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Sooooo? What, did you all eat so much that you'd nodded off by 7? It must be on the web by now!
I've just seen the repeat on BBC3 (the dog decided to be ill, at 7 o'clock on December 25th, and needed an emergency trip to the vet. He's fine now. Git.) and thought I'd see what y'all thought.
On the whole, it was an improvement on last years, but I'll leave it there for now in case you're all still waiting to see it.
A savage review will follow...
-------------------- I have plenty of experience in biology. I bought a Tamagotchi in 1998... And... it's still alive.
Registered: Apr 2005
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The episode wasn't bad, but Catherine Tate was about as irritating as shoving sandpaper in your underpants! For goodness sake, is she capable of playing any part that isn't loud-mouthed, stupid and common?
I did enjoy seeing the Tardis back at the birth of the solar system and hearing a little of the day when presumably the Timelords had just got around to mastering time. Was also a nice touch that the huon particles were visually similar to the effects we saw when Rose absorbed the time vortex...especially since huons are meant to now only exist inside the heart of the Tardis. Was also nice to see the Doctor refer to Galifrey by name for the first time since the revival. Could have done without the christmas tree again though...that wasn't amusing the first time they did it, and it hasn't improved any since last Christmas.
Registered: Jul 2006
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Killer Christmas trees, killer robots disguised as musical Santas, and a threatening spaceship hovering over London. Which DW Christmas special am I describing? Take your pick.
I don't recall if it was in last year's, but this one featured... wait for it... people on top of buildings!
Overall : underwhelming.
Registered: Mar 1999
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Last year's had a third of the world's population on top of buildings, with the aliens threatening to make everyone jump off.
This year's wasn't too bad. I felt it dragged a little in places and certain parts didn't make sense(the first taxi they took at the beginning could've been paid at the Church, but instead they got out). Catherine Tate was annoying, and indeed loud mouthed, as usual. She even said some of her catchphrases. Still, it wasn't terrible. And it was nice to see some new Dr.Who.
posted
I was waiting to re-watch the special with friends at a party last night to write this. Incidentally, I had totally forgotten that "Runaway Bride" is a Richard Gere / Julia Roberts movie. Ironically, it's playing on TBS as I type this.
It was fun, it was overacted, it was basically a Doctor Who pantomime - and as I understand it, that was the whole point. In the grand scale of things, the Doctor was put through the emotional meat grinder with the loss of Rose, so what both he and the audience needed was a lightweight comedy episode to get everyone over her. I liked it, and although the best part for me WAS the third series preview, I hardly regret sitting there for the hour.
-The TARDIS gets a real workout here, being shown in actual FLIGHT more than ever before. Typically when in "flight", she's in the Vortex, and then materializes wherever she ends up. Here (and last season) we see her flying, spinning and interating with more physical objects than ever. In fact, in the entire original series I can only really think of two instances when she's in flight and interacting with other ships: the Sentinel Six defence satelite in "warriors of the Deep", and with a bus-shaped space cruiser in "Delta and the Bannermen". Oh, and Peri was really scared of them smashing into a comet in "Attack of the Cybermen" for some reason.
-Anyway, wheneverwe saw the TARDIS from outside in this episode, she's spinning. But whenever the door is opened, she's stationary. Only once do I think the Doctor meant for it to happen (when recuing Donna in the very cool car chase scene). Otherwise, does the TARDIS herself sense someone's headed for the door, and she stops?
-The opening dialogue between the Doctor and Donna was reshot, apparently to sync with the lighting and slight hair changes in this episode. That, or the Doctor would need to inexplicably turn on the lights in the console room during the opening credits.
-The Santa masks were better last year, but last year they didn't have to conceal robot masks underneath. Overall though, the masks were less conspicuous this time because they looked plasticky and face instead of metal clockwork. And how to the robots go from spiffy concealed weapons in their brass instruments, to standard G36 rifles they apparently stole from the British military?
-Despite his apparently transcendental pockets, this Doctor does not carry money. The seventh doctor did have a change purse, but otherwise he's typically without currency. The third Doctor must have carried money on him during his exile...
-They really didn't make much of an effort in concealing the fact that they were shooting this show in July. The daytime scenes looked especially summerlike, where most shows would turn the colour saturation down to make it look a little cooler. Also, the trees in the chase scene and elsewhere were really uncooperative. Really! How dare they maintain their leafy foilage when shooting a show like Doctor Who!
-And then, there's the utter lack of snow until the end. I've never been to London, but can I assume that snow in December is pretty rare? How aobut rain or fog? I'm a Canadian bumpkin here, and my whole province (into which most of the UK can fit, I might add) is currently covered in snow.
-Henrik's is the store chain where Rose used to work. I take it that it's a fictional chain..?
-Torchwood just won't go away! Strange too that we get more information on the "main" branch of Torchwood than the main show itself. Also strange that this leftoer remenant of the organization still looks less dilapitated and cleaner than the office where Jack and company hang out. And how would those guys react to the inevitable report of ANOTHER spaceship hanging over London, and one that's using their stuff, no less? Isn't ANYONE from Torchwood still in London?
-I'm wondering if the Racnoss ship concealed at the centre of the Earth contradicts any of the other wierd stuff buried on the planet... Mind you, the Doctor has not been that far back in Earth's history before. He's been close, when he helped precipitate the start of human life on Earth in "City of Death", but he's not seen the CREATION of the planet yet. Now he's seen both ends of the life of his favorite place...
-But, unlike what he aid in dialogue, he HAS been this far back before - further, in fact. He was at the creation of the Milky Way at Event One in "Castrovalva", from which he escaped by jettisoning a quarter of his ship. Despite the questionable histroy of the creation of the galaxy by a massive "in-rush of hydrogen", he's basically been back to 13.6 billion years ago, which is about nine billion years before the creation of the solar system and Earth.
-In the wide shots of the final scene, you can see the snow blowing in from the side.
On another note, both the Christmas concert and Confidential special covering it were great. Kudos to the producers for taking the property some pretty interesing places! Too bad that the season's fun has been somewhat tainted with a stronger-than-usual rumour source that Tennant will be leaving halfway through series four to allegedly pursue his film career, for which he's allegedly being bombarded with offers. True or not, it sucks to be reading about this while watching Tennant having a genuinely good time at the concert. I was hoping that David would want at least four years, not two and a half. Stoopid Sun newspaper. Stoopid everything.
Matk
PS Next up, the Torchwood series finale double bill! And right after that, the premiere of the Sarah Jane Adventures!
quote:-And then, there's the utter lack of snow until the end.
2006 was the warmest year in 300 years. Even the Alps don't have much snow this winter.
One scene I particularly liked in this episode was the Doctor pouring down fire, water and general destruction down onto the Racnoss. I love it when the Doctor can forget compassion when there's no Companion around to nag him, and I've missed that 'dark side' of the Doctor in Tennant a bit, to be honest.
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Watched it just then. I enjoyed it. A Harmless bit of fun. Good makeup, good effects. I don't know this Catherine Tate woman - she didn't seem THAT bad - her character was supposed to be obnoxious, so why are people complaining about her being obnoxious.
I read where this was the first mention of "Gallifrey" on the New Doctor! WOOO!!
I'm sorry - Wha? David Tennet LEAVING? This is stupid. When do these people realise they don't have film careers after being in Doctor Who or Sci Fi for that matter. GIVE IT UP PEOPLE! I mean wtf is Billie Piper doing now? I also read where Christopher Eccleston is now doing a US tv show. WTF?
-------------------- "Bears. Beets. Battlestar Galactica." - Jim Halpert. (The Office)
quote:Originally posted by AndrewR: When do these people realise they don't have film careers after being in Doctor Who or Sci Fi for that matter.
The thing is, though, Tennant apparently does have a future after sci fi judging by the amount of film offers he's apparently getting. He's not like a lot of the other actors who's only major role has been on Dr. Who (before Dr. Who Chris Eccleston made a career doing guest-parts & minor roles, and has gone back to where he started!)...David can actually act, and has other serious roles under his belt already. He's less likely to be type-cast.
Registered: Jul 2006
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Andrew, Christopher Eccleston isn't doing any old American TV show, he's doing "Heroes", which is a runaway hit.
Meanwhile, Billie Piper has been filming a BBC period drama of some sort.
I'm disappointed about Tennant leaving too, but I don't think you can paint all Dr.Who actors with the same brush and say none of them can have big acting parts after the show.
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