Doctor Who: The TV Movie with the Pertwee Logo

[altariel]

TV Movie with the Pertwee Logo
altariel: Pwwwrphhhhrrrrrrrrp. Obviously, it's wrong. And yet, it was so exciting at the time, and so enjoyable to watch at the time that I kind of forgive it.
mraltariel: Yes. It has obviously got little to do with the show we've just spent the last few years watching, and more to do with a show the people who made it *remember* watching.
altariel: And everything to do with a show they think they can sell to the States. And they're wrong. At least, the show comes too much from that impulse, rather than from the impulse to make Doctor Who. Still, McGann's cute.
mraltariel: Apart from that bloody wig and stupid costume. Surprisingly, I like the total-bollocks-overdrive TARDIS set, though. And there are lots of nice bits - like the police bike riding into the TARDIS shell, and the shoes and wotnot.
altariel: And McCoy.
mraltariel: Even though his presence is one of the many things structurally wrong with it. Having said that, the opening act is probably the best bit - it descends into nonsense from about half-way through.
altariel: *nods sagely*


Ranking
TV Movie with the Pertwee Logo

altariel: I hope it doesn't get a series. It'll get canned after 6 episodes and we'll never get it back.
mraltariel: A good try, but it doesn't quite hit the spot. Someone else should have a go.

Comments

[birdsedge.livejournal.com]

I must watch this again. I think your comments are spot on. Definitely something aimed at getting US viewers into the DW fold. At the time I remember wanting a series (well, I mean, Paul M. was really cute and... well, y'know...) but if that had happened we would never have had the RTD restart with Nine.

[steve-mollmann.livejournal.com]

I love the production design, the direction (so many great images), the music, and the acting-- Paul McGann is a great Doctor, and Eric Roberts is a fantastic Master.

Shame about the script.

[altariel.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that's about it!

[altariel.livejournal.com]

I think it's worth another look, if only for the lovely McGann, and there is a fair bit to like about it.

[kalypso-v.livejournal.com]

I remember watching it at the time and thinking "But when will the plot start?" With about ten minutes to go, I concluded that there wasn't one.

[altariel.livejournal.com]

No plot, just a countdown.

[chrisbutler.livejournal.com]

I thought I had a VHS copy of it somewhere, but can't immediately lay my hands on it. Was it 4:3 or widescreen? 4:3 I suppose.

I did just find a tape that is apparently an episode of Crime Traveller, which came up in conversation only the other day. Oh dear, I might have to watch it.

[altariel.livejournal.com]

4:3.

Oh, I liked Crime Traveller! And I'm not afraid to say it. I liked Virtual Murder too.

[matildabj.livejournal.com]

Crime Traveller! I LOVED that. Now I've got to go and find it from somewhere.

I started watching the DW movie not so long ago and couldn't sit through it. Mind you, I can't bring myself to rewatch the last 10th Doctor episodes, either.

Are you moving on to New Who next?

[julesjones]

I remember thinking that McGann *was* the Doctor, and that it would have been so nice to see him in a Doctor Who script, instead of something that was so clearly ticking off the boxes required to sell a story to the US. In particular, Doctor Who Does Not Snog.

And yet I didn't really have a problem with Rusty's Doctor dancing. I think because RTD actively engaged with the question of why the Doctor Does Not Snog, and then proceeded to rub the viewers' noses in the fact that the Doctor may snog after all, but he doesn't do it as part of the standard routine to prove that he's a proper heterosexual hero who gets the girl as his reward for being a hero. Whereas the TV movie was so very much ticking the boxes for the standard "insert plot twist here" formula that scriptwriters are expected to follow for commercial success.

[mraltariel.livejournal.com]

(We had End of the World this morning...)

[altariel.livejournal.com]

Are you moving on to New Who next?

Yes, we watched "The End of the World" this morning. Should take us through the summer!

[altariel.livejournal.com]

McGann has done loads of Big Finish audios, in which I gather he's very good, although I haven't listened to them.

[jhall1.livejournal.com]

I have to disagree about Eric Roberts, though no doubt it was the fault of the script rather than his acting. He had the Master's menace, but not his charm.

[raspberryfool.livejournal.com]

Like you, I can't hate it. There are some nice touches. The Master correcting the villain's language in the police van was a nice in-joke, for some reason I thought it was hilarious. It's been a few years - perhaps i should dust off the tape and re-watch it one grey afternoon... :-)

[altariel.livejournal.com]

Perfect for a rainy day rewatch!

[fallingtowers.livejournal.com]

I have listened to a fair bit of these, and I can only recommend them! Provided that you ignore Invaders from Mars (which has a great concept, but mangles it with the most dreadful faux!American / Russian / German accents ever) as well as Zagreus (which is gratuitous and dull fanservice on an EPIC scale).

[altariel.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the rec! mraltariel has them all here. I find it hard to listen to radio and do anything else, so I don't often find time for it.