Top 10 Saddest Doctor Who moments

Apologies for my delay in updates, but busy schedules and studies can take their toll on the best of us. But seeing as I haven't done a top ten in a while, why not do one for one of the most endearing elements of the Sci/Fi drama, those heart breaking moments. Everyone has different opinions of what their favourite tear-jerker moments are, but I am sure we will be able to come to a compromise.

10. Angels from Hell
OK, OK...so I have said multiple times, Amy is not my favorite companion. She was clingy sometimes, bit of a two-timer (OK most of them are) and she didn't contribute a whole lot more than heart. But in seeing what she and Rory have gone through, only for it to end like this. I won't deny that even I was left in tears. But what never struck me was how Brian, Rory's dad, felt of this outcome. In a sketch display with voice over from Arthur Darvill, it was even more touching the message Rory had to tell him from the past. And it's all the Doctor's fault.

 9. Rings of Akhaten speech
OK, so we went from the death and reaction of those deaths, to a speech. But my god it is one of the best monologues in all of Doctor Who. Standing before the mass of swirly power that is a God, the Doctor stands unfazed as he delivers his resume of the strange and wonderful to this sentient being of energy. I found a quote recently that suits this scene strangely enough: "An rud is annamh is iontach". What is strange is wonderful! I do believe the power behind the speech is slightly hampered when it falls to Clara to save the day, as it sounded like Matt Smith was pouring his heart and soul into so great a delivery it brings tears to the eye. And let us not forget that fantastic symphony of voices to the song 'Rest now my warrior'.

 8. A...good Dalek?
Really...a Dalek that just want's to be loved! C'mon, this is kind of pushing it. I mean let's see, he was captured, tortured...subjected to humiliating position of answering and living of the DNA of a human and understood human wants and desires better than the man who has everything and want's more. Heck, even the Doctor is totally disregarding of the Dalek, yet shows it only an iota of respect relative to Van Statten. He is so willing to kill this Dalek even if it destroy's him on the inside. It's an interesting dynamic that made the episode one of my favorites, as well as trying a different spin on the deadliest creatures in the universe.

 7. Heart of Steel-broken
Well a Dalek giving up life for what it's become is sad, but what about a Cyberman (or Woman?) who dies but has so much to live for. It catches the viewer off guard as the episode progresses, with the Cybermen being shown to be ruthless, cold and calculated, they do everything in their power to destroy them all. But then it slowly dawns on them that it's the technology attached that makes them what they are and these Cybermen are not the same as they once were. Let us never forget (insert name of cyberman converted human) ever!

 6. Forgotten all.
Some may like her, some...not so much. I myself liked Donna's quick wit and sometimes gentle nature. She came from nothing, did everything, lost everything and gained nothing. A brutal cycle for a temp from Chiswick. It is true, for one shinning moment, she was the most important person in the universe, she was the funniest character in a long time and potential for so much more at the conlusion of "Journey's end". But the fatal blow was suddenly struck, with the audience shocked into a certain numbness, not knowing whats going on. She has lost her memories. What really made this sad was a Tumblr post that I saw some time ago, where the Doctor visits an aged Donna on her death bed, but she doesn't recognize him. He places his hands on her head and as all the memories flood back into her, she smiles as her head lays down.

 5. Susan leaves the Tardis
Surprised? I'm not, because I made this list. But in hindsight, a companion leaving the Tardis will always be sad, but what about the first one to ever drop out. When fans saw this they were no doubt shocked and saddened to see that cheeky, pretty daughter of the Doctor step out those door's into a whole new life. But why stop there with the tears, when after re-watching the entire first series available to me, I suddenly see an end in sight marked with the delivery of one of the most moving speeches given by the Doctor. This is made all the more hard to bare with the reluctance of William Hartnell to see his friend leave the show.

 4. 11th final monologue
Have you seen Blade Runner, if so, then this scene should ring a few bells. As I said before, leaving is always hard, it has the best of memories and the best of times. Dying again after so long a sacrifice and knowing his friends will be left with someone who doesn't understand who he is. Added to that is his legacy of always running, always fun and always wild, instead we get a solemn, stationary and provoking Smith who tugs at our heart strings and drew out his swan song to it's inevitable climax. Thrown in a surprise cameo and the final moral, stir in the spectacular score of Akhaten and Matt Smith leaves with stunning diction and flow.

 3. The Doctor doesn't want to go
I think we all remember this one. The moment that made not only fans and adults cry, but critics too. A moment foreseen coming and yet we were not prepared. Taking his own life to save Wilfred, a choice not so easily made, the Doctor realizes his time runs short and from here begins one of the saddest montages ever. Yeah...It's not the death that gets me, it's the goodbye's being made to each of his companions of days gone past. The final utterance of Tennant is just the rotten cherry on the top. What really breaks down my resolve is Wilfred's final salute to the Doctor, the one thing he always hated, yet what he most deserved.

 2. Vincent at the Gallery
If only, if only. You know, a lot of people ask what would you do if you could time travel. Oh, some might say manipulate the stock market or kill an evil dictator (never mind the paradoxes they would create). But me, just to see the look on their face when I show them, all this is what you become. Not just a man, but a symbol, an icon. When the Doctor started climbing those steps, the tension built and built, until, in a beautiful flurry of emotion, we know what that feeling is like. Hope, joy, denial, acceptance, humour and sadness. If only it weren't so tragic an end. Time may not be able to be re-written, but we can damn well try.

 1. The Doctor and Rose part ways
Voted the number one greatest moment in Science fiction, the number one way to leave your lover and No. 1 goodbyes in TV. And hey, who am I to disagree with a certain degree of tradition (usually first in line!). But all I can remember about this scene was the blurriness of the characters and how I could make them out...probably the tears or the adrenaline crash of seeing Daleks and Cybermen duke it out. The scene has everything, from comfort, closure of how they will carry on, heartbreak of a separating celebrity couple and all fused with clever science of trans-dimensional messaging. I have made it no secret how much I dislike Rose with hindsight, but at the time, this was downright heartbreaking as I loved Rose and her chemistry with the 10th Doctor. Maybe this was the best way for the two to part without pesky continuity, while keeping the character alive. BUT IT'S SO SAD!

Trick r' Treat

Ahh...Halloween, AKA Hallows eve and here in Ireland Oiche Samhain. The famous Celtic holiday that eventually got the American treatment, much like St Patrick's day. But when getting American treatment, there can be some advantages. Some of which are the traditions of Trick or Treat. We all remember our childhood pastime around this time of year, but never anything like this!

Much like movies such as Creepshow, this anthology of ghoulish holiday tales presents a different side of horror/comedy we don't see very often. From the opening to closing scenes, we are throw into a world of humour, scares and guts. Even the opening credits have that horror anthology vibe, almost like the film is an adaption of a comic book series. Although given that it was produced by Bryan Singer, that's almost to easy to make a joke about. And yet I bet you haven't even heard of this cult classic. Yes, it's only several years old and I already think it's got dedicated niche market.

To go into detail about what make's the film so intrinsic and entertaining would be reveal great twist after good twist after mediocre twist (mediocre being the school bus massacre tale). Well here's what I can tell you, as it can get kind of confusing sometimes and not everything's well explained. Following four members of a small town community and the people they hang around with, we are treated to the four classic Halloween traditions turned right on their heads.

One deals with a group of kids collecting pumpkins for a memorial sight. This is where the sight of a mass murder took place, when a bus of mentally disabled children are trapped in a bus and plummet into a lake. Years later, pumpkins are set up around the perimeter, one for each lost soul, to keep them from returning. This story is creative and certainly relatable to those of us caught on the wrong side of a Halloween prank. But, as I said, te twist is kind of predictable and the kids are kind of a token troupe. But it's got some great build up and a very creepy story to help back it.

Another deals with that annoying parents rule "Always check each piece of candy". Yeah right, like each piece of candy corn hides a razor blade beneath the sugar. But after seeing this I never want to eat another piece of candy ever again...starting tommorow. What really chills me to the bone, however, is Dylan Baker who balances being a total dweeb and being a really sick bastard. I mean, he just sounds like Satan when he whispers "Happy Halloween". This twist will break your neck from the amount of double takes you need. 

My personal favorite is Surprise party, in which Laurie, a sweet girl who just wants to find that special someone for her magic moment, is on the prowl for tonight's "prey". Little does she know, someone has marked her as his prey. This segment is my favorite for one reason, well OK two. One is Anna Paquin of True Blood/X-Men fame. Se fits the role real well, especially near the end, but not for reasons you would think. The other reason is the best twist since I saw dead people the other day. I would give you a hint what it might be, but I don't think even the movie was subtle enough. Plus I gotta say this, that number Anna is wearing...dayum! Not to mention the final scene which will have every male audience member thinking..."I have got the weirdest boner right now".

The last story is probably my least favorite, but, again, not bad! Old man Whithers (he probably has a proper name, but I'm just gonna call him that), is holed up at home, essentially the Scrooge for Halloween. He hates the decorations, the treats and the tricksters. But tonight he might just get more than a ghostly visitor. Brian Cox (Dr Lecter, not the physics professor) is HILARIOUS as the grouchy old man. And to think, this guy did Shakespeare. Also we find out who the mysterious Sam is! Oh, you don't know what I'm talking about, then perhaps I should elaborate.

The entire film plays out like Pulp Fiction does, out of order and interjecting into each story. We will see characters interrupt other characters stories and later we see that interruption in their own. The unifying factor for all stories is Sam, burlap sack/pajama wearing spook who will appear at the climax or build up to the climax of each story.

Now remember, when watching this movie, take notes for what to do on Halloween night. Check each piece of candy, be wary of those in costume, keep that pumpkin lit until the candle burns out and always give a treat, unless you want Sam to play a trick. A perfect film for those who wish to get into the holiday spirit, start off their movie marathon or not want anything to disturbing for the night.

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Paranorman

I am so sorr...no, you know what, I’m not! So far I have received no comments, not response and no critiques of my writing. If I wish to take a break, then so be it. Well, that’s my rant over, let’s review Paranorman.

When I first saw the trailer, I’m sure I thought the same thing as everyone else: What the heck! While the idea of stop-motion is not new to us, this style seemed almost like Flushed Away, which had characters and settings in a stop-motion design but crafted by CGI. It also seemed to try to recreate Coraline, a creepy adventure for all the family to enjoy. While I hold that Coraline is definitely a more creative and imaginative film, after watching this, I don’t see why it was so swept under the carpet.

For example, when watching the trailer, one would assume the story to be that a boy can see the dead walking and talking (AHEM! The Shinning, Sixth Sense ‘Cough’ ) and he is the only one to save his town from a horde of zombies. Well that is there, but that makes up about 20% of the story. The rest is centered on Norman and his ability to see things others can’t and how it humiliates him and alienates others. Meanwhile, a curse on the town is in danger of coming true, allowing a Witch of the Salem Witch trials to enact her vengeance.

While the scares that exist here are primarily for the kids, not many of them scare me even if I was 10-13. But the best aspect of this film I have gotta say is the freaking humour. I mean, my god, every joke delivered is right on the mark, be it verbal, visual, implied or subtle. And not just puns (in fact there are barely any of those), but double-ettendre’s, childish acts in adults, mature acts in the kids, one joke in particular is when Norman is told to swear an oath and he asks “Do you mean the F-word”. And every character gets a laugh, all due to the stellar cast behind the scenes. Some awesome actors here, including Anna Kendrick (Up in the Air, Pitch Perfect), Leslie Mann (The 40 year old Virgin, Knocked up), Christopher Mintz-Plasse (Superbad, Kick-Ass) and John Goodman (Oh Brother where art thou, Monsters Inc).

I must also give praise to the dialog and mannerisms of the different age range all being natural. You listen to them and say ‘yeah, even my kids talk like that’. They also suit the characters voice actor, like Mintz-Plasse being a looser/wannabe tough guy, Anna being a snarky/ eye-rolling teen and Goodman being insane (that’s it, he’s pretty much insane in almost every role). And the plot and character development of the main, support and antagonistic characters are sure to catch everyone off, especially for Mitch.

That being said however, it comes as no surprise one of the main reasons the film may have been forgotten among animation/film buff’s is due to some of the harsher, sometimes darker elements in this film and some of the adult humour I will admit might either confuse the youth or disgust the parents who watch this movie with them. Also I have a major criticism for some of the dialog being awkward, stilted or unnecessary padding. And then there is Tucker Albrizzi who plays Neil. The character himself isn't bad, but the voice acting to me is forced, not much effort is put in and sounds unprofessional. I’m sure he’s a nice kid, I don’t I never met him, but I don’t think acting through his voice is his niche.

But why end on a sour note, for the animation is actually some of the best I have seen and its stop-motion (Have I mentioned that yet?). Each character has their own design with exaggerated anatomy and all the monsters are equally as well designed.

Speaking of the monsters, the third act is by far the best, with an epic battle against the witch, a tearful resolution and an intense moral lesson. To tell the truth, this is destined to be one of the best Halloween cult classics, up there with Halloween, Evil Dead and Nightmare before Christmas. Watching this, all I can think of is Halloween...and Thanksgiving for some reason. 

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Manhunter

No it's not some type of homosexual propaganda, it's a genuine horror movie. Well, I say horror...more a suspense/thriller with elements of psychological horror. But if it evokes a sense of fear and panic within the viewer, then it's perfect for Halloween month.

Directed by Micheal Mann in 1986, Manhunter is what Red Dragon would be a remake of two decades later. The only difference is that this one had better style, acting and tension. The other one had Anthony Hopkins as Hannibal Lecter. But let's not be quick to judge, for who am I to criticize a film like...wait, I am a critic. Well in that case, It's a descent film, some flaws, but also some very good elements.

As for the plot: A killer, known as the Tooth-Fairy, is on a monthly killing spree, murdering a family every full moon. To catch a killer (nudge, nudge, wink, wink) they bring in retired FBI agent Will Graham, whom has a method whereby he assumes the psyche of a killer to get into their heads and predict their moves. All the while, two criminal minds are at work. The other is Dr Lecter, a patron of beautiful deaths as he attempts his own revenge plot against Graham.

I suppose we should address the elephant in the room, Manhunter vs Silence of the Lambs. Silence all the way of course. But there are some impressive differences in this compared to the other. For example the main man...Lecter. Yeah I know he's supposed to be a minor character, but he has become such a cult phenomenon, that despite two films dedicated entirely to his character being total bombs, he's still an intriguing character. Here, he is fast talking, arrogant, smug bastard who can get into your mind with minimum of ease. Just watch the video down below to see for yourself! In fact I kind of like this version slightly more than Hopkins. Yes, i know he won an Oscar, but I still think Mark Hamill is a better Joker than Award winning Heath Ledger. (Fun Fact: Brian Cox and Anthony Hopkins share the same agent, so when Cox was offered Lecter, Hopkins got King Lear. Then, when Hopkins got Lecter, Cox got Lear. Just thought would like to know).

Another impressive feat of this movie is the main actor William Peterson playing Will Graham. This guy is just insane, well almost anyway. Here William is really convincing as a tortured, nervous and tired cop who just wants a normal life with his family. The moments he shares with his family are actually not as cliched as you'd imagine, in fact they actually benefit the characters as a whole. OK, he's not as compelling as Clarice, but you still feel sympathy for his plight as another one of Lecters victims. He is so engrossed in his performance, it actually convinces the audience he might not be well in the head. 

AS for the atmosphere and cinematography, both are very well in portraying the contrasting elements of darkness/insanity and being safe and hopeful. The POV shots are especially unnerving as we follow each step of the killer as he navigates the house and Graham as he tries to keep calm. Te same can be said for the score, with a strange synthesizer/orchestral tone. The choice of music provides an excellent contrast for an intense final battle.

But then there are some elements that I didn't like, such as the bland backgrounds, some of the mundane side characters who get very little development and the ending. Without giving too much away, it's kinda too serene and happy-go-lucky for a film focused on murder and dark psychology. When compared to other similar films, I feel as though what would have made it really stand out is a shocking ending, one that leaves the viewer so shocked at such an abrupt dark ending. Like as though
non of what Graham did factor in at all at the end of it.
Also I felt as though the CSI work was a bit too rushed and most of it went way over my head. For a Sherlock fan and an avid reader of Conan Doyle's novels, that's saying something! While I got the motivation and the plans being put into action, I find some of the techno-science babble a bit overwhelming. That being said it's still an interesting case and a good mystery.

So overall...I'd say give it a watch. Some parts might be slow and others a bit fast-paced, but if you enjoyed Silence of the Lambs, then you'll certainly get a ride out of this. 

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Attack of the Killer Tomatoes

You know, there are upsides to reviewing cult movies (like finding out about sub-cultures, joining fan clubs and getting a good taste of unappreciated film)....but then there are the down-sides, such as poor acting, half assed scripts and unbearably bizarre premises. This is the latter half of the two! Well in honor  of the month of Halloween, I will be reviewing a cult classic horror film each week. It feels good to get back to your roots and leave TV behind.

So yeah...Attack of the killer Tomatoes. Pretty much known worldwide for it's campy performances, unusual (to say the least) concept and, essentially, it's title. Produced in 1978, the film led to three sequels, each losing its charm more so than the last, and an animated TV series. Obviously a tribute to B-movies, the film will most definitely strike a chord with some devotee's of cheese (Hey that rhymes). But as for the rest of us, oi vey!

The premise (oh geez!) a giant tomato is hunting for human flesh to feed on and it's to a group of unlikely heroes to stop it. Huh, cliche much? 

Most likely based on the Blob, hey I just got that joke in Monsters vs Aliens (where BOB was created by genetically altering a tomato but turned into the blob). But the madness of the story, as well as the actors for that matter, actually creates a quirky kind of slapstick satire of the most famous B-movies of all time; Attack of the 50 ft Woman, The Blob, etc, as well as classic horrors such as Jaws released 3 years prior. The comedy, although effective at times, comes off as extremely forced and not very creative. Any creativity is bogged down by the most uncreative and yet also most creative idea ever. Who would have thought to make the tomato a killer. NO ONE THAT'S WHO!

As a satire, the film deals with many...NO! You know what, this film sucked. The only  humorous part was the opening titles, but even those seemed to be a rip off of the opening titles for Monty Python Holy Grail. So here's what you do; get Monty Python Holy Grail, The Blob and some feckin' tomatoes, put them in a blender ad you know what you get? Pieces of metal floating in a tomato pulp. But metaphorically, it's this movie. Expect no promise from this film my readers, this is one really rotten tomato that I would like to ironically throw at the screen (but not really as it would destroy my lovely television).

Seriously though, if you can't sit through this trailer, just skip the movie entirely, I know I wanted to!

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Doctor Who-Time Heist

I am really falling behind on these reviews, aren't I? Well that is to be expected in the coming months. I said I will try my best, but I think I can do better.

So Time Heist, an episode that really I didn't think much about when I saw the trailer. It looked kind of...well, average. Little did I realize that it's actually one of the more enjoyable episodes of the series. A type of Ocean's 11 meets Firefly plot, with good supporting cast and interesting antagonist (I call them that now, as no antagonist is really a villain, well, not all of them). I had actually missed it the previous Saturday, so I managed to get a marathon this morning, so I..Am...Pumped! 

PLOT! Taking place in an intergalactic bank, the Doctor, Clara and two others, an augmented human  named Psi and a Shape-shifting mutant named Saibra, are recruited, their minds wiped and told to break into the most secure bank in the galaxy. Hired by a mysterious Architect, they each want something more than anything in the Universe and in return they must steal something that bit more personal.

Again, the way Clara and the Doctor are written and portrayed meet the same high standard as every other episode. But what really makes the episode stand out is the supporting cast. They serve a purpose and we actually care since Moffat cared enough to give them a personality and motivation. I mean true they are only there for a short while, but they are neither expendable nor confined to one episode. I have a good feeling we will see them in a coming episode. But is it it me or do they feel like they have been based off of comic book characters. One is an augmented cybernetic human (geez, Cyborg, DC, much) and he wants his memories back(Um...Wolverine?), the other is a mutant with the ability to shape shift after coming into contact with human touch, but see's this as a curse and wants to be able to touch again (OH COME ON...ROGUE AND MYSTIQUE!). But yeah I hope they come back for the finale.

As for the twists and turns I dare not give them away, the plot allows for some tense and sneaky moments, all packed into 45 minutes. To tell the truth, I wish I saw some more parts where they were breaking in and cracking puzzles, those were the best parts of the episode. I also kind of feel the main antagonist wasn't as well developed, that they could have shown her as a deranged Dolores Umbridge (or at least, more deranged). Instead she was just, kinda quirky and not that interesting. But the Teller, now that was a good idea. Someone who amplifies the guilt someone has and leaves their brain like soup pouring out of their ears. The design is a much better idea for a monster, not like some of the others I have seen the past few episodes, a cross between the Judoon and the Beast from The God Complex. And at the end, everything is justified and everything makes sense.

A fine stand-alone episode of the series, with good side characters, good twists and tense action, it was lots of fun to watch, even if it had little to do with the story-arch. So far this series is doing very well. 

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Doctor Who-Listen

Yes, I know I should get on to the 100th update special, but I promise, after the series is done I will get right to it. Also I'm extremely sorry for the delay, I am getting even more busy these days. Next review out soon.

So 'Listen', the forth episode of the series and introducing a new monster for us to hide behind the couch, kind of! You know after watching this, it got me thinking of a famous quote from the cult horror film 'Peeping Tom'.

"Do you know what the most frightening thing in the world is. It's fear."

It was less about a monster and more about character development and the psychology of fear. It really is becoming apparent that this series is maturing. Rather than just remain the serial from the 60's and feature a mad adventure with a creepy alien, it is delving into the characters, focusing on plot rather than plot conveniences and feeling emotion rather than being told an emotion.

The story (as far as I know) concerns the Doctor delving into a deep rooted fear felt universally of whether or not we know we are alone. Assisting him after a poor date, Clara assists in the investigation. But after some close calls and confusing temporal displacement, the Doctor might finally find the answer at the end of the Universe. All the while, Clara is learning more about Danny than he know's himself, from meeting his younger self to meeting his descendant. It all get's quite confusing. (And I thought understanding Donnie Darko and Pulp Fiction was a walk in the park)

As far as the episode goes it's not the worst one I have ever seen. I mean episodes like 'Hide' or 'Love and Monsters', now those sucked. But I find this episode suffers from a lack of focus, is it trying to tell a scary story, is it trying to be psycho-analytically evaluation of the characters or is it trying to be quirky with it's overlapping time-lines and loopy romance. Don't get me wrong, the individual aspects are good, but melded together they just don't mix. Moffat, for this episode at least, may have bitten off more than he can chew. Then there is the attempts at being scary that are eerily reminiscent of 'Blink', as though this series is trying to recreate classic episodes that I love and approach them from a new angle. That instead of looking at the Angels, you cannot look at these creatures or else who knows what happens. But the episodes lack of a proper monster/antagonist is it''s downfall and only serves to confuse the viewer as to what it is and infuriate them as to what they can't see. It's like what John Carpenter (horror/sci-fi director) said when seeing the haunting. I pay my money, I want to see what the f*** it is!

So I commend the writers for trying something new, for developing the characters, trying to create a tense atmosphere and delivering a comforting morale that even the Doctor is afraid of the dark.
But none the less, I would have expected a new monster going into this episode and a focus on the actual thrills, plus it's a bit to romantic comedy cliche. Glad the two are attempting to date, but it could have been pushed aside. I fully believe they are trying to recreate a lot of the most popular episodes of previous episodes.

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