Rating: 
Summary: "I'm not coming with you."
Review: "Resurrection of the Daleks" is the first of the stories available on DVD that I saw as a fan. I was only eleven years old and had only been watching the show (aired nightly on PBS) for a month. It made a huge impact on me and led, indirectly, to my sitting here on a perfectly pleasant September evening 19 years later, writing this review.A lot of "Resurrection" is still effective today. I saw this story first the year that it debuted -- 1984 -- and, of course, a lot of the acting and special effects seem woefully dated today. What I like is the air of actual *menace* around these Daleks, as opposed to a string of predictable, less-than-memorable 1970s outings. These Daleks actually instill horror in their victims. They shoot on sight and play fast and loose with biological weapons. "Resurrection" is a violent, gruesome story whose impact is only slightly dulled by the two dozen badly-acted death scenes of random extras. One of the extras, referred to on the commentary track only as "the Geek", looks a lot like David Letterman. For what it's worth. The DVD extras make this package the better of the two "DW" stories released in the US this summer. The obligatory text commentary, full of location filming dates and guest actor credits, also describes in detail the evolution of the story's script over the three years it took to get to screen. We learn how actor Terry Molloy (the third and final "Davros") spent hours practicing the voice, to make the character sound like Michael Wisher, the original (and best) Davros. Molloy truly is excellent playing a ranting wheelchair-bound villain in a latex mask (which, we learn, caused "lakes of sweat" to pool inside the oversized rubber chin), and would go on to play the role right up through the end of "Doctor Who" as a series. The audio track is also a winner. Peter Davison (the Doctor) is back for his third DVD and is, as always, hilarious. Janet Fielding (Tegan, who makes her emotional departure at the end of "Resurrection") puts in her first DVD performance. She's done her homework, giving a lot of convincing detail, and still finds time to count the many furtive glances that co-star Mark Strickson (Turlough) shot to the camera as he strived to get more face time. Story director Matthew Robinson seems to remember the setup for every camera angle and every shot in the story, and lets us know it. Still, it's the level of detail and humor that puts this in the "above average" range of DW audio commentaries, after a rather dull recent run by actors and directors with distressingly porous memories. Another good extra is the lengthy "on location" segment, which returns to the narrow, dank Thames waterfront alleys where the story was filmed. It's all gone upscale now. Robinson re-enacts old scenes by lurking in alcoves that have since become pastry shop windows. Also interspersed here is an interview with producer John Nathan-Turner, evidently the last interview he gave before his death last year. Also in the "deleted scenes" is the alternative cliffhanger to Part Two... which was actually the cliffhanger used when I first saw this story in the US in 1984. I like this "alternate" version better than the "official" one, as it ends a couple of menacing beats later. The ultimate goal, I think, is to get as much of Davison's Season 21 output on DVD as possible. We have two of his six stories out now, and that's just not enough.
Rating:
Summary: "I'm not coming with you."
Review: "Resurrection of the Daleks" is the first of the stories available on DVD that I saw as a fan. I was only eleven years old and had only been watching the show (aired nightly on PBS) for a month. It made a huge impact on me and led, indirectly, to my sitting here on a perfectly pleasant September evening 19 years later, writing this review. A lot of "Resurrection" is still effective today. I saw this story first the year that it debuted -- 1984 -- and, of course, a lot of the acting and special effects seem woefully dated today. What I like is the air of actual *menace* around these Daleks, as opposed to a string of predictable, less-than-memorable 1970s outings. These Daleks actually instill horror in their victims. They shoot on sight and play fast and loose with biological weapons. "Resurrection" is a violent, gruesome story whose impact is only slightly dulled by the two dozen badly-acted death scenes of random extras. One of the extras, referred to on the commentary track only as "the Geek", looks a lot like David Letterman. For what it's worth. The DVD extras make this package the better of the two "DW" stories released in the US this summer. The obligatory text commentary, full of location filming dates and guest actor credits, also describes in detail the evolution of the story's script over the three years it took to get to screen. We learn how actor Terry Molloy (the third and final "Davros") spent hours practicing the voice, to make the character sound like Michael Wisher, the original (and best) Davros. Molloy truly is excellent playing a ranting wheelchair-bound villain in a latex mask (which, we learn, caused "lakes of sweat" to pool inside the oversized rubber chin), and would go on to play the role right up through the end of "Doctor Who" as a series. The audio track is also a winner. Peter Davison (the Doctor) is back for his third DVD and is, as always, hilarious. Janet Fielding (Tegan, who makes her emotional departure at the end of "Resurrection") puts in her first DVD performance. She's done her homework, giving a lot of convincing detail, and still finds time to count the many furtive glances that co-star Mark Strickson (Turlough) shot to the camera as he strived to get more face time. Story director Matthew Robinson seems to remember the setup for every camera angle and every shot in the story, and lets us know it. Still, it's the level of detail and humor that puts this in the "above average" range of DW audio commentaries, after a rather dull recent run by actors and directors with distressingly porous memories. Another good extra is the lengthy "on location" segment, which returns to the narrow, dank Thames waterfront alleys where the story was filmed. It's all gone upscale now. Robinson re-enacts old scenes by lurking in alcoves that have since become pastry shop windows. Also interspersed here is an interview with producer John Nathan-Turner, evidently the last interview he gave before his death last year. Also in the "deleted scenes" is the alternative cliffhanger to Part Two... which was actually the cliffhanger used when I first saw this story in the US in 1984. I like this "alternate" version better than the "official" one, as it ends a couple of menacing beats later. The ultimate goal, I think, is to get as much of Davison's Season 21 output on DVD as possible. We have two of his six stories out now, and that's just not enough.
Rating:
Summary: One of the best "5th Doctor" stories - intense sci-fi drama.
Review: "Resurrection of the Daleks is one of the best "5th Doctor" stories. You not only have the Daleks, but Davros (the evil creator of the Daleks) here as well. Special effects are not the greatest, but the script is top-notch. Very tense, nail-biting stuff. As often in Doctor Who stories, it's hard to tell which is worse, the evil war-mongering aliens or the humans fighting them. The Daleks can't help but be evil, but the humans choose to be. Davidson is in top form as the Doctor, and the heart-breaking departure of Tegan at the end of the story is very touching. Definitely one of the better Dr. Who's!
Rating: 
Summary: adult style makes me sick
Review: Agh..this seems to be the worst Dalek story i've seen so far. Like in The Destiny of the Daleks, they are disappearing more an more into the background. I hate the way the pepperpots are portrayed so helpless without Davros, losing a battle against one of the most boring race of losers in the Dr Who universe, the Movellans. Even the human mercenaries with those silly dalek hats seem more efficient than the Daleks themselves. Sad, these are the creatures who once made the "Dalek master plan" and threatened the very universe!
The thing that annoys me even more than the decline of the Daleks is the overall style of the story. After seeing most Peter Davison and Colin Baker Dr Who episodes i've HAD IT with the "gritty, adult" style. Instead of humor, sense of wonder and likeable characters these sad years gave us mostly violence and overall grimness, with the production values of a kiddies show, cardboard sets and rubber monsters.
In a poorly made gritty, adult show there are roughly two kinds of characters: 1)The ruthless killer who only cares about him/herself and 2)The coward who only cares about him/herself. The problem is, i wouldn't give a damn if they were all shot to pieces in part one.
The only reason i give this one another star is the fact that it's allways interesting to see what the Daleks are up to now. Of course not all the 5th doctor stories were this bad, watch Kinda or Earthshock instead.
Rating:
Summary: Dark and Powerful
Review: Although a bit plot heavy (too much going on for a 4 parter to satisfy), this is a powerful Dalek story, and a very well acted morality tale, that stands out at the darkest tale of the Peter Davison era. Tegan, inarguably one of the best female Dr. Who companions, is given quite the swan song, with Rula Lenska as a cynical space doctor, Terry Molloy proving himself to be the most excellent portrayal of Davros since "Genesis" (the guy in "Destiny" just didn't cut it), and Maurice Coulbourne making an a nice impression as the amoral, self-serving Lytton. It seemed as though the story could have used some paring down; some of the plotlines were superfluous and/or simply uninteresting. In the end, however, the Davros-engineered Dalek mutiny, the Movellan virus, the duplicates on earth, and some really nice battle sequences definitely make this a highlight of Peter Davison's last, and best, season. Followed by the excellent "Planet of Fire" and the unsurpassed "Caves of Androzani," this is a must have for the Peter Davison/Dr. Who fan. Ending with Tegan's insistence that the violence that surrounds the Doctor has become too much for her, and the Doctor reflecting that he may need to mend his ways, was incredibly poignant for me both when I was a kid, and during my frequent re-viewings of this episode.
Rating: 
Summary: A welcome resurrection
Review: Another two adventures featuring the intrepid Time Lord are released on DVD, again showcasing different eras from the long running BBC adventure series. "Carnival of Monsters" dates from 1973 and the tenth season of the show, with the companion release "Resurrection of the Daleks" hailing from season twenty-one broadcast in 1984. As with all the previous DVD releases of Doctor Who, the archive material has been painstakingly restored, with spectacular results. Each of the two stories looks as impressive as when the adventures were first broadcast all those years ago. In addition to the restoration, a number of very interesting extras has been added to both releases which are almost worth the price of the discs alone. Starting with the earlier adventure, starring Jon Pertwee as the third incarnation of The Doctor, there are a lot of goodies included along with the four-part adventure. The story itself marked something of a watershed in the Pertwee era, since it was the first to feature the Doctor traveling freely in time and space since the black and white Troughton era which ended in 1969. The intervening seasons had become somewhat tedious with endless earth bound adventures, albeit with occasional escapes for the Doctor, so it was refreshing to have the Doctor once more freely roaming the universe. "Carnival of Monsters" was the first story to be recorded for season ten, actually being completed as part of the production block for season nine in 1972. It was held over and transmitted second in the tenth anniversary season. It was also the second Pertwee story to be directed by the show's producer, Barry Letts. Letts provides a genuinely interesting commentary along with the other star of the show, Katy Manning, the actress who played the enormously popular Jo Grant. Although a fairly one-dimensional character, Manning certainly brought a great deal of energy and warmth to her portrayal of Grant, and that enthusiasm hasn't been lost in the thirty plus years since the story was made. Manning and Letts are clearly delighted to be reunited again for this DVD, and their commentary is entertaining, informative and indeed delightful. There are also on screen captions to fill in the gaps in their memories. This release differs from the earlier VHS release considerably. The four episodes have been re-mastered from the original broadcast tapes. All the additional footage and indeed edits from the VHS release have been included as extras rather than in the body of the programme. There is also a fascinating, but short, behind-the-scenes look at the making of the programme, plus an abandoned reworking of the theme tune, some model work, a photo gallery, the trailer from a 1981 TV repeat and an Easter egg to find. The story itself is witty and refreshing, being penned by the programmes most prolific and popular writer, Robert Holmes, and acted well by the assembled cast. Sadly, I would say the production is let down by some gaudy design and costuming, particularly the scenes on the alien planet, but that was often the case with the Pertwee stories. The sister release, "Resurrection of the Daleks" is quite different and much darker in tone and appearance. Heralding the return of the Doctor's oldest and most popular enemies after a five year absence from the show, this story is from the end of Peter Davison's rather brief reign as the fifth incarnation of the Time Lord and indeed marks the end of an era as it includes the departure of the long running companion Tegan Jovanka, played by Janet Fielding. One of the things I was dreading for this release was the commentary featuring Davison, Fielding and director Matthew Robinson. Davison has not exactly been enthralling with the earlier releases he has contributed to, and as most hard-core fans of the show know, Fielding has been extremely critical of the show; particularly it's portrayal of female characters in the years since she relinquished her role. However, I am delighted to report that their commentary is wonderful! Definitely the highlight of the release. Obviously Fielding has rediscovered her sense of humor, and doesn't even seem to mind when Davison and Robinson make endless sexist remarks about her costume and legs! Although it's a bit mean, their sending up of fellow actor Mark Strickson (Turlough) is genuinely funny. Robinson is actually the weak link in the commentary team, since unfortunately he is almost impossible to silence, and constantly talks over the other two. But it's a minor quibble. Another surprise is the inclusion of BOTH John Nathan-Turner; the shows much-maligned long running producer, and his script editor Eric Saward who also penned the script. The two fell out while producing the ill-fated twenty-third season of the show resulting in Saward stalking out of the programme mid-way through production and a great deal of public mud-slinging. Although they are not actually seen together, they've both filmed new sequences with Director Robinson at the locations used for the filming of the story. The on-screen production notes are a little tedious on this release, and there are also two features from the BBC's "Breakfast Time" which actually have precious little to do with the story itself. But they're fun to see again. It's a taught story, with a stellar guest cast, although like most of the Davison era, it's all a little too complex, and doesn't stand up to a great deal of scrutiny. Some of the plot holes are pretty large, but it still works as a very entertaining piece. The episodes are included as produced, in four 25-minute episodes, even though they were actually transmitted as two 45-minute episodes at the time, thanks to the BBC's coverage of the 1984 Winter Olympics. They're both great releases, and a welcome addition to the growing Doctor Who DVD library. I'd recommend both discs even if you're not a die-hard fan of the show.
Rating:
Summary: A definite improvement on "Destiny of the Daleks"
Review: Better in just about every way than "destiny", Terry Molloy does a lot better than David Gooderson (but not quite as good as Michael Wisher in "Genesis of the Daleks"). The plot twists and acting are brilliant and Davison is at his best here.
Rating:
Summary: Wow!
Review: Death everywhere. That's all that can be said about Resurrection of the Daleks, and it's no wonder Tegan left. The emotional scene at the end is truly remarkable, and well acted by Peter Davison, Janet Fielding, and Mark Strickson. Janet's tears were real, and for some big Tegan fans such as myself, it's hard to say goodbye to such a good companion who has been on the show since the last Tom Baker show, Logopolis. Throughout the seasons we have seen her go through some changes, she was a very tempermental stewardess in the beginning but the next two seasons she certainly mellowed out. The commentary is excellent, and Janet is wonderful and seems happy to be back into the Who world. I recommend this story, although it is rather dark and boring at times...but the commentary with Janet is well worth it... for she hasn't done any Doctor Who in over ten years!
Rating:
Summary: Great excitement
Review: Doctor Who (Peter Davidson) must save the Earth from a Dalek invasion via a time corridor. Also, he must confront Davros--the creator of the Daleks & stop his insane scheme to conquer the universe.
Rating:
Summary: Resurrection of the cheezy death scenes. oo! aaa! eh?
Review: Dr. Who has always been notorious for its cheezy special fx, but DW of old always had good story and memorable acting and was just plain fun to watch(the bottom line).
This did not have any of this. I have never seen such silly melodramatic wound cries from being hit by a blaster. "Oh agony agony.. the pain!" They must not have paid these actors enough or they were trying to be 'creative' with thier death cries. Especially the duplicate guy who stuttered, ooing and aaahing from his blaster 'wound' for nearly all the way through episode 3(or 4). A crewmember blasted one of her own people because he was disfigured from radiation. Not because he was a threat.(his death scene was actually fairly well done).
But most of all; the brainless shooting. It was like an episode of 'Rambo wannabe' instead of Dr. Who. It lacked the intellectual plots and charm that Dr. Who has always been known for. This, much like the rest of the 1984 season was a 'season for shooting' I think, machine guns and nothing else. That is all I remember of Dr. Who season 21(1984) ending with Dr. #5's death(Not quite shot, but shot at). No I am not saying violence should be excluded, I didn't like Colin Baker's series because it had none at all, and was boring and stupid. But there is more to Dr. Who than endless shooting and nothing else. No wonder Tegan said it 'wasn't fun anymore...
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