Well, it's not a movie, but it's as good as, being a Christmas special. So...
Doctor Who: The Christmas Invasion
Perhaps more than the revival of the series in 2005, this episode was the most important since Power of the Daleks episode 1 way back in 1966. Here, for the first time, a new generation of viewers are being asked to accept somebody else playing the title character after he 'regenerates'.
There's only two ways a post-regeneration episode can go. Ignore the story and concentrate on the new Doctor, or try to hide the fact that there is a new Doctor, by surrounding him with the familiar. The first post-regeneration episode opted for the latter, focusing on the Daleks, while later examples, such as Castrovalva opted for the character based first option. The Christmas Invasion opts for... both.
The storyline is weak, especially the opening half which finds the Doctor lying in bed while Rose does all the work, and returning character Harriet Jones helps to anchor the episode in the "Whoniverse" established in the 2005 series. Even classic era UNIT are brought back to underline that this
is still Doctor Who.
But it's when the episode is two thirds complete, and Tennant's new Doctor makes his first full appearance after a suitable heroic build-up with a cheeky "Did you miss me?" that the episode really comes to life. Tennant is superb as the Tenth Doctor, showing the steel and resolve of Eccleston's Ninth Doctor and the randomness and enthusiam of Troughton's Second Doctor (My personal favourite).
Here at last we have a Doctor who is just at home fiddling with technology, making irrelevant jokes to the monsters (his Circle of Life speech from the Lion King is a riot) as he is at fighting back. (His "Earth is defended" speech again is superb, with all the gravity it requires and light years away from his pottering around with the Blood Control apparatus). Finally, he's got full confidence in his abilities, bringing down the British Government by simply whispering 6 words to the Prime Minister's aide. ("Don't you think she looks tired?").
The episode had a lot more to recommend it than just the Tenth Doctor though. Rose, learning from the Doctor, takes control of the situation while he is recovering, and even stands up to the monsters. Jackie has some wonderful comic lines, and even Mickey's growing into the live of a part-time adventurer. Finally, seeds for set for the Torchwood spin-off coming in 2006.
Another highlight is the clips from the upcoming 2006 series at the end, including the return of Sarah-Jane Smith and a somewhate battered and rusty K9, foppish but deadly robots during the French Revolution, The Doctor leaning in to hear the words of the Face of Boe, Anthony Stewart Head as a sinister Headmaster, Queen Victoria running for her life and, of course, the return of the Cybermen. 2006... Best year for Doctor Who ever?
You can see the 2006 preview
Here
