There are 4,149 reviews so far. To add a review of your own, click on the item in question, then click the Vote link.
| What: | Back to the Vortex (Telos new series guides) |
|
| By: | Dreary, London |
|
| Date: | Friday 13 October 2006 |
|
| Rating: |   2 |
This is a rather dull and dry tome, unlikely to be of interest to the casual buyer. It has no creative spark to make the listing of dates and facts that form the first part of the book come to life, whilst the second half is a sludge of repetitive, poorly constructed reviews. There are a lot of words in this book, but unfortunately few of them are interesting. The presentation of the book is also poor, especially the cover. There are much better official books on the market and this one is best avoided.
| What: | The Five Doctors (BBC classic series DVDs/Blu-rays) |
|
| By: | Doug, Pocono Summit, PA, USA |
|
| Date: | Thursday 12 October 2006 |
|
| Rating: | 10 |
Sorry - I know some of you didn't care for this story, but yes, I must give this one a 10. Yes, there's not a very deep story here, but what you've got are some really cool ideas and a continuity (or discontinuity?) and nostalgia fest for those who love the show. Tom Baker *is* sorely missed, but pairing Liz Sladen with Pertwee and Nick Courtney with Troughton was brilliant scripting and worked splendidly, and we get some really classic scenes as a result. Troughton's whole "I'm not supposed to be here" thing at the beginning, coupled with the revelation that this second Doctor was lifted out of a period *after* his arrest and trial is all very enigmatic and interesting, and leaves us wondering what's really going on with him. This has given rise to the idea of a theoretical "Season 6(b)," taking place after The War Games and before Spearhead from Space. The Dark Tower of Gallifrey and the Death Zone are pretty cool ideas that add to the Time Lord mythos, as do the forbidden "black scrolls." Also, any fan of the Cybermen will love this one. And the final fate of villanous mastermind seals the deal - a fantastic ending! As for the updated special effects on the revised release, my opinion on that is that the original form was better, and shouldn't have been messed with.
| What: | Red (Big Finish: The Monthly Adventures) |
|
| By: | Nicholas Murphie, Newtown, Australia |
|
| Date: | Thursday 12 October 2006 |
|
| Rating: | 9 |
2006's BF releases have been on the ordinary side (except Kingmaker) so it was refreshing to finally get another excellent release in Red. Though this story features the 7th Doc and Mel, therefore sits within Season 24, there is very little to liken it to that farcical season. This is very dark stuff and genuinely disturbing... and I mean that in a complimentary way. It's gripping and compelling and perverse. The majority of characters are so well rounded out that this society that has been devoid of agression, and thus crave the agression, seems so real. Some fabulous characters - like Vy... And Whitenoise has to be the best computre since Hal! All 4 eps were well paced, despite the longer running time. This was different Dr Who... The sado-masicistic stuff probably would not sit in the new TV version, but on audio it was a refreshing and compelling challenge.
After several years without anything new, we FINALLY get some new material. It may be only 13 episodes running about 45 minutes each, but its GOOD to finally get some new material!!!! Now, lets see how Tennent works out, since Eccleston has moved on.
| What: | The Last (Big Finish: The Monthly Adventures) |
|
| By: | Doug, Pocono Summit, PA, USA |
|
| Date: | Wednesday 11 October 2006 |
|
| Rating: | 9 |
A bleak but very suspenseful story, with an equally bleak soundtrack.
The story appears to be a very stark commentary on our present geopolitical situation, but as we head into the fourth episode, we slowly begin to realize that all is not as it seems - we begin to feel a creeping, radical shift occurring. The planet where this is all taking place is revealed to be far more alien than we've been led to believe, and the final resolution changes this from a good story into a great one. (From the other reviews, I guess that's *really* a matter of opinion...)
 |  |  |
 | Satisfying, Solid Production |
|
| | |
| What: | Faith Stealer (Big Finish: The Monthly Adventures) |
|
| By: | Doug, Pocono Summit, PA, USA |
|
| Date: | Tuesday 10 October 2006 |
|
| Rating: | 8 |
In Faith Stealer, we finally get another story that hits on all cylinders, so to speak. This production is well-written and flows nicely, all of the characters are well-acted, and Conrad Westmaas' C'rizz is finally given some likeable substance. All of the cast is in top form here, making the production very believable and engaging. There are even some genuinely laugh out loud funny scenes, particularly in the church of the Serendipitists ("Oops be praised!") What stopped me from giving this one a 9 or 10 is only that the story itself seemed a bit sparse. Faith Stealer is thoroughly enjoyable, but somehow sort of more like a light dessert than a full meal. Perhaps this is partly because of the ending. The ending is surprising, makes sense and is rather thought-provoking, but is pretty quick.
oh my god these episodes were brilliant i give them 10 out of 10 but then they are quite depressing but cool at the same time
This script book clears up a few confusing points in the episode, and the section of the book written especiallt by Martin Platt explaining some of the less clear points includes scenes cut from the finished serial. It is deffinalty worth buying if you are a fan.
| What: | The Game (Big Finish: The Monthly Adventures) |
|
| By: | Doug, Pocono Summit, PA, USA |
|
| Date: | Sunday 8 October 2006 |
|
| Rating: | 3 |
Death hockey! Wolf soldiers! Narcotic pheromones! Oh my!
This particular Big Finish entry begins with abundant ultra-violence as sport, like 'Vengeance on Varos' on steroids, and proceeds to pull a "dramatic" turnaround halfway through to make the story an even more horrible mess. The only reason I actually kept listening is because I was stuck somewhere with nothing else to do. However, I must give some credit to the sort of twisty 'Back to the Future' style timewarped relationship that is revealed at that point.
Credit must also be given to Peter Davison and Sarah Sutton for giving this script their best efforts. They obviously took the task seriously, which is commendable.
Why spend three entire episodes focusing on the Naxy game and the story surrounding that, and then shift abruptly to a sudden rampage of "bornoxes" - werewolf-like things with laser pistols (for Pete's sake!)? And did I miss something? Where did Morian pop out from? Suddenly he's all "mwoo ha ha!" out of nowhere. Ambassador Faye has a worse American accent than Peri ("Daacter!"), and William Russell's Lord Carlisle sounds uncannily like Slarty Bardfarst (from the original Hitchhiker's Guide).
I don't know. This one just leaves me shaking my head. Representative of the Davison era? I disagree.
| What: | The Stone Rose (BBC New Series Adventures novels) |
|
| By: | vicky , carlisle |
|
| Date: | Sunday 8 October 2006 |
|
| Rating: | 10 |
i really loved the book and each chapter makes you want to read on ore and more.
A very tired production. Not a good story for any of the regulars, and the supporting cast are nothing to shout about either. The plot is dull and we’ve been here before with Troughton so many times that its like deja vu – big control room...in the future...global catastrophe...shouty leader...plucky young female...blah blah blah. The Ice Warriors are unthreatening and clunky, and the incidental music is horrible. The score is repetitive, loud and all over the episodes. Dudley Simpson was clearly either very unhappy in early 1969 or was on very strong ampetamines. Maybe he was just trying to distract the viewer from this loveless escapade.
A pacy, enjoyable story but not without its faults. The odd effect fails to convince (particularly Sutekh’s final form) and there are some stagey moments (the opening TARDIS scene, some of Sheard’s playing), but what compensates is the sheer class of the cast, all giving top-notch performances and all totally committed to the story. There are several highlights; Gabriel Woolf’s Sutekh is extraordinarily good, Baker and Sladen are just hitting their stride and clearly relish their scenes together, the location shooting is lovely to look at and very effective – the weird juxtaposition of the Edwardian and the alien is highly unsettling, and the design department work wonders. A solid, assured and satisfying story.
| What: | Ghost Light (BBC classic series DVDs/Blu-rays) |
|
| By: | Matthew B, Cardiff, Wales |
|
| Date: | Monday 2 October 2006 |
|
| Rating: | 9 |
Truly wondrous. A glorious mixture of musty Victoriana, breathtaking science fiction and a strong central theme of evolution and change, Ghost Light is an unqualified success from top to toe. Only Sophie Aldred disappoints in a cast that make Marc Platt’s script sing. Sylvia Sims and Ian Hogg in particular are stunningly good, closely followed by Michael Cochrane, who brings a wonderful sympathy to Redvers, a Victorian explorer driven mad by things beyond his comprehension. Add to this the beautiful sets and Mark Ayres’ finest score and you have a near-perfect Doctor Who story.
Feeling like a rogue Hinchcliffe, Horror of Fang Rock is gorgeously written, acted and directed (Paddy Russell again), and is as tightly produced as anything in seasons 13 and 14. It is a wonderful Leela story, Terrance Dicks showing a real flair in writing for her. It’s hard to say anything new about this really. The lighthouse is an inspired setting for a ‘pick em off one by one’ story, and the design of both it and the island on which it stands is very, very effective. Chilling and amusing in all the right places, Horror of Fang Rock is one of the very best Tom Baker stories. Smashing.
Much is often made of The Mind Robber’s ‘imagination’ and ‘cleverness’ when in fact there is little evidence of either on display. I would guess that its lofty reputation is at least partly because it exists in a season so formulaic and dull that it benefits by comparison alone. Having said that, there are a few bright moments – the white TARDIS, Jamie and Zoe trapped in a giant book, Rapunzel, etc. But, unusual though these motifs are, they fail to ignite because they’re embedded in a plodding unimaginative non-story that labours every aspect of its script and its poorly constructed plot. The whole thing leaves one feeling patronised by the writer rather than entertained. Troughton gives it a lot of quality as usual, but of the rest of the cast only Bernard Horsfall matches him. Tedious and rather too pleased with itself.
Excellent. What is clearly a very cheap production manages to feel “large” due to the sheer quality of the script, cast and direction. Skaro is a dark, foggy, unpleasant place and the Kaled military are Nazi analogues. Peter Miles’ Nyder is an astonishing performance, topping a cast where everyone gets it just right. Tom Baker is nicely understated in this and yet is potent when required. The whole thing has an urgency and sense of threat that had been largely absent since 1970.
| What: | Inferno (BBC classic series DVDs/Blu-rays) |
|
| By: | Matthew B, Cardiff, Wales |
|
| Date: | Monday 2 October 2006 |
|
| Rating: | 10 |
Easily the superior story of Season Seven, Inferno benefits from being told over seven episodes – the usual padding and drag just isn’t present here, and the plot device of a parallel Earth warrants a couple of extra episodes, even though the same story is essentially being told twice over. There are so many good things – Pertwee is excellent (as is usual in this season), indeed all the cast are top notch, Olaf Pooley, Nicholas Courtney and Derek Newark in particular. John Levene gives a small role some real punch, too. The effects are fine, Camfield is as wondrous as ever, and the dialogue is a joy to listen to. The kind of powerful story that would suddenly become very rare under Letts and Pertwee.
Lovely tin. Let me say that first of all.
THE TENTH PLANET
A taste of things to come. The Tenth Planet was the first story that embodied Innes Lloyd’s misguided attempt to make Doctor Who more “gritty” and “believable” (a preoccupation that would later reach its formulaic nadir in Season Five), managing to achieve neither of these things throughout its four episodes. If it weren’t for the fact that it was the first Cyberman story and William Hartnell’s last crack of the whip, there would be nothing to make this farrago memorable. The regulars are badly served and the guest cast are generally dreadful. The script is dull as dishwater and is riddled with terrible dialogue. The Tenth Planet could be fairly described as little more a roomful of people shouting at each other for ninety minutes, something we would see a lot more of in the next few seasons. The Cybermen themselves are reasonably well designed, and are quite sinister – until they speak. Not only are their voices absurd but they often display emotion even though they claim not to have any. Daft rather than terrifying. The only things that make The Tenth Planet worth watching are Craze and Wills (as usual) and the impressive regeneration sequence. A shameful end for Hartnell.
ATTACK OF THE CYBERMEN
An improvement on the preceding story (faint praise, given that the preceding story was The Twin Dilemma), Attack of the Cybermen is typical of Season 22 in that its good parts are usually scuppered by its bad parts. There are some great things here; Matthew Robinson's direction, great design work, Brian Glover and Maurice Colbourne, Lytton's conversion (finally we are allowed to see how monstrous the Cybermen can actually be), and plenty of action sequences. Unfortunately, just when you're enjoying one or more of the above, along comes one of the following to put you off; uneven performances from the regulars, the dreadful Saward dialogue, Malcolm Clarke's unpleasant score, a plot that doesn't really make sense, and some highly bizarre hand movements from the Cryons (reminiscent of the "choreographed" Fish People from "The Underwater Menace"). Annoyingly inconsistent in every way, Attack of the Cybermen is by turns entertaining and annoying, but it is still the superior production of this box set.
The Power of Kroll traditonally gets the worst press of season 16 but it’s a far superior story to this. Tired from start to finish, The Armageddon Factor is repetitive, overlong, and poorly written. There are a few positives – the first one and a half episodes are rather fun, with K9 getting some good lines and Davyd Harries and John Woodvine turning in enjoyable performances, but this quickly gives way to endless running around corridors and really not much else. Baker and Tamm look bored (and so do we), the former livening up a little when Barry Jackson’s Drax appears. A really flat ending to a lively season.
I wanted to like The Space Pirates. It's almost universally forgotten about, lurking at the fag end of Season 6. I wanted to be the one who "discovered" it's brilliance. With only one of it's episodes in existence it's a difficult one to judge. I've yet to work up the motivation to listen to the soundtrack, so recently decided to give the novelisation a go, hoping that it will be the best and fairest way of judging the story. So what do I think? Well, The Space Pirates is not dreadful, it's not great, it's just...uninteresting. The opening chapters are reasonably entertaining, but things become so lifeless so very quickly that it is hard to stick with the book until the end. The plot and dialogue are flat and cliched, the villains are obvious from the outset, and Milo Clancey (to whom Robert Holmes seems to devote more screen time than The Doctor, Zoe and Jamie) is downright irritating. The Space Pirates feels like what it is - six episodes of filler runaround designed to bridge a gap until the final story of the season. As a faithful recreation of the TV production, the novel is as dull, and offers nothing new. Move on to The War Games...
