Rating: 
Summary: I remember this episode!!!!!!!
Review: Even though it's been years since I've seen these Dr. Who episodes, I remember clearly the shows about the Doctor and Romana searching for the Key to Time. I was in junior high back then and I recall seeing this episode. Doctor Who is one of the best shows ever and I hope the public television station in my city will play old re-runs of them. What I remember the most is K-9, the robot dog. Brings back a lot of memories.
Rating: 
Summary: "A great lawyer you turned out to be!"
Review: Ever since I was 12, watching the Tom Baker era of "Doctor Who" for the first time, "The Stones of Blood" has been one of my favorite stories. It was the combination, I think, of the Earth locale (particularly the echoes of Stonehenge) which dominate the first two parts of the story, and the literal-minded justice machines, the Megara, which dominate the final two. I won't say that the Megara influenced my choice of career in any way, any more than the barrister's wig that Baker wears while on trial, but ....."Stones of Blood" is indeed the only Earth-bound story in the year-long Key To Time arc. It benefits from well-developed chemistry between the three lead actors (Tom Baker, Mary Tamm's Romana, and the robotic K9), and a terrific guest spot by the 75 year-old Beatrix Lehmann, as the eccentric archaeologist Professor Amelia Rumford. For a story which is about... well, an alien immortal and erstwhile Celtic goddess who's moonlighting on Earth as a research assistant, and her private army of killer styrofoam rocks, and the for-laughs computerized prosecutors who have been tracking her down for 4,000 years (while locked in a small room which can only be opened on penalty of death) ... for all that, the script is very funny, detailed and believable. As with most 1970s era "Doctor Who", there's a mix of outright comedy and horrific violence, and it all hangs together well, even on repeated viewings. Well, that is, once you've learned to ignore the wobbly styrofoam boulders and the barely-concealed PAs who push them. The DVD release of "Stones of Blood" is the least elaborate disc yet released for the "Doctor Who" market. Oh, it's got the same pretty animated menus and format as previous discs, but... there's very little else on it. The text commentary is terrific, revealing as it does much of behind-the-scenes info about David Fisher's script (which, unusually for DW, had three major female roles) and the material that didn't make it to screen (a cake celebrating the Doctor's 751st birthday). The audio commentary is recorded by Tamm, and one-time-only "Who" director Darrol Blake, whose claim to fame is that he once shared an apartment with Ridley Scott. Blake's voice is distinctly grating, but he has eerily precise recall -- noticing a tall patch of grass in the midst of an open field, he spontaneously shouts, "That's where we hid the boards!". Tamm's recall is excellent as well, although most the stories they tell are also located in the (quieter) text commentary. Tamm shows herself to be more of a ham(m) than she ever was in her year on DW, affecting all sorts of English accents and calling Blake "Darling" every few scenes. If you can bother scrolling all the way through the photo gallery, there are two really neat stills of Tom Baker clowning around with the eponymous styrofoam boulders. Good luck getting there, though!
Rating:
Summary: "A great lawyer you turned out to be!"
Review: Ever since I was 12, watching the Tom Baker era of "Doctor Who" for the first time, "The Stones of Blood" has been one of my favorite stories. It was the combination, I think, of the Earth locale (particularly the echoes of Stonehenge) which dominate the first two parts of the story, and the literal-minded justice machines, the Megara, which dominate the final two. I won't say that the Megara influenced my choice of career in any way, any more than the barrister's wig that Baker wears while on trial, but ..... "Stones of Blood" is indeed the only Earth-bound story in the year-long Key To Time arc. It benefits from well-developed chemistry between the three lead actors (Tom Baker, Mary Tamm's Romana, and the robotic K9), and a terrific guest spot by the 75 year-old Beatrix Lehmann, as the eccentric archaeologist Professor Amelia Rumford. For a story which is about... well, an alien immortal and erstwhile Celtic goddess who's moonlighting on Earth as a research assistant, and her private army of killer styrofoam rocks, and the for-laughs computerized prosecutors who have been tracking her down for 4,000 years (while locked in a small room which can only be opened on penalty of death) ... for all that, the script is very funny, detailed and believable. As with most 1970s era "Doctor Who", there's a mix of outright comedy and horrific violence, and it all hangs together well, even on repeated viewings. Well, that is, once you've learned to ignore the wobbly styrofoam boulders and the barely-concealed PAs who push them. The DVD release of "Stones of Blood" is the least elaborate disc yet released for the "Doctor Who" market. Oh, it's got the same pretty animated menus and format as previous discs, but... there's very little else on it. The text commentary is terrific, revealing as it does much of behind-the-scenes info about David Fisher's script (which, unusually for DW, had three major female roles) and the material that didn't make it to screen (a cake celebrating the Doctor's 751st birthday). The audio commentary is recorded by Tamm, and one-time-only "Who" director Darrol Blake, whose claim to fame is that he once shared an apartment with Ridley Scott. Blake's voice is distinctly grating, but he has eerily precise recall -- noticing a tall patch of grass in the midst of an open field, he spontaneously shouts, "That's where we hid the boards!". Tamm's recall is excellent as well, although most the stories they tell are also located in the (quieter) text commentary. Tamm shows herself to be more of a ham(m) than she ever was in her year on DW, affecting all sorts of English accents and calling Blake "Darling" every few scenes. If you can bother scrolling all the way through the photo gallery, there are two really neat stills of Tom Baker clowning around with the eponymous styrofoam boulders. Good luck getting there, though!
Rating:
Summary: Bring your salt
Review: Hey look it's another silly set with those giant rocks and slugs
Rating:
Summary: Wow! I am suprised.
Review: I got this with the key to time dvd set, knowing I would get it on dvd I had only bought some key to time stories on vhs. Ofcouse I went with the Douglas Adams stuff first, but now I am shocked, I think this is a good script. Even the name "Stones of Blood" thru me off, I thought it would be your basic on earth monster story. Not so, we in end up in hyperspace with cool aliens and a very clever script. I am on the hunt now for other David Fisher work. Commentary was good too.
Rating:
Summary: Wow! I am suprised.
Review: I got this with the key to time dvd set, knowing I would get it on dvd I had only bought some key to time stories on vhs. Ofcouse I went with the Douglas Adams stuff first, but now I am shocked, I think this is a good script. Even the name "Stones of Blood" thru me off, I thought it would be your basic on earth monster story. Not so, we in end up in hyperspace with cool aliens and a very clever script. I am on the hunt now for other David Fisher work. Commentary was good too.
Rating: 
Summary: Cheesy and silly, even for Doctor Who
Review: One of the joys of Doctor Who or, at least, one of the things you come to overlook being a Doctor Who fan, is the cheesy specials effects. It's also easy to overlook holes in the plot and weak science when the story is good and involving. Unfortunately, this episode is not a particularly good or involving one, especially when viewed between the second and fourth adventures in the Key to Time series (The Pirate Planet and The Androids of Tara, respectively), both of which are far superior. This episode offers the Doctor Who explanation of Stonehenge. Without giving anything away, the adventure begins with the Doctor and Romana searching for the third segment of the Key to Time. (Don't worry if you're not watching this as part of the overall Key to Time series -- the search for the key is really just an excuse to lead the Doctor and Romana into a series of different adventures and environments. The overall view isn't necessary to watch this series). They stumble onto a group of Goddess worshipers and an unsuspected secret which, of course, leads them into jeopardy. The only episode of the four that make up this series that really crackles is the last one, where the goddess is revealed for what she really is and the Doctor ends up once again in serious jeopardy. The three episodes leading up to it are pretty monotonous, not really disclosing anything interesting about stone circles or goddess worship, and containing the one of the cheesiest looking and silliest "monsters" in all of Whodom. Although I did love the older woman who plays the archaeologist who helps out the Doctor and Romana. The British have never been stuck on pretty, young things, and Mary Tamm (who plays Romana) is, in any event, pretty enough and young enough to carry that aspect on her own, and can act to boot. Also, in this series, the doctor's sarcastic wit seems somewhat out of place, and the broader implications of the story just aren't as interesting as those in the other episodes of the Key to Time Series, where the fate of entire worlds depends on the Doctor's actions. In short, this is really one to watch as part of the Key to Time season, or if you're really into Stonehenge and Goddess Worship. Or if you've already seen all the really good episodes and are ready to start on the second tier
Rating:
Summary: Cheesy and silly, even for Doctor Who
Review: One of the joys of Doctor Who or, at least, one of the things you come to overlook being a Doctor Who fan, is the cheesy specials effects. It's also easy to overlook holes in the plot and weak science when the story is good and involving. Unfortunately, this episode is not a particularly good or involving one, especially when viewed between the second and fourth adventures in the Key to Time series (The Pirate Planet and The Androids of Tara, respectively), both of which are far superior. This episode offers the Doctor Who explanation of Stonehenge. Without giving anything away, the adventure begins with the Doctor and Romana searching for the third segment of the Key to Time. (Don't worry if you're not watching this as part of the overall Key to Time series -- the search for the key is really just an excuse to lead the Doctor and Romana into a series of different adventures and environments. The overall view isn't necessary to watch this series). They stumble onto a group of Goddess worshipers and an unsuspected secret which, of course, leads them into jeopardy. The only episode of the four that make up this series that really crackles is the last one, where the goddess is revealed for what she really is and the Doctor ends up once again in serious jeopardy. The three episodes leading up to it are pretty monotonous, not really disclosing anything interesting about stone circles or goddess worship, and containing the one of the cheesiest looking and silliest "monsters" in all of Whodom. Although I did love the older woman who plays the archaeologist who helps out the Doctor and Romana. The British have never been stuck on pretty, young things, and Mary Tamm (who plays Romana) is, in any event, pretty enough and young enough to carry that aspect on her own, and can act to boot. Also, in this series, the doctor's sarcastic wit seems somewhat out of place, and the broader implications of the story just aren't as interesting as those in the other episodes of the Key to Time Series, where the fate of entire worlds depends on the Doctor's actions. In short, this is really one to watch as part of the Key to Time season, or if you're really into Stonehenge and Goddess Worship. Or if you've already seen all the really good episodes and are ready to start on the second tier
Rating:
Summary: No this is not one Baker's best
Review: Stones of Blood has a good intro in Episode 1, but then slows down. The real problem with the story is that the middle part is stretched out to really boring lengths. The trial scene is not irrevelant; it is just too long. A good 2-parter, a mediocre 4-parter. As fans probably know the "recipe extender" syndrome is a problem throughout Dr Who. Too much filler, not enough plot and action. Sorry.
Rating:
Summary: A really enjoyable outing for the good Doctor
Review: Stones of Blood really is an enjoyable story to watch. The story is fairly cohesive (always a bonus in Doctor Who!), and you really get the impression that everyone enjoyed playing their parts. The professor Amelia Rumford is a great character, and you can't help but think she'd have made an excellent companion. There is good humour throughout, and the Doctor gets some good one-liners (such as John Aubrey making Druids as a joke..), and some silly one-liners concerning things like sterilized knifes. The trial scene is also quite amusing, but how the doctor manages to escape execution so many times is beyond me! ("OBJECTION!",, *Sigh*,"What Now?") The point is that the story flows, it's fun to watch, and despite there being several unanswered questions, you don't worry too much about them. Four stars for Stones of Blood.
|
