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 | Torchwood has never been darker |
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Torchwood has shown in the past two years that's it is not for children. COE is just so dark after a reasonably average first episode. Things start to get exciting in episode 2. Sadly there is a big shock at the end episode 4 after a shocking reveal from Jack in 3. Just when u think that it can't get darker episode 5 does.
It has been accounced that there will be a series 4 but it just won't feel like the same show despite this exciting story
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| Timewyrm: Revelation - OUCH! |
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| What: | Timewyrm: Revelation (New Adventures novels) |
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| By: | Mark List, Midland, United States |
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| Date: | Thursday 30 July 2009 |
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| Rating: |   1 |
I don't know how to put this nicely, but this book was literally painful to read.
It was so dis-jointed it seemed like a toddler wrote the book. The scenes made absolutely no sense and it was on page 100 that you had the first glimmer of what was really going on.
It was on page 170ish that it got clearer (if you can call it that).
There seemed to be no plot, no sense of the story going anywhere - nothing.
I do not understand why this book commands the prices it gets on line. I can just say I am glad I got this for $4.00 at a used bookstore. Even that was even overpaying.
The Timewyrm series had great potential, but having 4 books written by 4 different authors was a terrible idea, at least in this case.
I really don't think I can accurately describe how awful this book really was.
If you aren't someone who wants a complete collection of the Doctor Who books I would highly recommend avoiding this book.
| What: | The Beast of Orlok (Eighth Doctor Adventures audios) |
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| By: | Doug, Pocono Summit, PA, USA |
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| Date: | Monday 27 July 2009 |
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| Rating: | 9 |
Paul McGann's Eighth Doctor really is the classiest of the lot. He is back in top form here in The Beast of Orlok, and Sheridan Smith's Lucie as well is as highly entertaining and delightful as ever. A great, funny script here, which becomes even more entertaining in the second episode, and we get fantastic performances by the guest cast as well. Peter Guinness' Baron Teufel, in particular, is positively dripping with menace and malice. The rich, quality sound realization and fine, playful incidental music combine with the rest to deliver a highly enjoyable audio drama.
Finally, this third story of the season is one that's worthy of the excellent retro/scary/goth opening theme music! Set in the Black Forest of Germany, yet sparing us all the ghastly fake accents, we get atmosphere and mystery from the start. The melange of bits and pieces of various well-known monster stories and fairy tales here could have been dreadful, but writer Barnaby Edwards has pulled it off beautifully. There really is rather a lot going on here, and I found that during a second listen it was much easier to catch all that was happening at the beginning. I found this one to be such an enjoyable listen that I really wanted to hear it again after the first time. To give just a little tease about the plot, the "beast" itself combines fairy tale with futuristic sci-fi, as does the entire story line. The Beast of Orlok has the feel of a sort of a mini-League of Extraordinary Gentlemen.
This is the best Eighth Doctor outing since the previous season's Grand Theft Cosmos.
| What: | Timewyrm: Apocalypse (New Adventures novels) |
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| By: | Mark List, Midland, United States |
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| Date: | Sunday 26 July 2009 |
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| Rating: | 6 |
This story wasn't bad, but the continual references to the 2nd Doctors incarnation were pointless. I imagine that Nigel Robinson was trying to be "mysterious" and suspenseful, but it fell flat. I found the references pointless and boring.
The plot itsself was enjoyable, but with the distractions of the 2nd Doctor references, I just couldn't get into the story as much as I would have liked.
Without those references I would have rated this book much higher.
| What: | Delta and the Bannermen (BBC classic series DVDs/Blu-rays) |
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| By: | Trevor Smith, Nottingham, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Thursday 23 July 2009 |
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| Rating: | 7 |
This story often gets an unfair kicking from fans but for me it is a very enjoyable story.
Sure its not perfect but there are lots of good things about it.
Don Henderson as the main baddie Gavrock is excellent as is Belinda Mayne as Delta. I think she would have made a much better companion than Sara Griffiths (who played Ray) who was up for the part before Bonnie Langford changed her mind and stayed on. Even Ken Dodd (in a mercifully short role) isn't that bad.
There are some very good comic scenes as well.
The extras aren't much apart from the always interesting & excellent Stripped for Action.
| What: | Black Orchid (BBC classic series DVDs/Blu-rays) |
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| By: | Kyle KK, London |
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| Date: | Wednesday 22 July 2009 |
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| Rating: | 10 |
It may only be two episodes long but theres something about this story that we love, maybe it because there's no aliens or maybe the fact that that the doctor and his companion just have fun for once. It also remindes you of the new series in some way, the fact that it is not a cheep production or a bad script but the fact that you can really enjoy it.
best story of classic who. 10/10
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| Krynoids - Poor Choice for Audio |
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| What: | Hothouse (Eighth Doctor Adventures audios) |
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| By: | Doug, Pocono Summit, PA, USA |
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| Date: | Saturday 18 July 2009 |
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| Rating: | 4 |
My mistake - the other reviews I thought I remembered were elsewhere, in a print zine. (See my review of Orbis.)
In the Hothouse "cd extras," writer Jonathan Morris tells of how he received his assignment from Alan Barnes (Big Finish producer, apparently?). A Krynoid story was requested. Hothouse was Morris' second attempt. He modeled it strongly on the excellent classic series story, The Seeds of Doom, which was somewhat unusual in that the TARDIS barely featured in it at all, the Doctor is more of a secret agent than his usual wanderer in time and space self, it in effect almost disregards all of the previous Doctor Who stories, and it's the military who save the day by blowing the mansion-sized Krynoid to bits with missiles. Morris basically drafted a slight reworking of these elements, also including another version of the idealistic, wealthy horticulturalist Harrison Chase, another companion in imminent danger of being infected by a Krynoid pod, and another takeover of local vegetation by the controlling Krynoid monster. Furthermore, he was apparently not informed of the new relationship between the Doctor and Lucie, due to the Doctor's memory loss from Orbis, until some late stage in the writing. A few references to it are thrown in hastily, but that major development in the previous story really is not affecting what's happening in this one.
In short, Hothouse is a cheap imitation of the original, and on audio, the very visual horror elements of the Krynoids just do not come through. The two-episode story lacks much real depth, and is rushed to its ending, with the chief Krynoid growing to its full size in the blink of an eye. Uninspired sound realization and direction also contribute to make this one a disappointment.
Great story from Sylvesrer McCoy and Sophie Aldred. The DVD cover could of been better.
The Five Doctors is one of the best storys ever. Brilliant performance from Peter Davison as the 5th Doctor, Patrick Troughton & Jon Pertwee step into the role again as the 2nd & 3rd Doctors and Richard Hurndall as the 1st Doctor was good, but William Hartnell was not forgotten with his little speach before the title sequence plus great companions (even K-9). Great enemys such as the Cybermen, Yeti and a Dalek. Dissapointing that Tom Baker wouldn't come back as the 4th Doctor because with him it would off been just a little bit better.
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| The 8th Doctor is great!!! |
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| What: | The Movie (BBC classic series DVDs/Blu-rays) |
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| By: | Kyle K.K, London |
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| Date: | Saturday 18 July 2009 |
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| Rating: | 10 |
Paul McGann is a great Doctor and its a dissapointment that The 8th Doctor didn't go on !!!
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| An enjoyable set of four stories. |
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| What: | Forty-Five (Big Finish: The Monthly Adventures) |
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| By: | Doug, Pocono Summit, PA, USA |
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| Date: | Friday 17 July 2009 |
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| Rating: | 7 |
The four short stories that comprise "45" are a bit lightweight to be sure, as would be expected, but this time they work pretty well, providing enough substance for an enjoyable listen, and a fast enough pace to get each single story finished. I thought False Gods and Casualties of War were the best of the four. Order of Simplicity is a neat story about the extreme actions of what you might think of as a futuristic hippy or environmentalist gone totally berzerk. The basis of the story and its resolution are completely absurd, but it's still a fun ride. And then we have The Word Lord. This final episode of the collection really doesn't make any sense either, but it's another fun story anyway, that makes a momentarily interesting attempt at a sort of twisted, shocker ending to and link of the four stories. In this listener's opinion, it ultimately fails, due to the weakness and again, total absurdity of the concept of what the Word Lord actually is. And when a deadly enemy is foiled by flipping a switch, it makes me go, "Hmmm..."
| What: | Orbis (Eighth Doctor Adventures audios) |
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| By: | Doug, Pocono Summit, PA, USA |
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| Date: | Tuesday 14 July 2009 |
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| Rating: | 7 |
Wasn't there another review or two here previously?
Well, anyway, first off, I still love, love, love the new/retro opening titles music that was first used with last season's Eighth Doctor and Lucie releases.
In Orbis, we get quite a bit of misdirection on the part of the "Headhunter" character, so all is really not what it seems here. I suppose it's easy to get frustrated by what at first appear to be inconsistencies, but listening all the way through reveals that a lot more is going on here than is apparent at first. This story is not as simple as it appears, nor is it really concluded as the closing theme music rolls.
Having said that, the bulk of the story concerns, um, big walking jellyfish and shellfish. Yah. The main baddie is almost like the ghost of Sil. The Doctor, it seems, got dumped here on Orbis for reasons that will be made clearer as you continue, and he's been here for a REALLY long time. For Lucie it's only been a few months, but for the Doctor, it's been... MUCH longer. As you can imagine, this presents some problems when the two meet again. It brings to mind a question. If we're to take all of this as proper within established Doctor Who canon, how was the First Doctor so aged if he was only 500 or so years old? The ideas in Orbis, though interesting, don't really square for me, but maybe this is yet more misdirection, the truth of which will be revealed later.
Orbis is definitely a strange way to resolve the previous season-end cliffhanger, but we'll just have to see what is done with it throughout the rest of this season. What I do *not* like about this so far is the downer of the Eighth Doctor's new 'tired of life' attitude, which hopefully will not last long...
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| The Start of an Iconic Character |
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This is a brillant set An Unearthly Child is the first which is an amazing story. The Daleks is next and still as good. And last but not least is The Edge of Destruction which was and cheap but brillant production. Now u think that's it but it isn't on The Edge of Destruction DVD there it is a 30mins Recon of Marco Polo which a brillant way to bridge the gap to The Key to Marnius which is soon to be released
Patrick Troughton, the cosmic hobo and my fav doctor. The War Games is just the perfect story to describe pat's years. Fun, thoughtful and sometimes just silly.
I normanlly don't watch the special features but these were really good.
Pat's last story was the last in black and white.
And what a way to end his time in dr who.
So 3 discs, 10 episodes, 2 classic compainions and one brillant dr.
| What: | Deep Blue (BBC Past Doctor novels) |
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| By: | Trevor Smith, Nottingham, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Saturday 11 July 2009 |
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| Rating: | 8 |
I was drawn to this book as I had met Mark Morris in Nottingham recently.
This is a really well written exciting book with a pleasing old time four parter with cliff hangers. The ending felt a bit rushed but other than that highly recommended.
| What: | The War Games (BBC classic series DVDs/Blu-rays) |
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| By: | Trevor Smith, Nottingham, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Saturday 11 July 2009 |
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| Rating: | 10 |
In the unlikely event of me being invited onto a Dr Who "Desert Island Discs", This would definitely be one of the story's I would take with him. A story full of wit, invention & wonderful character's & a heartbreaking ending. The restoration is staggeringly good. The sound (& especially)the picture has to be seen to be believed. The extras are a wonderful treasure trove of goodies. I loved "Stripped for Action" wonderful memories of the 2nd Doctor comic strips in TV Comic, Cybermen on skis, wonderful.
If you only buy one Dr Who DVD this year, make it this one.
This release has 2 very good stories and the other, I would say turkey but I hate to insult poultry in such a manner:
TURN LEFT - A really good original idea for a story. Except it seems a little pointless as in the end, nothing really happens. However overall, one of the best RTD has written.
THE STOLEN EARTH/JOURNEY'S END - From the trailers for this story, it looks like the best yet. All the companions and the most famous villains of all, the DALEKS! WITH DAVROS! However this one takes a whole episode to get started and then cheats us on a regeneration, before finally ending about 30 minutes into the 2nd episode (this is the one that needed to go for 65 minutes because they couldn't fit it all into the regular timeslot. WHAT?). For the last 35 minutes it's all goodbyes and farewells. And why did the Doctor immediately say goodbye to Rose when he's been trying to get to her for the past 2 series. But at least we don't have to put up with more of Billie Piper. In short, complete rubbish.
| What: | 100 (Big Finish: The Monthly Adventures) |
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| By: | Jack, Auckland, NZ |
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| Date: | Friday 10 July 2009 |
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| Rating: | 10 |
Despite what others may say, each of these stories are brilliant. There's a lot of great humour from the first 2 stories, the third story, Bedtime Stories, is quite creepy and well told with a brilliant twist at the end. And finally the last story is not so much a story, but a very nice homage to the Big Finish range in general.
In short, this is one of the best audios ever produced by Big Finish.
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| The war to end all Doctor Whos... |
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| What: | The War Games (BBC classic series DVDs/Blu-rays) |
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| By: | Huw Davies, Taunton, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Thursday 9 July 2009 |
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| Rating: | 10 |
This set is a triumph - by far the best yet. Whether the Guardian Trilogy and Keys of Marinus can live up to it remains to be seen, but they'll have to put up a fight, as this is a superb release.
The story itself is great: rolling along at a cracking pace, understandably for a 10-episoder it is almost guaranteed to sag in the middle. However this doesn't tarnish a wonderful story, as the final episode, which introduces the Time Lords, makes up for everything.
As for the extras, they have a whole disc to themselves, but 2|entertain haven't been unkind to us by cramming it full of super documentaries.
At £13.48 on Amazon, this release is the biggest bargain ever. Plus, watch Spearhead from Space afterwards - they form a nice little duo.
