Doctor Who Classic Series and DVDs

[Duncan]

I haven’t seen Shada since August 1992 or whenever the original release was but I’ve always regarded it as just a curio and so whilst I’d rather it was episodic i’m not going to go bonkers if they present it as feature length as I can’t see myself ever watching it more than once. I just find it laughable that Mark’s posted that he will have to set aside 2.5 hrs every time he wants to watch it. There’s just no logic whatsoever in that statement.

[Mark]

I had already figured from your earlier comments, that you are not all that hot on "Shada", but I have always liked it.

As for the 'laughable' remark, as I have said, I have never watched a film or TV show, and stopped it in mid-flow, that's just weird, and I have genuinely never known anyone who would do that, you either watch the whole thing or you don't!...are you honestly saying it's something you do?.

There were always complaints when a film was shown on TV and got interrupted by the news.

One or two "Who" serials were presented on DVD as feature length stories ( of no real interest to me) but there was always the option to watch as the original serial, it does no harm to try to please all views, and it helps sales too.

[Duncan]

Stopping something in mid flow- all the time. If I’m tired or something else is planned then absolutely yes. When I return to it I just press the resume button.

[Mark]

Sounds like the perfect definition of convenience food TV to me, I prefer forward thinking, if I want to watch something 30/60/90 mins, I'll wait until I have the time to watch it rather than watch it in bits, I thought that was just basic 'Home scheduling'.

The feature length "Shada" is obviously fine for the Cinema release, but going by your own argument, of 'who would watch it all in one go anyway', it makes even less sense for it to be the sole presentation on the DVD, as it wont get watched very often, unless ,like yourself, you are one of a minority of people who watches stuff in bits!

[Duncan]

I strongly suspect you are the minority here Mark. Do you always read a book from cover to cover in one go? And what is Doctor Who if not convenience food TV anyway?

As for the cinema, I never go anyway, and certainly wouldn’t go for some upscale 70s VT and some animation. But hey the BBC presumably know they can always fill a few cinemas with DW fans so good luck to them.

[Mickey]

I wouldn't usually stop a film halfway through, but if it's two and a half hours long, then damn straight I would! I've done the LoTR films over a couple of nights in the past. Partly because I just can't set that much time aside for viewing anything so long.

As far as "Shada" is concerned, I'd prefer it episodic, because it would make for neater, easier places to stop. There's no way I'd watch it all in one go, and I prefer Who serials to be serials. I was glad to be able to get the episodic version of "The Day Of The Daleks", for instance. But BBC Video knows how obsessive fans are, and I really doubt that there's reason to worry, Mark. Why would they show it in episodic form in a public broadcast? Probably specially edited just for this one time.

[Mark]

Do you always read a book from cover to cover in one go?

.

No of course not, but they are written in chapters, films and TV are not.

[Mark]

I wouldn't usually stop a film halfway through, but if it's two and a half hours long, then damn straight I would! I've done the LoTR films over a couple of nights in the past. Partly because I just can't set that much time aside for viewing anything so long.

As far as "Shada" is concerned, I'd prefer it episodic, because it would make for neater, easier places to stop. There's no way I'd watch it all in one go, and I prefer Who serials to be serials. I was glad to be able to get the episodic version of "The Day Of The Daleks", for instance. But BBC Video knows how obsessive fans are, and I really doubt that there's reason to worry, Mark. Why would they show it in episodic form in a public broadcast? Probably specially edited just for this one time.

The longest film I have is probably "Casino Royale"(67) which is over two hours, and I always watch it in one go, but I don't exactly watch it all that often.

You speak sense, there, Mickey, and hopefully I have got it wrong, but the promo blurbs say it's being produced as a feature-length film, with no mention of the usual episodic version.

[Brian F]

Do you always read a book from cover to cover in one go?

.

No of course not, but they are written in chapters, films and TV are not.

Older epic films had an intermission and Fame had "chapter" inter-titles for the years covered, so not all films. TV serials had episodes often a week or two apart.

[brigham]

I tend to watch serials like Dr. Who one episode at a time. I don't leave a whole week in between, but a day or so is good.
They weren't meant for force-feeding, and it often doesn't suit them.

[Richard Charles Skryngestone]

An amusing(well for me) incident concerning the new Shada DVD, that i've just been made aware of.

Tom Baker appears on the television to talk about the Shada animation, and, oh dear...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6IdkQT8hng

[brigham]

Is that amateur animation?
I've been sold worse!

[andrew baker]

I recently watched several lost Whos on reconstructions that you can find on Youtube and found them very much more enjoyable than animations. Shada is a unique case of course but I would happily pay good money for a complete Dalek's Master Plan done from stills etc, or the Macra Terror (from telesnaps) for example. Power of the Daleks DVD gives you the telesnap version too. The acting is so much better than the animation
s!

[Beaker]

Is that amateur animation?
I've been sold worse!

Yes, it is...ITV cocked up and showed some of overgrown spoilt man-baby Ian Levine's animation instead.

Fortunately, that one is rendered obsolete now.

[brigham]

Does anybody know if the DVD version of 'Shada' is uniform with the previous releases?
If it doesn't take its place on the shelf, I might as well buy the BluRay edition.

[drmih]

Is that amateur animation?
I've been sold worse!

Yes, it is...ITV cocked up and showed some of overgrown spoilt man-baby Ian Levine's animation instead.

Fortunately, that one is rendered obsolete now.

Gosh, who pi**ed on your cornflakes - I assume that you know the chap very well to be so insulting.

[brigham]

If that's amateur work, the bloke's missed his vocation!

[drmih]

If that's amateur work, the bloke's missed his vocation!

I don't think it was the work of one person - I think it was distributed amongst a few semi-pro fans working to a template, but I stand to be corrected. I think that all of the voices, with the exception of Tom Baker (who apparently wanted too much money), were cast members.

[Duncan]

Is that amateur animation?
I've been sold worse!

Yes, it is...ITV cocked up and showed some of overgrown spoilt man-baby Ian Levine's animation instead.

Fortunately, that one is rendered obsolete now.

Gosh, who pi**ed on your cornflakes - I assume that you know the chap very well to be so insulting.

Most people who have had any dealings with Levine will agree with Beaker's description.

[drmih]

Most people who have had any dealings with Levine will agree with Beaker's description.

It still doesn't justify childish comments - say them to his face or not at all. I quite like his Shada and I'm not overly keen on the look of the new one.

[marsey]

Eventually got around to getting Key to Time boxset, and watched the first story The Ribos Operation.

. Bit of an odd one, with an interesting story which was a little confusing. Also the 'monster' was one of the least threatening of any Doctor Who story and seemed to be a token gesture, as it served little purpose to the story itself. Nice to see the introduction of Romana, and I was delighted to see Ian Cuthbertson who was the star of the show.

As far as Who goes (I only include up to the end of Peter Davidson) , I would give it 5 out of 10.

[Mark]

Eventually got around to getting Key to Time boxset, and watched the first story The Ribos Operation.

. Bit of an odd one, with an interesting story which was a little confusing. Also the 'monster' was one of the least threatening of any Doctor Who story and seemed to be a token gesture, as it served little purpose to the story itself. Nice to see the introduction of Romana, and I was delighted to see Ian Cuthbertson who was the star of the show.

As far as Who goes (I only include up to the end of Peter Davidson) , I would give it 5 out of 10.

The monster (Shrivenzale) was probably needed as an extra draw for the 'opening night', it was an excellent and amusing script from Robert Holmes, which took a slightly more serious turn for the final episode, but all that stuff with Garron and Unstoffe was very entertaining, especially Unstoffe's extra little confidence trick, with the Scringestone and not suffering from the 'Scringes'.

I'm also a big fan of Holmes's "Power Of Kroll", but you haven't got to that one yet!

[Mark]

Most people who have had any dealings with Levine will agree with Beaker's description.

It still doesn't justify childish comments - say them to his face or not at all. I quite like his Shada and I'm not overly keen on the look of the new one.

Found out last week about the non-appearance of the episodic version on the DVD, looking around online, I'm glad I'm not the only one to be bitterly disappointed.

I also read a so called explanation : 'Simple answer is episodic wasn't workable with footage shot. It wasn't edited or anything so some footage would of had to be cut-imagine if we'd done that? Omnibus was the only sane answer in this case. I'm not about to comment further on this, but that is how it played out.'

That makes no sense to me at all, Levine's version managed it, so why not this one?

They have blundered on this one, and it's a no sale for me.

Levine may be somewhat outspoken and sometimes a tad insensitive, but, in this case it's...Levine 1...BBC 0.

[Duncan]

Sounds like you are cutting off your nose to spite your face.

I’m happy to have HD transfers of the film and a proper incidental score. Plus of course the genuine article as the Doctor.

[Mark]

No, it's not that, it's just not practical to spend good money on something I can only watch once in a blue moon.

[The Lurker In The Shadows]

I watched the BluRay of 'Shada' last night, and I loved it! It's put together with a lot of obvious love and care. The initial transition into animation is beautifully done and it doesn't jar when it moves from live action to animation throughout. The new model shots and inserts are lovely, with a very authentic feel. Having found the previous BBC release's incidental music distracting, I really enjoyed the new score and it made it feel like I was seeing it fresh for the first time in ages. And the old cast are all in great form.
I was slightly surprised that they used alternative takes of some scenes from the familiar footage, which added to the feeling of watching it all fresh. The extra features are delightful (and I even liked that there's a Monty Python reference hidden in the background at one point). As a Tom Baker fan of old, it was an absolute joy!

[Private Frazer]

I'm now enjoying watching Battlefield again with the Brigadier's re-appearance and Ace telling a story about something that went "boom"! The Sylvester McCoy stories I like seem to have every bit as much style as the first few years of 'New Who' and I'm quite into them.

[brigham]

I'm now enjoying watching Battlefield again with the Brigadier's re-appearance and Ace telling a story about something that went "boom"! The Sylvester McCoy stories I like seem to have every bit as much style as the first few years of 'New Who' and I'm quite into them.

I continued to suffer McCoy out of pig-headed stubbornness until Bertie Bassett appeared as the 'baddie'.
There's a limit to even my obstinacy. I wish I'd ducked-out after Davison.

[liberace]

Is that amateur animation?
I've been sold worse!

Yes, it is...ITV cocked up and showed some of overgrown spoilt man-baby Ian Levine's animation instead.

Fortunately, that one is rendered obsolete now.

Gosh, who pi**ed on your cornflakes - I assume that you know the chap very well to be so insulting.

Its actually very even handed and restrained to be honest. Have you met him?

[drmih]

Yes, it is...ITV cocked up and showed some of overgrown spoilt man-baby Ian Levine's animation instead.

Fortunately, that one is rendered obsolete now.

Gosh, who pi**ed on your cornflakes - I assume that you know the chap very well to be so insulting.

Its actually very even handed and restrained to be honest. Have you met him?

Yes, I can understand why he might not be everyone's cup of tea (he can be full of his own importance), but whenever I've met him, or been to his house, he's always been very generous. Regardless of that, it's just a bit pathetic insulting someone in such a childish way. I remember Star Trek fans been similarly childish insulting William Shatner, presumably never having met him.