The 2008 Doctor Who DVD thread (R1 & R2) TV Movie in USA

[2099net]

I've just been dipping into the special features on the Delta and the Bannermen disc, and two things especially have caught my eyes and ears:

On the trails and continuity, the recap of episodes 1 and 2 has an ideal ending spoken by the announcer: "Can motorbikes or rock 'n' roll prevail against the Bannerman warfleet?" I love it, it sums up not only the story, but Doctor Who so well - the ordinary against the extra-ordinary.

Secondly, the trailer they have made for The War Games really does make it seem like an epic! I was pretty so-so on The War Games - its been a few years since I've seen it, probably a decade or more, and I do remember it being somewhat drawn out. But I'm so hyped for the DVD release now. If nothing else, just seeing Patrick Troughton's acting in the clips has my anticipation level charged up to 10. Never mind the three hours plus of supplements and sock-puppets!

As for Delta and the Bannermen, I've not actually watched the DVD yet - I'm about to sit down and watch it with the commentary on. But I love it. It's not always successful - but its so removed from what science fiction normally is (massive armies, chains of command, war crimes etc.) I can't help but admire it.... It will be interesting to see if my "memory cheats".

[2099net]

Just received season 2 of Torchwood on Blu-ray this morning and in a surprising move, it has a couple of extra features added. But they don't add up to much - 8 mins or so of outtakes and about 20 mins of deleted scenes... all in SD. So you've got to wonder why they weren't included on the DVD set, which was dreadfully bare compared to the season 1 DVD set. Sadly, the BBC haven't added any commentaries.

My Blu-ray Season two set goes along side my HD DVD season one set. Howwever, I got the HD DVD set for £15, so I can't complain about them not matching. At the end of the day, I have both seasons in HD.

[2099net]

the R2 Black Guardian Trilogy press release is out:

http://www.dvdtimes.co.uk/content/id/70 ... ugust.html

Mawdryn Undead:

* Commentary - with actors Peter Davison, Mark Strickson and Nicholas Courtney, script editor Eric Saward.

* Who Wants to Live Forever? - cast and crew look back at the making of the story. With actors Peter Davison, Nicholas Courtney, Mark Strickson, David Collings and Lucy Benjamin, director Peter Moffatt, script editor Eric Saward and plastic surgeon Dr. Simon Withey. Narrated by Floella Benjamin.

* Liberty Hall - a new drama. Journalist Philip Clarke (Simon Ockenden) travels to Brendan School to interview Brigadier Lethbridge Stewart.

* Deleted and Extended Scenes

* Film Trims - film trims from the location filming, including clapperboards and cast and crew setting up and performing various takes.

* Out-takes - the producer's blooper reel.

* CGI Effects

* Continuity

* Photo Gallery

* Set Photo Gallery - set design photos from the story.

* Isolated Score - option to watch the story with the isolated music score.

* Coming Soon

* Programme Subtitles

* Subtitle Production Notes

Terminus:

* Commentary - with actors Peter Davison, Mark Strickson and Sarah Sutton, writer Stephen Gallagher.

* Breaking Point - cast and crew look back at the making of the story. With actors Peter Davison, Mark Strickson, Sarah Sutton and Martin Potter, director Fiona Cumming, writer Stephen Gallagher, designer Dick Coles, camera supervisor Alec Wheal and sound supervisor Scott Talbott. Narrated by Floella Benjamin.

* Origins of the Universe - Sir Patrick Moore and, Dr. John Mason take a look at the science behind the Big Bang and the origins of the universe.

* Original Storyboards - production storyboards for the spaceship sequences, plus how the shots were realised on screen.

* Unused Model Shots - a selection of unused takes from the model effects shoot, taken from a timecoded production tape.

* CGI Effects

* Photo Gallery

* Isolated Score

* Coming Soon

* Subtitle Production Notes

Enlightenment :

* Commentary - with actors Peter Davison and Mark Strickson, writer Barbara Clegg and director Fiona Cumming.

* Winner Takes All - cast and crew look back at the making of the story. With actors Peter Davison, Mark Strickson, Janet Fielding, Keith Barron, Christopher Brown and Leee John, director Fiona Cumming, writer Barbara Clegg, costume designer Dinah Collin and camera supervisor Alec Wheal. Narrated by Floella Benjamin.

* Casting Off! - an actor's view of working on Doctor Who. With Peter Davison, Janet Fielding, Mark Strickson, Keith Barron, Christopher Brown and Leee John, with director Fiona Cumming.

* Single Write Female - writer Barbara Clegg looks back on her career and the writing of 'Enlightenment'.

* The Story of the Guardians - the Guardians have appeared in Doctor Who as far back as Tom Baker's era… but who - or what - are they? With Robert Luckham (son of the late White Guardian, Cyril Luckham), Sarah Leppard (daughter of the late Black Guardian, Valentine Dyall), Doctor Who Magazine editor Tom Spilsbury and Doctor Who Adventures editor Moray Laing.

* Storyboards - a dual-angle feature, in which visual effects supervisor Mike Kelt uses the original storyboards to explain how he went about planning and shooting the model effects sequences for the show.

* Photo Gallery

* Isolated Score

* Coming Soon

* Subtitle Production Notes

No mention of the 'modern' re-edit of Enlightenment - Most odd, as this is why it's 4 discs and not 3 and it definitely is happening!

Still lots of interesting features there - and of course the 3 disc War Games coming out in less than a couple of weeks with over 3 hours of supplements (7 hours if you count the commentaries!)

[Escapay]

I'm surprised at the complete lack of Janet Fielding in any of the supplements beyond "Winner Takes All". Who's going to make catty fashion remarks in the commentaries now?

Plus, thanks to BBFC, we know that the SE disc for Enlightenment contains these:

-Re-Enlightenment (14:20)
-Finding Mark Strickson (8:28 )
-Finding Sarah Sutton (7:44)
-Original Edit Comparison: Enlightenment, Part Three (2:33)
-Film Trims (5:32)
-Russell Harty: Christmas Party (3:30 - December 21, 1982)
-Trails & Continuity (2:08 )
-Easter Egg: Photo Gallery - Making the Guardian Trilogy Box Set (1:57)

albert

[2099net]

I'm surprised at the complete lack of Janet Fielding in any of the supplements beyond "Winner Takes All". Who's going to make catty fashion remarks in the commentaries now?

Eric Saward - who must have been the inspiration for Edna Mode. Oh, wait. He just makes catty remarks about anything...

It's odd the PR doesn't mention the 4th disc or any of the supplements on it, and the art supplied says 3 disc set. I know DVDTimes say four discs but once again it seems communications at 2|entertain aren't exactly A1. See the ongoing confusion over the Special Edition of Remembrance of the Daleks Special Edition re-release disc count.

[Escapay]

I just checked the Black Guardian thread over at Gallifrey Base, and according to the ones who received review DVDs, it is four discs! Yay! One of the posters also mentions that the SE edit is 75 minutes long. Will definitely be interesting to see once it hits R1.

I'm still waiting for an R1 announcement regarding the Remembrance SE, and would love if it were indeed the two-disc with Davros Connections.

albert

[2099net]

New to New Who? How about a Seasons 1-4 Boxset, just in time for the holidays?

http://www.play.com/DVD/DVD/4-/11417690 ... oduct.html

What a good price. I wonder if these are the "vanillas" collected, or the Special Editions from the Season Sets?

Also a quick heads up: The UK gets the Dalek War set in October and Sarah Jane Adventures S2 in Nov

[Chernabog_Rocks]

New to New Who? How about a Seasons 1-4 Boxset, just in time for the holidays?

http://www.play.com/DVD/DVD/4-/11417690 ... oduct.html

Will this be only for Region 2 or will it come to R1 as well? Would be interested in picking it up if something like this was available.

Also, how hard is it to find Torchwood on dvd? I only seem to find Deadwood >_>

[2099net]

I'm not sure. Nobody knows, as this has slipped onto UK retailers lists unexpectedly. Incidentally, there's a complete Torchwood set too coming out (Series 1, 2 and 3:Children of Earth). However, BBC DVDs are usually expensive in the USA and Canada.

It should be easy to find Torchwood if you shop online. It was shown in Canada (it was co-produced by the CBC for the first two years). Again, be prepared to pay over the odds though.

[Escapay]

I thought Dalek War wasn't coming until late December?

I have a feeling it will be our March boxset, with January's slot going to Twin Dilemma and Keys of Marinus.

albert

[2099net]

Well, the Dalek War arrived today. And I've got the biggest surprise of my life. The set contain's reversible covers just because the new house style is to put the BBC Logo in a purple box. Yes, as far as I can see the only difference between the two covers is the BBC logo (Not that I've been looking for long being as its so trivial).

Are they really going to print reversible covers for every single remaining Doctor Who DVD for the next three or so years?

When there's so many people complaining on the fan forums that 2|entertain don't care about Doctor Who (a ludicrous statement by the way) something like this shows how much they do care about the releases.

I just wish they hadn't bothered though. I'm sure even something as kind-hearted as this can be spun into something negative by the many 2|entertain haters.

As for the discs, I haven't watched them yet, but I'm particularly looking forward to the following:

* Episode 3 of Planet of the Daleks in colour! (Will report back later)
* The Stripped for Actions (especially the Dalek one!)
* The Roger Delgado tribute
* The Perfect Scenario parts 1 and 2

I'm not particularly looking forward to the episodes - Pertwee is probably my least liked Doctor - but the presence of the Master will enhance Frontier in Space greatly, and of course the Colour Recovery on Planet of the Daleks is such a huge step in restoration technology, it's a great big huge looming thing visible from space!

[Prince Charming 12]

Hey Net,

Do you have any current information on a release date for what I'll call "Season 4.5" The Specials yet? I remember reading one of your posts back in January, of this year, that the BBC was going to release a complete set like the regular seasons.

I know the third installment is coming up, but I forgot how many were to be produced before Season 5 begins (I thought it was four).

Thanks!

[2099net]

The simple answer is nobody knows if there is going to be such a boxset. However it would seem likely being as the existing releases are pretty much barebones - no commentaries (and on the DVDs at least no 5.1 remix, although the Blu-ray of Planet of the Dead has one).

Logically, being as Tennant's era will end on or around New Years Day, I would expect it out around Easter, just as the 5th Season would be about to start on BBC1.

[Prince Charming 12]

Thanks Net. If you hear any news, please post it.

[2099net]

Well, talk of the devil

http://www.play.com/DVD/DVD/4-/12103586 ... oduct.html

Mid January 2010. I'm surprised. There's also a Blu-ray box too. Looks like the last three won't get individual releases.

[Escapay]

I hope R1 gets it at the same time. I passed on the individual releases for "The Next Doctor" and "Planet of the Dead".

albert

[Prince Charming 12]

Wow! My "timing" is impeccable.

I did a quick search on Best Buy's site and they did not have it posted for pre-order yet. I did see two of the "specials" listed for sale, but like you Escapay I am waiting for the complete set.

I was wondering if the SyFy Channel was going to purchase the rights to air all of them first, and then the set would be released to R1 (like in the past four seasons). We might have to wait.

[2099net]

I believe BBC America has first run US rights now. Neither The Next Doctor or Planet of the Dead has been on SyFy yet?

[Prince Charming 12]

No, not to my knowledge. SyFy usually starts running some promos before they start up the series and I have not seen anything concerning the specials stories.

Series 4 ran the earliest of any of the previous series on SyFy so my guess is that before they start Series 5, they will probably run the Specials first. Maybe then BBC America will release them in another box set.

[2099net]

This may amuse some:

http://whospecialfeatures.wikia.com/wiki/Index

A wiki of all special features on the Classic Doctor Who discs! It's incredibly impressive and shows just how well the range is "documenting" the show - more so than any other TV series on DVD in history IMO.