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Doctor Who - Spearhead from Space

Doctor Who - Spearhead from Space

List Price: $24.98
Your Price: $22.48
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: First of Jon Pertwee and First Color Dr. Who
Review: This brings to a close(temporarily) the space/time traveling freedom of Dr. Who. Patrick Troughton and William Hartnell's Dr.s misbehavior punishment falls on Jon Pertwee. Thier is good continuety between this and the War Games(even thought the two are totally different). Pertwee explains that he must "try to use his machine" but fails and then explains in less than flattering terms about the timelords. Spearhead also introduces the Autons and an excellent actor named John Woodnut who would appear in many following episodes with Tom Baker(namely Terror of the Zygons and Keeper of Traken). The first epsiode is a little slow (and it needs to be) to slowly introduce Jon Pertwee as Dr. Who. After that it picks up when he leaves the hostpitol and starts doing his job as Dr. Who and one who would then be offered the position of Unit's Scientific Advisor.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: First of Jon Pertwee and First Color Dr. Who
Review: This brings to a close(temporarily) the space/time traveling freedom of Dr. Who. Patrick Troughton and William Hartnell's Dr.s misbehavior punishment falls on Jon Pertwee. Thier is good continuety between this and the War Games(even thought the two are totally different). Pertwee explains that he must "try to use his machine" but fails and then explains in less than flattering terms about the timelords. Spearhead also introduces the Autons and an excellent actor named John Woodnut who would appear in many following episodes with Tom Baker(namely Terror of the Zygons and Keeper of Traken). The first epsiode is a little slow (and it needs to be) to slowly introduce Jon Pertwee as Dr. Who. After that it picks up when he leaves the hostpitol and starts doing his job as Dr. Who and one who would then be offered the position of Unit's Scientific Advisor.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: "So Brigadier what do you think of my new face?"
Review: This episode marks the beginning of Jon Pertwees time as the good Doctor from Gallifrey. This series was incredibly fortunate that the men who replaced William Hartnell as the Doctor were all great in the role. Pertwee was no exception. He also introduced color to Doctor Who. The story picks up from where "The War Games" left off. The Doctor forced to regenerate arrives on earth at the same time as mysterious asteroids hit the earth. The Doctor weakened by his regeneration falls from the TARDIS and passes out. He is found by UNIT and taken to the Hospital. WHile recovering his is visited by the Brigadier who at first doesnt understand why the Doctor looks as he does. But as time goes on he begins to trust he is the Doctor. ALong with LIz Shaw the Doctor helps unit discover that hte asteroids are actually a collective intelligence bent on taking over the earth. The Doctor assists unit in defeating the intelligence. The Doctor trapped on earth works a deal out with the Brigadier to become his Scientific advisor in exchange for facilities to try and repair the Tardis to leave Earth. The Brigadier accepts his terms and thus his adventures begin. Not before taking the name Doctor John Smith. so the Brigadier has him on the payroll you might say. A very well acted episode. Pertwee was a great Doctor who is noted as being the Doctor the second longest. Only Tom BAker was around longer. The 70s were a great time for Doctor who.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: One of the best!
Review: This has got to be one of my all time favorites. The story is well written and fast paced all the way through. The acting is superb, especially Liz and Leftbridge-Stewert. I was captivated through the entire episode.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Brilliant!
Review: This is naturally one of the all time greats, the start of
season seven, one of Who's finest, along with seasons fourteen and twenty, it is an atypically dark, atmospheric, sophisticated and adult season, and this is the kick off!
I notice one reviewer decided to stick the boots into this story and say "go watch Sylvester MacCoy, the intellectual pinnacle of the series". Well, if some dimwit hanging from his brolly trying to be funny is your idea of an intellectual pinnacle, then you should take this "fan" person's advice.
In my personal opinion, the "intellectual pinnacle" of Dr.Who was the period in which Christopher H Bidmead was either script editing or contributing scripts, alomng with the other writers he personally enocuraged to contribute to the series, such as the brilliant Christopher Bailey, SF author Steve Gallagher and writer/director Peter Grimwade. I refer to seasons 18, 19, 20, and 21. Stories like Warrior's Gate, Logopolis/Castrovalva, Kinda/Snakedance, and the trilogy Mawdryn Undead, Terminus and Enlightenment. Bidmead's idea that Dr.Who could be double layered, with a story which follows the conventions of a TV adventure serial on the first level and a serious examination of themes, issues and ideas about other people, cultures, societies and ways of life, was truly inspired and led to some stunning tales, which were as much Sapphire and Steel and Twilight Zone as they were classic Dr.Who. But MacCoy? His era was like a silly pardody aimed at kids. But Spearhead from space is great, not aimed at the "intellectual" end of the market perhaps, but still a slick, witty, clever blend of thriller, horror and SF, that is exciting and pleasing and ushers in an era that is mature and thought-provoking. The first of a few great eras, in fact. For my money, Pertwee and Davison, along with early Tom Baker, leave the rest largely in the shade, especially MacCoy! And this tale is one of Pertwee's finest! Now, where's Inferno?

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Date blunder
Review: This was shown on 4 January 1970, I don't expect you to submit this. I am telling you here because the "correct" facility doesn't do dates.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A Wonderful Pertwee Story
Review: This was the first story that was filmed in colour. It is also the only story that was filmed completely on film rather than video tape.

"Spearhead" is a wonderful story and a great introduction to the third doctor. Liz Shaw is tremendous. She really is the best Pertwee companion. I don't think I ever heard her scream like Polly or Sarah.

This story is a must for any Doctor Who fan.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Spearhead From Space is great but ...
Review: With the emergence of the DVD format, the BBC finally had a chance to do right by the Doctor. And they owe him big time! After all, it was the BBC's desperate hunger for shelf space that deprived us of dozens of classic stories from the show's sixties heyday. Treasures wiped clean by bureaucratic short-sightedness. Heavy sigh.

But here they go again, releasing episodes piecemeal, cherry picking the supposed "good" ones and never getting around to what the Doctor deserves: a full release of all available material. A release, by the by, that DVD would be perfect for. Imagine a disc with surviving clips from all deleted Hartnell and Troughton stories as a bonus. Or with full episodes from incomplete serials that still exist but haven't yet seen video release; from "The Reign of Terror" and "The Faceless Ones," for instance.

But no. Instead, we'll get three episodes this year. Then maybe three more next year. And I will have shuffled off this mortal coil by the time the BBC gets around to releasing "The Invisible Enemy" or -- fervent wish -- a complete "Invasion of the Dinosaurs." Yes it does exist...P>The Doctor deserves a little respect. And we fans would like to be able to watch the series within our brief, non-Time Lord lifespans.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Welcome Doctor Who to DVD
Review: With this release, fans everywhere can finally get what they want: Doctor Who on DVD. We've all been waiting for the show to arrive on disc, and although it's been a bit longer than we'd hoped, this disc (and the other two) are well worth it!

Spearhead from Space - Third Doctor Jon Pertwee's debut story, and the first shown in color - has been carefully restored and remastered for this DVD, and it shows. The DVD looks excellent, with sharp, vibrant colors and a vividness that US fans have never seen before. The disc far surpasses the murky compilation tape put out years ago, with a clear, bright picture, and many of the faults removed.

Besides finally being released episodically - as the story was both broadcast and meant to be seen - the extras are great too. They include a fun, funny commentary by Nicholas Courtney (The Brigadier) and Caroline John (Liz Shaw), some great Production Notes (listed as a subtitle track), a UNIT recruitment film, a "Who's Who" biography section, and even an Easter Egg.

It's nice to see that the BBC has picked such a good story for its first wave of DVDs. Not only is this a great Doctor Who tale full of action, it introduces us to the Third Doctor's era, the nasty Nestenes and their ability to control plastics, and the beginnings of the extended Doctor Who family the series would enjoy for the next five years. Let's hope all future releases are this nice!

All in all Spearhead From Space has been well-restored, has plenty of extras and entertains thoroughly. It's worthy of any Doctor Who fan's collection, and will easily replace any other version you've got. I highly recommend it.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: John Pertwee in the Shower???!
Review: Yes. Hardly Doctor Who when John Pertwee is wearing a frilly shower cap and singing in the shower. This story wasn't as good as I expected. Shop window dummies coming to life is a good idea but the story didn't live up to much. Too much talk and not enough action. Liz Shaw is introduced but she isn't very 'scientific looking' if you know what I mean! There are some good parts though with some great effects. It's hilarious when John pertwee lights a fuse and says, "stand well back" and a feeble 'pop' is heard! However, the dummies make up for the boring bit's!


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