor Who, finally comes to DVD! In this four part story, the Doctor (Jon Pertwee) and Sarah Jane Smith (Elisabeth Sladen) crash on the planet Exxilon, which just happens to be a battle site. Here, humans and Daleks fight over a rare mineral that cures a deadly space plague.

But the humans and Daleks are not the only beings on Exxilon. There is also a savage native race, which practices sacrifice in their worship of a living city. This isn't good news for Sarah, who is soon captured by them. Seeing a heroine about to be killed in service to gods is nothing new, but Sarah Jane Smith is a brave, bold, woman, and playing the damsel in distress doesn't suit her for very long.

Faced with this common enemy, as neither the humans nor Daleks are allies with the natives, the two enemies are able to band together. This is a strange turn of events, given the animosity and contrary goals between the two, and, predictably, it doesn't last long, especially once the Dalek's true mission is revealed. But for awhile, the two species find some common ground, a first for the Daleks and anyone else on Doctor Who!

Besides the obvious dangers, there are plenty of secrets on Exxilon, such as why does such a backwards race live so near to a very advanced city? What made them the way that they are? Who built the city, one of the 700 Wonders of the Universe? What is its purpose? Also, why do devices, such as the TARDIS and the Dalek's weapons, lose power here? All of these are answered, in time, and provide a driving narrative thread for the serial, running below the more immediate threats.

Death to the Daleks is not unique in featuring a super smart computer who is in control. This is a common science fiction theme that has been done over and over. But Doctor Who handles this in an interesting way, making the computer mind tale subservient to other power struggles for much of the serial. In this way, there are multiple stories being balanced and it doesn't feel like a cheap copy of other works.

The theme of working with one's enemy is also one that pops up a lot in various fiction and dramatic television. But for the Daleks, a seemingly emotionless cyborg race, to be willing to work with people, whom they consider vastly inferior, is a surprise. The Daleks are intelligent, so the story does make sense. But the Doctor is right not to trust them as the Daleks have no reason to make a permanent peace, nor help mankind very much.

For a series that has run as long as Doctor Who does, there are bound to be weaker entries that seem more derivative. Death to the Daleks is one such serial. However, even the worst Doctor Who, and this is not the worst, are better than a lot of what's out there. Death to the Daleks, in spite of its weaknesses, is an entertaining couple of hours, worth checking out for Who fans. Plus, there are some neat design elements when viewing the creatures and structures that actually belong on Exxilon.

As per usual, Doctor Who Death to the Daleks comes with a number of special features. Photo galleries and PDF materials join some of the first Dalek footage from 1965 and a trailer on the DVD set.

Toby Hadoke once again moderates a panel for the audio commentary, which includes Julian Fox, who plays a Marine Lieutenant in the human group of this serial, director Michel E. Briant, Dalek operator Cy Town, special sounds maestro Dick Mills, and assistant floor manager Richard Leyland. Many of these same people participate in the making of featurette, "Behind the City of the Exxilons."

Check out Doctor Who: Death to Daleks, on sale now.

If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter! Click here for every Doctor Who review I've ever written. Article first published as DVD Review: Doctor Who: Death to the Daleks on Blogcritics.

'Doctor Who' attends a 'Carnival of Monsters'

Just released on DVD this week is a Special Edition of the classic Doctor Who: Carnival of Monsters. The Doctor (Jon Pertwee) and Jo (Katy Manning) are on their way to a distant planet when they accidentally land the TARDIS on a cargo ship in the Indian Ocean circa 1923. Escaping the crew, who seem to have no short-term memories, they find themselves sloshing through a marsh.

A marsh on a cargo vessel? Yes. They are actually inside of a machine that miniaturizes things, providing shrunken habits for shrunken animals. This marsh is a dangerous place, teeming with carnivores, and the pair seek to escape. The Doctor manages to get out, after being separated from Jo, and finds himself in an unexpected place.

You see, the machine is a Miniscope, and it belongs to a traveling showman whose name is Vorg (Leslie Dwyer, Hi-de-Hi!). Vorg is bickering with the members of a tribunal council who won't let him show his machine on their planet. This fight threatens the Doctor as he goes back into the machine to rescue Jo.

Vorg is a petty criminal, in the (proud?) tradition of such tricksters as Harry Mudd and Harold Hill. He isn't malicious, but he is selfish and greedy. He will do the right thing only when forced to. This is evident in the story throughout, and gets some ice icing on the cake when Vorg is forced to use the old 'three magum pods and a yarrow seed' trick just to try to buy his way home. For those not familiar with the contest, think of the classic shell game one might see on the street corner. It's a nice touch that viewers can relate to right away.

Interestingly, in Doctor Who's universe, the Time Lords have banned machines such as the Miniscope. One wonders why. Yes, it is inhumane to keep intelligent beings trapped in there, but is it any worse than a zoo for the animals? In fact, it might be better than a zoo, because their natural habitat is fully recreated, rather than being behind literal bars. Unless the Time Lords think all zoos are cruel. Carnival of Monsters doesn't go into this deeply, but it's something worth thinking about.

Carnival of Monsters was originally slated as a serial for season nine, but was pushed to season ten to make it easier for legendary Who producer Barry Letts to direct that adventure. Apparently, timing is important to someone so intricately involved in the show.

This being a Special Edition, Carnival of Monsters is loaded with extras. There is a commentary by Katy Manning and Barry Letts, as well as a second one using several guest stars and a special sounds creator. Of course, there is the usual photo gallery and PDF materials, too.

A twenty-three minute featurette called "Destroy All Monsters!" is a Making Of special, and calls on many of those involved, both in front of and behind the camera, to tell the story of putting together this four-part serial. Additionally, there is a two minute look Behind the Scenes. And Ian Marter, a guest star in Carnival of Monsters, as well as being a novelist, gets his own sixteen minute retrospective.

Eleven minutes are devoted to the various gadgets shown in Doctor Who. It's quite interesting, as some are obviously based in science fact, while others are definitely pure fiction. Another eight minutes expands upon some of the models used for the visual effects. Barry Letts spends three minutes talking about using blue screen in a separate extra. This is cool because the technique is brand new when this serial is made. It makes this short feature a little piece of history.

Eighteen minutes are given to Mary Celeste, who discusses disappearances in human history. The cargo ship seen in Carnival of Monsters has to be taken from somewhere. Celeste outlines some wonderful unsolved mysteries from our past that are actually real, the basis for the ship in the story.
 
For those curious about the process of restoring the Doctor Who classics, there are some real treats. A longer, un-restored version of the second episode is included in this two-disc set. This provides a model for comparison, as well as shows what the technical team is working from. It really helps one to appreciate the amount of work that goes into the Doctor Who DVD project. There is also a Director's Amended Ending, done to remove an error involving a bald cap.


Doctor Who's "Carnival of Monsters" is another excellent effort by a very talent team. It is on sale now at retailers everywhere, including online.

If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter! Click here for every Doctor Who review I've ever written. Article first published as DVD Review: Doctor Who - Carnival of Monsters Special Edition on Blogcritics.

'Doctor Who' tackles sciene versus magic in 'The Dæmons'

The finale serial of season eight, which broadcast in the spring of 1971, Doctor Who's "The Dæmons" arrives on DVD this week. Despite the warnings of town witch Olive Hawthorne (Damaris Hayman, The Pink Panther Strikes Again), Professor Horner (Robin Wentworth, Coronation Street) plans to open a tomb in Devil's End in Wiltshire. It's all part of The Master's (Robert Delgado, Pursuit of the Graf Spree) latest plot. Rushing to stop him, the Doctor (Jon Pertwee) is quickly subdued, and Jo (Katy Manning, The Quest) calls to UNIT for help. But soon the village is cut off from the outside world by a heat-producing shield, and no one can get in or out. Are there demons inside the dome, or are they just aliens?

The question of magic versus science is an age-old debate. Throughout history, many things that people cannot explain have been attributed to magic, and its close cousins, religion and the supernatural. "The Dæmons" tackles this myth head on, setting up a story that appears to be rooted in magic, but is explainable to those in the know. The titular beings are not demons, but aliens come to Earth. The villains appear unbeatable by normal men, until they are defeated.

That being said, there is a little cheesiness to the tale, too. Azal (Stephen Thorne, David Copperfield) at first appears to be all powerful. But he is confused enough by Jo's act of self-sacrifice that he dies over it. First all, confusion causes a painful death? Really? Second of all, a rational, thinking being cannot comprehend self-sacrifice? Sure, it may not be something Azal would ever do, but surely he would see that as weakness by Jo, not something incomprehensible. Has he never encountered anyone else? This ending sort of cheapens the story, though it isn't an unexpected wrap up for the time period in which it was made.

Overall, "The Dæmons" is a pretty neat story, despite some criticizing it for lack of consistency in the characters' actions, in particular, the Doctor and The Master. It has a clear plot, colorful guest characters, and some fun special effects. It makes viewers think about the world around them, and the validity of religion. Most of all, it is entertaining.

Lots of fun trivia surrounds "The Dæmons." For instance, there was a rumored sixth episode to the five-part series that has The Master and Azal murdering the Doctor and everyone else. This was an April Fool's joke in a fan magazine, and there is no truth to it. There are also some unexpected references. The Master's chant is merely "Mary Had a Little Lamb" backwards, and the helicopter crash footage is reused from the James Bond film From Russia With Love. None of these things change the story in the slightest, but for fans of anecdotes, "The Dæmons" is more accommodating than most serials.

For a non-Special Edition, "The Dæmons" has quite a few special features. There is an audio commentary track featuring actors Manning and Hayman, serial director Christopher Barry, and Richard Franklin, who plays UNIT Captain Mike Yates. Of course, a photo gallery and PDF materials are also included.

The picture and sound have been remastered. Looking back at various states of the footage from this serial, nearly thirty minutes are included on the colorization process that "The Dæmons" underwent in 1992. There is also six minutes of amateur 8mm film without sound. For anyone interested in seeing the "before" that goes with this finished product's "after," this is for you.

Further featurettes include a half hour special dedicated to the memory of Barry Letts, who was a producer and co-writer of these episodes. Barry also penned the novelization of the serial, and read an audio book version, so he is instrumental in much of this story being brought to the public.

Additionally, a half hour looks behind the scenes at how "The Dæmons" was made. This "Making Of" features key players who appear elsewhere on the DVD, such as Manning, Franklin, Hayman, Barry, Letts, and others.

In short, Doctor Who - "The Dæmons" is an interesting and thought provoking story, with a fair amount of extras. It is yet another worthy edition for anyone faithfully collecting the Doctor Who DVDs. Pick up a copy this week, as it goes on sale Tuesday, April 10th in the United States.

If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter! Click here for every Doctor Who review I've ever written. Article first published as DVD Review: Doctor Who - "The Dæmons" on Blogcritics.

Doctor Who unites first three doctors in latest DVD release

The Three Doctors is a classic Doctor Who story, bringing together the first three actors to portray the infamous Time Lord in one serial. It was originally broadcast in 1972 and 1973 as the opener of Season Ten, and is the last time William Hartnell ever played the Doctor. Now, this four-part adventure has been given the Special Edition treatment, in a two-disc set packed with extras.

In The Three Doctors, the planet of the Time Lords is attacked. Desperate to save their home, the Time Lords allow the Doctor (Jon Pertwee), in his third incarnation, to break the First Law and summon his two previous versions. The First Doctor (Hartnell) is stuck in a time eddy, but is able to communicate via viewscreen. The Second Doctor (Patrick Troughton) comes at once to aid his fellow.

While the Doctors help UNIT HQ, which is attacked by some sort of odd-looking creatures, the First Doctor realizes that a nearby black hole is a portal to a whole different universe. The Doctors, along with their friends Jo Grant (Katy Manning), Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart (Nicholas Courtney), Sergeant Benton (John Levene), and newcomer Dr. Tyler (Rex Robinson) go into the black hole, and arrive in an antimatter universe.

In this alternate world lives a powerful Time Lord known as Omega (Stephen Thorne), who created the supernova from which the other Time Lords draw the power for their civilization. When Omega did this, his colleagues assumed he had been killed, but really, he has been trapped in the antimatter universe ever sense. However, instead of simply asking for help now, Omega lets years of bitterness and building insanity rule him, trapping the Doctors.

Thankfully, the Doctors find a solution. It's not a nice one for Omega, as the only way he can gain the freedom he craves is through death. The Doctors give him that release, and go back to their homes, with the First and Second Doctors returning to the time in which they belong. The Third Doctor is rewarded for his efforts by the Time Lords, who restore his knowledge and the TARDIS.

There isn't always a happy ending. Omega is too far gone to save. Doctor Who doesn't shy away from the tough choices, or tone things down when the situation turns grim. This story is about a soul who was wronged, though not through any conscious decision by anyone else. Circumstances prove Omega's downfall, not betrayal, but once a mind has gone, it's nearly impossible to get it back. There isn't a true villain in this tale, but simply, a man who buckles in the face of tragedy.

Any glimpse of the society from which the Doctor comes is welcome. The titular character is generally so mysterious, and information about him is doled out in tiny portions. The Three Doctors, being an adventure with other Time Lords, reveals a lot, which is surely something fans that will gobble up eagerly.

The Three Doctors remains legendary because of the use of all three series stars up til that point. Hartnell was sadly ill when the filming was done, and thus, his turn had to be regulated to pre-recorded bits. It is the last time he ever played the character, making it all the more iconic. What a treat to capture these three men together in one story! Thank goodness it was done before Hartnell's passing.

Originally released on DVD in 2003, The Three Doctors has never been short on bonus features. The prior version has a commentary by actors Manning and Courtney, along with producer Barry Letts. There are also interviews with Troughton, Pertwee, Courtney, and many others. The PanoptiCon '93 panel is included, as is a retrospective on the first ten years of Doctor Who and an introduction to Pertwee's car. Plus, the standard photo gallery.

But the Special Edition has even more! There is a new "Making Of" featuring Manning and Throne, among others. A 14-minute defense of Doctor Who aimed at its haters is fun, though probably not directed at anyone who would buy this DVD. Then again, maybe the purpose is to arm fans with a logical argument, so perhaps it's fitting.

There is a look at the Who girls in the 1970s, and how the culture influenced their characters. A trailer for this season when it repeated in 1981 is present, as well as a trailer from 1972 for the first part of the serial. There are the PDF materials that Who fans have come to expect. Best of all, picture and sound has been remastered again, making this the clearest version of the story available.

In short, The Three Doctors is worth a re-buy, if one already has the previous release. The better quality of the recording and the additional bonuses assure that. If one doesn't own the story already, then now is the perfect time to correct that.

Doctor Who: The Three Doctors (Special Edition) is on sale now.

If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter! Click here for every Doctor Who review I've ever written. Article first published as DVD Review: Doctor Who - The Three Doctors (Special Edition) on Blogcritics.

Doctor Who battles the "Invasion of the Dinosaurs"

     BBC's newest Doctor Who DVD release, on sale this Tuesday, January 10th in the U.S., is Invasion of the Dinosaurs. Airing in January and February 1974, as the second serial of the eleventh season, "Invasion of the Dinosaurs" finds the Third Doctor (Jon Pertwee, Worzel Gummidge) and Sarah Jane Smith (Elisabeth Sladen, The Sarah Jane Adventures) arriving back in London, to find it nearly deserted. The streets are plagued by dinosaurs, and most of the citizens have been evacuated. Teaming up with UNIT, which remains behind, they attempt to find the cause of it all, only to be blocked by a government conspiracy.

     Much crap has been given by Doctor Who loyalists for the look of the dinosaurs in these six episodes, so let's dispense with that issue right away. Yes, they look ridiculous. They are stiff, often change appearance, there are only about five of them, and they don't do much of anything interesting. They are the epitome of cheese, and no one will ever defend the look of the dinosaurs in this episode, even allowing for the technological limitations of that time.

     That being said, Invasion of the Dinosaurs has a mostly excellent story. The real tale is about a group of fanatics who think that the world has gone to pot, because of government corruption and militarism, among other things, and are seeking a restoration of society's Golden Age. The dinosaurs are partially a distraction, partially a way to scare off the current residents of London, and partially a test of the time bending technology. They have several hundred people sequestered underground, tricked into believing that they are on their way to another planet, and ready to try building civilization 2.0 when they are let out. It's an idealistic, and insane, plot, timely then and now, and one that the Doctor and Sarah Jane cannot allow to happen. The Doctor probably puts it best when he remarks there never was a Golden Age, no matter what people believe.

     Now there are problems with Invasion of the Dinosaurs, certainly. Such as that the two protagonists are too trusting, being captured by people they think are helping them on multiple occasions. Also, it's a little stretched that Brigadier Alistair Gordon Lethbridge Stewart (Nicholas Courtney) falls for the conspiracy a little too easily, rather than trusting the Doctor. However, in the end, things shake down in an exciting way, and the bad guys are, of course stopped.

     There is some truly excellent acting in this Doctor Who serial. Besides the show's stars, Richard Franklin (Emmerdale Farm) is fantastic as Captain Mike Yates, a recurring character who falls out of favor after he is taken in by the plot. John Levene's Sgt. Benton is very funny, and John Bennett makes Finch appropriately sleazy. Taking the cake is Noel Johnson as Minister Charles Grover. It's hard to tell if Grover feels at all guilty about all the people who will cease to exist should the plan be acted upon, but Johnson makes him charming and firm in his beliefs.

     The first episode of Invasion of the Dinosaurs plays in black and white by default, though a colorized version is available if one goes into the special features on the first disc. The rest of the episodes are in color, each remastered. The picture does appear fuzzy at times, but for as old as this adventure is, it looks and sounds remarkably well. Certainly well enough to enjoy a viewing of and not get distracted by picture quality.

     There are a wealth of extras in this two disc set. Not only is commentary provided by select surviving cast and crew, but deleted scenes have also been found. A half hour documentary briefly addresses the dinosaur puppets, before spending most of the time discussing the story and the process of making the episodes. Sladen gives a fourteen minute interview as part of a larger series made a few years ago. She has some fascinating memories about her co-star and the origin of her role. There is also a photo gallery.

     Less exciting is the thirteen minute "Now and Then," which basically shows locations used for shooting this episode both in the show, and now. Sure, it's interesting, but goes on far too long. Also, "Billy Smart's Circus" is short and campy, not really adding to anything.


     Doctor Who: Invasion of the Dinosaurs goes on sale this Tuesday.

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Article first published as DVD Review: Doctor Who: Invasion of the Dinosaurs on Blogcritics.