Rating: 
Summary: There are better stories...
Review: While this story actually has a decent (if not contrived) plot, the production fails to do it justice despite having an expensive look to it. In 1988, the in-jokes and nostalgia references were welcomed by most fans, but time has not treated this story well. The same references and in-jokes come across as irritating and pointless and do nothing but to detract from the story and its (re-)watchability. Much of the 7th Doctor era makes references and in-jokes rather than just telling stories.I will admit that "Remembrance" was a 25th Anniversay show. Still, the writer and production team could have spent the time to make the references less obtrusive and even more accurate. Yes, some of the nostalgia references were inaccurate!!! There are so many that it's not worth mentioning. Fans of the show can readily spot any reference, accurate or otherwise. Those unfamiliar with the show will wonder why the story is making references to some obscure items... that is, until they watch the older stories that references are made to - after which they'd start complaining about the inaccuracies and pointlessness of the references too. The main story being referenced is "An Unearthly Child" (1963). Why do I think the story is contrived? Mostly because of the references and in-jokes, but partly because it revises the show's rather long-running history. For 25 years, viewers were led to believe that the Doctor was just a wandering Gallifreyan, bored with events and policies on his home planet, fighting evil for the sake of helping those in need. Now all of a sudden, viewers are forced to believe that the Doctor left his home planet, taking a bunch of high-tech weapons and leaving them on Earth so he can come back in his future to destroy evil he hadn't even met when he dropped them off! ("Silver Nemesis" is another story dealing with another weapon the Doctor had apparently created but left on Earth after leaving Gallifrey...) Save your money.
Rating:
Summary: Should have been exterminated
Review: Wow, If this story-line really is among the best of the Sylvester McCoy years, I completely understand why Doctor Who was cancelled after his third season. No fault with McCoy, really, although his portrayal of the doctor as a caustic misanthrope certainly didn't help my enjoyment of the program, but neither did it seem utterly heretical, as did the story's major flaws. I am a big fan of the series leading up to the Peter Davison era and what I find most enjoyable about the show during these years is its ability to tell a riveting Sci-Fi tale despite the hinderances of a low budget (namely the shoddy effects and cobbled together sets.) Pre-1980's Doctor Who relied on the strengths of the BBC, excellent writing and acting, and managed to consistently present an entertaining, interesting story. Not so, I'm afraid, with "Remembrance of the Daleks." Well crafted plot has been jettisoned in favor of hollow action scenes, actor driven suspense has been buried beneath an obtrusive synth-rock score, and the viewer is left with a superficial mess with all the charm of an ABC After School Special. Based on the worth of the story alone, this product deserves only one star. However, I've given it two because the DVD has many interesting extras, including a commentary that almost makes it possible to sit through all four episodes, and, well, I think the "Special Weapons" Dalek was actually pretty cool.
Rating:
Summary: Should have been exterminated
Review: Wow, If this story-line really is among the best of the Sylvester McCoy years, I completely understand why Doctor Who was cancelled after his third season. No fault with McCoy, really, although his portrayal of the doctor as a caustic misanthrope certainly didn't help my enjoyment of the program, but neither did it seem utterly heretical, as did the story's major flaws. I am a big fan of the series leading up to the Peter Davison era and what I find most enjoyable about the show during these years is its ability to tell a riveting Sci-Fi tale despite the hinderances of a low budget (namely the shoddy effects and cobbled together sets.) Pre-1980's Doctor Who relied on the strengths of the BBC, excellent writing and acting, and managed to consistently present an entertaining, interesting story. Not so, I'm afraid, with "Remembrance of the Daleks." Well crafted plot has been jettisoned in favor of hollow action scenes, actor driven suspense has been buried beneath an obtrusive synth-rock score, and the viewer is left with a superficial mess with all the charm of an ABC After School Special. Based on the worth of the story alone, this product deserves only one star. However, I've given it two because the DVD has many interesting extras, including a commentary that almost makes it possible to sit through all four episodes, and, well, I think the "Special Weapons" Dalek was actually pretty cool.
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