An Adventure in Space and Time

Article first published as TV Review: 'An Adventure in Space and Time' on Blogcritics.

As part of Doctor Who‘s 50th anniversary celebration, which was in full swing last week, BBC America aired a made-for-TV movie called An Adventure in Space and Time. This two-hour film takes us back to the early days at the BBC, when Doctor Who was first being made, and gives us a piece of that story, with a focus on the show’s first titular star, William Hartnell (David Bradley, Harry Potter, Broadchurch), and producer Verity Lambert (Jessica Raine, Call the Midwife).

An Adventure in Space and Time is an important tale. Not only does it reveal the origins of a legendary series which is one of the longest-running shows ever, but it also represents a bold, brave era for the network. It was the BBC’s first real attempt at science fiction. Lambert was the youngest producer there, and the only female producer at the time. Because of this, it deserves better.

I won’t say I didn’t enjoy An Adventure in Space and Time. It was actually pretty good. I thought the acting was terrific, and I was excited to learn new things about this show and era. It was well-paced and the production looked good.

But it felt like a TV movie, rather than an epic film. Much of the story was told in small vignettes, stand-alone occurrences, rather than a cohesive tale. Either Verity or Hartnell could rate their own full movie, but instead, each part is cut down so that there’s room for them both here. I felt like both were under served in this way, without much exploration as to what Verity herself did to help the show along. Hartnell’s plot is bit more complete, with a clear beginning, middle, and end, but still, I would have liked a few more details, including a slower descent at the end, and the cheesiness of starting at the end then flashing back should not have been allowed.

Bradley and Raine could pull off more complex versions of the roles, I’m sure. They both manage to get a lot into their parts, conveying beyond what’s on the page. We see Hartnell’s rise and fall, and what it costs him. We see Verity coming into her own. Were they given more time, or if this were made into a miniseries, rather than confined to two hours, these actors could have absolutely risen to an award-bait level.

They are joined by Sacha Dhawan (Outsourced, Chuggington) as director Waris Hussein. Waris is another part that feels like it didn’t get is due. While playing a smaller role in the history, and thus confined to only a portion of the movie, Dhawan makes an impact. Sadly, he is not developed much beyond filling a vital, but small, position.

Other than those three, most of the rest of the cast are merely on the sidelines, with only a couple that sort of stand out a bit. Brian Cox’s (Bob Servant Independent, Deadwood) Sydney Newman is overblown and cartoonish, in a good way, fitting for someone of his temperament in his position. Claudia Grant seems to capture Carole Ann Ford perfectly. Lesley Manville, Jeff Rawle, Jemma Powell, and Jamie Glover all play parts that should matter, but are largely forgettable, likely more because of a lack of focus from the script than the performers themselves.

I do think An Adventure in Space and Time is worth watching; as I said, I enjoyed it. I just mourn for the potential that hasn’t been reached, especially when there is never a more opportune time for a project such as this.

Doctor Who messes with the Aztecs

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

The Aztecs, the latest Doctor Who Special Edition released to DVD by the BBC originally aired towards the end of the show's first series. The serial consists of four half-hour episodes, which aired in May and June of 1964. It is now available on a two-disc set, complete with a wealth of extras.

As The Aztecs opens, the TARDIS lands in a tomb in 15th century Mexico. Upon emerging from said tomb, Barbara (Jacqueline Hill) is mistakenly hailed as an incarnation of an ancient high priestess. Considering she knows quite a bit about this period of human history, she decides it might be best to end the Aztec's practice of human sacrifice here and now, which, in her estimation, could spare them from their eventual extinction at the hands of Spanish conquerors.

At stake in The Aztecs, are the consequences of changing of history. If presented with the opportunity, should anyone alter the present, even if it is possible to rending the world a better place? Or is it preferable to let events run their course, considering that every bad thing still contributes into civilization as it evolves.

If you're satisfied with the present, why  risk messing it up by screwing with the past? What unintended consequences could the wreak havoc with the world? Is it even possible to change events, or are certain paths predestined?

These are questions wrestled with since the idea of time travel was first explored, and certainly since the beginnings of Doctor Who nearly five decades ago. There aren't easy or certain answers, and they are still debated today.

Doctor Who does itself a service by addressing them so early on in the show's history, and in a way that viewers would find relatable, as Barbara's intentions are noble. It's intelligent storytelling, and an excellent example of what Doctor Who has to offer the genre.

The Doctor (William Hartnell) is shocked and appalled that Barbara would even consider mucking up events. His mindset and values are not well known, especially at this point in the show's run, but clearly changing history goes against his grain. This makes for some tension between the Doctor and his companion.

The Aztecs is an exciting adventure, with lots of subterfuge and danger. Ian (William Russell) is tasked with battling to the death; there is poison and betrayal. It makes for a great and entertaining batch of episodes, even while raising some important moral issues.

Besides the action and musings, though, The Aztecs still finds room for humor. Both the Doctor and his granddaughter, Susan (Carole Ann Ford), accidentally become romantically involved with locals from the time, and must try to gracefully exit the situation without destroying local custom. This combination of so many elements makes The Aztecs a very good entry, indeed.

Which isn't to say that it's perfect. The fight scenes, like many shows of this era, feel stilted and fake. The backdrops are not always convincing. But this can be chalked up to budgetary issues and the style of the era, and not a complaint directed against the show.

The DVD picture and sound are far from the best among the Doctor Who serials on the market. However, considering that it comes from the earliest days of the series, the efforts taken to restore it should be appreciated. The technical quality could definitely have been much worse, and most fans will just be delighted to get to experience this classic tale at all. Guest stars in The Aztecs include Keith Pyott (The Prisoner), John Ringham (Just Good Friends), and Ian Cullen (Emergency - Ward 10), all of whom do a fine job.

There are many, many bonus features with this set. The audio commentary track is done by Russell and Ford, accompanied by producer Verity Lambert. The expected photo gallery and PDF materials are also present, as is an optional Arabic soundtrack for episode four. Big Doctor Who fans won't want to miss the previously lost story of Galaxy 4, tacked on here with the complete episode three, only recently recovered.

There is a half hour "Making Of" as well as several short featurettes, including one on design, and one on restoring the episodes. "It's a Square World," the very first Doctor Who skit, is included, and there are specials on the Spanish conquest of Mexico and the making of the film Daleks - Invasion Earth: 2150 AD. And there's even more than what I've listed.

Not all of the extras are directly related to The Aztecs. It's interesting to get some history of the time period, even if its a bit baffling as to why so much Doctor Who content pertaining to other stories is included. All in all, though, The Aztecs Special Edition is a jam-packed, very satisfying set.

Doctor Who The Aztecs Special Edition is available now.

Doctor Who finds Shada

Article first published as DVD Review: Doctor Who - Shada on Blogcritics.

This month's Doctor Who DVD from the BBC is Shada. Originally intended to be the season 17 finale, only about half of Shada was ever filmed, owing to a strike, and it remains the only unaired Doctor Who serial. Now, for the first time on DVD, Shada sees the light of day.

This release is a three-disc set. The first disc contains the six episodes that make up Shada. Because these episodes were never completed, in 1992, long after he'd given up his title as the Doctor (he was #4), Tom Baker filmed new footage, explaining the parts of the story never actually shot back in the 1970s when Shada was to have aired. The original footage and new bits were spliced together, and the result was released on VHS. Now BBC Home Video has released Shada for the first time on DVD.

Shada is an interesting serial. It is written by Douglas Adams (The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy), and begins at Cambridge. The Doctor and Ramona (Lalla Ward) answer, quite a bit late, a message sent out by Professor Chronotis (Denis Carey), a retired Time Lord near the end of his life. Unfortunately, Skagra (Christopher Neame) has also come, seeking the location of the Time Lord prison planet Shada, where there is an inmate that can help him take over the galaxy.

The story told in Shada is a bit similar to other tales. There's a villain, the Doctor and his friends, which this time include Chris Parsons (Daniel Hill) and Clare Keightley (Victoria Burgoyne) from the university, investigate. They are captured, escape or are rescued, and fight off Skagra before his plans can be fully realized.

There are some great whimsical moments. Chronotis himself is a pleasant and amusing chap, who often gets verb tenses mixed up, and who has his priorities a bit skewed. His memory isn't all that reliable anymore, and his rooms at Cambridge, where he has lived for three hundred years, are a traveling TARDIS itself. Plus, any serial with K-9 (David Brierly) makes one smile.

I think the pacing, though, is hampered by the incompleteness of the filming. Many of the action sequences, including the showdown at the end, are among the missing scenes. Baker is great at recapturing the character again in the 1990s, but it's disappointing not to have these bits, and it keeps the flow from ever taking off. More footage is missing in later episodes than in earlier installments, which makes getting through the serial a little laborious.

There is a second version of Shada included in this set. In 2003, a radio play edition was released, with Paul McGann, the Eighth Doctor, taking over the lead, and mostly recasting the other parts, save Lalla Ward's Romona. This has been set to animation, and makes for a more cohesive story. The only unfortunate part about this is that it is Flash, and must be played on a computer, rather than a DVD player.

The extras are plentiful, possibly more than in any other release. There are PDF materials, photo galleries, and production notes, of course, but also tons of featurettes including a discussion about why Shada was not completed, a look at the strike and its impact, and a visit to the shooting locations.

A full length, 90-minute documentary entitled More Than 30 Years in the TARDIS, originally released in 1993, is included. There's a remembrance of series star Nicholas Courtney, only slightly weird because he isn't part of this story. Verity Lambert, the first producer of Doctor Who, is interviewed. Plus, there are also Doctor Who Stories and Those Deadly Divas, with a couple of extras that focus on the ladies of the show.

I definitely recommend this collection. Granted, it's not the best presented or looking serial of the series, but it is a rare view of something begun, but not finished. The sheer amount of bonuses included make up for any shortcomings of the episodes themselves, and for any Doctor Who, the opportunity to see a previously missing piece of the puzzle should prove too tempting too resist.

Doctor Who - Shada is available now on DVD.

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Planet of Giants doesn't intimidate Doctor Who

Now available on DVD is the second season premiere of the classic Doctor Who, originally airing in the fall of 1964. Entitled Planet of Giants, the story finds the Doctor (William Hartnell), Susan (Carole Ann Ford), Barbara (Jacqueline Hill), and Ian (William Russell) finally making it back to 1960s Earth. There's just one caveat: they've all been shrunk to only 1" tall.

Yes, Planet of Giants is the inspiration for several stories that came after it in film culture, including the movie Honey I Shrunk the Kids. Our heroes encounter giant bugs and have trouble even getting around. Short distances become long journeys. They're even too small to make themselves heard by normal sized humans.

Of course, Planet of the Giants is not just about how the Doctor and his companions get around while being tiny. There is a murder that must be uncovered, as well. A man named Farrow (Frank Crawshaw) has invented a very deadly insect spray. Too deadly, it turns out (is there such a thing?). When Farrow tries to cancel the project, he is killed by Forester (Alan Tilvern, Who Framed Roger Rabbit), a guy who stands to profit greatly from the poison.

There isn't much the Doctor and his friends can do in their current state to stop Forester, or expose his heinous acts. Luckily, they aren't alone in their suspicions. A telephone operator named Hilda (Rosemary Johnson) notices something funny going on, and tells her cop husband, Bert (Fred Ferris). Forester's assistant, Smithers (Reginald Barratt) also grows wary of his boss.

On a side note, might this Smithers be the inspiration for the sidekick to evil boss Mr. Burns on The Simpsons?

Planet of the Giants does show its lack of budget or special effects technology more than many Doctor Who serials, having to rely heavily on visual tricks for its premise. The story is definitely ambitious for the resources of the time, and while it might have been slightly better made in a later era, Who should be applauded for taking on such a task.

Most of the writing is very well done, as usual. There is only one thing that bugs me, and that is how can someone be healed from an illness just by growing in size? Is the TARDIS technology really so good that it can enlarge people, but keep microscopic things inside the body tiny?

While presented as three episodes on television, Planet of the Giants was originally written and filmed in four parts. Much of what was cut were scenes for Hilda and Bert. Unfortunately, someone at the studio didn't like the lack of focus on the show's leads during that time, and so ordered episodes three and four to be edited down to a single half hour combined. The lack of insight into supporting character development is regrettable. This DVD attempts to correct that injustice, offering both episodes in full, recreated using new animation and dialogue. Eight minutes of a look behind the scenes at this process is included. For that alone, this DVD set is well worth fans' time.

There are also a lot of other features. The expected audio commentary is this time handled by Clive Doig, a vision mixer, Sonia Markham, make-up supervisor, David Tilley, floor assistant, and Brian Hodgson, special sounds creator. The discussion is moderated by Mark Ayres. There are also the typical photo gallery and PDF materials.

The set includes two interviews. One shows Carole Ann Ford in 2003 making a Doctor Who documentary. The other is Verity Lambert, from the same documentary. These aren't really fresh, but they are nice to have included if one hasn't seen them before.

Interestingly, there is also an Arabic audio option.

Despite Planet of Giants being made in the mid-'60s, the picture and sound has been restored pretty well for the digital era. It's far from perfect, of course, but it's better than many black and white releases from the same time frame. Taking into account the BBC's lack of preservation efforts in that decade, it's really remarkable that we get a quality this good.

Check out Doctor Who Planet of Giants, available now.

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