Let's role in the 50th anniversary by reviewing one of the most disappointing transatlantic release of a British TV show since Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy.
To tell the truth, seeing this the first time I liked it and I considered it very underrated compared to other feature-length specials. These day's however I find that it is an acquired taste, made especially for the fans. Upon release in America it was smashed by competition and got very few views. Partly due to the audience not knowing what they were watching, but mostly due to poor advertisement (rule one of television, never give British TV to Americans, no offence, but come on!)
As the story goes, after the execution of his nemesis The Master,The Doctor must make an emergency landing on Earth when the TARDIS circuitry is driven haywire and lands in San Francisco, America 1999. Upon landing, he accidentally intervenes in a gang war and get's shot. After complications with surgery, he suffers a stroke and dies. This leads to a regeneration and seeking out the escaped Master who also seeks the Doctor for his remaining lives. While on Earth he meets Dr. Grace who helps him find the means to prevent the TARDIS from ripping apart the universe and stopping the Master's return to power.
Now from the premise this sounds like any other episode of Doctor Who, but...you'd be right. It's not bad really but it all seems rather simplistic. From one point it makes sense as they are showing it to an uninitiated audience who would barely understand the series. But as for the loyal whovians who waited to see what the US of A could bring to a show that was cancelled seven years earlier. They were sadly disappointed. The choice to regenerate Sylvester McCoy (whom you may have seen in the Hobbit as Radagast the Jar Jar Binks of this movie, But I think is OK) into Paul McGann, it was a bit of a leap of trust for the whovians. Using the Master instead of a new enemy was probably the smartest move as it would just confuse the audience more and it as fun to say the old Arch-Nemesis back. And then there is the use of new companions from America, which I will go into later, was probably a wise choice. The reason I see this as a cult film or even an underrated film is because it is loyal to the show and tells a decent story with some good acting and decent science babble.
For what I dislike, well: The effects are sci-fi channel quality/90's vibe. They are pretty bad even for Doctor Who, which became famous for it's practical effects, using models and puppets. But here I think this is where the revival series got it's idea's to use CGI to cut corners. Then there is the plot inconsistencies, like how does the master escape the box if he's dead or how come the Doctor can pass through a window if the molecular structure of the world is changing and yet it doesn't happen anywhere else? These are just some plot holes that can be a little distracting to the nitpickers. Then their is the change to the TARDIS design. I'm kind of 50/50 about this as it does show more to the TARDIS and it definitely looks bigger. But it looks like a temple or a converted church with some weird decor just thrown in there. Also I never wanted to know what some of the other rooms look like. I have my own designs and theories for the TARDIS physiology. Also the humor is not really as good as the original series, often trying too hard or missing an opportunity. There's only a few jokes I enjoy, like chickens causing a traffic jam, the Doctor overreacting to new memories and the jelly baby switches.
But don't let that turn you away. The good thing's are very good. I really respect that they keep the lore and science of the original show and how faithful they can be. Usually most medium transfers will forget what made them special in the first place (The Last Airbender I am looking at you!). I actually like the companion and I am a little disappointed that she is never really mentioned in the revived series. She helps, she is involved and she has the most appropriate reaction to the Doctor, Confusion and fear mixed with intrigue and whimsy. In fact it's really because of her that the universe is saved. But the crowning achievement is Paul McGann as the new Doctor and Eric Roberts as the Master (Sal Maroni from the Dark Knight and Buck from Runaway Train). Roberts is fiendishly evil in this version, actually killing many people including Doctors friend Chang Lee and Grace (umm, spoilers). He treats it with enough respect and is still considered to be one of the best versions of the Master. But Paul steals the show as the delightfully eccentric, yet enigmatic Doctor. I really liked McCoy and they gave him as good as send off as any. Showing just how delightful he was originally and giving a really good regeneration scene set to Frankenstein's animation. My one regret is that they used up one regeneration for one movie when we are now on the Twelfth Doctor with Peter Capaldi. And of course who can forget the awesome new opening theme, it is officially my favorite theme for Doctor Who.
So how does the Movie hold up. Good for some, not so much for others. The uninitiated will be left confused and the whovians see it as an important point in the Doctor who Universe. I won't say should definitely watch it, but if you have time to kill and you like Doctor who, then you might like it. Overall, underrated and still a cult classic.
As the story goes, after the execution of his nemesis The Master,The Doctor must make an emergency landing on Earth when the TARDIS circuitry is driven haywire and lands in San Francisco, America 1999. Upon landing, he accidentally intervenes in a gang war and get's shot. After complications with surgery, he suffers a stroke and dies. This leads to a regeneration and seeking out the escaped Master who also seeks the Doctor for his remaining lives. While on Earth he meets Dr. Grace who helps him find the means to prevent the TARDIS from ripping apart the universe and stopping the Master's return to power.
Now from the premise this sounds like any other episode of Doctor Who, but...you'd be right. It's not bad really but it all seems rather simplistic. From one point it makes sense as they are showing it to an uninitiated audience who would barely understand the series. But as for the loyal whovians who waited to see what the US of A could bring to a show that was cancelled seven years earlier. They were sadly disappointed. The choice to regenerate Sylvester McCoy (whom you may have seen in the Hobbit as Radagast the Jar Jar Binks of this movie, But I think is OK) into Paul McGann, it was a bit of a leap of trust for the whovians. Using the Master instead of a new enemy was probably the smartest move as it would just confuse the audience more and it as fun to say the old Arch-Nemesis back. And then there is the use of new companions from America, which I will go into later, was probably a wise choice. The reason I see this as a cult film or even an underrated film is because it is loyal to the show and tells a decent story with some good acting and decent science babble.
For what I dislike, well: The effects are sci-fi channel quality/90's vibe. They are pretty bad even for Doctor Who, which became famous for it's practical effects, using models and puppets. But here I think this is where the revival series got it's idea's to use CGI to cut corners. Then there is the plot inconsistencies, like how does the master escape the box if he's dead or how come the Doctor can pass through a window if the molecular structure of the world is changing and yet it doesn't happen anywhere else? These are just some plot holes that can be a little distracting to the nitpickers. Then their is the change to the TARDIS design. I'm kind of 50/50 about this as it does show more to the TARDIS and it definitely looks bigger. But it looks like a temple or a converted church with some weird decor just thrown in there. Also I never wanted to know what some of the other rooms look like. I have my own designs and theories for the TARDIS physiology. Also the humor is not really as good as the original series, often trying too hard or missing an opportunity. There's only a few jokes I enjoy, like chickens causing a traffic jam, the Doctor overreacting to new memories and the jelly baby switches.
But don't let that turn you away. The good thing's are very good. I really respect that they keep the lore and science of the original show and how faithful they can be. Usually most medium transfers will forget what made them special in the first place (The Last Airbender I am looking at you!). I actually like the companion and I am a little disappointed that she is never really mentioned in the revived series. She helps, she is involved and she has the most appropriate reaction to the Doctor, Confusion and fear mixed with intrigue and whimsy. In fact it's really because of her that the universe is saved. But the crowning achievement is Paul McGann as the new Doctor and Eric Roberts as the Master (Sal Maroni from the Dark Knight and Buck from Runaway Train). Roberts is fiendishly evil in this version, actually killing many people including Doctors friend Chang Lee and Grace (umm, spoilers). He treats it with enough respect and is still considered to be one of the best versions of the Master. But Paul steals the show as the delightfully eccentric, yet enigmatic Doctor. I really liked McCoy and they gave him as good as send off as any. Showing just how delightful he was originally and giving a really good regeneration scene set to Frankenstein's animation. My one regret is that they used up one regeneration for one movie when we are now on the Twelfth Doctor with Peter Capaldi. And of course who can forget the awesome new opening theme, it is officially my favorite theme for Doctor Who.
So how does the Movie hold up. Good for some, not so much for others. The uninitiated will be left confused and the whovians see it as an important point in the Doctor who Universe. I won't say should definitely watch it, but if you have time to kill and you like Doctor who, then you might like it. Overall, underrated and still a cult classic.
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