DVDizzy Forum

Starting will news of another spin-off (in addition to Torchwood). Sarah Jane Smith Adventures!

Everyone's favourite "Classic" series companion gets her second spin-off (the first being the single episode only K-9 and Company in 1982).

Sarah Jane Adventures (formally rumoured to be Sarah Jane Investigates) is comissioned and made by CBBC (Children's BBC) so will have a different look and feel to Doctor Who, just as the "adult" Torchwood comissioned by the "edgy" BBC Three will. It's nice that while the Adults get a spin-off, so do the kids!

Set in present-day West London, the programme stars original Sarah Jane actress Elisabeth Sladen and Yasmin Paige, who plays her 13-year-old neighbour Maria.

The two form an unlikely alliance to fight evil alien forces at work in Britain.

K-9, the faithful robot dog and Sarah Jane's goodbye present from The Doctor, makes an appearance in the special but will not appear in the series.

The 1 hour pilot is expected to be shown on or around New Year's Day 2007, while the series will be shown in the summer (perhaps alongside 2007's Doctor Who series).

Full BBC Press Release Below:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressr ... arah.shtml

As for the other spin-offs:

Torchwood is being screened from October onwards on BBC Three, with a later showing on BBC One (perhaps starting as late as sometime in 2007)

Doctor Who Confidential has been comissioned for another series, and again will be shown directly after each Doctor Who episode. Series 2 of DWC will be on the Complete Second Series boxset, again in cut-down form.

Totally Doctor Who has not been recomissioned at this time, but talks are reported to be ongoing between the Doctor Who production office and CBBC as to a new format for the show. The show was such a sucess this year, I find it hard to believe it won't be recomissioned.

Rose Tyler: Earth Defense Force was cancelled by Russell T Davies himself. This was to be a one-off Bank Holiday special featuring Rose Tyler defending the Alternative Earth in her capacity in the Alternative Earth's Torchwood. More information is available on the link below:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/5271054.stm

Here in the U.S. we haven't gotten to the second season of the new series yet (I think it starts VERY soon though), but I just saw the werewolf episode online, as I'm very into werewolves, and it was awesome. My little sis has become obsessed with this show (especially with the latest doctor, and, to a lesser degree, the one before him), and it is now all she talks about. Anyway, needless to say, we're new to all things Doctor Who, but the new show has been very cool and Season 2 looks like it will be more my speed with all the monster stuff.

I have learned a few things from my little sis. Isn't Sarah Jane an older woman at this point? Seems strange for her to be the star of a series geared at kids. It's a shame they didn't get the Rose spin-off going. Torchwood sounds cool!

I believe the actress who plays Sarah Jane is 58!

However, you have to understand Sarah Jane is *THE* Doctor Who companion to a whole generation of viewers who watched the show in the mid-70s. It's like having Spock get his own series! She also had a big impact when she returned in 2006's School Reunion. I do suspect the bulk of the show will be based on the 13 year old Maria undertaking missions for Sarah, and thus being very "kid friendly", while Sarah will pull-in the parents!

The fact that Garath Roberts is involved in SJA makes me very happy. He's written some of the funniest Dr Who novels ever! (And he's writing the 2007 episode which features William Shakespeare, which is reportedly the most elaborate production in the new series to date!)

K-9 by the way is getting his own series independent of the BBC partly funded by Disney (its being funded by Jetix Europe who are (partly?) owned by Disney.)

If you think Torchwood sounds cool, try to rewatch "Boom Town" from Eccleston's series. Russell T Davis says that "Boom Town" is the most important story to date, and it's the key to understanding the relationship between the new Torchwood series and Doctor Who. And of course the pre-spin-off Torchwood is a key player in the 2006 series - and not for the better!

I think S2 is due to start on the Sci-Fi channel on 29th September. It's even better than last year's series! I guarentee you will cry when Rose is seperated from The Doctor if you're a 'shipper!

slave2moonlight wrote

I have learned a few things from my little sis. Isn't Sarah Jane an older woman at this point? Seems strange for her to be the star of a series geared at kids. It's a shame they didn't get the Rose spin-off going. Torchwood sounds cool!

As 2099net mentioned, Sarah Jane Smith is, by far, the most popular "Classic" companion. The thirteen year old neighbour, along with the likely aliens/monsters that they will meet up with attract the younger viewers while Sarah's character will draw in the Doctor Who fans.

I'm actually much more interested in the Sarah Jane spin-off than in Torchwood. Still, I suspect I'll be watching both series whenever they become available here in the US.

This month's SFX magazine has lots of information on Sarah Jane Adventures, most of which is old hat. But here it is:

Following on from Torchwood Doctor Who's about to get another spin-off in the shape of The Sarah Jane Adventures.

The series, due to be screened in the New Year, will headline Elisabeth Sladen as former Who compantion Sarah Jane Smith, though due to rights issues, without K9 in tow*. The script is written by Russell T Davies and fellow Doctor Who scribe Garath Roberts.

"We've been planning The Sarah Jane Adventures - contary to reports it was never Sarah Jane Investigates - for about six months." Lord Russell of Davies tells SFX. "We've just been waiting to move into the new studios, and balance our schedules, to make it at the right time. It's intended for a younger audience, so that all our three shows hit different audiences - Doctor Who for everyone, Torchwood for adults and Sarah Jane Adventures for Children's BBC. If you were pretentious, you could call it a triptych. But let's not. It certainly isn't Doctor Who lite - there's still full-blooded danger, monsters and fun, with proper characters, just with a younger slant. Though we hope everyone will be watching anyway!

"We were so impressed by Elisabeth Sladen, and by the audience's response to her, that we just couldn't leave her to walk off into the sunset. In many ways, this show is a tribute to both the actor and the character. We're making it as big and bold and any of our BBC Wales shows - cast, sets, direction, score and script will all be top-notch. I think thats the first time I've ever said 'top-notch' in my life. Won't do it again."

And talking of Gareth Roberts, his 2007 script has just finished shooting.

Location and guest cast details for episode two.

David Tennant and Freema Agyeman have spent the last few days filming in and around London's Globe Theatre for what promises to be one of the most ambitious and exciting episodes to date.

Set in 1599 in Tudor London, the episode features the Doctor's first meeting with William Shakespeare as he foils a plot to destroy the Earth. The Globe Theatre provided a stunning backdrop for much of the action whilst the Doctor Who special effects team are recreating the look and feel of London's streets from 400 years ago.

Dean Lennox Kelly, best known for his recent role in the BBC One drama Sorted and as Kev in Shameless, guest stars as William Shakespeare.

"The Shakespeare episode is, without doubt, one of our most ambitious projects to date," enthused Russell T Davies. "It's incredible to have a working replica of London's most famous theatre in which to film the new series. Viewers can look forward to Shakespeare giving the performance of his life in order to save the Earth from destruction."

Apparently, its to be called Love's Labour's Won (rumour), and features new monsters, the blood-drinking Plasmavores! (pretty much stated by the production team)

* K9 will appear in the 1 hour pilot, and rumours are an agreement has been made to have K9 appear in S2 of SJA if the Jetix funded "K9 Adventures" fails to be made.

Could Piper be coming back?

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/article/ds37519.html

Producers are planning to bring back Billie Piper for a Doctor Who movie, according to a report.

The decision was prompted by the realisation that the show's budget was constraining it in terms of sets and effects, according to the Daily Star.

A source told the paper that the proposed movie would also see assistant Rose Tyler, played by Piper, reunited with David Tennant.

"There’s been so much interest in Doctor Who since the show was sold to America that a film is the natural progression," said the source.

"Top of our list is to get Billie on board – not only was she amazingly popular, it would be really exciting to get her back with the Doc."

"Mavis" and Mark Gatiss in the same story? Well I don't really know!

From BBC News

Former Coronation Street star Thelma Barlow is to star as a baddie in the next series of Doctor Who.
Barlow, 77, who played timid Mavis Wilton in the ITV soap for 26 years, will star as Lady Thaw in an episode to be shown next year.

The actress is also known for her role in BBC sitcom Dinnerladies.

The episode will also feature the League of Gentleman's Mark Gatiss, 39, as a scientist. Gatiss wrote two earlier episodes of Doctor Who.

A third series of Russell T Davies' Doctor Who is due to air in spring 2007, following a Christmas special this year.

It will see actress Freema Agyeman, 27, taking over from Billie Piper as the Doctor's assistant.

The BBC recently announced a Doctor Who spin-off starring Elisabeth Sladen, who played one of the doctor's companions, Sarah Jane, in the 1970s.

That series will kick off with a one-hour special early next year.

Meanwhile, Doctor Who has now become TV's longest-running sci-fi show, according to Guinness World Records, after 43 years and 723 episodes.

Russell T Davies said: "This achievement is all thanks to the remarkable production team who first created Doctor Who, and to the audience who have kept it alive for all these years."

The series began on 23 November, 1963, and was revived in 2005 after 16 years off the screen.

I know this is supposed to be about the 2007 Doctor Who series, but I finally caught a few episodes from the 2005 and 2006 series today/tonight since SciFi had a marathon.

I watched "The Parting of the Ways" at 2pm, apparently it was the last in the day's marathon of Doctor Who, but it was a really good finale, and since I've only vaguely followed netty's other posts about the show, I had a pretty good idea what was going on. I mean, I was grateful that I at least knew what a Dalek was, otherwise I'd think "man, that's a campy looking alien!"

Didn't realize it was the second season premiere for the US, and thought at the time that "The Christmas Invasion" was a repeat from last week and that "New Earth" was the "new" episode this week. Instead, both were "new" episodes airing, lol. I have to say, that even though i've only seen one episode with the the Ninth Doctor and two with the Tenth, I prefer David Tennant's Doctor to Christopher Eccleston's.

And might I say, John Barrowman's face does not age at all, which is a huge compliment to the guy. Just comparing him to when he was on "Central Park West", then later on in "Titans", it's the same face (sorry, I only know him from his two primetime soap credits and Doctor Who). Looking forward to Torchwood, or at least, Torchwood when it arrives here in the States.

Thinking about picking up the 2005 series on DVD now, it's only $68.23 right now, which is better than going to Sam Goody or BestBuy and having to pay the SRP $99.98.

Looking forward to next week's episode, and January 16th can't come soon enough (when the 2006 series hits DVD in R1).

Escapay

Wh00t! A convert!

I know how strange religious cult leaders feel now when then ensnare another victim. However, I strongly believe Doctor Who has more imagination and wit in it than any other sci-fi series, even if at times it's campy and the effects are wobbly. Did you laugh at the two Tennant episodes you saw?

Escapay, you'll be pleased to learn Captain Jack will be appearing it at least one episode of the 2007 series (most likely the finale). Its possible he may appear in as many as three (these will be filmed in the New Year when his Torchwood filming is complete). The production team is being tight lipped at the moment.

Its a shame you didn't get chance to see The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances from 2005's series. Not only do they introduce Captain Jack, but they're written by Stephen Moffet. Look out for The Girl in the Fireplace which should be on US TV soon (Moffet's episode for the 2006 series).

The Season set does sound expensive for only 13 episodes, but even with that low episode count it has more extras than the Lost sets for example. If you count commentaries as run-times (as Lost seems to with its over 7 hours boast), the Dr Who set has over 13 hours of extras!

2099net wrote:Wh00t! A convert!

LOL. I take it I now have to sign a membership card and pay dues?

netty wrote:However, I strongly believe Doctor Who has more imagination and wit in it than any other sci-fi series, even if at times it's campy and the effects are wobbly. Did you laugh at the two Tennant episodes you saw?

Laugh, cry, sigh...even moaned when the episodes were over.

netty wrote:Escapay, you'll be pleased to learn Captain Jack will be appearing it at least one episode of the 2007 series (most likely the finale). Its possible he may appear in as many as three (these will be filmed in the New Year when his Torchwood filming is complete). The production team is being tight lipped at the moment.

Woohoo! More of Captain Jack!

Wait...so he's not in the 2006 series that's airing for R1 now? Damn...

netty wrote:Its a shame you didn't get chance to see The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances from 2005's series. Not only do they introduce Captain Jack, but they're written by Stephen Moffet. Look out for The Girl in the Fireplace which should be on US TV soon (Moffet's episode for the 2006 series).

Will keep an eye out for it, the title sounds a bit odd, though.

netty wrote:The Season set does sound expensive for only 13 episodes, but even with that low episode count it has more extras than the Lost sets for example. If you count commentaries as run-times (as Lost seems to with its over 7 hours boast), the Dr Who set has over 13 hours of extras!

Well UK items always seem so expensive over here, but it's usually because they're worth the price tag. I may wait awhile before I order it, though. Gonna hunt around my usual brick and mortars and see if some idiot decided to sell it used.

Escapay

I've often wondered why most non-British when presented with the Daleks for the first time think they are a little "campy". After all, what they are in-effect are aliens in tanks. Nobody thinks tanks are campy.

Perhaps its something to do with their design - they were designed in 1963. Of course, Star Trek and Lost in Space in America in the 60s had bigger budgets, but they still came up with some shockingly poor creature designs (such as giant "carrot men" in Lost in Space).

I was a little worried when the series started up again if the Daleks would be accepted by the public, but once again they seem to have been fully embraced by children. When it comes down to it, Doctor Who is a family show, and, although I don't know 100% why, the Daleks have always, and by the looks of it, always will captivate children. They are a design classic.

The Daleks' constant cries of "Exterminate", as well as their general belief in their own superiority comes from the Nazis. When they were created, the Second World War had been over for less than 20 years, and many British families were still affected by the events of the war, from lost loved ones to even still rebuilding area's bombed over the conflict, to new parents who told stories of being evacuated to their own children.

The metaphor for Nazis is made clearer in their second story ("Daleks Invasion of Earth") where you see them "marching" at well known London landmarks with their sucker arms extended and held at a 45 degree angle (like a Nazi salute) and in the later "Genesis of the Daleks", where the society that created the Daleks is facist and organised like the Nazi hierarchy.

Sell Sheet for the 2006 series on DVD in America
http://c.warnerbros.1nc025.com/email_do ... s_1578.pdf

More rumours about the 2007 season

The series opener introduces new compantion Martha Jones, who is a medical student at a [fictional] London teaching hospital. The story is rumoured to feature an alien disguised as a motorcycle courier who gets into the hospital and then teleports it and the surrounding area to the moon's surface. There are shots of Martha in her white medical coat in various magazines. Sadly, I can't locate one on the internet.

Like Rose Tyler, Martha Jones will have a family the show will periodically return to, and "ground" the series.

Information from the BBC website about Torchwood (Week 43)

Torchwood – Everything Changes
Unplaced
Day and time to be confirmed BBC THREE

John Barrowman is the enigmatic Captain Jack Harkness in Torchwood

John Barrowman, Eve Myles, Indira Varma, Burn Gorman, Naoko Mori and Gareth David-Lloyd star in this action-packed, adrenalin-fuelled new series for BBC Three.

Created by award-winning writer Russell T Davies, the high-octane sci-fi thriller follows a team of modern-day investigators as they use alien technology to solve crime both alien and human.

Separate from the Government, outside police jurisdiction and beyond the United Nations, the Torchwood Institute sets its own rules. Based in Cardiff, the Torchwood team delves into the unknown, battling against the impossible in a highly volatile underworld of savage aliens and monsters whilst trying to maintain their everyday lives.

Enigmatic Captain Jack Harkness is the ever-watchful leader of the Torchwood team. Gwen Cooper is initially an outsider, whose first, chance meeting with Torchwood at the scene of a brutal murder sparks within her a burning curiosity to get to the truth. She is intrigued by Torchwood and her life changes when she is catapulted into an unfamiliar and exciting world.

Second in command to Captain Jack is Suzie Costello, the hard-working hardware specialist who catalogues and strives to understand the alien devices the team comes across. Owen Harper is the arrogant, brilliant medic and Toshiko Sato specialises in all things computer, surveillance and technical. Ianto Jones, meanwhile, cleans up after the team and gets them everywhere on time.

Torchwood is written by Russell T Davies and Chris Chibnall, with contributing writers including Peter J Hammond, Toby Whithouse, Noel Clarke, Cath Tregenna, Jacquetta May and Helen Raynor.

The executive producers are Russell T Davies and Julie Gardner. Torchwood is filmed in HD (high definition).

Captain Jack Harkness is played by John Barrowman, Suzie Costello by Indira Varma, Gwen Cooper by Eve Myles, Owen Harper by Burn Gorman, Toshiko Sato by Naoko Mori and Ianto Jones by Gareth David-Lloyd.

Still not slotted into a timeslot? I find that hard to believe. More likely, they want to ensure C4 (and possibly ITV) don't schedule something against it.

Woohoo Torchwood!

Last night's new episode in the States was "Tooth and Claw", where at the end, we see how Queen Victoria started Torchwood Institute. The episode was somewhat weak, IMO, in the first half (though the Doctor and Rose were hilarious, especially with trying to get Victoria to say "We are not amused" or something like that). But the end was pretty good, especially the 'revelation' that Queen Victoria and her family are now werewolves...

Escapay

Loved that episode! Of course, I'm more into monsters and werewolves than alien stuff.

The first proper Torchwood trailer!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3b_3Np9EO0

Notice the semi-converted Cyber(wo)man - obviously a leftover from Doomsday!

2099net wrote:The first proper Torchwood trailer!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3b_3Np9EO0

Notice the semi-converted Cyber(wo)man - obviously a leftover from Doomsday!

Impressive Torchwood trailer! Looking forward to it more and more (if it gets picked up on SciFi, as I'm sure it'll come to BBC America...a channel I don't have...poo.)

Anyways, netty, how good are these Doctor Who stories? Being a recent "convert" as you put it, I've been stocking up and found these at GameStop for $5.99 each ($3.33 each after the 3/$10 deal):

Doctor Who: Lost in Time - The William Hartnell Years
Doctor Who: Lost in Time - The Patrick Troughton Years
Doctor Who: Spearhead from Space
Doctor Who: The Ribos Operation
Doctor Who: The Androids of Tara
Doctor Who: The Armageddon Factor
Doctor Who: The Five Doctors - Special Edition
Doctor Who: Remembrance of the Daleks

Escapay

Escapay wrote:Anyways, netty, how good are these Doctor Who stories? Being a recent "convert" as you put it, I've been stocking up and found these at GameStop for $5.99 each ($3.33 each after the 3/$10 deal):

Doctor Who: Lost in Time - The William Hartnell Years
Doctor Who: Lost in Time - The Patrick Troughton Years
Doctor Who: Spearhead from Space
Doctor Who: The Ribos Operation
Doctor Who: The Androids of Tara
Doctor Who: The Armageddon Factor
Doctor Who: The Five Doctors - Special Edition
Doctor Who: Remembrance of the Daleks

Escapay

OK. Generally the old "Classic" series is very different to the current one, especially when it comes to pacing and effects. I personally put more weight into the scripts than either of these, but even I admit the production lets the side down more often than not.

I think you can forget about the first two, they're odd episodes from stories that no longer exist in their entirity.

Being as they're cheap though, and if you have a genuine interest in the history of the programme it may be worth picking up the Troughton years, if only for the reason he's my favourite Doctor. If does have some good episodes on, but it also has some clunkers (If anyone can sit through and episode of The Space Pirates without falling asleep for example, they're a better man than me!)

I've think The Five Doctors will confuse you. It's like one of those crossover comics which have lots of characters, no proper introductions and a slight story. Not that there's anything wrong with that, it was to celebrate 20 Years and does so, but because of the requirements the narrative is patchy.

So I've marked in Bold the ones I think are the best choices. They're all pretty good - the first two especially being a prime example of script over production. The first three I have pointed out also have the benefit of telling a complete story as such (the season had a story arc about the quest for the Key to Time, and although two stories are missing, you get the beginning and the end).

My final word of advise would be - if you can watch old Universal horror movies, or episodes of Lost In Space etc and appreciate them for what they are without demanding state of the art effects, then you should be OK with "classic" Who.

Edit

OK

I see now that you have them. Perhaps I would be worth you looking at the documentary on the Lost In Time Troughton Years first (and try to ignore Debbie's awful narration) as it gives a good overview of why so many black and white stories are either missing or incomplete. Episodes to look out for on the two Lost in Time discs are:

The Daleks Masterplan Episode 2
The most recent "find" when it comes to recovering missing episodes and its probably the best - its from (off the top of my head) October/November ish 1965. The other episodes aren't as good.

The Crusades
You will notice this is all very theatrical how it is presented, from the scripting which is almost Shakespearian at times to the acting and even the set design. I think this is from the beginning of 1965

The Abominable Snowmen
I adore Patrick Troughton's Doctor, and I adore this story. It's a shame more episodes don't exist. I also love the Yeti. Now rumours are a certain Yeti controlling Great Inteligence may be appearing in the 2007 Doctor Who series in 1930's New York (interesting as the Abominable Snowmen is set in 1935). This will be from mid-1967 (again, a quick guestimate)

The Web Of Fear
And then watch this to see how Yetis and the Great Inteligence took over London in 1970ish (I won't go into the whole UNIT dating debate!) (episode from 1968)

Moonbase/Wheel In Space
Get a look at the Cybermen before you see Rise of the Cybermen/Age of Steel on sci-fi, and remember WHO did them before Star Trek did The Borg. (1967/1968)

As for the full stories

Spearhead From Space
This is the first apperance of the Autons, who are in the first story of the new WHO revival - Rose. Although the Autons are realised in an obvious and quite crude way, at times it can still be surprisingly creepy. Its also a post-regeneration story, much like The Christmas Invasion

The Key to Time Stories
The Ribos Operation is, perhaps the best DVD on the list. It has an absolutely fantastic script, full of wit. Its sort of a cross between Doctor Zhivago and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, in that the bulk of the story is about an intergalatic con artist who is on a planet similar to 19th century Russia.

The Androids of Tara is basically a reworking of The Prisoner of Zenda, and again has a good script.

The Armegeddon Factor is the poorest of the bunch, but still OK. Lets just say it has lots of ideas, but not much structure. But it does have a satisfying conclusion to the Key To Time storyline (and perhaps it inspired a certain Buffy story arc?)

Five Doctors
Well, I like it. But I'm the sort of person it was made for. Check out my sig at the moment (that will make sense later, hopefully). It does have one of the best commentaries ever on a Dr Who release.

Rememberance of the Daleks
We're coming to the end of "classic" Who now, and this was perhaps the last "traditional" story it did, which ticks all the boxes for a Dr Who adventure. What's nice is it takes place at the same school as the first ever story, so there's a few nods to the past which you won't recognise.

2099net wrote:I've think The Five Doctors will confuse you. It's like one of those crossover comics which have lots of characters, no proper introductions and a slight story. Not that there's anything wrong with that, it was to celebrate 20 Years and does so, but because of the requirements the narrative is patchy.

[snip]

Five Doctors
Well, I like it. But I'm the sort of person it was made for. Check out my sig at the moment (that will make sense later, hopefully). It does have one of the best commentaries ever on a Dr Who release.

I watched The Five Doctors last night (though it was more of The Four Doctors, lol), and while it took awhile to really understand who was who in Doctor Who, I was able to follow the story pretty well, as it also helped introduce me to each Doctor (save the fourth, sixth, seventh, and eighth). I have to say, beyond the understandable low-budget production effects and somewhat odd costumes for Time Lords, it was a really good movie/special that I can definitely guarantee will get repeat viewings from me. And now I understand the sig.

netty wrote:Perhaps I would be worth you looking at the documentary on the Lost In Time Troughton Years first (and try to ignore Debbie's awful narration) as it gives a good overview of why so many black and white stories are either missing or incomplete.

Yeah, I checked out the documentary before watching the episodes, mainly as a way of understanding the context of the episodes. Question, though. Why does the back of the cover state that it's a 50-minute featurette when it only runs 37 minutes? Is the R1 version edited from the R2, and they simply forgot to correct it on the packaging?

Haven't watched the full episodes yet, though.

netty wrote:Spearhead From Space
This is the first apperance of the Autons, who are in the first story of the new WHO revival - Rose. Although the Autons are realised in an obvious and quite crude way, at times it can still be surprisingly creepy. Its also a post-regeneration story, much like The Christmas Invasion

I was watching the first episode of this last night after The Five Doctors, and I wish I could have finished up the disc, but I had to go to bed. Still, from what I've seen it's really good so far, especially as it's the first story for the Third Doctor.

I still have to watch the Key to Time discs I have, as well as Remembrance of the Daleks, and I'll keep in mind your advice/suggestions/notes/random musings.

Escapay

Escapay wrote:Yeah, I checked out the documentary before watching the episodes, mainly as a way of understanding the context of the episodes. Question, though. Why does the back of the cover state that it's a 50-minute featurette when it only runs 37 minutes? Is the R1 version edited from the R2, and they simply forgot to correct it on the packaging?

I checked my R2 disc last night and it is 38 minutes on that, so I doubt it it edited. The packaging must be wrong.

I'm glad you're enjoying the DVDs. They just need a little imagination to overcome the obvious low-budget look.

If you're interested in the amount of work that goes into the restoration, or the extras on any of the releases, pop-over to www.restoration-team.co.uk - the website of the Doctor Who Restoration team, then click on DVDs.

2099net wrote:I checked my R2 disc last night and it is 38 minutes on that, so I doubt it it edited. The packaging must be wrong.

That's odd. Wonder how runtimes like that can slip past the cover art editor. Found it was also inaccurate for the runtime of The Armageddon Factor (I didn't watch it yet, but 91 minutes is nowhere near a runtime for a 6-episode arc).

netty wrote:I'm glad you're enjoying the DVDs. They just need a little imagination to overcome the obvious low-budget look.

Yeah, at first I wasn't too keen on the effects, but after rewatching The Five Doctors, Remembrance of the Daleks, and finally finishing Spearhead from Space, I've gained a new appreciation for them. After all, at least they're not CGI-heavy like Star Wars (which I don't mind in the prequels, but some things look better as a cheap effect than as an overdone computer image)

netty wrote:If you're interested in the amount of work that goes into the restoration, or the extras on any of the releases, pop-over to www.restoration-team.co.uk - the website of the Doctor Who Restoration team, then click on DVDs.

WOW, that's a great site! I never knew how much work and devotion went into restoring each episode!

Once I get enough pocket money, I think I'll purchase The Beginning boxset, as a few of the First Doctor episodes from Lost in Time looked interesting when I glanced at them, so I'm keen to checking out some of his stuff before moving on to other doctors.

Still don't have the 2005 series one, though. Thinking I'll just wait until the 2006 series comes out to get both. Then again, it won't be $70ish on Amazon forever...

Escapay