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Doctor Who -  The Dalek Invasion of Earth

Doctor Who - The Dalek Invasion of Earth

List Price: $34.98
Your Price: $31.48
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 4 stars
Summary: The Daleks As They Should Be...
Review: I never had the benefit of seeing "Evil of the Daleks" and "Power of...,"both of which I've heard Troughton loved, but I never have been brought in that much by the Daleks. Towards the end of the series, they just seem so petty...why would they care about exacting revenge on the Doctor...what is the big deal about the Earth?

This episode, while hampered a bit by some stilted acting ("Hey! That's rare of Doctor Who.") and F/X shows the Daleks at their best and most logical. They don't care about resources or power or humans...they want to drive the planet...using humans as Robo-Men is not some sick pleasure, it is a means to an end. They are not seeking out the Doctor, he just happens to be in their way. They are cold, unfeeling machines working to one purpose...and emotion and pride don't enter into it.

Buy this tape, forget about the F/X and remember wha Doctor Who was like before it defined itself as Sci-Fi and, instead, thought about ideas like...how would Earth react to invasion...what's so special about Earth...how would alien invaders soften Earth up...stuff like that.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The best (surviving) Hartnell story!
Review: In my opinion, this is without question the best surviving William Hartnell story. Whilst let-down by the effects, at times - which weren't bad, considering when the story was made, the plot-line and characterisations are phenominal. The very strong female characters are unusual for sci-fi of this time, which only adds to the quality. Nothing in this episode can be taken for granted and even the ending has it's surprises. One very much to watch.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Dated but intelligent sf yarn
Review: The BBC story that inspired the big-budget "Daleks: Invasion Earth 2150AD" movie with Peter Cushing, this BBC tv version is slow but altogether more cerebral, and is an excellent example of limited resources trying to do something really spectacular. A very moving end, as the Doctor's granddaughter Susan leaves the TARDIS crew.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Stunning picture quality + loads of extras = a winner
Review: The Dalek Invasion of Earth depicts a deserted and war-ravaged London, which would have been familiar to a large number of the original viewing audience in 1964 as the London Blitz had happened less than 25 years before. This sort of detail tends to be forgotten now that nearly 40 more years have passed, yet this doesn't detract from the impact of the story. Famous London monuments with Dalek "graffiti" on them (which I never noticed watching this on PBS broadcasts) really sent chills down my spine, and the sight of the Daleks crossing London Bridge is still an amazing piece of television.The DVD version of this story is more amazing still. Anyone who has seen this on PBS or via the previous VHS release will only know this story with washed-out images and loads of film defects. The DVD is incredible -- the VidFIRE technique works wonders, and with modern restoration work, the episodes on this DVD no doubt look better today on big-screen TVs than they did on the little 405-line monochrome sets which were the norm in mid-'60s England. You won't see a single film defect anywhere on these episodes, and the scenes originally shot on tape in the studio now look like tape again. Indeed, I was surprised by how much of this story was *not* shot on location, but rather in the studio on cleverly-designed sets.If the superb picture quality wasn't enough, there are more than 2-1/2 hours of extras, most of them newly shot. I found it rather shocking that most of the guest cast was younger than I am now (31) when the story was made. Long live the Restoration Team, and long may their stunning work continue!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: THE MOST SADDEST ENDING IN DOCTOR WHO EVER MADE.
Review: THE DALEK INVASION OF EARTH starring Original Doctor William Hartnell was the very first episode to have one of the show's Who characters leaving the show. This was another Dalek adventure that the time lord found himself once again facing his greatest enemies. Like Invasion of time and The Green death, This is a adventure where the characters leave when they fall in love. In the sequel to the episode that made Doctor Who a hit in 1963 "The Daleks", The Doctor, Susan, Ian and Barbara arrive in a future London only to discover the Daleks have wiped it out and are at war with a band of rebels. Where the Doctor agrees to help the rebels led by David Campbell stop them from blowing up the planet. Dramatically good, This was Carole Ann Ford's final apperence as The Doctor's granddaughter Susan and her acting at the end made this one of the most saddest endings in the show's history. It was very emotional when the Doctor forces his only family to stay behind to start a new life with the leader of the rebels. A classic Daleks sequel.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: THE DALEKS HAVE FINALLY CONQUERED EARTH!!!!
Review: The Daleks have finally invaded and conquered Earth! The TARDIS materializes in what looks to the weary time travelers to be London in 1963, but as it is soon revealed it is actually London in 2164! After wandering around the city, getting separated, then reunited, Ian, Susan, Barbara and the Doctor soon join with a small band of human resistance fighters to try and topple the Dalek invaders while battling the Daleks altered human slaves, the Robomen, an early inspiration for Monty Python's Gumbies. This is one of the best of the Doctor Who series because in this one we start to see The Doctor losing his crusty exterior and beginning to become not as gruff as he usually is. The ending was somewhat bittersweet and has to be seen firsthand to be truly appreciated. The acting in this is, for Dr. Who anyway, first-rate. Barbara's attempt to mimic a Dalek voice is hilarious but also displays Jacqueline Hill's skills as an accomplished actress willing to try nearly anything to give the characters she plays real depth and feeling. The supporting cast were first-rate as well, even for a Doctor Who episode. This is truly a classic for any Dr. Who afficianado. A must have for your Dr. Who collection

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Excellent DVD restoration
Review: The ORIGINAL Dr. Who...William Hartnell must stop the Daleks from using the Earth as their base of operations. This episode was made into a color movie starring Peter Cushing.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Just go forward in all your beliefs....
Review: The second outing of the Daleks during the William Hartnell era of Doctor Who proves to be an even better story, if such a thing were possible. Quite often, when one looks at the Daleks in later stories, the stories are dull and the Daleks make for poor adversaries. But in many of the Hartnell/Troughton Doctor Who episodes, they are a very real threat. Invasion is a perfect example. The Daleks have taken over Earth in 2164. They plan to hollow out the planet in order to use it as a craft to carry them about. This may seem outlandish in concept, but in delivery the story packs a punch. We are drawn into the lives of the resistance fighters and watch as they are rendered powerless by the deadly Daleks. We see the Doctor coming to their aid and saving an entire world. This six part episode is a must for Dalek fans, Doctor Who fans or the casual viewer. Highly recommended.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: THE DALEKS RETURN, AND THEY'RE NOT HAPPY!!!
Review: The second story of the 1964 Season Two reunited the doctor with his old enemy the Daleks. Script Writer Terry Nation, never expecting his evil pepperpots to become a cult icon, had killed off his creations in his original story but was commissioned to bring them back for the next season. In this story, the TARDIS lands on the bank of the River Thames, London in the year 2164. The city is in ruins and the Doctor, Ian, Barbara and Susan are soon split up and discover to their horror that the Daleks have invaded the Earth, butchered most of the population and reduced the survivors to either slaves or "Robomen". As the Doctor teams up with members of the London Resistance Movement he uncovers a daring Dalek plan to mine out the Earth's core, replace it with a drive system and turn the Earth into a giant spacecraft which could be steered from planet to planet as the Daleks expand their empire! The only hope for the remaining human population depends on the Doctors plan to infiltrate the Dalek mining operations in Bedfordshire and prevent them launching a giant bomb into the Earth's core.

Unlike the previous story, the Daleks are no longer restricted to moving on metal surfaces, but are free to roam the streets of London (and the rivers!) with their robotized zombies, exterminating whoever dares to resist them. Even though the BBC made this show on a miniscule budget, the original effects are not too bad and the sets create an atmosphere that makes this TV show far more enjoyable than its big-budget movie remake "The Dalek Invasion of Earth 2150AD".

Technical notes: The Doctor Who Restoration Team performed a major cleanup and renovation job on the original BBC recording to produce a highly polished DVD release. Following the success of the new CGI shots inserted into The 4th Doctor story "The Ark in Space", new CGI shots were commissioned to replace the "plate on a string" Dalek saucer with a new state-of-the-art spacecraft and new matte paintings were made to show the ruined cityscape (the effects have to be manually switched on via the DVD menu or else the show will be played using the original shots). A commentary track was recorded by Carole Ann Ford (Susan), William Russell (Ian), Verity Lambert OBE (Producer) and Richard Martin (Director). Also included is a featurette on the new CGI effects, a look at how the Dalek voices were created with the actors who provided them, "Now and Then" featurette on the locations used for filming, "Future Memories" featurette with some of the actors from the show, studio floorplans, a "Blue Peter" (Children's TV show) special on making "Dalek Cakes", a rehersal film shot by Carol Ann Ford back in 1964, BBC trailers, pop-up production notes, photo gallery and more!!! Enjoy!!!

Note for Amazon.com: This show was transmitted in 1964 and NOT 1975 as stated in your title header.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Far Fetched Albeit Enjoyable
Review: There are many problems I have with this story. Who, during a time of total chaos, would still use a day-by-day calendar in 2164? Why would such buildings, like the power station, still be very much survived? How do the Daleks know that the human rebels have radio receivers so that the Daleks can tell them to surender? And lastly, how can a six-inch diamter wood column stop a multi-ton bomb from reaching the center of the Earth?

But, who cares?

"Dalek Invasion of Earth" shows the Daleks at their best and is a major comeback from the mildly-entertaining "The Daleks." I highly recommend that you buy this classic story. It contains impressive location filming in London as well as wonderful sets including a Dalek base and a complete Dalek spaceship. This is a must for any science fiction fan.


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