Amazon.co.uk Review
It was always going to be a risk for the BBC to revamp Doctor Who--few television programmes inspire as much rabid and cultish adoration. With the 2005 series, however, the BBC have really outdone themselves. Their updated Doctor Who is a revelation: a cult science fiction series that has real mass appeal, and works for both children and their parents. Christopher Eccleston is an inspired and charismatic Doctor--he leaps around the sets with an unrestrained glee, like he's a child running amok in a toy shop. His enthusiasm in downright infectious. His sidekick Rose (Billie Piper) adds a real human touch, particularly as she gradually and believably matures from in-over-her-head city kid to tough-minded interplanetary hero. Much of the credit must go to writer Russell Davies, who has a much-practiced knack for finding popular appeal without dumbing-down his ideas, and who appears to have let his imagination run riot. Even the special effects, whilst not of a big-budget cinematic quality, still manage to strike a balance between cheesiness and realism. Thrilling, funny and thoroughly entertaining, this Doctor Who is a hero for the new millennium. --Robert Burrow
Customer Reviews:
Almost perfect.......2007-06-08
Three of the most clever, emotional and brilliant episodes came from this dvd but it's a shame about''The Long Game''.''The Long Game'' isn't a bad episode it just isn't at all good.''Fathers Day'' is one of my favourite episodes. ''The Empty Child'' and ''The Doctor Dances'' are probably the most thrilling and scary episodes in the series.The plot of these two episodes is ingenious.Although I don't think ''The Long Game'' is great, this is still probably my favourite dvd in the series and I really reccomend it.
Best episodes of the series....but thats not saying much.......2007-02-03
I'm afraid i am not one of the people who thinks Doctor Who has enjoyed a renaissance. But i can admit there a few of the new series that do show great potential. And this DVD, conveniently, has all three of them in one package. I'll start with the one that isn't fantastic first. "The Long Game," tellingly written by Russel T Davies (and therefore hardly original), is set in the year 5000-odd and is a tale about corporate media takeover. With a big alien in the attic. The problem with this story is that its completely average. Not bad at all, but lacking in being good as well. Simon Pegg gives an overly hammy performance, Tamsin Greig is even roped in for a daft pointless cameo. The alien on Level 51 is once again given an incredibly silly name (I think RTD picked it up incorrectly from watching one or two episodes of the classic series that aliens should have daft names. I stand by my accusation; i don't think RTD is a doctor who fan. He just says he is to make people like him.) And the ending is abysmal. Moving on.
"Fathers Day" is excellent. Oh look, not written by Russel. Taking a basic sci fi concept (that of using time travel to right what once went wrong) and twisting it round to show its dark side. Setting it in the 80s is a stroke of genius - it allows clever use of cool classic cars. Its a morality tale at its heart. The appearance of the creatures (officially "reapers", but they are a little too akin to the Chronovores of Who History) is brilliant; excellent special effects and actually quite scary. The gaping plot holes...well fine. Its time travel. Few people can write a time travel yarn without having a few plot holes. Best just to ignore them and enjoy the ride.
"The Empty Child" and "The Doctor Dances" are not written by Russel either. Ergo they are very good. Its a two-parter, so theres a cliffhanger. And its brilliant. The gasmask transformation is a scare-sequence that will haunt the children of today like the haemovores of "The Curse of Fenric" did when i was that age. Introducing the world to Jack Harkness as well - who will go on to flaunt his classy womanising (and "manising") in the spin off Torchwood). The ending is a little overly sugary but hey, whats wrong with that? Richard Wilson shows what cameo actors should do; play it well and play it straight. True class.
Overall then. Three out of Four and to boot, the best three episodes of the whole of Chris Ecclestone's series all on one DVD. Ignore the rest of the series and watch this one.
The worst and the best-.......2005-08-30
This dvd would be the best value for money out of the dr who dvds so far - four episodes and 3/4 of them are first rate pieces of work.
Unfortunately Russell T Davies' 'the long game' makes this almost embarrassing to buy - the story is a tired re-hash of countless cheap childrens dramas since the 70s, and excepting Simon Pegg, contains some truly pathetic acting. Don't watch it, it's lazy.
The next episode, 'Father's day' by comparison contains som top performances and is a well-paced and mature piece of drama. Moving and insightful, it doesn't even matter the story relies on gaping sci-fi plot holes. More about symbol than science and does it well.
The final two make up one story set in the blitz - you can tell the writer does comedy as it's a witty and clever. Also the most atmospheric of the series, with some exceptionally good story telling and high-level concepts. The linking of a good scientific idea to wonderfully emotional and (dare I say again) symbolic events in the resolving scene is a joy to behold. DO watch this one!
Once more into the Tardis dear friends.......2005-08-12
Into volume three of the Eccleston series, and you can see that the writers and production crew are growing in confidence, becoming almost blasé about their potential to deliver a good story. This is Dr.Who with attitude.
"The Long Game" is an ironic spin on the ability of a corporate network to exercise control over the news - hard to believe it's not reflecting on efforts of Blair's cabinet to manipulate news and demand that the BBC come to heel? Humanity is shaped and guided by its consumption of news, by the ability of the media to define what shall reach the public consciousness. Here we have news as the religion of the universe, information as the opiate liturgy of life. And only the Doctor can peel away the spin and reveal that by creating a climate of fear, the ruler of the media can manipulate people to do whatever he wishes. Beautiful performances from Simon Pegg and Tasmin Greig enliven an excellent story.
"Father's Day" has Rose return to meet her long dead father. The Doctor succumbs to her sentimental urge and is not unduly surprised to discover that, yet again, one of the monkeys has fouled up the timeline and plunged the universe into disorder. It's a good story, a bit maudlin in places, but entertaining enough.
"The Empty Child" and "The Doctor Dances" are the halves of a two-parter, neatly split by a cliff-hanger end to the earlier episode. This is a seriously good piece of drama, set in London during the Blitz, the special effects creating both a realistic atmosphere and a comic book feel, with Rose flying above London courtesy of a rogue barrage balloon. This could become an iconic image.
This is excellent: a gas-masked child roaming the streets searching for its mummy transforms science fiction into horror and creates a strong, cross-genre narrative. It's a wonderfully choreographed story, tension and humour used with commendable skill, plot and subplot woven tightly together.
All in all, the new, revived Doctor Who has proved outstanding, able to use special effects to good effect, to weld quality storytelling with a new, riskier direction and production outlook, and to present science fiction as not simply speculating about arcane scientific developments but as a vehicle for dissidence, for a fresher understanding of the contemporary world ... and an opportunity to satirise and ridicule. Eccleston, of course, is a very fine actor, and he has brought real authority back to the character, his persona beautifully complementing the dissident dynamic of the series.
Excellent production, well worth waiting for ... but then, what's time to the Doctor?
"Doctor, who? The best!".......2005-08-10
What is this like? Amazing, is all I can say. Doctor Who has suddenly plundged itself into a number of catogories that add up the excellence of it. Especially this one. The first episode is my least favourite of the lot. It's fantastically gripping and suspencful, but not as enjoyable as the others. They end up on Satalite 5 in the year 200,000 and the psychological events in this episode all add up to something hidden up on level 500. A strange, but cleverly made "thing" that is controling the human race. The Doctor, Rose and their unofficial accomplis from the Dalek episode get to the bottom of the mystery why the people who are elected to remain on level 500 never return. Father's Day. My favourite episode. This one has so much to it. Beautifully acted and heart-breakingly gripping and emotional. Rose and the Doctor go back to 1987 to see Rose's father when he got hit by a joyrider. Time is damaged by Rose actually saving her Dad. The Reapers appear from a different dimension and start to kill everyone. This is happening because time is badly damaged. A great episode.
The Empty Child. Very scary. I had to watch this with my face in my hands, peering through my fingers. The doctor and Rose go back to the Second World War. A bomb has hit London and children are strangly cursed, with exactly the same scars on their hands. Their favourite is "mummy" as you esstablish during it. The cursed must not enter any houses or touch anyone otherwise... Get it and find out. Brilliant DVD! Definitly a "must buy". The last episode is a happy-ending episode. AMAZING. ASTOUNDING. The acting is superb. The script is exhilaratingly written and sums up the whole of Doctor Who...
Amazon.co.uk Review
It was always going to be a risk for the BBC to revamp Doctor Who--few television programmes inspire as much rabid and cultish adoration. With the 2005 series, however, the BBC have really outdone themselves. Their updated Doctor Who is a revelation: a cult science fiction series that has real mass appeal, and works for both children and their parents. Christopher Eccleston is an inspired and charismatic Doctor--he leaps around the sets with an unrestrained glee, like he's a child running amok in a toy shop. His enthusiasm in downright infectious. His sidekick Rose (Billie Piper) adds a real human touch, particularly as she gradually and believably matures from in-over-her-head city kid to tough-minded interplanetary hero. Much of the credit must go to writer Russell Davies, who has a much-practiced knack for finding popular appeal without dumbing-down his ideas, and who appears to have let his imagination run riot. Even the special effects, whilst not of a big-budget cinematic quality, still manage to strike a balance between cheesiness and realism. Thrilling, funny and thoroughly entertaining, this Doctor Who is a hero for the new millennium. --Robert Burrow
Customer Reviews:
An excellent finsh.......2007-07-02
The three episodes on this dvd are called Boom Town, Bad Wolf and The Parting Of The Ways. Two of the episodes are great and one of them is alright.
Boom Town is the worst episode on this dvd and probably one of the worst episodes in the series. It isn't too bad but it has nothing great or really memorable in it. The episode is about the doctor capturing the last living member of the Slitheen family and he intends to send her back to Raxacoracovalapatorious where she will be executed, but does she have a plan.... This episode does have some good action moments but it still isn't great.
Bad Wolf is a great episode. It is about the Doctor, Rose and Jack ending up on television shows on sattelite five in the year 200'100. The Doctor is on Big Brother and the evicted housemates get killed. Rose is on Weakest Link and the contestants get killed if they are voted off. Jack is on What Not To Wear and the robots try to kill him. When Rose loses in Weakest Link she gets captured by the mysterious force behind the game station( the Daleks ).
The Parting Of The Ways is the final episode in the series and it is brilliant. When the Doctor rescues Rose he has to defeat hundreds of thousands of Daleks and their emperor. At the end of the episode the Doctor regenerates and I was very excited for the next episode that Christmas.
I reccomend this dvd because of the final two episodes, although Boom Town is still worth watching if your a fan of the show.
Series 1 finished with me wanting more! and this is Fantastic! Doctor Who is here to stay!!!!!!.......2006-07-24
This DVD is the last of Series 1 of the revived series of Doctor Who, i think that this is the best DVD so far out of Doctor Who. Russell T Davies has made Doctor Who better than ever. The main Achievement of this series was not just the re-introduction of The Doctor but also of his greatest rival, THE DALEKS!!!.
The first episode "Boom town" is like the next part to the Slitheen story, when the Tardis Crew find out that Margaret the Slitheen is still alive, they realise that they need to stop her from destroying the planet.
The greatest highlight of Series 1 is the last two episodes "Bad Wolf"/"The Parting of the Ways" The Doctor, Rose and Captain Jack get separated and are forced to play the deadly games on the Game Station (Satellite 5) The secret force controling the station is The Doctor's worst nightmare, THE DALEKS!!! who were long presumed dead and wiped out of existence. The Doctor must make the ultimate sacrifice to save the universe and to save Rose.
This DVD is great and i would recommend it to old and new fans of Doctor Who.
Anti-Climax typical Russell T Davies.......2006-04-04
I have been a follower of Doctor Who since I was 4. I'm now 20. I've watched, read and listened to many adventures of the doctors. When the new series returned I was excited especially when I heard Russel was involved. However the series was very disapointing. This is in my opinion the worst volume. Boom Town is a bad lesson in story writing. There is a serious lack of plot which falls second to character development. The final two parter starts badly picks up and the daleks are very impressive, but the whole plot is slowed down by cutting back to that council estate! Then theres the silly ending.
Great if your a casual fan or a child. If you're a real Who fan then it's a real let down.
A fantastic end to a fantastic season.......2005-09-27
Being old enough to have watched Dr Who (mainly Tom Baker and then Peter Davidson) the first time, I eagerly awaited the new series. It was more than I could hahev ever hoped for and this set of episodes, showcases the talent of Christopher Eccleston.
The ending did make me shed a tear and I am sorry to see him leave but am sure that David Tennant will make a briiliant Dr.
The beeb have outdone themselves with Dr Who and I am counting the days until the next series!!
The Doctor dies........................ again?.......2005-08-20
The best three episodes of the series are on this dvd.
11: BOOM TOWN-The Doctor, Rose and Jack travel back to Earth; just as we find that one member of the Slitheen family is still alive
12: BAD WOLF-The gang fight for their lives aboard the GameStation; but Armageddon is fast approaching as the Daleks plot to change the world.
13: THE PARTING OF THE WAYS-The series finale sees the return of the Daleks and there deadlier than ever. Also, Davros returns as the self-styled God of all Daleks. Very dramatic episode with some funny bits like that scene with Ann Droid destroying the Daleks before being destroyed herself. We discover that Rose is the Bad Wolf and we see Chris regenerate into David's doctor. It's a bit sad that Jack is stranded in the year 200,100.
All in all; very good.
Amazon.co.uk Review
This second batch of episodes from David Tennant's maiden run as the title character finds Doctor Who building up an impressive head of steam. There's a trip back in time to see Queen Victoria, a reunion with an old friend and some deadly clockwork nemeses to contend with as the series really bursts into life.
Tooth & Claw is first up, set back in 1897 Scotland, as the Doctor and Rose must contend with a deadly werewolf, mysterious monks and the suspicions of Queen Victoria. It's not the strongest of the series, but even so, this is Doctor Who on fine form and very sure footing.
School Reunion is superb, though. It brings back two of the Doctor's previous companions, Sarah-Jane and K-9, and asks some intriguing questions of what happens to his assistants once he leaves them behind. That it also ties in an intriguing story of sinister goings on at an innocent looking school only adds to the achievement. The final episode, The Girl In The Fireplace, is also excellent. This is a staggeringly successful mixture of love story, unnerving baddies and quality science fiction. It's the episode to date where Tennant has looked surest with the role, and it's a highlight of an already highly impressive series.
So, to summarise, a DVD featuring one good and two superb episodes, with the promise of plenty more tasty episodes later in the series. Can't be bad.--Simon Brew
Customer Reviews:
"The Girl in the Fireplace".......2007-11-05
David Tennant does a great job of playing Doctor Who, and of the three episodes on this disc, it's 'The Girl in the Fireplace' episode that stands out as a classic, and it's worth getting it for this episode alone. Take an original idea, add a spaceship with some unique 'windows', some clockwork.. (wait and see) and set it in 18th century France, and you have a recipe for an excellent Doctor Who. The other episodes, Tooth & Claw and School Reunion are also very good and make this three episode set highly recommended for fans of the series.
Episodes 2-4.......2007-08-07
First on this disc we have "Tooth And Claw", a brilliant episode with a frankly haunting transformation sequence, also quite funny. Second is "School Reunion", Sarah Jane Smith's back! Good acting from Anthony Head and a smashing storyline. And finally "The Girl In The Fireplace", a masterpiece, the Doctor finds a time portal and falls in love with the girl on the other end, bless! All in all, a good selection of Doctor Who.
Sarah's Back!.......2006-10-20
Sarah-Jane Smith is back! Only the best Doctor Who assistant ever. If there are any nippers reading this ask yer dads!
K-9's Back!.......2006-07-15
"K-9!"
Episode 3: Tooth & Claw- a really nice gothic-like story in wich The Doctor and Rose end up in Scotland 1897 and meet Queen Victoria and a really cool werewolf! It has grate action and grate acting and the wearwolf is just grate :)
Episode 4: School Reuinon- The best yet, it see's the returne of Sarah Jane Smith (A brillient Elizabeth Sladen) and K-9 (in my opinon, the best assistint :) As the Doctor and Rose invastigate weird going on's in a school. Antony Head is brilliet as the evil Krilatain leader and it has a very emotinal ending.
Episode 5: The Girl in the Fire Place- The Doctor, Rose and Miky end up on a empty 51st century space ship and find pokets of time all around it (and a cool horse!) all leading to Madam Du Pompadour and some brillient Clock-Work Robots who are hunting her throu time. There are some really good emotinal scean's and the clock-Work robots are a grate design :)
It keeps geting better and better with grate storys, brillient design's and excallent acting ^^
Just what The Doctor ordered........2006-07-06
This is the first series of Doctor Who I have ever watched, and by the end of Girl in The Fireplace I was hopelessely hooked.
The first episode on this DVD is 'Tooth & Claw' where The Doc (The wonderful David Tennant) and Rose (The great Billie Piper) find themselves back in victorian England where a Warewolf is stalking Queen Victoria. This episode took me back to my childhood when wolves were one of my fears and I loved this episode. It was scary but with brilliant injections of humour with Rose trying to get Queen Vic to say "I am Not Amused!" also David Tennant drops his 'Mockney' accent and talks in his native Scottish tougue! A great episode that sends shivers down your spine
School Reunion reunited The Doc with old accomplice Sarah-Jane Smith and K-9. Krillitines are invading the brains of school children and the Doc and co must save them. I liked this episode because there are some real tender moments between the Doc and SJS and the Doc and Rose. This episode give the viewer a wonderful insight into the seemingly invulnerable doctor and shows that he does have emotions and insecurity. Also, Rose not only realises that she is just one in a long line of people to have travelled with The Doc but that he'll end up leaving her like he did SJS! A very touching moment at the end when he's leaving in the Tardis and his parting line to his former companion is "My Sarah Jane!" showing her that he still has a place for her in his affections. A wonderful episode with action and emotion magnificently blended that goes a long way to tell you a little bit more about what goes on in the life of the Doctor and that there is sadness lurking beneath that jovial exterior
Girl In The Fireplace is the next episode and is also great. The Doctor has haunted the dreams of a young French child for years who grew up to become Madame Du Pompadour. But why is she now being stalked by sinister Clockwork Druids who are intent on stealing her very life force? The doctor must open time windows in order to find out and save her. Add to this a white steed and you've got a great episode. There are many tender moments in this episode also and the Doc and Madam DP share a lingering kiss. (Trivia: Sophie Myles who played Madame De Pompodour is DT's real-life partner)
Another tender moment, when connecting with his lonelyness Madame De Pompadour tells him "There comes a time Timelord, when every little boy must learn to dance" a wonderfully scripted crypic episode with some funny dialoge from all involved
All in all I think all three episodes were great, and that Tennant makes a wickedly zany, funny Timelord. Of course only being a fan for this one series I am sure that many views find his predecessors even better. But in all 3 great Episodes to watch time and time again.
Amazon.co.uk Review
It was always going to be a risk for the BBC to revamp Doctor Who--few television programmes inspire as much rabid and cultish adoration. With the 2005 series, however, the BBC have really outdone themselves. Their updated Doctor Who is a revelation: a cult science fiction series that has real mass appeal, and works for both children and their parents. Christopher Eccleston is an inspired and charismatic Doctor--he leaps around the sets with an unrestrained glee, like he's a child running amok in a toy shop. His enthusiasm in downright infectious. His sidekick Rose (Billie Piper) adds a real human touch, particularly as she gradually and believably matures from in-over-her-head city kid to tough-minded interplanetary hero. Much of the credit must go to writer Russell Davies, who has a much-practiced knack for finding popular appeal without dumbing-down his ideas, and who appears to have let his imagination run riot. Even the special effects, whilst not of a big-budget cinematic quality, still manage to strike a balance between cheesiness and realism. Thrilling, funny and thoroughly entertaining, this Doctor Who is a hero for the new millennium. --Robert Burrow
Customer Reviews:
Enjoyable newcomers and a brilliant return.......2007-08-10
An excellent three episodes from the first series.
'Aliens of London/World War Three' is terrific fun. I imagine the satire will go over the heads of younger viewers, but then 'Doctor Who' always did try to provide something for all ages. It's a good, fast moving storyline with plenty of humour. Penelope Wilton and Annette Badland stand out from a solid cast. For a fan of the classic series like me it was a thrill to see the return (albeit briefly) of UNIT. Although the CGI is not perfect, the crash-landing of the Slitheen spacecraft is spectacular and the Slitheen themselves, when presented in CGI form, are impressive. Therein lies one of the major flaws - it is difficult to believe that the athletic, fast moving hunters that they appear as CGI are the same as the shuffling, wobbly-headed creatures played by actors in rubber suits. Still, a hugely entertaining couple of episodes.
Now for 'Dalek'. It's difficult to express how wonderful this story is. The new-look Dalek is imposing and has been given a glorious new look whilst remaining true to the original basic design. Perhaps for the first time it really does look like a virtually indestructible war-machine. It is wonderful to see a Dalek as the cunning, manipulative creature that the race was always intended to be. Equally, the two battles it fights are spectacularly realised. Writer Rob Shearman clearly had great fun subverting the traditional jokes aimed at the Daleks; the much talked about 'hovering Dalek' scenes aren't as exciting to a classic series fan like me - despite all the jokes about stairs, Daleks have been seen hovering on at least three occasions before - but CGI allows this to be rendered much more convincingly. The Dalek mutant, when it is finally revealed, is likewise well realised. I've never found the Daleks particularly scary, but this came close to it. Elsewhere, Christopher Eccleston is on particularly good form, bringing out his loathing for the Daleks in superb fashion, and the gradual reversal of roles with the Dalek is both shocking and moving. One other thing - this was the first time a television series has ever made me cry; I doubted I ever would, and I certainly never thought it would be the plight of a Dalek which did so. Simply stunning.
Great episodes.......2007-06-09
I like these episodes a lot.I liked Aliens of London\World War Three and I know a lot of people say the Slitheen aren't scary and I agree but I also think there are some great action scenes and thrilling moments in the episode. The next episode''Dalek'' was brilliant, it was exciting all the way through the episode and the special effects were brilliant.I highly reccomend this dvd.
Best so far.......2006-08-10
I am 13 and before anyone jumps to the conclusion that I am the typical boy (!), I would rate the old Doctor Who better than the new. But out of the recent ones, this dvd is the best, showing an adventure with a new and old villian in each story. If your someone like me but who hasn't seen any of the classic series, I suggest you give it a go, as this dvd and all the rest got everything from it.
Best in the new series.......2006-02-15
This is a fantastic DVD, I seriously recommend you watch it. It features:
-Aliens of London, the first in a 2 part story, sees a giant spaceship crash into the river Thames, which is linked to emmisions from the North sea, fat government officials, and the mysterious dissappearence of the president. The Doctor is summoned to a meeting, and some deadly encounters. Rose meets Harriet Jones, hwo is in shock over witnessing a horrific(off screen,)death. Jackie(, Roses mum,)ends under attack in her flat, by a policeman, Rose ends cornered in the cabinet room, and the Doctor ends in shock, literally! The slowest moving episode on the DVD, but still brilliant.
-World war 3:Discovers the murderous,not to mention greedy, Slitheen family chasing the doctor and co. into the cabinet room, in which he ,Rose and Harriet Jones make some shocking discoveries about the Slitheens intentions.
Jackie is rescued by Mickie, and the both of them are under attack by a policemans inner self. The doctor needs to find a way to destroy the Slitheen, before the hwole world slips into neuclear madness. Also includes a spectacular end, where 10 Downing street is blown up, and some amazing special effects. Fast paced and one of the best in the new series.
-Dalek:shows The Doctor and Rose headed to Utah, 2016, in which the doctor discovers one of his old foes, a Dalek, who escapes it's underground prison and causes mayhem in an underground building. The Doctor gets very emotional, in a mad-figth-it way, and becomes violent and merciless towards the Dalek, wheras Rose becomes rather compassionate, as it is mutating 'cause it absorbed her DNA, and even stops the Doctor from killing it. The times when the dalek is "EXTERMINATING" the people is really well done, and is probably the best in the series.
You'll love this DVD, the special effents are brilliant and so are the stories. Buy it, you will not be dissapointed.
doctor who 2005.......2005-07-04
Oh yes,I remember hiding behind the couch when I was a young lad,and towards the end it was almost a shame to see the doctor go the way he did,but wasnt the wait worth it,now with children of my own it isnt only a pleasure to see the doctor return but to return with such grandure and on such a big scale.....Russel T Davis is a complete genius.Chris Eccleson couldnt have played the doctor better,and as for Rose..every girls dream would be to be like her wouldnt it.I loved every episode of the new series and found it quite hard to see Chris Eccleson say his goodbyes but with almost 5 months to wait until David Tennant brings us a new doctor I can imagine the wait will be well worth it...next must come the big screen.Think of it this way..he cant fly,turn invisible,drive a batmobile,walk through walls or turn into a raging green hulk,hes just the doctor..long may he continue to save the universe....
Amazon.co.uk Review
It was always going to be a risk for the BBC to revamp Doctor Who--few television programmes inspire as much rabid and cultish adoration. With the 2005 series, however, the BBC have really outdone themselves. Their updated Doctor Who is a revelation: a cult science fiction series that has real mass appeal, and works for both children and their parents. Christopher Eccleston is an inspired and charismatic Doctor--he leaps around the sets with an unrestrained glee, like he's a child running amok in a toy shop. His enthusiasm in downright infectious. His sidekick Rose (Billie Piper) adds a real human touch, particularly as she gradually and believably matures from in-over-her-head city kid to tough-minded interplanetary hero. Much of the credit must go to writer Russell Davies, who has a much-practiced knack for finding popular appeal without dumbing-down his ideas, and who appears to have let his imagination run riot. Even the special effects, whilst not of a big-budget cinematic quality, still manage to strike a balance between cheesiness and realism. Thrilling, funny and thoroughly entertaining, this Doctor Who is a hero for the new millennium. --Robert Burrow
Customer Reviews:
Doctor who review.......2007-06-09
I am not old enough to have seen the old series of Doctor who and I am not usually a sci fi fan but I really enjoyed Doctor who, it has really good storylines and the acting is brilliant.
Christopher Eccleston who acts the Doctor gives the character some great humour but he can also be quite serious.Billie Piper who acts Rose Tyler is a great new companion for the Doctor and she seems very comfortable in her role.Camille Codouri who plays Rose' mum and Noel Clarke who plays Rose' boyfriend both deserve credit aswell because they are both great actors.
All the episodes are really good but I would say my favourite is '' The Unquiet Dead'' and my least favourite is ''The End of the World''.These three episodes are great and I would strongly reccomend them.
CLASSIC & ENTERTAINING! (unlike mad_mushroom's review)!.......2006-01-26
If, unlike me you were fortunate enough not to have read mad_mushroom's ‘attention seeking’ and some what off the topic style review, then I hope you have made your mind up about the excellent series of Doctor who. Unfortunately for mad_mushroom, he seems to confuse politics and youth with a Sci Fi TV series – not what it’s about folks. BULLY BLAIR? A FEW YEARS YOU'LL BE ABLE TO VOTE? Maybe it's me, but just because buyers under the age of 18 cannot vote, doesn't mean they cannot have opinions and enjoy a decent show now does it? But then.. What would you expect from an obvious Tory (Faversham Kent - let's say no more), a reviewer who possibly took offence to Russell T Davis's parody in the Christmas invasion about the Falklands war. But hey.... lets not talk about politics eh? IT'S A GOOD SHOW! SO BUY IT PEOPLE!
ok but annoyed.......2005-12-09
this dvd is great. i loved the way Christopher Ecclestone made the 'Fantastic' so much more his! but I am annoyed about the fact it says 'SERIES 1' on the box. doctor who first went on air in 1964 or 1965!
Dr Who lite for a brain-dead generation........2005-10-26
Yep, those of you who liked this show are definitely showing your age - at least in a few years you'll be able to vote. Russell Davies directs and writes with his usual camp aplomb for the masses here: daft 'aliens' (Trees, a face lift, the Slytheen - need I go on?) daft TARDIS re-design complete with pedal-power, a daft Doctor no different to any other modern, loud-mouthed trendy, and a daft companion who's crowning achievement is GCSE athletics. To top it all, no exotic locations: all the episodes are located on Earth (UK) or in Clarke Earth orbit. Has the Doctor lost his passport, or did Bully Blair pull a confiscation number? There's a new format too: each 'adventure' is now confined to a standalone 45 minutes - presumably because the British public can no longer handle storylines that extend over more than one week. Mind you, they're so apathetic they haven't noticed it doesn't matter which way they vote in general elections yet, so perhaps that's only fair. Anyway, this is dumbed down twaddle - BBC, why the hell didn't you just let Dr Who Rest In Peace on its laurels, instead of turning the licence into a bland piece of sci-fi pap. Have you no principles? I appreciate the old-style series had its fair share of stinkers, but for every four or five naff adventures, there was a crowning classic, like 'Curse of Fenric', 'Genesis of the Daleks', 'Pyramids of Mars', 'Earthshock', or 'Carnival of Monsters'. New Doctor Who had one or two okay episodes, and the rest were all bad: a wasted opportunity. I'll be giving my review of the final New Doctor Who DVD from the first series soon - if Amazon don't can it for being too plain-spoken, like most of my other reviews.
This is brilliant.......2005-10-09
I feel sure that the makers of previous series of Dr Who must sit there with their jaws slack with amazement at the budget and technology available to the makers of this series. It is fantastic. One of the things I really appreciate about it is how it hangs together as a series - it bears watching again and again - spot the "Bad Wolf" references, and the conincidences throughout the series. One or two episodes are not as good as the others, but it really works as a series, and it really works as a good piece of entertainment - funny, fast-paced, action-packed and tender, and tremendously moral - with unfashionable messages of loyalty, responsibility, honesty and forgiveness too. The sad fate of the time-lords is not fully explained, and I feel sure we will find out more eventually. This doctor has a guilty secret, and I'm intrigued. The casting is superb, and Billie Piper is an absolute revelation. What a marvellous companion she makes for the Doctor. She is brave and resourceful, and her natural personality is a good foil for the Doctor. In short - marvellous!!
Amazon.co.uk Review
David Tennant ably steps into the shoes of the famous Timelord, as the first couple of episodes of the `second' series of the reborn Doctor Who make it to DVD.
In fact, that's not quite true. The first of the two is actually the excellent 2005 Christmas special, The Christmas Invasion, which not only marked Tennant's first full story in the role, but also proved to be an excellent way to spend an hour. Taking place during the festive season, the story finds Earth under imminent threat of invasion, at a time when the Doctor is still getting over his regeneration. That means extra pressure for Billie Piper's Rose Tyler, but also offers a welcome return to the series for the terrific Penelope Wilton as Harriet Jones. Yet it's the witty script and Tennant's confident performance that define the episode.
The `proper' start of the `second' series was the slightly uneven New Earth, which scores well again in the humour stakes, but struggles a little more with the story itself. The Doctor and Rose find themselves billions of years in the future, called to a hospital where the feline nursing staff have a cure for every disease. Naturally, there's something more sinister going on, and there's the returning, unscrupulous last surviving human Cassandra (played again by Zoe Wanamaker) to deal with. But while it amounts to a fun episode, it's slightly below the standard the show has set itself of late.
All considered though, as a kick off to the second series DVD collection, there's plenty in the pair of episodes on offer here to enjoy, and plenty of potential in David Tennant as the Doctor. Now bring on the rest…!--Simon Brew
Customer Reviews:
Volume 1.......2007-08-07
On this disc we have "The Christmas Invasion" the Christmas special from 2005, a good and exciting episode once it gets going. In "New Earth" the special effects are some of the best on TV, shame it takes so long to get going, but still a very good episode. Bit disappointed at the lack of episodes on this disc-Two!The cheek of it! I woudn't spend any more than five pounds on this, it's best to get the boxset!
Enjoyable episodes.......2007-08-03
This dvd contains the first two episodes in Doctor Who series 2, they are very enjoyble and great to watch. These episodes are not the best in the series but they are still very good.
The Christmas Invasion= This episode is about an alien invasion at Christmas. The episode introduces David Tennant as the new Doctor and he is brilliant and funny. It is a good episode but it isn't one of the best (7/10)
New Earth= This episode is about Cassandra hiding in a hospital and there are people with a plague disease and they have escaped all over the hospital.This is a good episode with a good plot (7/10 ).
I reccomend this dvd.
Good start for the Tenth Doctor........2006-09-09
David Tennant gets off to a good start as the Doctor in these two episodes. In the Christmas Invasion he has to deal with the threat of the alien Sycorax and their attempts to invade earth. However, he must first recover from his recent regeneration.
Although Tennant only really comes to the fore during the last half of this adventure, he still manages to make a formidable impression. A superb debut story, with a nice twist at the end.
The second adventure, 'New Earth' acts as a sequel to previous season's 'The End of the World.' In it, the Doctor and Rose travel millions of years into the future and discover a hospital, which is run by a group of cat-like creatures. Behind the scenes there lies a dark and shocking secret, and to make matters worse, the Doctor is confronted with his old enemy Cassandra. This episode has received mixed reviews, but I found it a real creepy thriller, with good performances. The highlight has to be Billie Piper's wonderful turn as the 'possessed' Rose.
A very good start for the Tenth Doctor. Two very entertaining adventures, which are worth watching.
thedoctorwhoru.......2006-07-10
this dvd contains:
1.)the christmas invasion
2.)new earth
i bought this dvd having seen the whole series except these 2 episodes and it was well worth buying it.in the christmas invasion the evil alien race the sycorax have an alien spaceship hanging over london and threaten the earth with either a third die or a half are sold into slavery. the doctor must recover from regeniration in time to save mankind. in the 2nd episode they travel to the year 5 billion on new earth were the doctor and rose go to a hospital.the hospital is run by cat nuns (the sisters of plenitude) who seem to have a cure for everything but he is suspicious of there methods. whilst finding out how they do it he must save rose from the clutches of an old enemy lady cassandra. this episode is one of the funniest episodes of the series. the only downside is it only contains 2 episodes but still worth buying
Wow what a series.......2006-06-03
Having been an avid fan of Doctor Who in the era of Tom Baker I was a little sceptical about a "new Doctor Who". I must say I shouldn't have worried wow this is great.
It has the feel of the original series without the Blue Peter type props. It has grown up and gone into the electronical age - sonic screwdrivers and all. If you have any hesitation in buying this as an old Doctor Who fan don't its new, original, fresh and well done Doctor - the only strange thing being that Doctor Who is actually good looking!!
DVD Review:
- Doctor Who : Series 1 - Volume 4 [2005]
- Doctor Who - Series 3 Vol.1 [2007] [2005]
- Doctor Who - Series 3 Vol. 4 [2007]
- Doctor Who - Series 3 Vol. 4 [2007]
- Doctor Who - The Complete BBC Series 1 Box Set [2005]
- Doctor Who - The Complete BBC Series 2 Box Set
- Doctor Who - The Complete Series 3 Box Set [2007]
- Doctor Who - The Five Doctors (25th Anniversary Edition) [1983]
- Doctor Who - The New Series: Series 2 - Vol. 3 [2005]
- Doctor Who - The New Series - Series 2 - Vol. 4 [2005]
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Doctor Who: Series 1 - Volume 2 [2005]
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Doctor Who: Series 1 - Volume 1 [2005]
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Doctor Who: Series 2 - Volume 1 [2005]
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Doctor Who: Series 2 - Volume 2 [2005]
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Doctor Who - The Complete BBC Series 1 Box Set [2005]
Dr Who At The Radiophonic Workshop Vol. 1: The Early Years 1963-1969
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