Rating: 
Summary: Grand entertainment for all.
Review: Order some Chinese take-out, sit back and let this one take you away. Set in Victorian London, "Talons" pits Tom Baker's Doctor against the diabolical Magnus Greel, a wonderfully named and hideously deformed renegade from the distant future who is using the dreaded Tong of the Black Scorpion to murder his way through a perpetually fog shrouded London in search of his Time Cabinet. What makes this feature-length episode really click with life are all of the delightful supporting characters that give life to the period. From the blustrously alliterative Henry Jago through the wordly Professor Lightfoot right down to the assorted policemen and stage hands, "Talons" is filled with believable characters and well developed settings that all serve the story -- nothing seems to have been superimposed to create interest. I especially enjoy the scenes where Leela regards the trappings of Victorian life with a sort of quite bemusement, asking the Professor why he smokes and if they should "give the proper resonses" when at the theatre during a sing-along. This may sound controversial, but I also am intrigued by the sly racism that pervades the episodes and how it is recreated as a facet of the times ["He's a Chinese, in case you haven't noticed."] in a way that is descriptive ["We were attacked by this little man and four other little men."] and not really condescending. Were the producers and scriptwriters aware they were pandering to a stereotype when having the delirious Chang relate his opium fueled vision of "... crossing the golden bridge leading to the palace of jade ..."? You better beleive it. One of the duties of historical fiction is to not only create the look but the feel of the times, and the oriental characters are presented in a quietly xenophobic air that is probably quite accurate, unfortunate though that is. Still, it's one of the best of the Baker episodes, a marvel of a visual production, and since it's got Leela in it [always my favorite companion, even if she wears more clothing than usual in an effort to "not frighten the horses"] you can't go wrong. Highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: THE TALONS OF DR SHERLOCK HOLMES
Review: Regarded by fans as one of the best Doctor Who stories ever made, The Talons of Weng Chiang transports the Doctor and Leela to 19th Century Victorian London. A planned trip to the theater is interrupted when the duo come across a gang of Chinese Triads committing a murder on the foggy streets. As the body count increases, the Doctor teams up with Professor Litefoot, a police pathologist, in a desperate attempt to solve the mystery of the disappearing women. Eventually his investigations center around a particular theater house run by Henry Jago where he discovers that the star act, Li H'sen Chang, is supplying the ancient Chinese god Weng Chiang with fresh young bodies in order to complete his master's regeneration...Top notch sets, an excellent script, sterling performances from the actors and a dark, sinister atmosphere reminiscent of the old Hammer Horror movies keeps the viewer glued to the screen through all 6 breathtaking episodes. Even after 16 years the story is as captivating as ever. Tom Baker is wonderful as The Doctor and this story was highly influential in casting him as Sherlock Holmes in a BBC TV series several years later. Technical notes: The existing BBC recordings have been cleaned up for the DVD by the Dr Who Restoration Team who rebalanced the colour, removed scratches plus much more in order to give the fans the best possible viewing pleasure. A commentary track was recorded with original actors Louise Jameson, John Bennett and Chrisopher Benjamin, Director David Maloney and Producer Phillip Hinchcliffe. Also included is a BBC documentary, some clips from the childrens show "Blue Peter" including how to make a Dr Who puppet theater, an interview with Phillip Hinchcliffe, pop-up production notes and a photo gallery.
Rating:
Summary: Great performances set in victorian London
Review: Splendidly captures the atmosphere of musical halls, limehouse docks and opium dens, Jack the ripper, within swirls of victorian mist and gas lights. All the characters are convincingly real and the plot totally believable with a truly threatening monster and some high tech thrown in for good measure. Hard not to get drawn in to this tale as are the characters. As close to a good movie as a TV production gets and one that you are sure to watch many times.
Rating:
Summary: Another Great Who DVD
Review: Talons is a very well put together DVD, with a horde of extras, and a great restoration job. The story itself is one of the few six parters in Doctor Who that doesn't sag by the 4th or 5th episode, and is strong throughout, involving a large cast, some great set work, and Tom Baker at his best. The extra's for the most part are a good mix, featuring a documentary going behind the scenes of Talons, an interview with Peter Hinchcliffe, another Who related episode of Blue Peter, and a really cool 40th anniversary montage that has a really good orbital remix of the Who theme. All around well worth the money.
Rating:
Summary: My Favorite Dr. Who Episode!
Review: Talons is my favorite Dr. Who episode. Period. It has a great cast of sideline characters, an evil villain, a twisted plot, and wonderful suspense. I think it really shows off the best parts of Tom Baker's incarnation of the Doctor. Jago and Lightfoot are brilliant as bumbling stooges trying to help out the Doctor... Great stuff!
John T>
Rating:
Summary: "Ten feet from whisker to tail!"
Review: The Doctor and Leela visit London. While in London, The Doctor discovers the chinese "god" is really a failed time traveler from the future. One of the best episodes of doctor who!
Rating: 
Summary: garbage
Review: The DvD is great, but disc 2 has fantastic items on it. Documentary and Blue Peter and a nice 40th anniversary montage. This DvD also has an easter egg. They did this set of DvD's right, it is rich with details and great material. You will feel this was money well spent.
Rating:
Summary: Disc 2!
Review: The DvD is great, but disc 2 has fantastic items on it. Documentary and Blue Peter and a nice 40th anniversary montage. This DvD also has an easter egg. They did this set of DvD's right, it is rich with details and great material. You will feel this was money well spent.
Rating: 
Summary: Fun, magic and chinese in Victorian London
Review: The first two-thirds or so of this Doctor Who adventure are among the best Who episodes ever. The Doctor and Leila arrive, appropriately costumed, in Victorian London, and end up involved in a quick-paced adventure involving a master illusionist, Chinese assasins, a murderious puppet, giant rats, and a Phantom-of-the-Opera type bad guy who may or may not be Jack the Ripper. The plot moves along quickly, which is more than can be said for alot of Who episodes, the costumes and lighting are period looking, and the acting is mostly first rate. The last hour devolves into a lot of over-the-top "nyah, hah, hah, hah" stereo-typical villian-type laughter," inconceivable plot twists, and a midget dummy that makes the amusingly silly looking giant rats look postively convincing by comparison. Still... Tom Baker was at his best in these episodes and the supporting characters are excellent. Strong enough to overcome the weak ending.
Rating:
Summary: An excellent adventure
Review: THE TALONS OF WEING CHIANG IS UNDOUBTEDLY ONE OF DR WHO'S BEST STORIES AND THE BBC JUST SPECIALISE IN PRODUCING PERIOD COSTUME DRAMA. WE HAVE AN EXCELLENT SCRIPT BY ROBERT HOLMES WHO DISPLAYS HIS INVENTIVE WRITING AND IMAGINATION COMBINED WITH AN EERIE AND STRANGE ATMOSPHERE. DARK FOGGY STREETS,ALIEN TECHNOLOGY IN THE 19TH CENTURY, ORIENTAL MYSTERY AND SUPERB AND ENERGETIC DIRECTION BY DAVID MALONEY ANOTHER MAN WHO REALLY KNOWS HOW TO MAKE DR WHO LOOK ITS BEST. ITS ENJOYABLE TO SEE THE DOCTOR AND LEELA STROLLING THROUGH THE DARK FOGGY MYSTERIOUS STREETS WHICH HAVE AN AIR OF EVIL IN THEM AND THEN SUDDENLY AN ATTACK BY A GROUP OF CHINAMEN AFTER DISCOVERING THEY ARE CARRYING A DEAD BODY. ONE CAN TELL WHEN THEY ARE WATCHING THE EPISODE THAT IT HAS BEEN HUGELY INSPIRED BY THE FU MANCHU AND SHELOCK HOLMES STORIES AS WE SEE THE DOCTOR DRESSED IN A DEERSTALKER AND A CLOAK WHICH IS TYPICALLY HOLMESIAN AND THE PRESENCE OF A MYSTERIOUS CHINESE MAGICIAN AS SEEN IN THE FU MANCHU FILMS. HANDSOME CABS, AMATEUR SLEUTHS, A MURDEROUS WALKING SINISTER DUMMY, THESE ARE JUST SOME OF THE ELEMENTS WHICH MAKES THE STORY SO ENGAGING AND ENJOYABLE. TOM BAKER GIVES AN EXCELLENT PERFORMANCE AS THE DOCTOR, HERE AS HE POSES AS A POLICE DETECTIVE INVESTIGATING THE CASE OF THE DEAD CAB DRIVER AND THE RAT HAIRS FOUND ON THE BODY AND THE EFFECTS OF OPIUM. THE REST OF THE ASSEMBLED CAST GIVE EXCELLENT PERFORMANCES PARTICULARLY JOHN BENNETT AS THE MYSTERIOUS CHINESE MAGICIAN L'HSEN CHANG, ITS JUST IMPOSSIBLE TO BELIEVE THAT HE ISN'T ACTUALLY CHINESE AND HIS MAKEUP AND PERFORMANCE ARE JUST BREATHTAKING AND OUT OF THIS WORLD. CHRISTOPHER BENJAMIN AND TREVOR BAXTER SHINE AS HENRY GORDON JAGO AND PROFESSOR LITEFOOT THEIR RELATIONSHIP CONTRASTS VERY WELL ALONG WITH THE TEAMING OF CHANG AND WEING CHIANG. I SIMPLY LOVED THE SCENE WHERE LITEFOOT ADDRESSES GREEL AS A FILTHY BOWNDER WHICH WAS HILARIOUS. GREEL IS PORTRAYED VERY WELL BY MICHAEL SPICE WHO IS SIMPLY EERIE, CHILLING AND COMPLETELY MAD. HIS CHARACTER IS EXTREMELY TRAGIC MOST OF THE TIME AND OCCASSIONALLY HILARIOUS AND RUTHLESS AS WELL. THE LOCATIONS AND SETTINGS BLEND IN VERY WELL WITH THE STORY AND MAKE IT MORE ENJOYABLE AND CONVINCING, THE BEAUTIFUL CJ PIPPS THEATRE IN NORTHAMPTONSHIRE WHICH WORKS VERY WELL AS THE PALACE THEATRE AND THE MOODY FILTHY SEWERS REALLY HELP TO CREATE THE ATMOSPHERE OF LATE VICTORIAN LONDON. THIS IS A DOCTOR WHO STORY AT ITS BEST WHICH IS HIGHLY DRAMATIC AND ENTERTAINING AND WHICH CAN BE ENJOYED AGAIN AND AGAIN. I ONLY HOPE THAT ONE DAY WE WILL SEE THIS STORY AS A DVD RELEASE.
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