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Doctor Who - The Five Doctors

Doctor Who - The Five Doctors

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

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Rating: 4 stars
Summary: It wasn't quite the same without Tom Baker
Review: The 5 Doctors is living proof of why actors and studios need to coordinate their schedules to make sure that imporant characters are included in a storyline. Over all, the 5 Doctors was a good, solid story - not outstanding, not superb, but fun to watch. I admit, I loved the beginning with the black obelisk "doing its thing" (I hate divulging plots) and the Death Zone was a wonderful idea. However, to do everyone justice, this probably should have been, at minimum, a 5-parter (but then, the BBC hasn't done one of those since the Pertwee days and didn't seem interested in making an exception for something as momentous as the 20th Anniversary of Doctor Who - I digress).

It wasn't the same without Tom Baker. I mean, just imagine, how would Baker have interacted with Pertwee? Or, just for the sake of argument, would Baker and Peter Davison had the same chemistry as did Pertwee/Troughton? Ah, what it could have been.

One good thing, however, was to see Pertwee finally have his episode with the Cybermen. It was a shame that he never had one during his tenure in the early 70s and it was good to finally see that tragedy remedied.

Overall, good fun, good reunion, and despite what other people might say, the ending was not completely lame . . . well, perhaps just a little lame.

One last thing, the person who decided to insert the clip with William Hartnell at the very beginning should be commended. His introduction (excerpted, I believe, from the Dalek Invasion of Earth) set the proper tone for the 20th Anniversary show and paid great homage to the who who started it all.

Hope you enjoy.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A Who-ite¿s dream.
Review: One by one, the earlier four incarnations of the Doctor are being plucked out of the space-time continuum, and placed into the dreaded Death Zone. Originally used by the Time Lords for organizing gladiatorial matches between various races, Rassilon closed the Death Zone, and forbade the use of the Time Scoop. So, who is doing this, and more importantly, why? It's up to the Doctor (all of them) to figure it out.

This movie is a "Who-ite's" dream. Four of the five Doctors are present, with Richard Hurndall performing very well as the formidable first Doctor. Many companions appear, including Turlough, Tegan, Susan (the Doctor's Granddaughter), Sarah Jane, the Brigadier, Mike Yates, Liz Shaw, Jamie, Zoe, and K-9. Plus, of course, the Master (played by Anthony Ainley). It is a shame that Tom Baker refused to be involved in this production, but he is reasonably represented by scenes taken from the never-completed episode Shada.

I recommend this movie absolutely to any fan of Doctor Who.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: The Five Doctors misses the Fourth Doctor
Review: I thought that The Five Doctors was excellent, apart from the big letdown of no Tom Baker. Apart from this, this episode is excellent.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The idea of the Dead Zone great but ending weakens.
Review: The Five Doctors special is of course a classic and the Dead Zone Game is an intriguing plot device. There is suspense and humor but as it nears conclusion there are some weaker moments mainly Cushing's advance to the tomb being uneventful. I wish it were longer or had a few more enemies for the doctors to fight along the way. END

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: I must find my other selves...
Review: A classic celebration story involving the first five actors to play the legendary Doctor but this DVD is indeed a "Special Edition" and not the version originally televised. For example, the special effect of the mysterious Black Triangle that abducts the timelords from their respective time streams has been updated with a new CGI morphing effect. Also, when Tom Baker is returned at the end the scene has been changed. Instead of the Doctor and Romana seen happily rushing back to the Tardis in the broadcast version, we now see a recycled shot of the Doctor once again punting the yact as the new ghostly whirlwind effect flies off. This is perhaps the most disappointing change, as I would rather have seen the aforementioned cut shot from the unaired "Shada" episode which fitted in perfectly with the story. Also at the end, instead of the 3 Tardis' splitting up in different directions, the new whirlwind effect is used to show the Doctors dematerializing from the Tardis. While I love the new 5.1 Dolby sound mix and the inclusion of the isolated music soundtrack, I am ambivalent to the new alterations. Being a purist, I would rather have the original broadcast version intact. Granted the visual effects at the time were of poor quality but part of the production cheeziness is what Doctor Who is all about. The Peter Davison, Terrance Dicks commentary track makes reference to these changes specifically for the DVD version.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: 5 Doctors DVD?
Review: DVD means digitally versatile disk. This normally includes:
commentary,branching (watch as original or new enhanced version)
tv trailers,interviews & a photo gallery. Sometimes even an easter egg (hidden extra).

What you do get is some tedious muzak that you wouldn't give as a present to your least favourite in law.

I couldn't see much difference between the VHS tape & the supposed DVD version.

The actual story is quite good and was a special for the children in need charity telethon in the UK. If this was on VHS then it would have been worthwhile, but as a DVD it's an own goal.



Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Not as good as original broadcast
Review: the 5 doctors was always one of my favorite stories. It is nice to be able to See it but this Special Edition reminds of George Lucas's effects on the original star wars movie - a reduction of quality from the original. Some scenes were added/ extended and I don't think they add anything to the story except drag out some of the scenes. Additionally a few minutes were shaved from the SHADA clips used in the original broadcast - A crime considering Tom Baker is the most recognized Doctor for most TV audiences. The folks at BBC made a great use of the SHADA footage for the original broadcast when Mr. Baker bowed out of the broadcast.

AKnowing that when you watch a Dr Who story you aren't going to see great special effects you accepted that to watch the story. ttempting to Adding to the story brings me to the CGI effects. Unlike the more recent WHO DVD's you do not have the option to turn off the "Enhanced" Effects and sounds. I feel this is a detriment for most of the scenes that have these enhancements. ( the only exception being the Cybermen's amrch into the Tower which is Significantly better. As is the 'Held in the vortex "Shot of Tom Baker. rather than a wavy picture it is now pixelated - not a bad image.

The Timescoop used to capture the Doctors is a funnel effect ( author Terrance Dicks Calls it Casper the ghost in the commentary ) that is anything but menacing. While more impressive than the original Black Triangle used you really cannot make out the faces of those captured. This same swirly effect was used for the exit of the doctors at the end of the eppisode- think the original effect of the 4 TARDISes splitting off and dematerializing was much better.

Better than Not having it at all but try to find a NON special edition on VHS you'll be happier

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A cosmic without the Doctor scarcely bears thinking about
Review: The original version of The Five Doctors was the first story I bought on sale video, and I saw it before the normal sequence of Peter Davison stories that were being shown on PBS. It gave me a good look at Patrick Troughton, Jon Pertwee (the Second and Third Doctors), as well as Liz Sladen (Sarah Jane), and Nicholas Courtney (the Brigadier).

The Doctor, Tegan, and Turlough are resting at the Eye of Orion, a relaxing field with an effect like Earth after a rainstorm. An unseen black-gloved figure manipulating some controls and kidnaps the First Doctor, played with great William Hartnell-ness by Richard Hurndall. A miniature of the Doctor appears. Hmmm, who around here likes shrinking people? Familiar? This happens to the Second and Third Doctor, as well as other companions, but a glitch occurs with the Fourth Doctor and Romana II, who are trapped in a time vortex. With each attack, the Doctor suffers twinges of cosmic angst, and he must do something, lest he be pulled into the vortex and into oblivion. "Great chunks of me are being detached, like icebergs," he says. "I must become whole."

The High Council of Time Lords, still led by Borusa, summon the Master to rescue the Doctor from Gallifrey's Death Zone, "the black secret at the heart of your Time Lord paradise" which is "not the most hospitable of environments." He does so, but is rebuffed by two of the Doctors, understandable as he was full of tricks and traps before.

The Cybermen play a major role here, as three squads of them come out. However, they prove no match to the "most perfect killing machine ever devised," the sleek and featureless Raston Warrior Robot, who steals the show with its martial arts acrobatics and deadly lances and disks, and turns one squad into putty, impaling and decapitating away. Only one Dalek appears here, as does a creature from the Second Doctor's era.

There's plenty of fabulous dialogue here. The Master tells us why the Doctor is so endeared to fans: "A cosmos without the Doctor scarcely bears thinking about." Something the Beeb should have remembered in 1989.

The Time Scoop is seen as a spinning black obelisk here, and the Fourth Doctor and Romana's faces are swirling when caught in the time eddy. These were changed in the revamped edition of the Five Doctors, sold together as a two-pack with The King's Demons.

My favorite Doctor, Jon Pertwee, comes off the best here, "ever so resourceful," as the Master says. He's still the charming, improvising guy with ideas; it's as if he never left the series, and he's a calm counterpart to the strung out Sarah Jane. She's more wimpy here, and that's a big contrast to her earlier era, when she was more headstrong and self-assured.

An interesting double-entendre is when the First Doctor sees traces of two other Doctors. "Well, well, well, so two of them made it. I wonder what happened to the other." This last sentence spoken in such an acidic tone, might be a reference to Tom Baker's last minute refusal to participate in the story.

And the Second Doctor's solo presence implies that he came here inbetween the verdict and sentencing at his trial--there is a hint of that when he encounters Jamie and Zoe, his last travelling companions.

I was right on one thing. In the revamped version, the First Doctor's approximation of pi is 3.14287. Here, it's more accurate--3.14159265. Clearly they used an alternate take on the revamped version. Another is the Cybermen led by the Master--how could they note fail to spot the Doctor and Tegan in the chessboard room upon entering?

A welcome reunion from some Who alumni, past and present, (they even included some William Hartnell in The Dalek Invasion Of Earth and Tom Baker footage from the untelevised Shada) with old pairings up (Doctor Two and the Brigadier, Doctor Three and Sarah) bringing back fond memories of the past, as well as new pairings (Turlough and Susan).

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Almost!
Review: The story is fine, but the DVD isn't on the same level as the current Doctor Who releases. There is no way to switch between the original version and the special editions. While some of the extra scenes are nice, I miss the menacing black triangle and found the swirling digital triangle very distracting. Also we miss seeing Tom Baker fall in the water. It's like the way Buffy in syndication frequently has punch lines missing due to cuts.

On the plus side, the Cybermen death scenes are great! Watch closely and you'll see white foam spewing.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The Doctor needs help and only the Doctor(s) can
Review: The Death Zone the greatest secret of the Time Lords and there greatest shame has somehow been reopened. Even stranger the Doctor and his former selves have disappeared from time and space. Old freinds of the doctor have also been taken. President Borusa has called on the one person who might be able to help the Doctor and his other selves.....the Master. The Doctors battle's old foes in the forms of the Daleks, the Cybermen even a Yeti. What they hadn't forgotten was the Tower of Rasslion. The single most greatest Time Lord of all time or perhaps the most dangerous being the universe has ever known. The Doctor fear they may have been brought Rasslion himself to play his dangerous game. Or is someone else holding the strings to the deathzone and watching waiting for the right time to strike at the Doctors and his many companions. On a personal note this is by far the one episode in which all of the doctors (of course with the expction of the late William Hartnell and Tom Baker involment with this particular project) to fully understand feel the true scope of the Doctor and all he has done to make the universe safe from evil no matter where in time and space and that even an out dated Tardis can still get around without being called a hunk of junk.


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