jamieevans-82049
Dr. Who is Brilliant, I've been watching the series since i was 5 years old. As a kid i loved getting scared by the monsters, the monsters that scared me the most were the Autons.The two most memorable scenes which scared me the most where: the start of the invasion, when the Autons start coming to life and massacring people (from Spearhead From Space Episode 4 and The Autons Massacring people in Rose (Series 27 Episode 1).If you love science fiction, action, historical and mysterious movies your love Doctor Who.If you decide to watch Doctor Who i recommend starting of at the very begging.there are 96 episodes currently missing from the BBC archives, however some of the missing episodes have been brilliantly animated using the original soundtracks.
poe426
Like THE MAN WHO SOLD THE WORLD (U.$. CEO Ronald Reagan), William Hartnell as Dr. Who comes across as more than just a tad "away in the head." The Daffy Doc often sets in motion events that end up backfiring on him. Although his newfound nemises, the Daleks, are just about as spineless in their protective cocoons as the current crop of Democrats in this country, the good doctor must rely on his unwitting and often unwilling allies to save his proverbial bacon. While the fx are a bit on the low-end side (the Daleks use toilet plungers as all-purpose tools, their limbs having atrophied) and the storyline(s) something less than compelling, it's the overall effect that's important: DR. WHO is Entertaining. Imaginative. It's easy to see why he's lasted (in various reincarnations) so long.
johcafra
After watching David Tennant wrap his seasons Stateside it occurred to me I'd seen ALL the Doctors at work and play over decades. Herewith my thumbnail review of their portrayals...Doctor One: William Hartnell. See him in any other movie and you see his Doctor. A nearly imperceptible comedic touch. And given the present state of FX it's an occasionally surprising treat to view some of his serials. My first and still-favorite involves not the Daleks but the Aztecs.Doctor Two: Patrick Troughton. If you don't think a dramatic actor can handle comedy, he will prove you wrong whilst giving 110 per cent. More's the pity that his work is the least preserved...Doctor Three: Jon Pertwee. If you don't think a music-hall performer and all-around cut-up can handle drama, HE will prove you wrong. If you want to know where his heart lies seek and find on-line Worzel Gummidge...Doctor Four: Tom Baker. There's an awful lot going on behind those eyes and for his longevity he has more than his share of Companions, which is very likely why we wind up with...Doctor Five: Peter Davison, novel in his youthfulness as he gets the job done but rightfully better known for his other television roles.Doctor Six: Colin Baker, a solicitor-turned-actor and veritable splash of color of whom I would say the same as Davison if I wasn't persistently distracted by a Companion...Doctor Seven: Sylvester McCoy. Doubtless talent but there's unquestionably someplace he'd rather be, and with truly rare exceptions the scripts don't help.Doctor Eight: Paul McGann. Didn't see enough of him to truly judge though the made-for-television attempt by Fox was at the least a sincere effort. By rights Peter Cushing should count as well...Doctor Nine: Christopher Eccleston. A Manc with a mad on but the heart of the franchise's revival. I'd like to see more of his work.Doctor Ten: David Tennant. A superbly talented Scot whose departure I can well understand. He's surrounded by the best supporting ensemble that get plenty to chew on.Doctor...say, I thought there were supposed to be ten. And they're getting younger. Matt Smith has both a legacy to uphold and big shoes to fill. He frankly appears the young actor who wishes to direct NOW and doubtless can. I wish him well.Don't avoid watching and comparing the past Doctors at work and play. You also get that opportunity with the three multi-Doctor specials, "The Two" in my view the best. But they're not the only ones who need regenerate. This long-running series is arguably the best example of change that isn't always successful but always leaves you wanting more...or sometimes less. It's a soap opera with changing leads and all of Time and Space on the palette, but its ultimate irony is having begun essentially as children's entertainment. If you haven't noticed, kids of all ages have grown...Along these lines: Kirk or Picard? James T is by far the better character while Jean-Luc is Roald Amundsen. William Shatner is as good as what he's handed (find The Andersonville Trial) but Sir Patrick Stewart need only read a book aloud to get my attention.
J_Leatherwood
While I fully acknowledge that the "traditional" Doctor Who series has endured its ups and downs, I gave it a perfect rating because of its very concept and energy. One character, the time-traveling Doctor, could be interpreted by several different actors in so many different aspects. This ensures a long lifespan for any television show, but the Doctor's space-time travels offer so many story-telling opportunities, regardless of the limited BBC budget or the occasional blooper. Doctor Who began as a BBC family show in 1963, in those days when families -- especially in the UK -- were fortunate to own a single TV set. Most fans consider the classic show in terms of which actor portrayed the Time Lord during which period. When William Hartnell began this role in 1963, no one could have envisioned six other actors playing the same character, until the conceptual introduction of "regeneration" in 1966's "The Tenth Planet." Hence, the Second Doctor, played for three years by Patrick Troughton, has his own "era" of adventures before his regeneration into Jon Pertwee in 1969's "The War Games," and so forth.Unfortunately, many of the episodes of Hartnell and Troughton's tenures were destroyed by the BBC (or stolen in some cases) when their 1960s overseas resale values had expired. Periodically, "lost treasures" have been recovered by the BBC, such as the entire four-part Patrick Troughton story, "Tomb of the Cybermen," located in 1991 at Hong Kong.One of the show's perennial attractions were its monsters and villains, adversaries for the Doctor and his friends. Beginning with the Daleks, those robotic mutants who spawned two films and "Dalekmania," Doctor Who has created its own unique mythology. Cybermen, while similar to the Cybernauts from the original TV Avengers, certainly inspired Star Trek: TNG's well-known Borg Collective. Other alien races have been introduced, as well as the Doctor's renegade arch-enemy, the Master. At various points in the show's history, Doctor Who attempted to grow in terms of maturity, albeit not in the provocative sense of the 2005 BBC-Wales production. In fact, I approve of IMDb's separate category for the newer series, because it bears only topical similarity to the original. Unfortunately for traditional Doctor Who, parental concern over violence (mostly alarmist) and conservative watchdogs like Mary Whitehouse served as a shackle to prevent the show from reaching its logical potential. In comparison to U.S. productions, however, this series seldom ventured beyond PG boundaries of violence. Sexuality rarely entered the picture, even though many of the Doctor's female companions were considered attractive, even glamorous.I am not going to speculate on my favorite Doctors, because I have enjoyed each actor's contributions at various points. I will leave prospective Doctor Who fans to discover their "favorite" Doctors for themselves. But as to general hints, William Hartnell began the role as a stern grandfatherly figure with occasional whimsy, while Patrick Troughton's whimsical wanderings masked an enigmatic intellect. Jon Pertwee's debonair Third Doctor resembled John Steed of the Avengers with perhaps a dash of James Bond, with Pertwee's love of gadgets and cars. Pertwee's era also debuted in color, well-remembered for its contemporary Earth-based format and the UNIT family.After 7 years as the Doctor, Tom Baker became an icon, especially in the United States, where syndication and Public TV brought new fans and convention appearances starting in 1979. Baker's trademark grin and long scarf became famous, as did his off-screen clashes with some directors and producers. But Tom Baker's departure in 1981 marked a great time of trouble for the classic series. Incoming producer John-Nathan Turner would helm the series for its remaining decade, but he would be challenged to retain the show's once-invincible position. Arguably, Turner's removal of Doctor Who from its traditional Saturday tea-time slot caused a decline in viewers. John-Nathan Turner sought to attract famous guest stars, and wanted a well-known actor to play the Fifth Doctor. Previous Doctors had been played by experienced character actors, whilst Tom Baker had been a virtual unknown. Peter Davison, already a television star in England, portrayed a much younger Doctor in a cricket blazer, with more subtle humor and a touch of irascibility. Davison's tenure lasted only three years, before John-Nathan Turner chose Colin Baker, best known for playing villains. Wearing a psychedelic jacket and a cat badge, the Sixth Doctor's crusade for galactic justice was plagued by renewed complaints of violence. After a year's hiatus, Doctor Who seasons were reduced to 14 episodes and four stories, and Colin Baker was unfairly dismissed in 1986 by BBC chief Michael Grade.Doctor Who might have been phased out without a trace, if not for the valiant efforts of Sylvester McCoy, another obscure actor chosen to play the Seventh Doctor. After an uncertain first season, McCoy's portrayal had won over young fans despite some rather weak story lines. However, his last two seasons featured some genuine classic moments. Toward the end, McCoy's portrayal grew more somber and manipulative, even toward his companion, Ace. But when the series finally ended in 1989, the Seventh Doctor's era ended on a high note in "Survival," after the Doctor and Ace outwit the Master for a final victory. One can still take the original series without reading the copious fan-fiction novels that ensued after 1991, or accepting the premises of either the 1996 Telemovie or the new series, which has destroyed or radically altered many of Doctor Who's original concepts. 26 years remains a body of work unto itself, and I believe families can still sit together and enjoy the legend almost 50 years after it began.
