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| What: | The Rocket Men (The Companion Chronicles audiobooks) |
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| By: | Clive T Wright, St Lawrence, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Sunday 7 October 2012 |
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| Rating: |   8 |
William Russell has a great tone of voice and is able to create a world of characters. Rocket man is a good story set in a vivid world in the clouds.
Building up to Ian's battle and rescue in the clouds, which is the highlight of the story. The niggle for me was the amount of times we jumped back and forth in the plot, which lost a few points for me. Otherwise it's a great production.
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 | Everybody was Kung-Fu Fighting |
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| What: | The Eleventh Tiger (BBC Past Doctor novels) |
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| By: | Chris Arnold, Bundaberg, Australia |
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| Date: | Sunday 7 October 2012 |
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| Rating: | 7 |
I approached this book with some trepidation, as the author's previous output which I have read gave me mixed feelings. I loved Mission Impractical but Lords of the Storm was amazingly tedious. I have to say that with The Eleventh Tiger I was pleasantly surprised. A great ghost story with strong and interesting characters, and the regulars coming off as believable. A little ham fisted Ian and Barbara love each other stuff aside and the slightly contrived last chapter that almost lapsed back into McIntee's laborious 'space opera' style prose, this is a strong entry for the First Doctor and this novel range. My abiding memory of this novel will be, in true Bruce Lee fashion, the Doctor himself in full Kung-Fu pose. Bring it on!
| What: | The Rings of Ikiria (The Companion Chronicles audiobooks) |
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| By: | Clive T Wright, St Lawrence, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Thursday 27 September 2012 |
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| Rating: | 8 |
This is a well rounded story, with all the hallmarks of some of the best 3rd Doctor's earth bound adventures. Captain Yates is really at the heart of the story exploring and developing the character.
Set on the isle of sark in the Channel Islands, there is just one error in this good story I can't help saying. There are no cars on Sark!
| What: | The Lost Stories: Paradise 5 (The Lost Stories audio dramas) |
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| By: | Matt Saunders, Buckinghamshire, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Thursday 27 September 2012 |
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| Rating: | 10 |
This is definitely the jewel of the Big Finish Lost Stories first season, and is really excellent. Andy Lane has clearly adapted this very well and also added his own take on things - including the whole of episode one. It also feels very much part of the Sixth Doctor's era, as it's so 80's!! And brilliant with it - with lots of charm and colour in great quantities. Well done to Big Finish and everyone involved, this truly was and is a classic - what a shame this was not used in the Trial of a Time Lord with the other stories (yes, it would have been a 18 episode season, but who cares?)....
| What: | The Wheel of Ice (BBC prestige novels) |
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| By: | Trevor Smith, Nottingham, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Thursday 27 September 2012 |
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| Rating: | 10 |
I came to his book having not read anything by Stephen Baxter so I didn't know what to expect other than this, the Doctor, Jamie & Zoe is my favourite TARDIS crew.
Let me say that the writer has done a damn fine job. This an excellent story that bubbles along slowly and builds into a really good climax & conclusion.
The dialogue between the Doctor & crew is spot on & you can really here the voices of Pat Throughton, Wendy Padbury & Frazier Hines coming out of the book.
The one small criticism I have is that Jamie isn't in the story enough for me.
I got a real thrill out of spotting references to old story's in his book. Like the new series they are (mostly) fleeting & if you don't know them it wound spoil your enjoyment. I spotted Talons of Weing-Cheing, Black Orchid, Evil of the Daleks, The Seeds of Death& The Silurians
All in all, a really cracking, cool book.
| What: | Grave Matter (BBC Past Doctor novels) |
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| By: | Trevor Smith, Nottingham, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Tuesday 25 September 2012 |
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| Rating: | 8 |
A good solid interesting, if nothing out of the ordinary.
| What: | Corpse Marker (BBC Past Doctor novels) |
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| By: | Trevor Smith, Nottingham, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Tuesday 25 September 2012 |
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| Rating: | 5 |
I've loved all of Chris Boucher's Who story's & books & so I was really looking forward to this, a sequel to his best story Robot's of Death.
Perhaps that is the problem. Perhaps that's why I was so disappointed with this frankly dull book that never really gets going.
To many characters, not enough story.
Disappointing.
| What: | Salvation (BBC Past Doctor novels) |
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| By: | Trevor Smith, Nottingham, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Tuesday 25 September 2012 |
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| Rating: | 8 |
Another really good book from Steve Lyons. Loved the ideas in this book & loved the fleshing out of Dodo's character.
| What: | Last Man Running (BBC Past Doctor novels) |
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| By: | Trevor Smith, Nottingham, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Tuesday 25 September 2012 |
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| Rating: | 8 |
A really fast paced thrilling tale that has lots of intresting ideas.
Chris Boucher writes really well for Lella but doesn't quite get the 4th Doctor right
Recommend.
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| At last, the clash of the titans!!!!!!!! |
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I always loved Horror of Fang Rock. It had atmosphere and the rutan just really did look out of this world. I still dont know what they used to create that blobby thing. And if they had to be brought back, for me it had to be just right, and suitably different so as not to be run of the mill.
And as a great fan of most of the Sontaran stories back in the classic series, its great to hear at last a full blown battle between the titans! This would have been a great visual spectacle back in the eighties. Lament the BBC for never making these brilliant tales.
But here at last it is. A battle between the Sontarans and Rutans. And it is done in brilliant fashion. Theres not just the climatic ending to affairs, but theres also the very interesting side story in the original inhabitants of Sontar. The story barely pauses for breath, and Colin Baker and Nicola Bryant of course are on robust form, and the Sontarans are as always well realised. Im very glad theyve finally had a battle, even if its just in audio format. And the fact that the reason for their ongoing battle is at last fully addressed, then one is more than satisfied. This is a very very strong lost story indeed. Cant wait for the next outting.
| What: | The Lost Stories: Power Play (The Lost Stories audio dramas) |
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| By: | Matthew David Rabjohns, Bridgend, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Tuesday 25 September 2012 |
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| Rating: | 3 |
I was expecting the return of Victoria to be in a story far more grand in scale and better in its telling. I wasnt expecting such a lacklustre effort for her to come back with. Honestly, this story just failed to hit the mark with me. All that truly saves it is Colin Baker and Nicola Bryant and Debbie's performance even with the rather bland stuff shes given to do. Nothing new is boasted here at all. Just some typical nutcase with a typical plan and typical hypnosis of a friend of the Doctor to turn on him, and its been done far far better. Even the new alien police force dont make the impact theyre almost certainly expected to make. Sorry, I just cant get worked up about this one. One of the seldom few mis fires for Big Finish. Gladly, it gets far better again with the next lost story. Deborah Watling definitely deserved far better than this. Its a missed oppurtunity indeed.
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| Ark In Space Special Edition. |
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| What: | The Ark in Space (BBC classic series DVDs/Blu-rays) |
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| By: | Trevor Smith, Nottingham, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Tuesday 18 September 2012 |
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| Rating: | 10 |
And so one of the greatest ever Who story's gets the SE treatment.
So what do you get on this new version ? Well the picture has been cleaned up an absolute treat. The wonderful people at the RT team have made it look like it was made just last week.
There are a host of new extras, as well as everything that what was on the old one.
There's a really good making of documentary and some glorious footage of Tom Baker in Northern Ireland in the 1970's at the height of his powers.
Of course it's worth getting for the story alone, one of Robert Holmes very best story's. The cast all play of each other brilliantly and the sets are fantastic.
If you haven't got a copy buy it. If you've got the original replace it with he SE. You'll thank yourself for doing so.
| What: | U.N.I.T Files (BBC classic series DVDs/Blu-rays) |
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| By: | Trevor Smith, Nottingham, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Tuesday 18 September 2012 |
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| Rating: | 9 |
I can't believe the other reviewer criticised the colour restoration of episode one. He is really showing his ignorance of what little the RT had to work on and what a magnificent job they have done. Mind you this is a guy who loves the twin dilemma & hates genesis of the Daleks...........
Anyway Invasion of the Dinosaurs is one of my favourite 3rd Doctor story's & here it ison DVD at last.
Yes, yes I know the Dinosaurs are rubbish but if you can get past that this is a really strong, intresting story with lots of great charachters. The star for me is Liz Sladen who is simply magnificent. UNIT really come to the for in thi story & this could be the best UNIT story of all.
The making of documentary People, Power & Puppetry is really detailed.
The Android Invasion is less intresting. It's not well served by a cliched Terry Nation script & poorly realised aliens. The story is full of plot holes & only Milton Johns comes out with any credit.
9/10 for Dinosaur's 6/10 for Androids.
| What: | Death to the Daleks (BBC classic series DVDs/Blu-rays) |
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| By: | Trevor Smith, Nottingham, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Tuesday 18 September 2012 |
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| Rating: | 6 |
This is the third & final 3rd Doctor/Dalek story and it's the dullest by far.
This is a flat unintresting story that only really gets going when the Doctor has to work his way around the city of the Exxillons.
The Daleks have never looked or sounded lest threatening & the cast and crew just look bored.
The DVD extras aren't much to shout about either apart from an ok making of documentary.
Thank goodness that the next Dalek story was the magnificent Genesis that saved there reputation.
For collectors only.
| What: | The Face of Evil (BBC classic series DVDs/Blu-rays) |
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| By: | Trevor Smith, Nottingham, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Tuesday 18 September 2012 |
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| Rating: | 6 |
Its hard to know why this story has never grabbed me. It always seems a bit flat & doesn't hint at the greatness to come (Robots of Death, Weing-Chaing)
There's not to much wrong with the acting, Tom & Louise hit it off straight away & the reveal of the Doctors face in the mountainside at the episode 1 is one of the best ever, it just never seems to get going for me.
The extras on the DVD aren't up to much either though Toby Hadoke, as ever, makes the commentary fun & intresting.
| What: | Revisitations 3 (BBC classic series DVDs/Blu-rays) |
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| By: | Trevor Smith, Nottingham, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Tuesday 18 September 2012 |
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| Rating: | 10 |
How wonderful it is to see these three story's, three of the very best story's, given the full whistle & bells, treatment with lots of wonderful extras.
Robots of Death is of course one of the best story's ever. Smart, tense, exciting & beautiful to look at. The Three Doctors while a fun romp, espically Pertwee & Throughton bouncing off each other is probably the weakest of the the three & it's extras are minimual.
Tomb of the Cyberman is the real gem here. Finally Vid-Fired up & looking spruced up & pin sharp as the day it was made. A wonderful excting slice of 60's Who with one of Pat Throughtons best performances. The history of the Cybermen documentary presented by Dr Mattew Sweet is also excellent.
If you don't have these story's in your collection this is an essential purchase. If you do and love them, here is a chance to see them (espically Tomb) in a whole new light.
| What: | Planet of Giants (BBC classic series DVDs/Blu-rays) |
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| By: | Trevor Smith, Nottingham, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Tuesday 18 September 2012 |
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| Rating: | 7 |
This is a really good example of how the 60's Who production team tried, with a minuscule budget to make an intresting & imaginative story.
The sets are really good & I found myself gripped during certain scenes. This really is Barbra's story & Jackie Hill is really excellent.
The story of industrial espionage doesn't really work for me & the editing of episodes 3 & 4 really spoils the end.
An intresting set of extras not least with the reconstruction of what episodes 3 & 4 would have been like it the story had not been butchered. I for one would have enjoyed the story more on its original form.
The restoration is, as ever, staggeringly good espically if you are familiar with the VHS releas.
An essential part of Who history.
While not the greatest show in the galaxy, it's still a pretty good story. It's a story with a lot of imagination & intresting characters as well as a really good cast. The location shooting ( fortunately shot during a heatwave) looks beautiful. The charachters like bellboy & wild child are really intresting. At leat they were trying to do something intresting & different.
It's not all good. The rapping ringmaster is toe curllingly awful & as for the fan boy.........
The making of documentary on the DVD is really intresting given the troubled production of this story & hats of to JNT for making sure it didn't end up like Shada.
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| Monsters in rubber skirts |
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| What: | The Krotons (BBC classic series DVDs/Blu-rays) |
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| By: | Trevor Smith, Nottingham, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Tuesday 18 September 2012 |
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| Rating: | 8 |
I'd not watched this for a long time & wasn't particularly looking forward to watching this on DVD as I hadn't really enjoyed it before. Maybe it was the fact that it had been cleaned up for the DVD ( the VHS release was a bit grubby & murky ) but I enjoyed this much more than before.
The story is actually okay & intresting. The interplay between the Doctor & Zoe is delightful espically during the computer test scene. Phillip Madoc is, well, Phillip Madoc. Mean, moody & magnificent.
It's not all good. The Krotons themselves are very poorly designed, monsters in rubber skirts & it's dragged out a bit to long. A 3 or 4 part would have been better. All in all, better than I remember.
There is one extra on the DVD that is worth the price of the DVD it's self. Second Time Around, a docu biog of Pat Throughton is wonderful. A really moving & intresting price on the great man & everybody who appears on screen speaks with warmth & love about him.
| What: | The Robots of Death (BBC classic series DVDs/Blu-rays) |
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| By: | Trevor Smith, Nottingham, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Tuesday 18 September 2012 |
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| Rating: | 10 |
Robots of death is of course one th very best Who story's ever. Tightly written, brilliant direction, fantastic atmostphere, the beautifully designed robots & the chemistry between the Doctor & Louise. It doesn't get much better than this.
