DOCTOR WHO {Seasons 1-4} (DVD Review) - 26/1/09

I have spent a good few weekends recently plowing through the New Series Adventures of the latest "Doctor Who" and thoroughly enjoying it! Having rewatched the episodes again it is extremely rewarding to find that episodes I had previously watched on TV which I thought were duff at the time really hold up on a second viewing. With a top-notch cast and crew we kick off the First Series with Christopher Eccleston as The Doctor and Billie Piper as Rose his companion. Whilst I originally had reservations about Billie Piper they were soon dispelled over her great performances. Pity that Christopher Eccleston only did the First season as I think he would have taken the Doctor to a very different place? We get the return of old foes from the Classic Era of Doctor Who and a whole range of new villains & monsters.

With the superb packaging on all the boxsets we get fantastic fold-outs with beautifully printed discs and an excellent booklet and hardcase with slip-cover. Charging ahead into the Second Series we get a new Doctor in the shape of David Tennant. Watching everything the second time around gives you an idea of just how good his characterisation of the Doctor is and what it becomes and you miss a lot of that the first time around and also a lot of background clues as to what is going on and what it is leading up to? More broadening of the stories and further drama as old characters appear and new enemies are fought against!

After the explosive events of the last series we continue in the Third with more action in the form of a new companion for the Doctor with Martha (Freema Agyeman) and a whole host of new baddies and the return of the Doctor's nemesis in the Master. Ranging far and wide in scale & scope the series gets even better. Obviously in-between the series run we also get the Christmas Specials which are also great fun in there own right!

After the amazing scenes & feats from the last series you wonder - What next? With Catherine Tate joining up with the Doctor as previous character Donna Noble for the Fourth Series the action shifts up a gear in a big way. We get location shooting in Rome, a fantastic return for the Sontarens, a genteel 1920's murder mystery and then a massive finale with the villainous Davros creator of the Daleks and featuring characters from allover including guests from the spin-off series "Torchwood" & "The Sarah Jane Adventures". Then of course David Tennant's bravura performance comes to an end with the shocking news that he will depart the role end of 2009 after working on four Specials. With the Cyberman "Christmas Invasion" having already aired we have the next Special at Easter and the Fifth Series to follow in 2010.

With the final part of the Boxsets being the Special Features we get the "Doctor Who Confidential Cutdowns" (Unfortunately cut short due to rights issues) Gag Reels, Commentaries, Making-Ofs, Children In Need Specials, all the current Christmas Specials, Deleted Scenes, Full BBC Trailers, David Tennant's Video Diaries, plus Diaries from Billie & Freema, Animatics and more. Hopefully we will also get a presumably rather slim Boxset release of the Specials from 2009 about early Jan/Feb 2010? But all in all what a brilliant return to form for Doctor Who and the show in general - Let's hope that they can keep it up?

THE FALL Film Review - 18/1/09

If you thought Director Tarsem Singh's clarity of vision was muted by his film "The Cell" with it's luxurious palette of expansive scenery & amazing visuals then think again! Traipsing all over the world for natural 'sets' the stunning location scenes flit from one part of the planet to the next. Bringing the complex world of the 1920's into life and then spinning a fantasy tale within that framework we see a view of the world from a child's eyes not too certain what is happening and how things sometimes don't make sense? The allegorical title charts both a fall literally and mentally as a stuntman working on the new 'flickers' gets badly injured in a horse chase. Spinning a fantasy tale to a young child of robbers & bandits in a quest for justice is his attempt to get the child to steal pills so the stuntman can end his life. But nothing prepares both the stuntman & the child for what lays ahead of them?

THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON Film Review - 18/1/09

Brad Pitt is born old & wrinkled and ages backwards in this bizarre film from David Fincher. The dull dragging sensation of time is fully explored in this 3 year - Sorry 3 hour - boredom fest with Hollywood Oscar expectations. Views of clocks abound as relentless and monotonous clock ticking echoes in the background. I would wonder at just how much this film cost to make?

Starting out with senile dementia we see a child age backward from an old man to a baby again and visit parts of history in a fashion that for the rest of us is a life led forwards to old age. Taking the view that regardless of how time progresses it's the journey along the way that counts. You will experience time in a different way and the experiences you have will be taken differently.

CITY OF EMBER Film Review - 18/1/09

An interesting tale of two children stuck in an underground city where time has past by and no one realises what is on the outside as the city is all they know. After being left a mysterious box by her Grandmother one of the children figures out that it was left by the original Builders of the city and that it provides a clue to actually being able to escape their underground complex. Having set the box to open in 200 years, centuries have passed and the city and it's power generator are slowly falling apart. The current Government of the city is corrupt and cares little for it's denizens. Cue an escape from the city's officials and a flight to danger in the outside world.

IGOR Film Review - 18/1/09

Very much a mixed bag this one! I found the animation hard to get on with and can only presume that this film's failure at the Box Office was that it did not appeal to kids or adults either; and it is being rushed out to DVD in February this year. A couple of the characters stand out - But the animation was to 'way-out-there' and I didn't think much of the story.

Igor the manservant of the Count is fed-up of the stereotypical 'Igor The Manservant Role' and yearns to be an evil scientist himself in the kingdom of Malaria. After a couple of pet experiments go wrong ( The suicidal rabbit & the brain in a jar) he is determined to find a way to the top. After his master dies in a bizarre accident he takes over the mantle of the Count and pursues his destiny. Others however are equally determined to stop him!