Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #9054 in DVD
• Released on: 2006-07-10
• Rating: Parental Guidance
• Format: PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 133 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
A disc that features three more superb episodes from David Tennant's first series in the TARDIS, this DVD finds Doctor Who facing one of his deadliest opponents--the Cybermen.

The lethal foes are brought back to life in the first two episodes on this disc, Rise Of The Cybermen and The Age Of Steel. They find the Doctor, Rose and Mickey in an alternative version of Earth, where zeppelins dominate the London skyline and Roger Lloyd Pack's maniac genius is hard at work on an enhanced version of humankind. Ruthlessly harvesting humans, his work is soon revealed as the all-new Cybermen, who are as fatal as ever. And while the two-part story may cut the odd corner here and there, it's nonetheless a triumphant return in an action-packed, tightly scripted story.

However, the real treat on the disc is the lower profile episode, The Idiot's Lantern. Set at the time of Elizabeth II's coronation, the Doctor and Rose find a shop offering strangely low cost television sets, and people worried by rumours of strange goings in. Buoyed by a guest appearance by Maureen Lipman, this is yet another highpoint for an increasingly confident series, by turns clever, sinister and intriguing.

In short, the best disc yet of episodes from the second new series of Doctor Who. And there's the promise of even better around the corner...--Simon Brew

Synopsis
Features 'Rise Of The Cybermen', 'The Age Of Steel' and 'The Idiot's Lantern'.

Customer Reviews

The Doctor faces the Cybermen...
This DVD continues the second series of the BBC's hit revival of 'Doctor Who' and contains three episodes. David Tennant's perormance as the Tenth Timelord remains strong, energetic and vibrant, whilst Billie Piper as Rose Tyler remains his equal in every way. This disc contains no special features, but there will be a 6-disc boxet released in November that comes crammed with bonus material and content. But if you're like me and can't wait that long, this DVD is definitely a must-buy when it is released. The three episodes on the disc are all of an extremely high calibre, and the standard set so far by the series is maintaned. So, where is the TARDIS taking us this time...?

The three episodes contained on this disc are:

The Rise of the Cybermen/The Age of Steel
Writer: Tom MacRae
Director: Graeme Harper
Originally broadcast 13/5/06 and 20/5/06

These two-episode make up this series' first double-length episode, and are special due to the fact that the metal monsters that are the infamous Cybermen are back, bigger, badder, and better than ever before. Last year, the Daleks made a triumphant and successful return to television, and this year it is very much the turn of the Cybermen, the emotionless steel giants, who haven't been seen on television since the Slyvestor McCoy era of the late 1980's. There is a wealth of the things to enjoy in this two episodes however, as the Doctor and Rose find themselves on a strange parallel version of Earth after the TARDIS crash lands. In this alternative Earth, things are very different, Rose's dad is still alive, Mickey is reunited with his grandmother and there are zepplins, strange blue-tooth like headsets, and bizarre factories of carnage all over London. The new design of the Cybermen is stunning; they look beautiful! Their return to this series was superb, and the 2006 spin on the monsters is very satisfactory, such as the scenes in the factory where Rose and Pete Tyler have to go undercover and when the Doctor realises that they have no emotions. This episode is also important because Mickey Smith, Rose's poor, long-suffering boyfriend is finally given a chance to prove himself, and the result is very memorable and exciting. There are some great moments in this two-part story but I won't spoil them. All I will say is that the Cybermen are back, and their absolutely brilliant!

The Idiot's Lantern
Writer: Mark Gatiss
Directed by: Euros Lynn
Originally broadcast 27/5/06

Mark Gatiss' (aside from being part of the dark and hilarious 'League of Gentlemen') coined last year's excellent episode 'The Unquiet Dead', but his offering for Series 2 is even better, and this episode drips with atmosphere and tension, as the Doctor and Rose travel back in time to 1953, the year of the Queen's Coronation. It is testimony to the skills of the team behind the show that it really feels like th viewer is in the period, an experience further enhanced by the terrific sets, props, clothing and realisitc dialogue and characterisation. The main plot of this episode is that people are vanishing as a result of televisions, and the Doctor must unlock the secret of 'The Wire' and find out how the television is taking over the world. Tennant and Piper are great throughout, and although The Doctor's homage to Elvis (the hairstyle) is a bit much, this episode is a lot of fun. Great stuff, with an electric climax (literally)...

There are a number of guest stars that make appearances in this series such as Roger Lloyd Pack (Trigger from 'Only Fools and Horses') as the evil brainchild of the Cybermen, John Lumic. Shaun Dingall reprise his role as Pete Tyler, Rose's father in the two Cybermen episodes, and Mauren Lipman is terrifying as 'The Wire' in 'The Idiot's Lantern'. The collection of episodes is brilliant, with superb performances, writing, direction, special effects, etc, and this DVD is one that I'd highly recommend.

Pretty good
This DVD has three episodes on it:

The Rise Of The Cybermen - The Cybermen double episode part 1.
The Age Of Steel - The Cybermen double episode part 2.
The Idiot's Lantern - London in the 1950s.

The Cybermen episodes are very good. The first has a lot of action and tension building up to part 2, I think it's the better of the two. The second is a bit of a let down and is disappointing compared to the previous one, but it's still an impressive episode that concentrates more on the emotional side of things.

The Idiot's Lantern is also a very good episode. There is some great acting from the Doctor, Rose and all the supporting actors too. The monsters are surprisingly freaky. There is a very inventive way of solving the problem as well.

Generally this is a good DVD to get and I would recommend it to anyone!

The DVD to make your collection great. The Cybermen are back and better than ever!!!
This DVD contains the two-part episode "Rise of the Cybermen" and "The Age of Steel", this is the return of the Cybermen and is absolutely fantastic, i wont give much away if you havent watched it yet but it is probably the best episode of the year so far. and also "The Idiots Lantern" is a great episode featuring an alien called The Wire, and it is HUNGRY!!!

This DVD is the best in the series so far and is just absolutely the best Doctor Who DVD from series 2, its the only DVD you will be able to get with The return of the Cybermen.

FANTASTIC!!!!!!!!!!