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Doctor Who & The Daleks

Doctor Who & The Daleks

List Price: $14.98
Your Price: $13.48
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: VERY GOOD AS GOOD AS STAR TREK ITS AMERICAN COUNTERPART.
Review: I SAW THIS FILM MANY YEARS AGO IN ENGLAND AND I THOUGHT THAT PETER CUSHING MADE A VERY GOOD DR. FOR ANYONE WHO SAW THE SERIS IN ENGLAND AND REMEMBER WHEN THEY(THE BBC) TOOK IT OF THE AIR AND HOW YOU(I) FELT ABOUT IT (VERY VERY UPSET). I HEARD A WHILE BACK THAT IT MAY BE COMMING BACK I DONT KNOW HOW TRUE THAT IS BUT IF IT IS I WOULD BE VERY INTERESTED IN SEEING IT HERE IN AMERICA ANY THANK YOU FOR THIS(LETTING ME VOICE MY OPINION.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: An insult to an excellent Tv series.
Review: I thought the idea of a re-make was to improve on the original. This film version of what is possibly the most important Dr Who story of all time is no more than a twee, harmless, toy-like embodiment of tedium. It has none of the drama, realism, atmosphere and imagination on the 7-part story it's based on, reduces a thought-provoking tale about a post-nuclear holocaust world to the level of 'goodies' and 'baddies'. The Thals are now uninspiring characters in Julian Clary make-up and the Daleks are now one-dimensional ranting tinpots. True, special effects are improved, but some of the Daleks still have sink-plungers and the characters of the Doctor et al are based on their TV series counterparts in name only. Funny how I used to like this film when I was young. Shows how easily-pleased I was.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: *GROAN* Not the best of the good Doctor...
Review: If you are a Doctor Who completist (as I am), then you will get enjoyment from purchasing this DVD. If you are a fan of Mystery Science 3000-ish movies, you will get enjoyment from this movie. Everyone else, stay clear.

I really want to like this (after all it IS Doctor Who), but it is one of the longest, most drawn out, least inspiring movies out there. The story is a retread from a much more entertaining BBC television serial... but without the magic and charm that defines the low-budget adventures on the small screen. I couldn't help continuously comparing it to its counterpart... and it came up short every time. The characters lack any spark, and even the great Peter Cushing appears to be giving no more than half a thought to what he is doing. But the biggest crime of this movie is that it is just boring... it is only 90-ish minutes long, but it took me four sittings to finally get through the entire thing.

If you are a diehard Doctor Who fan, then this movie is for you. If not, I implore you to pass this one over in favor of one of the BBC Doctor Who television stories on DVD that are far, far superior.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Cushing Rocks!
Review: If you are a fan of the TV series then you are bound to love this COLOUR adaptation of one of the series' most important stories. The theme familiar to fans of the TV show is saddly missing (due to contractual difficulties) but the story is basically the same. Peter Cushing as the Doctor gives a new dimension to the role. The colours are very rich and striking, quite a contrast to the bleakness of the B&W series.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Forget the Telly version, This One is Different
Review: In order to bring the Doctor Who series to the big screen (and to introduce American audiences to the Doctor in a way which they would understand without reverting to a lengthy character introduction) the premise of the TV series has been substantially altered. The Doctor is no longer an alien being but an earth scientist, much in the tradition of Wells' time-traveller albeit it much more eccentric. The companions are no longer a dubious teenage relative and her two school teachers. They have been substituted for a grand-daughter, daughter and her bumbling boyfriend. In effect this is not a Doctor Who vehicle but a Dalek film. The treatment given to the Doctor by Peter Cushing is equally as effective as Hartnell's (the television Doctor). Indeed Cushing manages to make it through this film without flubbing any of his lines whereas such an event is a rare day for Mr. Hartnell. What distinguishes this production from its television counterpart is the production values. The acting is far superior save for Roy Castle as the clumsy boyfriend, but this can be forgiven as it is understood that his character is there for slapstick affect. Obviously as this film is in colour it has a visual appeal which the television series can't match, being in B&W. Furthermore, the visual and sound effects, not to mention the great sets and costuming, have a production quality that the TV show could only dream of. The cinematography, assisted by competent lighting (the greatest deficiency in the television show) ensure that the images are sharp and easy on the eye. Needless to say the movie is technically superior to the TV show....If anyone where to suggest that the television series is better than this film I would question their motivation. The television series had abysmally poor lighting, was badly acted and featured special effects even a kindergartener would laugh at: these are the reasons why I like the show. Anyone who watches the early Dr. Who series does so as a devoted fan of campy sci-fi not for a serious thrill....

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Great Fun!
Review: Look, I don't care what all these "whovians" (?) say; this old Brit S-F chestnut is priceless fun. From the opening scene-- where the good doctor is seen gasping over a DAN DARE comic-- this movie will hook any fan of Sci-fi goofiness. The story is actually pretty good-- in a cliffhanger serial sort of way-- it just requires a sense of humor. Peter Cushing? Well... how MANY good things can I say?

Recommended!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Now on the big screen....in colour !
Review: No complaints here.

Good quality widescreen transfer of the movie and some interesting additions such as the original trailer, a slightly inaccurate history of Dr Who's various TV incarnations, a Peter Cushing bio and commentary by Roberta Toovey and Jennie Linden.

If you like Dr Who this DVD will be a good addition to your existing TV series collection. If you have never seen or heard of Dr Who (where HAVE you been !) you can still enjoy this colorful family adventure film which can be viewed with no knowledge of the TV series that inspired it.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: A Sad Recreation
Review: Overall, this movie was not impressive. The characters seemed to be too stereotypical for my tastes, with the eccentric inventor, the hapless but cute girls, and the clutsy but well-meaning guy.
Gone is the mystery of the Doctor and Susan's origins. Gone is the darkness of the script. I know, I know, the original series was a bit lame, but that's because of the budget. The script by itself was suspenseful. This recreation had none of that.
In fact, the only thing I find likable about this was the TARDIS' interior. It was an interesting change.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Barely adequate entertainment
Review: Peter Cushing disappoints as a ineffective, grandfatherly Dr. Who. Disastrous attempt at comic relief by bumbling boyfriend fails miserably (think of an English Don Knotts with even less talent). Weak script (borrowing heavily from HG Wells' The Time Machine) features effiminate and campy humans vs. Daleks. On the plus side, the Daleks are amusing in a robotic way (although we learn they are not robots).

The sequel, Dalek Invasion, is somewhat better.

If you are in the market for low budget British scifi, I'd suggest "Quartermass and the Pit" also known as Five Million Years to Earth.

Note: I am not a special fan of Dr Who on TV although I have seen it.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Talking trash cans will rule the earth!!
Review: Slo-o-o-o-o-o-owwwww moving, mildly campy feature film adapted from the beloved BBC-TV show. Peter Cushing takes a turn as the semi-dotty Doctor, and the Daleks are appropriately awkward and mechanical. You're better off getting your giggles from the original television episodes.


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