Daleks invasion of earth 2150 AD

Wow...I mean wow...you have to really try to be this cheesy and campy, even for Doctor who. In the sequel to tomorrows review, Doctor who and the Daleks, we are given kooky special effects, cheesy music, even cheesier acting and a story/timeline that's not connected to the original series, leading you to ask, why has this movie been made if it's not even connected to the series.

Released in 1966, the film starred Peter Cushing as the Doctor (wow this guy gets around, Doctor Who, Star Wars, Sherlock Holmes and Dracula) and Bernard Cribbins in his first Doctor who role as a Policeman named Tom. Released during the craze of Doctor Who, it initially received lukewarm reviews and failed to get it's budget back. Add a crazed, obsessed fan-base and we got ourselves a destined to be cult classic.

This story is actually familiar to most whovians, as it is based on the Doctor who serial "Daleks invasion of Earth", but with some extra features. For example in this film series Dr Who as he is called is not an alien but an eccentric inventor of the Tardis. Here, they are discovered by an injured police man named Tom and is whisked away to London, 2150 AD. Here they encounter an underground resistance. They have banded together to fight off the invading Dalek forces, who have crippled the human race with meteorites and cosmic rays and seek to turn the planet into a giant spaceship by hollowing out the earths core (why? I mean that's easier said than done guy's). Along with them is Doctor's niece Louise and granddaughter Susan. They each go about their separate ways as a failed attempt to drive back the Daleks.

I am going to be perfectly honest, I have little problems with the movie (they are still there though). Like, for example the opening credits. the opening title is synonymous with British culture and media, so why go for some cheesy chase theme music. By far this is the least impressive opening titles I have seen since Superman III. The Acting isn't too bad, but I feel that Little Louise just was not good enough a character for us to care. She is by far the movies least interesting character. Others don't even get much of a story and they are much more interesting than this troublesome brat. I am serious she causes way too many problems, even trapping the heroes in the future by accidentally knocking over large amounts of debris on the TARDIS. Also the spaceships and "technology", if that's what you call it, all look very strange yet way too familiar to look alien. And of course this is the most ludicrous plot the Daleks have ever had. True it was adapted from the series, but it's just not possible to turn a planet into a spaceship by hollowing out the core. (I think there was something to do with reversing the polarity of earths neutron flow). 

But then again there are certain things about this I do like. I really like Peter Cushing’s Doctor. True he isn’t even connected to the original series, but he gives off that aura of cleverness, quick-wit, whimsy and almost lunacy, all the while maintaining an intelligent, well mannered gentleman. I actually think most of the actors are good, considering the script and subject matter. And I can’t go without saying that the Daleks look very cool. In colour, we see the different rankings system in place, their movement through a now deserted London is quite eerie and the metallic voice is still quite creepy. My only gripe with the Daleks is their death ray is now replaced with a sort of gas gun that shoots jets of CO2. It’s actually quite gruesome to die of suffocation, but I believe the reason this decision was made was so that it wouldn’t frighten the children watching. But that’s the point! The Daleks were famous in their heyday for being the scariest alien to appear on television and children had to hide behind the couch out of fear. Many still consider them frightening and even placed them at 25 on the 100 Greatest Scariest Moments (of film and television mind you!). Bernard Cribbins supplies the laughter in some well directed and choreographed slapstick moments (my favourite is the scene in which he is disguised as a Roboman and must follow the food consumption procedure). There are many other good characters including a gruff, brooding soldier who must look after Louise (no easy feat) and a scavenger who is very good with a throwing knife.

In my own professional opinion I see this movie has the potential to be well regarded Cult movie.  I certainly enjoyed it. The actors are campy, but that translates to enjoyable, the sets are well done, yet the idea that sugar puffs is still popular by 2150 AD adds a sense of silliness,  of course the plot is contrived and ridiculous, but it’s Doctor Who what do you expect? If you like or even love Doctor Who, you will enjoy this movie. For those other’s...just don’t watch it unless you feel like laughing at what many love.