Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2728 in DVD
• Released on: 2005-06-13
• Rating: Suitable for 12 years and over
• Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
• Format: PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 135 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
It was always going to be a risk for the BBC to revamp Doctor Who--few television programmes inspire as much rabid and cultish adoration. With the 2005 series, however, the BBC have really outdone themselves. Their updated Doctor Who is a revelation: a cult science fiction series that has real mass appeal, and works for both children and their parents. Christopher Eccleston is an inspired and charismatic Doctor--he leaps around the sets with an unrestrained glee, like he's a child running amok in a toy shop. His enthusiasm in downright infectious. His sidekick Rose (Billie Piper) adds a real human touch, particularly as she gradually and believably matures from in-over-her-head city kid to tough-minded interplanetary hero. Much of the credit must go to writer Russell Davies, who has a much-practiced knack for finding popular appeal without dumbing-down his ideas, and who appears to have let his imagination run riot. Even the special effects, whilst not of a big-budget cinematic quality, still manage to strike a balance between cheesiness and realism. Thrilling, funny and thoroughly entertaining, this Doctor Who is a hero for the new millennium. --Robert Burrow

Synopsis
In 'Aliens Of London' The Doctor and Rose find themselves back on Earth. London is the location for a downed spacecraft and the alien survivor is wanted by The Doctor. In 'World War Three' the Earth faces war on an interplanetary scale... Or does it? 'Dalek' finds Rose and The Doctor underground in Utah, witnessing the torture and interrogation of an alien whose race wiped out The Time Lords.

Customer Reviews

Fantastic. Again.
Aliens of London and World War Three have attracted a fair bit of criticism from fans and the media: farting aliens, light and frothy script, etc. Personally I really like these episodes. They represent a broader comedic approach that the original series too often lacked. Acting Prime Minister Green's line about "massive weapons of destruction, capable of being launched in 45 seconds" had me in stitches - I'd never thought of Doctor Who as a vehicle for satire before. The picture-postcard shots of the London skyline, Whitehall and the Thames probably qualify these episodes as the last hurrah for Cool Britannia. Great stuff.

And in Dalek we are finally reintroduced to the Doctor's oldest enemy. This episode is a classic by any measure. It restates the Dalek philosophy - dislike of the unlike - perfectly and presents the much maligned pepperpot as an utterly believable threat once again. Brilliant.

Enjoyable newcomers and a brilliant return
An excellent three episodes from the first series.

'Aliens of London/World War Three' is terrific fun. I imagine the satire will go over the heads of younger viewers, but then 'Doctor Who' always did try to provide something for all ages. It's a good, fast moving storyline with plenty of humour. Penelope Wilton and Annette Badland stand out from a solid cast. For a fan of the classic series like me it was a thrill to see the return (albeit briefly) of UNIT. Although the CGI is not perfect, the crash-landing of the Slitheen spacecraft is spectacular and the Slitheen themselves, when presented in CGI form, are impressive. Therein lies one of the major flaws - it is difficult to believe that the athletic, fast moving hunters that they appear as CGI are the same as the shuffling, wobbly-headed creatures played by actors in rubber suits. Still, a hugely entertaining couple of episodes.

Now for 'Dalek'. It's difficult to express how wonderful this story is. The new-look Dalek is imposing and has been given a glorious new look whilst remaining true to the original basic design. Perhaps for the first time it really does look like a virtually indestructible war-machine. It is wonderful to see a Dalek as the cunning, manipulative creature that the race was always intended to be. Equally, the two battles it fights are spectacularly realised. Writer Rob Shearman clearly had great fun subverting the traditional jokes aimed at the Daleks; the much talked about 'hovering Dalek' scenes aren't as exciting to a classic series fan like me - despite all the jokes about stairs, Daleks have been seen hovering on at least three occasions before - but CGI allows this to be rendered much more convincingly. The Dalek mutant, when it is finally revealed, is likewise well realised. I've never found the Daleks particularly scary, but this came close to it. Elsewhere, Christopher Eccleston is on particularly good form, bringing out his loathing for the Daleks in superb fashion, and the gradual reversal of roles with the Dalek is both shocking and moving. One other thing - this was the first time a television series has ever made me cry; I doubted I ever would, and I certainly never thought it would be the plight of a Dalek which did so. Simply stunning.

Great episodes
I like these episodes a lot.I liked Aliens of London\World War Three and I know a lot of people say the Slitheen aren't scary and I agree but I also think there are some great action scenes and thrilling moments in the episode. The next episode''Dalek'' was brilliant, it was exciting all the way through the episode and the special effects were brilliant.I highly reccomend this dvd.