Re: Doctor Who [8]

by malickfan Sun Feb 23, 2014 6:16 pm

Just watched The War Games, it's two or three episodes overlong and a tad repetitive (how many times does Jamie get captured?), some of the dialogue was cheesy in the extreme and I found the last few episodes a bit over extended and convoluted (the climax to the story felt like it took up over a third of the runtime), and sad to say I think Troughton was rather exhausted by this point, running on auto pilot mostly it seemed to me.

That said, it was great overall, fantastic entertainment, interesting premise, great direction and committed performance, not short or action or twists, I can see why it's held in high regard, probably the best of 2's serials.

Oh and I didn't realise the Time Lords were such gits...

by Pettytyrant101 Sun Feb 23, 2014 6:55 pm

Yes, its defielty too long and a bit padded (but then gven the circumstances this story came about in thatsharl suprising, that it turned out as well as it did is more suprising!).

It has some wonderful ideas in it, the first episode is a particular classic in my view, the misdirection and how it unfolds is excellent (and I love the opening shot of the seeing the TARDIS materialise in the reflection of the water in the shell hole in the Somme style battlefield (a shot not attempted again until Moffat era and Night Terrors).

As to the Time Lords, they have always been pompous stuck up gits, thats why he ran away in the first place! Very Happy

by malickfan Sun Feb 23, 2014 7:46 pm

Hopefully this time next week I'll be on to Pertwee.

by Bluebottle Sun Feb 23, 2014 8:33 pm

I watched the first couple of episodes in the Pertwee era and rather enjoyed them.

I like the banishment to earth aspect and Delgado is great as the Master.

So it's definitely something to look forward too. Nod

by malickfan Sun Feb 23, 2014 8:39 pm

Sounds promising. I also gather the Daleks don't feature at all in his run, they get kinda boring after a while.

One thing I am slighty worried about, does Pertwee onwards eps being shot in colour make the shoddy effects any more obvious? I'm not normally concerned about such things, but Hartnell/Troughton's stories being shot in B/W seemed to work well, it made the low budget/dated effects less notable and added to the creepyness.

I realise this is being quite Petty (he he) of me (espcially since Pertwee is considered a high point) but I can't help wondering.

by Bluebottle Sun Feb 23, 2014 8:58 pm

The black and white can certainly be very effective. Not really sure about the colour thing, as I've only seen Invasion of the Dinosaurs in colour. And the effects there are very... ambitious, to put it nicely. Not that they are all that bad.

Petty probably has a better overview.

by Pettytyrant101 Mon Feb 24, 2014 11:27 am

Big casting news!

As I predicted when Capaldi got the hot seat there will be a new companion to accompany Clara-

Spoiler:

by Mrs Figg Mon Feb 24, 2014 3:20 pm

cool.
I wonder if they will slowly phase Clara out? and this guy is the new main assistant.

by Pettytyrant101 Mon Feb 24, 2014 3:26 pm

I would think not. My guess is they are following the classic Who formula for companions when there is an older Doctor- introduce a young dashing lad to the mix to keep the female viewers happy, give the female companion a relationship (platonic or otherwise) besides the Doctor and because 1 companion tends to be dull and boring after a short while (about 1 series is usually abut the max).
Even Rose they struggled with if you think how many contenders for companion came and went during her time.
And in Classic era you have Sarah Jane, but she went through a few other male companions alongside too in her time on the TARDIS.
Just one rarely works and makes witting it a lot harder.
Moffats personal favourite era of Who is the 5th Doctor when there was a minimum of two companion and a maximum of four or five (depending who you count as full time companion). So I doubt he is envisioning just 1 companion.

Jenna Coleman is signed on for series 8.
From what Ive read both she and Capaldi are only on a one year contract- but that is normal for NuWho with new deals negotiated ever year.

by Pettytyrant101 Mon Feb 24, 2014 5:45 pm

More series 8 casting news-

"with Episode 4 co-starring Robert Goodman (Gangs of New York, Game of Thrones) and episode 5, co-starring Jonathan Bailey (Broadchurch, Groove High), and Pippa Bennett-Warner (The Smoke, Death in Paradise)."- Gallifrey Base

by Mrs Figg Mon Feb 24, 2014 6:09 pm

I think I prefer the intimacy of only one companion on the whole. Donna had such a big personality another assistant wouldnt have got a peep in.

by Pettytyrant101 Mon Feb 24, 2014 6:14 pm

She wasnt there very long, same with Martha, and that one didn't work I would say, despite one of my favourite 10 stories, Family of Blood being in that run.

But I'd agree that even if Donna had had a 4 year run at it like say Amy's character, or even longer, Sarah Jane's, then it would have been tricky to pair her up with another companion in the TARDIS for the reasons you give.
But much as I loved Donna as companion I am in two minds if there was enough to her to maintain the interest as a sole companion for several years either.

by Bluebottle Tue Feb 25, 2014 9:00 pm

Improvising comedy sometimes leads one in strange directions.

by Pettytyrant101 Fri Feb 28, 2014 11:50 am

Alex Kingston reads the Melody Malone book, as seen in the ep Angels Take Manhattan-

by Pettytyrant101 Fri Feb 28, 2014 11:58 pm

Anyone got a good old fashioned pair of red blue 3D glasses- if so you can join me in eye strain- Ive got a program converts standard vid to various 3D formats, including the red/blue glasses.
Just outputted the 3D painting scene from Day of the Doctor as a test- I can put it up on youtube, but no point if no one else has the glasses to watch it with.
So if youd be interested let me know and Ill upload the clip.

by Pettytyrant101 Mon Mar 03, 2014 5:02 pm

Noone for 3D Who then?

Heres a couple of vids I liked-

by chris63 Tue Mar 04, 2014 2:24 am

by Pettytyrant101 Tue Mar 04, 2014 1:33 pm

by **Amarië** Tue Mar 04, 2014 4:00 pm

chris63 wrote:

by Bluebottle Thu Mar 06, 2014 8:55 pm

by Pettytyrant101 Fri Mar 07, 2014 12:05 am

by Pettytyrant101 Sat Mar 08, 2014 1:04 am

by Pettytyrant101 Mon Mar 10, 2014 6:24 pm

Capaldi taking time off from filming to reassure a young fan that Matt and Jenna said it was ok for him to be the Doctor-

by malickfan Mon Mar 10, 2014 8:32 pm

Paul Mcgann just tweeted this:

https://twitter.com/pauljmcgann/status/443116279969644544

Whilst I'm pretty sure It's just him in costume for Night of the Doctor winding up his fans (me included)...there are rumours about an one off easter special with Mcgann (How great would Capaldi and Mcgann be together?)

Sigh...stop teasing us!

by malickfan Mon Mar 10, 2014 11:19 pm

Well, it's good to know Season 8 will be great Very Happy

, due to wibbly wobbly timey wimey bollocky wollocky stuff there are already over a hundred very enthusiastic reviews on Amazon:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/product-reviews/B00I3JRCCO/ref=cm_cr_pr_top_helpful?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=0&sortBy=byRankDescending

(I really wish some of this stuff was true!)