A Review by Richard Radcliffe 7/5/04
Introduction:
I have been a Doctor Who fan since I was a kid. After watching the show on Saturday evenings, I began to collect the TARGET books. For many years these books, and DWM, were the only physical signs in my bedroom of my fandom. From the early 90s the New Adventures joined that collection, until round about the 20th book I decided that most of them weren't that great. From then on New Adventures, Missing Adventures, BBC Books were bought sporadically.
Big Finish came along just when I became single again, in 1999 - I had more money, but I restricted it to previous books, reference books and the new Big Finish cassettes. The fact that I have the 1st 15 BF plays on cassette (much to my annoyance now) shows you how far behind the technological revolution this fan is!
Funnily enough the DVDs did not catch my interest back then. It was only when I got Cable TV in mid 2003, that I began to rediscover the TV show again. I voraciously taped all and everything with the Doctor Who label on it, off UK Gold - the goal to finally have my very own TV Doctor Who collection. Trouble was we had a Dark Age video recorder, and you had to turn the sound up to maximum to hear it once it had been taped. Picture quality was like one of those dodgy pirate copies. The DVDs suddenly began to look more attractive.
Reviews on the Net are limited however, and it was only when I consulted a fellow fan (who had all the DVDs) that I decided to take the plunge, and start a DW DVD collection. It would definitely take me longer to get that full set, but these were purchases that would never be replaced.
It was only really when I began to collect them, that I really began to appreciate the extras that DVD provides - and that Doctor Who was at the cutting edge of new releases and restoration technology. I know the covers have come in for some stick, but it doesn't stop them looking splendid on the shelf - and I really don't think they are as bad as many make out anyway.
I now own them all, and will be buying them as and when they come out. It's interesting to note that the DVD releases seem to be largely following the patterns of the video releases - all the top ranked stories seem to be coming out first. I can understand this, as they want more people to buy them. It would put off initial buyers, like myself, if the early selections were Time and the Rani or The Dominators. Get the collectors in, and keep them - a policy that has succeeded in my case, as I'm very keen to get them all from now on.
I've already reviewed all the TV Doctor Who stories, and though my opinion slightly changes over the years, I won't be supplementing existing reviews too much. Possibly the best plan is to split them by the years they were released on DVD - so that is the way I shall go. I shall briefly reiterate my feelings on the story, and then focus primarily on the extras - it is those after all which distinguish the DVD release from their video and audio releases.
And by the way, every DVD release has wonderful, brilliant picture quality and sound - so that I have now said, and don't need to repeat myself on every release!
And another thing. These DVDs are Region 2 - I'm playing them in England. Five Doctors DVD Number ONE
I love The Five Doctors. I loved the TARGET book, that came out a week before the TV special. I loved its initial showing, wrapped with Children in Need as it was. I still do love Five Doctors. It's gloriously nostalgic, and it is quite wonderful to see Pat Troughton and Jon Pertwee being the Doctor again. Five Doctors for me will always be a Top Ten TV story. 10/10
It was no surprise, in November 1999, to see The Five Doctors as the first Doctor Who DVD release. It's no surprise now. Such an obvious choice to start the ball rolling. Looking at it now, it is woefully short of what we have come to expect from DW DVDs, but then it was the first, and it was nearly 5 years ago - right at the dawn of the DVD boom.
The version shown on this disc is the Special Edition. I had never seen this before, and was rather disappointed to see the marvelous Black Triangle that scoops up the contestants shunned in favour of something worse. The new scenes are nice enough, but there aren't that many. I actually prefer this kind of tampering to be optional - which indeed it became in later releases.
When I mentioned that this DVD is woefully short of material, I am referring to the lack of extras. There isn't any basically, apart from isolated music tracks (which are rather pleasant to play whilst you are reading a Doctor Who book). There is no commentary or production notes. There's no trailers or model test footage. There's nothing, which to me indicates that Five Doctors could very well be re-released in the future with lots of goodies on.
Where this DVD is superior to all others is the animated menus. Every other DVD follows the same pattern with the access options (there's a scene played out, with the up/down buttons down the right). But Five Doctors dazzled us with a CGI simulation of a TARDIS control room! And you can access scenes and the music via panels on the TARDIS console. Very nice it is too, and unique to The Five Doctors.
Ultimately though Five Doctors is the most spartan DVD - they were to get much, much better. For the DVD extras then I award only 4/10 (for the isolated music and TARDIS Console Menu).
Robots of Death DVD Number TWO
I like Robots of Death, I like it a lot - I just wouldn't put amongst the classics of Who like so many do. There are plenty of classic elements in it - the Sandminer, the robots' design, the 4th Doctor and Leela together. It's a fine murder mystery story, with a great villain too. I just think it is rather stretched, and could have been an even better 3-parter. It's still a great story though. 9/10
The 2nd DVD release is another sure-fire winning story. Coming from the golden era of Hinchcliffe/Holmes/Baker, and definitely one a lot of people (fans or not) remember. Released a full year after the last (November 2000), with the DVD market really hitting its stride. It points the way forward for future releases, establishing the menu format that will become familiar.
The first Doctor Who DVD commentary is brought to us by producer Philip Hinchcliffe and writer Chris Boucher. Both offer insightful glimpses into the making and devising of the story. I always think the writer is possibly the best person to get for commentaries, who knows the story better after all. Unfortunately this is one of the few DVDs to have a writer commenting on his own script. Hinchcliffe is very good also, as he is on every commentary he does.
Featurettes make their first appearance on DW DVDs for this release. Most are short and sweet, but all are of interest. A continuity announcement and slide from before the original broadcast takes you back to the 70s. The comparison scene from Part One, with the Doctor, Leela and Robot is semi-interesting. It really only shows how they had to dub the Robots voice onto the screen. Muffled Robot voice, can do better for features methinks!
Of interest to model makers everywhere (I'm not one) is the model test shots of the Sandminer. They tend to go on and on, which I suppose is the point of test shots. Always thought they were amongst the best of modelwork on DW, so nice to see more of them. Studio Floor Plans show how wonders were achieved in so small a setting. Having never seen anything like them before I thought they were great! A photo gallery rounds things off nicely, with a nice mixture of in production, and behind the scenes footage.
Overall Robots of Death was a considerable improvement on the first release, pointing the way forward in all kinds of ways for future releases. 7/10
Spearhead from Space DVD Number THREE
Spearhead from Space starts off the new era of 70s Doctor Who brilliantly. The gritty, realistic nature of the filming gives the story an edge. Pertwee shows how he can light the screen up, UNIT justify their new companion status and Robert Holmes provides his first great script. It also provides us with one of the best TARGET books - The Auton Invasion, by Terrance Dicks. 9/10
A few months after Robots of Death, Spearhead From Space hit the DVD market (January 2001). The releases would then be every 2 months or so. Menu is the same pattern as the previous. Disappointing thing is Spearhead doesn't have as many extras as Robots - bit of a step back that. There's also the first of the dubiously titled, and difficult to find, Easter Eggs.
The commentary is provided by Nick Courtney and Caroline John. So we have actors here, rather than behind the scenes personnel. They begin with a great deal of enthusiasm, but they begin to dry up by Episode 2. There's therefore long spells of silence. Courtney's memory is better than John's, and overall it has the feel of two friends watching the thing with you, rather than producing interesting observations. There's also plenty of "That's XXXXXX, isn't it, lovely man" - hardly insightful. Not the best commentary.
The new kid on the block is the production text commentary. It's got lots of information most fans will know, there also seems less of it compared to future releases - this aspect of the DVDs gets much better.
The UNIT Recruiting Film is a great little piece about the trials and tribulations of being a member of UNIT. Highly appropriate now they are regulars. It is taken from 1993 repeats. The trailers for the story are taken from the 1999 repeats - rather bombastic, and trying to be something they are not. Then there's the trailer for Dr Who Night from 1999 - much better. The photo gallery shows lots of Pertwee in his first photo shoot, which is rather nice.
The first Easter Egg is an unused Third Doctor title sequence, not half as good as the proper one. Go to main menu, highlight Play All, press left arrow key and the Doctor Who logo at the top left of the main menu page shines. Press select.
Not the best DVD package then, with disappointing commentary, text and extras. 5/10
Remembrance of the Daleks DVD Number FOUR
With this story the 7th Doctor came of age. After the light hearted Season 24, that was largely a miss rather than a hit, this was the time we knew the 7th could be as good as all the rest - if not better. With its celebrations of times past and splendid new Doctor/Companion team this really is excellent TV. It's another with a brilliant novelization too. 9/10
It strikes me that later stories have an advantage in the DVD market, over older stories. Those mid to late 80s stories just had more written about them, clearer memories because they are later, more people alive who contributed, plus extended sequences etc. No surprise then that Feb 2001 release is the best yet.
The commentary is provided by Sylvester McCoy and Sophie Aldred. Their brilliant working relationship on screen is mirrored with their affection for the series off it. It is lovely to hear their memories of a story they both felt pushed Doctor Who (and their roles in it) in the right direction. A production text provides the usual mix of well known facts.
Where this DVD excels is in its extended and deleted scenes. There's plenty to enjoy. The later Curse of Fenric release included these missing scenes in the main production, producting a new edit of the story in film version. The Remembrance DVD has them in a compilation format, one after the other. It's fascinating to see the greater mystery that these scenes would have given the Doctor's character. I particularly enjoyed the longer Cafe scene - a glorious pause amongst the mayhem outside.
Alternative versions of two scenes - school chemistry lab and gate explosion - allow the viewer to choose different camera angles. Always nice to see how the edit process comes together. Outtakes can be pretty dull, but thanks to Sylvester McCoy's natural comic inclination these are very funny. Lots of falling over, garbled words etc.
Trailers for Part 1 and Part 2 are again more examples of how the BBC has changed than anything else. The isolated music doesn't appeal as much for this reviewer as music from other stories - but that's because I felt this score was too bombastic - most of McCoy's stories were equally cruel on the ears. A photo gallery finishes things off well
This is a DVD enhanced massively by the extras, possibly the first where they appealed to the fan more than the story itself. Improving all the time, the best DVD so far. 8/10
The Caves of Androzani DVD Number FIVE
I haven't found anybody yet (not that I have been looking too hard) who does not like Caves of Androzani. It's always up there near, or at, the top of the tree in various polls. All I can do is endorse that. It's gripping, it's tightly plotted, it features one of the best Doctor/companion teams ever, it has a magnificent villain in Sharaz Jek (possibly the best in the entire series run). 10/10
One of the best stories deserves one of the best DVDs, and thankfully there is enough on this to make it so. Released in June 2001, the 3rd of the year, this gets my vote as the best yet of a steadily improving series.
With production notes more insightful again, and the first sign of new effects the producers of the DVD range are really trying to make a great story even better. The commentary is the first by Peter Davison. He's joined by Nicola Bryant and Graeme Harper. So for the first time we have in front of the camera, and behind the camera, represented together. It's by far the most entertaining commentary yet. Davison is a natural for these commentaries. With his mix of humour and exposition, he really enhances the story no end. Harper is a little quiet, apart from his laugh, and Bryant is mercilessly teased by Davison. It raises the standard for all future commentaries to follow.
Behind the scenes footage don't come more relevant than the regeneration. Alternative takes and shots, combined with a commentary subtitled option show the intensity of studio recording. New effects are present with a new opening scene, minus jerkiness. You can choose which you want to view. An extended scene comes in the form of the gun runners (the one where Stotz shoves a pill down Krelper's throat). Again commentary is provided if you want it. Creating Sharaz Jek is a short 5 minute piece about this marvelous villain. Using a fan-produced audio recording the memories of Christopher Gable are very welcome. There's also some interesting behind the scenes footage. The original trailer from the initial broadcast takes you to the mid 80s. News items covering the departure of Davison are superficial, but still hugely interesting for any DW fan. Excerpts from One O'Clock News, Nine O'Clock News and South East at Six show the high profile that Doctor Who had back in 1983. Great to see JNT in there too, with his usual teases about the new Doctor.
You can listen to isolated music if you so wish - a particularly strong, atmospheric score given its due. The usual photo gallery (not many behind the scenes this time) finishes an impressive disc off.
One of the first Doctor Who DVDs I bought, because it is one of my favourite stories. Nice to see an impressive DVD this early on the release schedule, with an array of extras to complement the excellence. 8/10
TV Movie DVD Number SIX
The film split fandom right down the middle. I always stand on the "more good than bad" side. Paul McGann is brilliant. Sylvester McCoy is pretty good too. It would have been wonderful to see Grace in more stories. The Master wasn't quite as good as his fellow stars. It looked great though, and that TARDIS interior is magnificent. The story isn't up too much, but there's plenty of great scenes throughout. 8/10
The film of 1996 was an obvious choice to release as a DVD. Qualitywise, picture quality and all that, it wouldn't have needed much cleaning up. A must buy then, in August 2001, as the sole representative of the 8th Doctor's TV adventures!
Starting with the commentary, which is by Director Geoffrey Sax.
Unfortunately this begs the question of why just him. So many were
attached to this production (probably more than any other DW TV
production?), yet we get a commentary of only one. It's not too bad
though, and if you are to get the one, then the director is probably one
of the best ones to get. He is a touch too obvious in his observations
however - we really do know when SFX has been used, especially when it's
the Master snake! A production text is pleasingly more detailed than
usual, and gives us a fine blow by blow account, covering lots of
subjects. It also includes plenty about the storylines that were
ultimately rejected. It's not as extensive as the
Regeneration book, but then what is?
A behind the scenes compilation features Eric Roberts' make-up and
outside location work - lots of chickens if I remember things right! I
expected more of this sort of thing, but this is something at least.
Included too is a tour of the TARDIS set. Philip Segal talks about the
best part of the film, explaining props. Again this could have been much
better, and is lit very badly. It's a rather tiny piece, which could have
covered more. Alternative scenes come in the form of the policeman on the
bike, and lift Puccini. The originals are better!
The music for this DVD is particularly impressively presented. There's
the choice to listen to isolated music whilst watching the visuals. A fine
score is given its due in this way. An innovation for this disc is the
four audio tracks from the movie itself. Presented in their entirety it is
great to hear the following:- Dream Ride into the Moonlight, All Dressed
Up and Auld Lang Syne. The first mentioned track always reminds me of the
film, a superb lilting melody, ideal to set the mood.
The usual photo gallery is present, and we also have an Easter Egg.
This is simply, but profoundly, the Dedication to Jon Pertwee, just before
the Film aired. To save you the search access it in the following way:- Go
to main menu, highlight Play Movie option. Hit Left Arrow key. Logo
illuminates. Press Select.
The film has more extras on than anything thus
far released, and you would expect that. Funnily enough though after
watching them, I expected and wanted even more. Nonetheless a decent DVD
of a pretty fine film. 7/10
Venmgeance on Varos DVD Number SEVEN
Colin Baker was a great Doctor on television, I always thought so.
He's still a great Doctor on the audios. Difference is the stories of the
audios are better, for the most part - hence the 6th Doctor has persuaded
many he is a great Doctor after all. A prime example of how good the 6th
Doctor could be on TV is Varos, one of the better TV
stories from this era. Foreshadowing the Reality TV boom of recent years
(by well over a decade), it features a brilliant villain (Sil), and some
superb supporting performances (the Governor). It's great TV, about TV.
8/10
It seems a conscious decision was made for the first 6 DVDS (not
counting Five Doctors) to be the six colour
Doctors. One each, everyone happy. Choosing Varos as
the first 6th Doctor DVD was a good choice. It's about TV after all, so
commentators can look at current TV - and see how well Philip Martin
predicted it. It was released in October 2001, and still has plenty to
say.
As far as commentaries go, it's nice to see a bit of variety amongst
the participants. Here Colin Baker and Nicola Bryant (predictable and
welcome choices) are joined by Nabil Shaban (Sil). As one of the focal
characters of the whole production, it is nice to see the villain
elevated. It's a jolly good commentary too, full of comments about
character and the subject matter at hand. All have their say, but it is
Colin Baker's comments that particularly impressed - as they usually do.
Production notes step up a gear once again, and feature the mass of
information we want to know (and some we don't).
Trailers from the original transmission are there to be accessed, as
are some continuity announcements. Deleted and extended scenes are here
too. There's plenty of TARDIS bickering from the Doctor and Peri. Seeing
as the original transmission had plenty already, it is surprising so much
was filmed. I really like the one on ones between the Doctor and
companions - so extra footage is wonderful. Plenty of it too - 10 minutes
in all.
A big disappointment is the outtakes and behind the scenes footage.
Both present a rigorous and serious studio setting. There seems no fun at
all to be had, everyone carefully trying to not make a mistake for fear of
being told off. Outtakes usually mean laughs, but there is none here. A
photo gallery with nothing new finishes this decidedly average DVD.
Apart from the commentary and deleted scenes with the Doctor and Peri,
I have to say this DVD disappoints. The story stands up well, more than
most of its day. It's just the extras are not up to equalling this
standard. A definite step backwards. 5/10