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 | Absolutely amazing (bar Episode 7)! |
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| What: | The Daleks' Master Plan (TV episode audio soundtracks) |
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| By: | Huw Davies, Taunton, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Saturday 12 April 2008 |
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| Rating: |  10 |
Brilliant. An 11-parter would have been great, without the silly 7th episode. A great CD and story, and the clean recordings as an extra on disc 1 are great for an iPod or MP3 player.
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| These diamonds are forever! |
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| What: | The Beginning (BBC classic series DVDs/Blu-rays) |
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| By: | Huw Davies, Taunton, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Friday 11 April 2008 |
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| Rating: | 10 |
There isn't much to say about this set, except it is highly entertaining; one of the best releases so far.
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| Let-down on the extras front |
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| What: | The Seeds of Death (BBC classic series DVDs/Blu-rays) |
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| By: | Huw Davies, Taunton, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Friday 11 April 2008 |
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| Rating: |  8 |
While the story is captivating and enjoyable, the extras are somewhat of a let-down if you already own Lost in Time, as the only unique ones are 'Sssowing the Ssseedsss', a poor TARDIS Cam and the photo gallery.
| What: | Max Warp (Eighth Doctor Adventures audios) |
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| By: | Paula, Grand Rapids, MI, USA |
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| Date: | Wednesday 9 April 2008 |
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| Rating: | 10 |
A very fun story, I really love the interplay between Lucie and the Doctor.
This is pretty disastrous. The storylines are thin and most of the characters weak. The only things that saved this are the return of the Slitheen and a commendable performance from Elisabeth Sladen.
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| Carnival of brilliance from Mr. Holmes |
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| What: | Carnival of Monsters (BBC classic series DVDs/Blu-rays) |
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| By: | Huw Davies, Taunton, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Sunday 6 April 2008 |
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| Rating: | 7 |
Although I thought it boring the first time I watched it a couple of years ago, I have definitely grown to like it and it is probably one of Robert Holmes' finest contribution to the show.
| What: | The Five Doctors (BBC classic series DVDs/Blu-rays) |
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| By: | Huw Davies, Taunton, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Sunday 6 April 2008 |
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| Rating: | 10 |
I recently bought the new UK deluxe edition for the 25th anniversary of this story, and i must say it is an absolute corker! You get 2 versions of the story, one the original and the other an updated one with special effects, zillions of extras, and the most amazing Doctor Who DVD Easter Egg ever! I'll say no more: now go find it for yourself!
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| This is so dire its moronic.... |
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| What: | Voyage of the Damned (BBC new series DVDs/Blu-rays) |
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| By: | Matthew David Rabjohns, Bridgend, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Saturday 5 April 2008 |
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| Rating: | 1 |
David Tennant has been such a great doctor, he has suffered though from being given quite a few weak and i would even say irrelevant stories during his run. And Voyage of the damned takes the top pole in regards to rubbish.
Enlightenment and The Robots of Death elements are stolen and weaved, or rather squashed, into a dull as ditch water rehash. I mean, an angel losing a hand just like a robot in Robots is bordering on oh boy...
Even the deaths of the passengers isnt very well performed either. I was expecting a very sad tale, and it was for all the wrong reasons im afraid to say.
Ballakaffalatta is one of the few things that saves this from being a 0 from me. Even Kylie Minogue isnt all that brilliant. And the end scenes is over the top too. This is nothing like a Christmas treat.
I shall review Time Crash seperate. Peter Davison makes a great return to the screen. David plays well off him too, this is real great stuff. The eight minutes of Time Crash are much more entertaining than the main rubbish on this disc....
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| The ark in space for Peter Davison |
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| What: | Three's a Crowd (Big Finish: The Monthly Adventures) |
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| By: | Matthew David Rabjohns, Bridgend, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Saturday 5 April 2008 |
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| Rating: | 9 |
This all feels so cramped and so coolly like the series of old. Its great to hear big finish wanting to keep some elements of the old series.
Lucy Beresford is what makes this story though. She is so brilliant as Bellip, what with all her lovely breathing and nice and easy to listen to voice. Deborah Watling is back too! Yippee! Nice to hear her again too. But im afraid its lucy who's the very best shining star in this story. This story is very interesting for its ideas too. A colony cut off and lost deep in space, with a space station, full of nasty alien eggs.
But i dont feel that the Kellians are overtly evil here though. Despite the fact they are eating people, they have to survive. Usually the doc just would get the aliens away from harming any more people, like he did with the Gravis in frontios, but here, no. He seems a bit rash here for my liking. But maybe the kellians are a bit set against anything else but eating the colonists i suppose. (i forgot actually that he does say a little something about getting them away, or asking them to leave the colonists in peace, never speak too soon!)
And i still really like the feel of this story. Harks back to the Ark In Space. The sound design is brilliant too.
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| A celebration....very nearly.... |
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| What: | Zagreus (Big Finish: The Monthly Adventures) |
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| By: | Matthew David Rabjohns, Bridgend, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Saturday 5 April 2008 |
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| Rating: | 8 |
The Three Doctors was class for me.
The Five Doctors was a let down to say the least.
The Two Doctors was excellent stuff.
The Sirens of Time was blinking excellent stuff.
Project Lazarus was brilliant too.
But the question is does Zagreus offer as much excitement as many previous more than one doctor tales? The answer is yes, but only just.
This really is a Charley story. India Fisher is a great find as a companion. She works so well alongside Paul Mcgann, but they are seperated nearly all the way through this, and that is why i dont think some elements of this story work too well. The other doctors arent really given massive parts either, not as great as Pat and Colin in the Two Doctors. But they are not bad in what they do get to do. This has all the feel of a massive comic strip actually. I can imagine this being a large sized magazine entry. Some of the characters are funny though. And there are many very good moments, you just have to find them thats all. Lisa Bowerman and Sophie Aldred defintely deserve a big mention. Elizabeth Sladen's part is poor only because shes basically only in one stupid scene. And the use of Jon Pertwee in this story is a delight though, and wonderful to hear him again after so long. Very interestingly done. Nick Courtney as the voice of the TARDIS is very impressive too. But all the other elements dont deliver as well as they could have done. And yes, maybe this is just a little too long a story overall. But by no means is this a total waste of time. The final gethering of the doctors is a great scene. And Nick and Paul get together again for clamatic last scenes as the TARDIS lays bear its soul.
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| Yes, this is pretty mediocre... |
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| What: | The Time of the Daleks (Big Finish: The Monthly Adventures) |
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| By: | Matthew David Rabjohns, Bridgend, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Saturday 5 April 2008 |
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| Rating: | 6 |
The Daleks are back again. And for once the again i used in the first sentence is a word written with a sigh. Justin really wrote excellent scripts for Red Dawn and Whispers Of Terror, so what is this mediocrity? A load of mirrors again, this worked well in Evil of the daleks, but is just blandly recycled here in a dissapointing rehash of basically very old ideas. Even the daleks saying they love shakespeare is nothing great either. I really found this story hard to get into, better after a few listens but still not great by no means.
| What: | The Chimes of Midnight (Big Finish: The Monthly Adventures) |
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| By: | Matthew David Rabjohns, Bridgend, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Saturday 5 April 2008 |
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| Rating: | 10 |
I was scared by this story.
Rob Shearman builds on The Holy Terror.
Paul Mcgann and India Fisher really are gelling so well now.
This is as scary as hell i can tell you.
The first episode really is something to be bargained with.
The characters are all so memorable and well played by all involved.
This is the heights the new series should start to reach soon...
I hate the death scenes, if this was viual it would be too much i think.
the house having a voice is creepsville.
Spooky is an understatement for this story.
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| A MAZE OF......FOUR PEOPLE.... |
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| What: | Caerdroia (Big Finish: The Monthly Adventures) |
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| By: | Matthew David Rabjohns, Bridgend, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Saturday 5 April 2008 |
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| Rating: | 10 |
Caerdroia is another experiment. A Scherzo with two extras. But does it work as well as that story? Yes it does im afraid to say.
Paul Mcgann is on supreme form and really gets to shine as the doctor! So the doc is in a maze trying to find the TARDIS, it sounds dull, but this story is not at all. And he gets split in three! What a load of ha ha!
Charley and C'rizz get put with two different aspects of the doc, weird and angry. They all work so well together, and the different aspects of the doctor really are done so well by Paul Mcgann. I love the library scene too. The cuckoo clock and all that too is great. And Stephen Perring as the Kroka being cut down to size is brilliant too, the Doc trapping him in his mind and all that. Ah, what a play.
| What: | Doctor Who and the Pirates (Big Finish: The Monthly Adventures) |
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| By: | Matthew David Rabjohns, Bridgend, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Saturday 5 April 2008 |
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| Rating: | 10 |
I agree with PJ on this one. This is defintely an experiment, but for me it works so well im afraid.
Jac Rayner has crafted a tale with so many laughs and yet with an overtone of sombre reflection as some mistakes cant be avoided when you travel in time.
Jac always seems to be writing her best for history or moments and events set in history at any rate. The Pirates is a real treat on the ear for me.
Colin Baker immediately grabs the ear with perfect delivery in the singing sections of this highly theatrical production. This should really be done on the stage i can tell you all out there. And the lyrics are side splittingly funny to say the least. Gallifreyan buccaneer is blinking hilarious. Perfect musical direction i must say.
I too also like the POV of Evelyn and the doc in this story as they try to comfort Sally who feels bad for having killed someone in a horrible accident. This really is an intelligent piece of drama.
Maggie Stables once again reminds us of how great Evelyn is as a character too. Not a loud mouth like many younger companions of the doc.
Bill Oddie is the perfect casting choice as Red Jasper, he really takes centre stage as the decididly bonkers pirate.
This is doctor who at its best
this nearly beats all the rest
the whole story is very satisfying and just plain cool.
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| Dalek was too cut down from this... |
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| What: | Jubilee (Big Finish: The Monthly Adventures) |
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| By: | Matthew David Rabjohns, Bridgend, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Saturday 5 April 2008 |
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| Rating: | 10 |
Dalek was a real dissapointment. I heard it had been taken from Rob's script for Jubilee. Rob himself is right when he says some stories cant be told in 50 minutes. Dalek on screen is so nasty in the end for being so boring. Jubilee is over an hour longer, yet still is brilliant.
Man this is such a relief after the sadness of the sandman. Colin Baker gets to play off very very well at last against the daleks, or in this case for most of the tale, a single dalek.
Robert seems to always hit the right notes of horror and comedy and emotion in every one of his scripts ive noticed. When it comes to Dalek, he should have said no!
But Jubilee is a great anniversary tale for Doctor Who, the dalek is so manipulative of everyone too, a real character this dalek has for a change, not just the usual exterminate all the time.
Martin Jarvis and Rosalind Ayres really impress as Rochester and Miriam. A real evil pair if ever their were one.
The best acting part is still Colin though as the doc with his legs cut off, quite a gross picture if ever there was one. Colin is so good and its nice to see him having a chance to be a great doctor, which he always was, but now these audios like Jubilee really highlight how good an actor he is!
Hide, the daleks are coming!!!
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| The worst big finish tale in the world |
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| What: | The Sandman (Big Finish: The Monthly Adventures) |
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| By: | Matthew David Rabjohns, Bridgend, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Saturday 5 April 2008 |
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| Rating: | 3 |
Just didnt get along with this dire story at all. Listen to it again only to hear Colin being great as the so called sandman. Evelyn gets nothing to do. Even the galyari dont save this story at all. And the final defeat of the real sandman with birds is pretty stupid. Sorry, didnt get on with this story at all. The weakest big finish story ive heard i think.
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| The Mummy? Nah, sadly.... |
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| What: | The Eye of the Scorpion (Big Finish: The Monthly Adventures) |
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| By: | Matthew David Rabjohns, Bridgend, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Saturday 5 April 2008 |
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| Rating: | 5 |
The real saving of this whole story is Caroline Morris making her debut as Erimem, the pharaoh of wherever it is. She is my favourite audio companion, and its sad that The Bride oF Peladon has now come and gone. But her finale was far better than her debut. Not her acting, just the script. I was expecting this story to be a real big one, like a doctor who version of the mummy. But this isnt anything like Pyramids of Mars, even with the scorpions and battle scenes.
Nicola Bryant and Caroline do seem to gel well, its just a pity the rest of the story is pretty much run of the mill. The aliens, whoever they are, arent overly impressive either. This is one of the few weaker big finish tales.
Peter Davison being out for nearly an episode doesnt help either, and he just comes back in episode three. The only effective scenes are the battle at the end, and the 10 minute court scene. Otherwise this is pretty dull stuff. Egypt is pathetically represented too. No real eygptian sound scape either. Plain.
| What: | The Wishing Beast (Big Finish: The Monthly Adventures) |
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| By: | Matthew David Rabjohns, Bridgend, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Saturday 5 April 2008 |
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| Rating: | 10 |
Paul Magrs always has his own style of writing that sets him apart from all the other big finish writers. His stories always seem to have great character pieces, that are always larger than life to say the least. Now we get his take on a grim fairytale. But a great one is all i can say!
The Doc and Mel land on a barren asteroid, which suddenly changes and they emerge into a dark wood with sppoky cracks and cries, so they find the house belonging to Jean Marsh, hurrah, what a great return from Jean! I was longing to see or hear her again in a story! And she is so great as the first sister of the strange pair of old women who live in the house. They also have a hoover for sucking up ghouls. But the ghouls are not evil. The sisters are the bad ones. A usual fairytale plot, but so well done and directed that this doesnt matter. A real piece of comedic ghoulish stuff. and then you get the perfect addition of The Vanity Box. Ah, the sixth doctor in drag, that would have been a nappy wetting thing to see! What a brilliant eye for comedy Paul has, and the wishing beast is a mostly unexplained phenomenon, as with most ghost stories. Bonnie Langford shines again as Mel too i can tell you.
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| A trip down memory lane.... |
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| What: | Memory Lane (Big Finish: The Monthly Adventures) |
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| By: | Matthew David Rabjohns, Bridgend, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Saturday 5 April 2008 |
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| Rating: | 9 |
Im so glad that Paul Mcgann was okay to return to the role of the eigth doctor in audio. He really gives brilliant performances. He seems to me to be the most laid back of all the doctors, taking everything in his stride. And therefore makes a suitable own style for his doctor. And its even better when he gets given great scripts!
Memory Lane is a great and interesting idea to say the least. There is a whole street as a prison, for a person who really actually hasnt done anything wrong at all. Mawvik should have had said more than just one line though, the only downpoint in this otherwise excellent story. Strong character performances and strong production all along the way guarantee a great story. A great first script from Eddie Robson, a great new doctor who writing find! This story actually never loses gravitas as it goes on, the suspense and intrigue is kept up right til the very end of the story. This is yet another very good outing from big finish!
| What: | Red (Big Finish: The Monthly Adventures) |
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| By: | Matthew David Rabjohns, Bridgend, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Saturday 5 April 2008 |
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| Rating: | 10 |
There always was the people and viewers of the classic series who thought that at times doctor who was too violent. Poppycock. Compared to todays standards most doctor who violence pales in comparison to many a horror movie or normal everyday soap or something. But this story is a brilliant exploration of a pertinent and worthy subject. And as it is Stewart Sheargold's first script for a doctor who, it is formidable to say the least.
This story really has a papable sense of menace ringing right through it. From the exploration of the effects of violence in a controlled society. This is so well presented and explored as to be one of the most memorable audio stories from big finish in quite a long while. Add to that Sly Mccoy being excellent in his performance of the Doctor yet again. And i dont think his rolling "r"s are that annoying. Maybe im just weird though.
Bonnie Langford is back again on fine form as Mel. Boy i love Melanie Bush, this story proves that she can be a great character, even though she always was in my book. Then there are the great supporting actors as well. John Stahl as WHitenoise is memorable as the potty and slightly disturbed computer.
I suppose you would call this story a real psycho-drama, a dramatic exploration of real and important subjects. Violence really does get you nowhere at the end of the day. This story comes highly recommended from me.
