Following from Doctor Who #105: City of Death...
Doctor Who DVDs usually include an audio commentary by surviving cast and crew, dense production note subtitles, brand new making of documentaries and photo galleries, the exception here being The Five Doctors, which, though proudly announcing its status as a "special edition" has only the commentary going for it.
Doctor Who #110: The Leisure Hive (Lovett Bickford, 1980)
Starring the 4th Doctor and Romana II. 80s producer John nathan-Turner's new "glossy" direction does nothing for me, I'm afraid. Tom Baker is clearly out of control by this point, and Romana's schoolgirl uniform isn't enough to distract us from the gaudy colors and effects in this silly political thriller in an alien resort. The extras are better than the story, frankly, including a documentary on JNT's changes to the show, one of the creation of the new theme music, and a Blue Peter segment on a Doctor Who exhibition.
Doctor Who #115-117: New Beginning boxed set (various, 1981)
Starring the 4th and 5th Doctors, Adric, Nyssa and Tegan. This boxed set strings together the stories surrounding the changing of the guard from Tom Baker's Doctor to Peter Davison's. Now, I happen to be a fan of the 5th Doctor, but I have to admit his era is one of my least favorite. Too many people aboard the TARDIS is one problem, especially since few of the companions really had the acting chops. Still, the transition period is rather enjoyable, easily seen as a long story thanks to the Master being its principal villain (with Anthony Ainley making a start of it, mostly as a clichéed black hat). It all starts with The Keeper of Traken, which also introduces the aristocratic Nyssa. The story has lush sets and an odd fable-like feel, and its cod-Shakespeare gives it the right sense of literacy. The DVD includes a feature on the Master's return and some interviews of Sarah Sutton (Nyssa) of the time. Then comes Tom Baker's last story, Logopolis, which also introduces argumentative Australian air hostess Tegan Jovanka. The story is a really strange one with buddhist monks calculating the universe into being, but it works and there's a funereal feel to the whole thing, with the Doctor far less comic than usual. The DVD includes interviews with both Doctors from the time, BBC news reports of Baker's departure and more. Finally, there's Castrovalva, the 5th Doctor's first story, which takes the time to show his regeneration in detail before sending us to a strange world drawn by Escher. Adric is remarkably palatable, and I really do like the high weirdness on display through these stories. The DVD also adds interviews with Peter Davison, deleted scenes, and a theme music video.
Doctor Who #120: The Visitation (Peter Moffatt, 1982)
Starring the 5th Doctor, Adric, Nyssa and Tegan. Not at all a favorite, The Visitation just hangs limply on your screen. Largely a showcase for the writer's radio play character, Richard Mace, one of those rogues who are only supposed to be charming. But the actor is as bored as anyone, as the characters perhaps inevitably get involved in the Great Fire of London while traispsing through 17th-century England to stop the evil Terrileptils. The DVD offers plenty of making of documentaries as well as a number of deleted scenes.
Doctor Who #122: Earthshock (Peter Grimwade, 1982)
Starring the 5th Doctor, Adric, Nyssa and Tegan. Die, Adric die!!! There's no way to discuss Earthshock without being all spoilery, so to hell with it. Adric dies, Cybermen, and plenty of violence. There's a lot of energy onscreen, but when you're cheering for the bad guys to win, there's obviously a problem. At least you're cheering. The DVD offers a CGI effects option which makes the finale look a lot better, plus a claymation short that's meant to be a humorous sequel, deleted scenes, and a 1982 BBC program on Doctor Who's monsters (these are rarely very good).
Doctor Who #130: The Five Doctors (Peter Grimwade, 1983)
Starring the almost 5 Doctors, Tegan, Turlough, and a slew of old companions. It's fun to see all the old faces and monsters, as well as go deeper into Gallifreyan mythology, but this anniversary special doesn't really have a coherent plot. Some good set pieces, but not a plot per se. Richard Hurndall isn't at all like the first Doctor you remember, and Tom Baker is only in it thanks to the magic of unused footage. I think there's a better version of this in the UK that's available now, but my copy has new special effects (which aren't a heck of a lot better than the originals), changes to the music and minor additional footage. I don't think they detract from the experience.
But what did YOU think? Next: Doctor Who: Resurrection of the Daleks to The Two Doctors.
Doctor Who DVDs usually include an audio commentary by surviving cast and crew, dense production note subtitles, brand new making of documentaries and photo galleries, the exception here being The Five Doctors, which, though proudly announcing its status as a "special edition" has only the commentary going for it.
Doctor Who #110: The Leisure Hive (Lovett Bickford, 1980)Starring the 4th Doctor and Romana II. 80s producer John nathan-Turner's new "glossy" direction does nothing for me, I'm afraid. Tom Baker is clearly out of control by this point, and Romana's schoolgirl uniform isn't enough to distract us from the gaudy colors and effects in this silly political thriller in an alien resort. The extras are better than the story, frankly, including a documentary on JNT's changes to the show, one of the creation of the new theme music, and a Blue Peter segment on a Doctor Who exhibition.
Doctor Who #115-117: New Beginning boxed set (various, 1981)Starring the 4th and 5th Doctors, Adric, Nyssa and Tegan. This boxed set strings together the stories surrounding the changing of the guard from Tom Baker's Doctor to Peter Davison's. Now, I happen to be a fan of the 5th Doctor, but I have to admit his era is one of my least favorite. Too many people aboard the TARDIS is one problem, especially since few of the companions really had the acting chops. Still, the transition period is rather enjoyable, easily seen as a long story thanks to the Master being its principal villain (with Anthony Ainley making a start of it, mostly as a clichéed black hat). It all starts with The Keeper of Traken, which also introduces the aristocratic Nyssa. The story has lush sets and an odd fable-like feel, and its cod-Shakespeare gives it the right sense of literacy. The DVD includes a feature on the Master's return and some interviews of Sarah Sutton (Nyssa) of the time. Then comes Tom Baker's last story, Logopolis, which also introduces argumentative Australian air hostess Tegan Jovanka. The story is a really strange one with buddhist monks calculating the universe into being, but it works and there's a funereal feel to the whole thing, with the Doctor far less comic than usual. The DVD includes interviews with both Doctors from the time, BBC news reports of Baker's departure and more. Finally, there's Castrovalva, the 5th Doctor's first story, which takes the time to show his regeneration in detail before sending us to a strange world drawn by Escher. Adric is remarkably palatable, and I really do like the high weirdness on display through these stories. The DVD also adds interviews with Peter Davison, deleted scenes, and a theme music video.
Doctor Who #120: The Visitation (Peter Moffatt, 1982)Starring the 5th Doctor, Adric, Nyssa and Tegan. Not at all a favorite, The Visitation just hangs limply on your screen. Largely a showcase for the writer's radio play character, Richard Mace, one of those rogues who are only supposed to be charming. But the actor is as bored as anyone, as the characters perhaps inevitably get involved in the Great Fire of London while traispsing through 17th-century England to stop the evil Terrileptils. The DVD offers plenty of making of documentaries as well as a number of deleted scenes.
Doctor Who #122: Earthshock (Peter Grimwade, 1982)Starring the 5th Doctor, Adric, Nyssa and Tegan. Die, Adric die!!! There's no way to discuss Earthshock without being all spoilery, so to hell with it. Adric dies, Cybermen, and plenty of violence. There's a lot of energy onscreen, but when you're cheering for the bad guys to win, there's obviously a problem. At least you're cheering. The DVD offers a CGI effects option which makes the finale look a lot better, plus a claymation short that's meant to be a humorous sequel, deleted scenes, and a 1982 BBC program on Doctor Who's monsters (these are rarely very good).
Doctor Who #130: The Five Doctors (Peter Grimwade, 1983)Starring the almost 5 Doctors, Tegan, Turlough, and a slew of old companions. It's fun to see all the old faces and monsters, as well as go deeper into Gallifreyan mythology, but this anniversary special doesn't really have a coherent plot. Some good set pieces, but not a plot per se. Richard Hurndall isn't at all like the first Doctor you remember, and Tom Baker is only in it thanks to the magic of unused footage. I think there's a better version of this in the UK that's available now, but my copy has new special effects (which aren't a heck of a lot better than the originals), changes to the music and minor additional footage. I don't think they detract from the experience.
But what did YOU think? Next: Doctor Who: Resurrection of the Daleks to The Two Doctors.
Comments
Bubble memory... Sheesh.
Whenever people ask me where to start with the original series, this is my recommendation, since you get a nice little history lesson, and almost anywhere you go afterward will be a bit of an improvement. :)
There is another version of The Five Doctors now available in the UK. It contains the original TV version, the 90s special edition that was on the original DVD, and a commentary track made by Tennant, Coulson and Gardner. It's quite funny, especially when they start mocking the "fake Doctor".