The Home Of Weird And Ignorance

Review: 4th Doctor Adventures 1.01 - Destination Nerva

2012-01-24T10:47:00.000-08:00

Why Briggs? Why?

Fourth Doctor and Leela

Cast:

Fourth Doctor - Tom Baker
Leela - Louise Jameson
Dr. Alison Foster - Raquel Cassidy
McMullan/Pilot - Sam Graham
Laura Craske - Tilly Gaunt
Giles Moreau/Jenkins - Tim Bentinck
Jim Hooley/Drelleran 1/Security Guard - Kim Wall
Lord Jack/Drudgers/Drelleran 2 - Tim Treloar

Synopsis:

"After saying their goodbyes to Professor Litefoot and Henry Gordon Jago, the Doctor and Leela respond to an alien distress call beamed direct from Victorian England. It is the beginning of a journey that will take them to the newly built Space Dock Nerva… where a long overdue homecoming is expected.

A homecoming that could bring about the end of the human race."

Review:

Ah, Tom Baker has arrived at Big Finish. Shame that his first story was a bit of a let down. It was a very slow start with not much happening for a while, and when the pace did pick up, everyone was running about not knowing what was happening. Which is a sentiment i shared with the characters. People were doing stuff, there was plenty of action, but there was no story progression of any sort till very near the end then everything got wrapped up in the blink of an eye just as it started getting interesting. By the end of part two I was looking forward to another two parts but obviously, two parts is all we get.

There were parts of the story that i really liked and had that touch of Briggs, especially towards the end, but for the most part was too dragged out and slow. Nicholas Briggs has wrote his first story that I didn't really care for. I don't know what to believe anymore.

Other than my gripes about the storyline, Tom Baker was okay and Louise Jameson was great as usual. Overall it was enjoyable but I expected much more.

Score:

0/7 - Non-existant
1/7 - As bad as you can get
2/7 - Poor
3/7 - Quite poor / too many poor points / didn't like it
~~3.5/7 - Neither good nor bad / undecided~~
4/7 - Quite good / plenty of good points / liked it
5/7 - Good
6/7 - As good as you can get
7/7 - Impossible perfection

Written by: Nicholas Briggs
Directed by: Nicholas Briggs
Produced by: Big Finish
Released: 31 January 2012

Doctor Who Special: The Five Companions

2012-01-13T10:42:00.000-08:00

Ian Chesterton meets The Doctor and Other Companions

Fifth Doctor, Ian, Steven, Polly, Nyssa, & Sara Kingdom

Cast:

Fifth Doctor - Peter Davison
Ian Chesterton - William Russell
Steven Taylor - Peter Purves
Sara Kingdom - Jean Marsh
Polly Wright - Anneke Wills
Nyssa - Sarah Sutton
The Daleks - Nicholas Briggs
Sontarans - Dan Starkey

Synopsis:

"Inside a cluster of fused-together derelict spaceships, four of the Doctor's oldest friends - and one of his newest ones - are lost and confused. They don't know how they got there or what they're meant to be doing - but as the place is infested with Daleks, Sontarans and dinosaurs, their first priority is staying alive.
To their collective relief, the Doctor turns up and has a reasonable idea of what's going on. If the six of them work together, they can escape this place and get home. But, unexpectedly, others may be working together to ensure they all die here..."

Review:

I enjoyed this, but not so much because of the story. The story had plenty of action with The Daleks facing off against the Sontarans, a few dinosaurs thrown in too, and The Doctor and his companions trying to escape the situation. It was a good fun story I guess but not exactly going to win awards or make you think or anything. The best part about this audio was having the five companions and The Doctor meet and interact with each other throughout the story. I did like the return of Dwarf Star Alloy and the performances from Nicholas Briggs and Dan Starkey were good as the Daleks and Sontarans respectively. There's a nice moment where The Doctor's talking to Polly about the times they travelled together

So, the story is fun, but the real treat here is The Doctor catching up with the companions and the companions w--king together. The storyline itself wraps up rather poorly but that can forgiven.

And of course, Ian was the star of the show here, and The Doctor practically said it himself. Four regenerations on and he still recogninses Ian as the awesomeness that he is.

Score:

0/7 - Non-existant
1/7 - As bad as you can get
2/7 - Poor
3/7 - Quite poor / too many poor points / didn't like it
~~3.5/7 - Neither good nor bad / undecided~~
4/7 - Quite good / plenty of good points / liked it
5/7 - Good
6/7 - As good as you can get
7/7 - Impossible perfection

Written by: Eddie Robson
Produced by: Big Finish
Directed by: Ken Bentley
Released: December 2011

REVIEW: Doctor Who The Companion Chronicles 6.05 - The First Wave

2011-12-17T07:23:00.000-08:00

Original Post - Wandering In The Fourth Dimension

What does a Vardan need with a spaceship?

Steven and Oliver

Cast:

Steven Taylor - Peter Purves
Oliver Harper - Tom Allen
The Vardans - Lisa Bowerman

Synopsis:

"Caught in the inevitable path of its own history, the TARDIS arrives on the planetoid Grace Alone, where the Doctor, Steven and Oliver expect to face their fate. What they don’t expect to find is a massacred crew – and a race of alien invaders known as the Vardans."

Review:

This episode plays off the fact that the radio signals we've been creating for years are getting sent out into space and still travelling. An alien species picks up the signals and comes to our solar system. We pick up the story with Steven and (new companion created for the audio series) Oliver trying to survive this alien attack, stranded on an mining colony, and with The Doctor dead.

The first part is good and concentrates most on Steven reflecting on the past whilst trying to survive the alien attack with Oliver with occsional flashbacks that set up the story to the point we're at now. The story itself is pretty simple, but also an interesting one and slightly unexpected in places, and leaves enough of the plot to focus on Steven's reflections which is really well done.

A bit more happens in the second part with some nice twists and a good conclusion to the story and triology. In all, it's a really good sentimental story with a great musical arrangement to compliment it.

Score:

0/7 - Non-existant
1/7 - As bad as you can get
2/7 - Poor
3/7 - Quite poor / too many poor points / didn't like it
~~3.5/7 - Neither good nor bad / undecided~~
4/7 - Quite good / plenty of good points / liked it
5/7 - Good
6/7 - As good as you can get
7/7 - Impossible perfection

Written by: Simon Guerrier
Directed by: Lisa Bowerman
Produced by: Big Finish
Released: 8th November 2011

National Novel Writing Month

2011-11-30T09:50:00.000-08:00

Before NaNoWrMo finishes, I'll take the opportunity to finish all my outstanding scripts. So here we go:-

Bubbles Great Adventure: Bubbles Gets Lost In Space 2.8

BUBBLES:...

Obi Wan and Yoda are not paying attention to Bubbles and continue what they were doing.

OBI WAN: I’m thinking Lima.

YODA: Incorrect you are.

OBI WAN: What about….. Leg?

YODA: Wrong that is. More focus you must have.

Obi Wan puts his hands on his head and concentrates.

OBI WAN: I…. I see…. I see a Locust.

YODA: Negative my friend. Almost here it is. Of time you are running out.

Just then lightning strikes in the distance.

OBI WAN: Damn, Lightning. Okay my turn. I spy with my future eye, something beginning with….. ooohh, this is a good one…. something begging with N.

Yoda closes his eyes for a moment and it starts getting a little windy.

YODA: Newspaper.

OBI WAN: Damn it. You’re just too good at this.

BUBBLES: What? What is this you’re doing?

YODA: Game of future eye spy we are playing.

OBI WAN: You have to name something that you can’t see now but will in the very near future, and the other has to try and guess what it is before they see it.

BUBBLES: But how do you know what you’ll see in the future….

YODA: Your laces untied they are, Bubbles.

Bubbles bends down to tie up his laces just as a newspaper in the wind flies over Bubbles and smacks Obi Wan in the face. Bubbles arises again and sees Obi Wan with a newspaper wrapped around his head.

BUBBLES: …. if it hasn’t…. happened yet?.... okaaayyyy.

Obi Wan removes the newspaper from his face and throws it on the ground while Yoda laughs.

OBI WAN: Yes, very funny. Now Bubbles, have we learnt anything more from your journey yet?

BUBBLES: Nothing that I didn’t already know, that Nikelface is annoying. Why won’t you just tell me what it is?

YODA: Learn the lessons yourself you must, lest with meaning they be without.

OBI WAN: Let us show you another event from your past. Hopefully things will start to become more clear to you.

Then Bubbles wakes up.
Then he dies.

_________________________________________

Previously in Journeyman

Dan can travel into the past. He can't control when he does or where and when he travels to. All he knows he travels to key moments in peoples lives in order to lead them in a different direction and right wrongs. The reason behind this is unknown. Only his wife Katie and his brother Jack know about this. During his trips to the past, he occasionally bumps into his ex who also travels through time.

Previously In Dead Like Me

George was killed by a falling toilet and now finds herself living in another body as a reaper for Rube procuring souls from people before they die so they can pass on to the afterlife. Rube has a few reapers which he by directs to the souls with little yellow post it notes that have the time, location, and surname of the soon to be deceased.

JOURNEY LIKE ME - EPISODE 6

PREVIOUSLY: Back in the past, Dan has twice encountered the Thompsons - a very anti social couple - and their child but only seemed to make them withdraw further. Livia was too late to help Dan. Back in the present, his friend is socially raped - a term Dan isn't familiar with.

Dan is at work at his computer. His boss approaches and looks at his screen.

BOSS: History of social raping huh? Another up to the minute piece you're working on there Dan?

DAN: ...huh, oh yeah. A friend was, what they say, Nicked? Yesterday.

BOSS: I can't believe this still happens. People like that should be locked up. Thinking they can impose themselves on other people having a good time just because they don't have any friends. There's a reason they don't have friends. No one wants you around, you socially inept idiot.

Then Dan wakes up.

Then he dies.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Social Defiance And Its Implications

SCENE: Dave is in the toilet having a piss in a cubicle. There is the feint buzz of chatter coming from the bar. Two blokes eventually walk in and go to the urinals. Dave evesdrops.

BLOKE 1: Man, I'm so going to buy you the drinks for the rest of the night for that speech.

BLOKE 2: Thanks John, It was a good one wasn't it?

JOHN: Truly inspired. Completey deserved the best toast of the night prize. "Here's to spending the rest of me life, between the legs of me wife!" You crack me up sometimes Reilly.

REILLY: I'l have to come up with something good when I get back to the wife though. I'm going to be hammered tonight.

JOHN: Yeagh, whether it's celebrating the feetball win or drowning sorrows eh?

REILLY: Aye, it's a do or die game this 'un.

JOHN: Hope those Chelsea c-unts get hammered for six.

Dave hears them both zip up but doesn't notice the buzz from the bar has gone. The two gents head out.

REILLY: Not likely but that would be ace.

JOHN: Aye.

The doors open and close as they leave. Dave finishes up and heads out. He opens the door and steps out, bumping into John and Reilly who are stood in the doorway.

DAVE: Whoa, 'scuse me. What're......

Dave then looks out to the rest of the pub. There is nobody in the bar and a few headless bodies on the floor with blood all over the place.

Then Dave dies.

__________________________________________________________________________

THE SOBER CHRONICLES - CHAPTER 22 - EMPYREAN SOLAR FLARE SUMMER ALE

(NOTE: This chapter takes place concurrently with the events in

The Jesus Chronicles - Chapter 22

Five minutes ago in a country on the other side of the planet.

"What's that in the sky?" Asked Robert.

"I think I read something about this in the paper this morning. It's a supersun." Replied Steve.

"What's a supersun?" Enquired Albert.

"Well, like the normal sun, it's glowing. But because it's getting bigger, they're calling it super." Answered Steve.

Robert holds his hands to his eyes and looks up to the supersun.

"Apparently, astronomers are predicting the arrival of this supersun will cause tsunamis or something. Load of superstitious nonsense if you ask me." Continued Steve.

Looking slightly panicked, Robert says "you know what? I don't think it is getting bigger."

"Of course it is, look." Laughs Albert.

"I see it appears that way, but that's because whatever it is, it's getting closer, and it looks big, and if.... when that hits the earth, well...." says Steve.

"...well what?" Asks Albert.

"...well, when I say run. Run." Replies Steve.

"RUN!" adds Steve.

And they all run.

But they all die.

Uncharted 3

2011-11-18T09:24:00.001-08:00

Finished Uncharted 3, loved it. I've seen a few people complain about the aiming and behaviour of guns - I didn't find it any different to the previous games. I had one friend who complained about the changes to combat mechanics meant he constantly died random deaths as he got shot from behind and want quick enough to retaliate. Having played it, yes the combat had changed and enemies now sneak up behind you if they can, but three problem here was more his inability to adapt his playing style. Once I saw early on the changes in behaviour, my tactics were alerted accordingly and I didn't have any problems for the rest of the game. Nate was fully capable of coping other than occasionally bring overwhelmed by volume of enemies. There were some great action sequences as usual, the only downside over 2 in my opinion was that the environments of some scenes weren't as fun to play in due to the layout and it seemed like there were less puzzles to me, or less involved puzzles, not as memorable. The story in this one and support characters were superb though.

Human Centipede 2 - The Full Sequence

2011-11-15T07:59:00.000-08:00

Watched Human Centipede 2. The first one had some merit, it was actually a pretty decent suspense horror to stay with until the end where it turned into lame torture porn, terrible dialogue and performances aside. The second one had nothing redeeming about it. Any and all character development or exploration was out of the window and it is simply a bloke gone mad and tries to emulate the first film with more victims. There is nothing more to it. The first one maybe worth watching, this one not at all.

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: The Magic Of Reality: How We Know What's Really True

2011-11-09T11:05:00.000-08:00

This science book is a little different to most, in that it's aimed at children primarily and each chapter is set out by starting with a collection of myths from around the world to explain things from the movement of the sun, the creation of the world, and why bad things happen. It then explains the beauty of the scientific explanations of the myths, all accompanied by helpful drawings. Unlike Dawkins' previous books, this is purely a scientific book and not an attack at religion at any point.

Before I start, the version of the book I listened to (there's a clue) was the audiobook as opposed to the illustrated book. Now, for the most part this wasn't a hinderance in any way. The scientific processes were described with enough clarity that the illustrations weren't necessary. However, there were a couple of times where I thought that a child would benefit from the visual representations if not familiar with many scientific principles.

This is billed as a science book for children, and he does a good job of making the science pretty accessible, but it's not too simplified and there's plenty for all ages who are interested in science. People who are particularly adept may not actually learn anything new about science, but there's still other information of interest here besides science, including many myths and superstitions from the past, and the most important bit, common misconceptions about statistics which pervade to most adults even today. Ultimately, this is a great introductory book to science for anyone interested in the subject and a good read if you already are conversant.

Where this book does fall down is on it's main aim - highlighting the beauty of reality as told scientifically, opposed to the vague explantions of myths and religion. There is only one section - about light and rainbows - where he really does seem to get across just how beautiful it is in the eyes of science. The other chapters just read like an explanation of the science and you're to infer how beautiful it is. It doesn't seem to be told with the same enthusiasm which is a shame.

The best thing about this though, is being taught science by the President of Gallifrey.

Score:

0/7 - Non-existant
1/7 - As bad as you can get
2/7 - Poor
3/7 - Quite poor / too many poor points / didn't like it
~~3.5/7 - Neither good nor bad / undecided~~
4/7 - Quite good / plenty of good points / liked it
5/7 - Good
6/7 - As good as you can get
7/7 - Impossible perfection

Author: Richard Dawkins
Narration: Richard Dawkins and Lalla Ward

Publisher: Bantam Press (UK) / Free Press (US)
Released: 15 September 2011 (UK) / 4 October 2011 (US)
Formats: Book, Audio, iPad

This Time I'm Right - Star Trek Edition

2011-10-16T06:38:00.000-07:00

This movie makes me sentimental for a period of Star Trek I couldn't give a shit about - not that I don't care for the franchise or anything, DS9 is one of the best serials around - just I never really liked the original crew's adventures. Maybe sentimental's the wrong word - more respect. Not just for the characters and how good the new actors are, but also how well written they are. Each character had an interesting inroduction or part in the story.

Beyond that, the whole thing is just so well written and it's not just a reboot or retelling, it actually continues the universe from where other movies left off. Not story-wise, but chronologically. That's what I love most, everything that we know has happeneding in the movies and series, has still happened, it is not wiped out of continuity. And we now also get to build a new continuity. Brilliant scripting.

I also like how a lot of it is explained with made up science and is consistent within its own universe, but they also explain it with, and use science, as we understand it and not just settle for technobabble and leave it.

But wait, towards the end, could this be a low point? Oh look, a giant drill fallling to Earth, heading towards a famous landmark to destroy, how typically boring... wait, it missed? No damage? Another reason why this movie is great.

Honestly, there is nothing in this movie I can have a go at. It's full of great action scenes and characters all the way through.

Read About Me Being Wrong About Things On The Internet - The Terra Nova Edition

2011-10-13T11:43:00.000-07:00

...beacuse Earth 2 wasn't enough damnit!, and other stories.

Earth has become inhospitable and depleted of resources, and the only way to save the human population is to start a new settlement somewhere. Unfortunately in the new settlement, there is a faction that infiltrated them with an alternate agenda. I enjoyed this show, but unfortunately Earth 2 was cancelled after a season. Now it's back with another name - Terra Nova. Anyway, on their way to the new settlement, a news report in the background explaining time travel mentions quantum mechanics before getting talked over so we can't hear the explanation. I thought we were going to get a detailed scientific explanation for a second. Are we not going to get an explanation? We do find out later though that a 'rift' in spacetime was discovered, a probe was sent in but was lost so they don't know where the other end ends up, but they assume it's another universe. Being a one-way trip and no way of knowing what's on the other side, they guess it's worth the risk and send people after people through for years. Just hoping everything is okay I guess. On the other side, thankfully everyone is okay and a colony has been set up on that Universe's Earth, 85 million years in the past. So, instead of the new settlement being on another Earth-like planet - it's on another Earth. Couldn't they have also got Rebecca Gayheart to come back too? Anyway, with the Second Law Of Thermodynamics still intact, I can now sit back and enjoy a story of how a wooden fence is enough to keep people away from Dinosaurs*.

Besides the attacks from Dinosaurs and kids sneaking off outside camp grounds to drink moonshine, there's also the infiltrators who know the real reason Terra Nova was formed - whoever controls the past (of an alternate universe Earth i presume), controls the future (of an alternate universe Earth i presume), and they draw cymbols and calculations in the earth just so we've something pretty to look at.

Not entirely too terrible, so I'll watch a few more epiosdes of ~~Earth 2~~ Terra Nova (seriously, is there a fucking difference?) and see if they actually do something that wasn't already done in 1994.

* I don't need The Second Law Of Thermodynamics to be intact to enjoy things.

Other things

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Read About Me Being Wrong About Things On The Internet - Star Trek Edition Part 1

2011-10-07T05:09:00.000-07:00

Like my previous Star Wars entry, I decided to watch the Star Trek movies again. The main reasons for this are that the Post Atomic Horror podcast are currently reviewing the movies so I'll know what they're talking about when I listen, and also it's been a good long while since I last watched them. My friends seem to like them and I thought it interesting to see how they hold up.

Firstly, I'm/they're only doing the first six movies - the Kirk ones. Also, because of my PCRA, I got the movies mixed up in my memory. Many scenes from [V] and [VI] I remembered as being from [I], [III] I thought was actually [II]. Anyway, onto the films themselves.

The Motion Picture, at least on BluRay, was very pretty. Whilst not downright terrible, it was rather slow.
The Wrath Of Khan, or the one everyone seems to rave about, seemed okay, but I thought the third one was slightly better. Although both struggled to hold my interest.
The Voyage Home is the one I remember most clearly, but then again, how am I even going to confuse that storyline with any other? Also, the best movie so far.
Why The Final Frontier even exists, I don't know.
The Undiscovered Country is more like it. This one felt like it was deserving of being a movie to me. Had more of what I expect from a movie than the others and was all round more entertaining.

I think I'd be more inclined to watch these again than I would Star Wars again.

DW 152 - House Of Blue Fire Review

2011-09-27T06:24:00.000-07:00

Just reviewed the following over at Wandering In The Fourth Dimension

Seventh Doctor

Cast:

The Doctor - Sylvester McCoy
Dr Magnus Soames - Timothy West
No 18 - Amy Pemberton
No 5 - Miranda Keeling
No 16 - Ray Emmet Brown
No 12 - Howard Gossington
Eve Pritchard/Mi'en Kalarash - Lizzy Watts

Synopsis:

"aquaphobia n. An abnormal fear of water, or drowning.

blattodephobia n. The morbid fear of cockroaches.

catoptrophobia n. Fear of mirrors, or seeing one’s own reflection.

There’s a whole ABC of horrors at Bluefire House – as four young people, drawn together to this tumbledown hotel at the edge of nowhere, are about to discover. But whatever the ancient and foul thing that has emerged from the wilderness to drag them here, speaking of it will only strengthen it.

The Doctor alone knows what lurks at the heart of Bluefire House. But the monster of his childhood dreams is coming. The Mi’en Kalarash is coming…

Just this once, the Doctor’s afraid."

Click here to read the review over at my new b--g - Wandering In The Fourth Dimension

Read About Me Being Wrong About Things On The Internet - Star Wars Edition

2011-09-26T07:53:00.000-07:00

So yeagh, I've just recently watched the all new super improved Blu Ray version of the Star Wars films. The last time I watched 1, 2, and 3 were when they were released and 4, 5, and 6 just prior to that. I've never really been a fan of the films either. I remember thinking them being entertaining enough but nothing great. I also remember enjoying Phantom Menace too and wondering why everyone seemed to hate it. Anyway, the shiny new versions come out so I thought I'd revisit them and see what I think in comparison. This isn't an in depth review or anything either but in general, taking the Prequel Trilogy (Phantom to Revenge), they get better with each successive movie. Phantom was nowhere near as entertaining as I remember it to be and there's the occasional good moments in the films but I think I can say I'd be quite happy to not watch any of them again. I gather a lot of people aren't that impressed with these either... or maybe they are. I don't know, I don't really care.

As for the Original Trilogy, again, I remember enjoying them more when I was younger and while there were some good scenes, I was more bored than entertained. I'd say they're the better Trilogy though. As for which one is the better movie, I'm going to have to go with 4, just seemed to have more to it than the others for me. Then as for Empire and Jedi, well, that's a close call and I find it hard to seperate them. But if pushed, I think I'd fall on the side of Jedi, though that could just be spite, which is a perfectly valid selection method anyway.

So there you have it, another person on the internet being wrong.

Next time I'll be taking a look at the Star Trek movies

REVIEW: Doctor Who 151 - Doomsday Quatrain

2011-09-22T10:32:00.000-07:00

New review posted over at Wandering In The Fourth Dimension for:-

CAST:

Seventh Doctor - Sylvester McCoy
Nostradamus/Conclave Leader - David Schofield
Brors/Captain of the Guard/Bernardo - John Banks
Garilund/Computer Voice - Caroline Keiff
Kren/Second Nuncio - Derek Carlyle
Larrett/Milo/First Nuncio - Nicholas Chambers

SYNOPSIS:

"When the river is gone, ships shall sail in the sky, monsters bring fire from the heavens. All will fall into a grey and endless sea, and Doomsday has come.
Florence, the sixteenth century. No one thought to pay much attention to the prophecies of the so-called seer Michel de Nostradame, otherwise known as Nostradamus. Until the canals of Venice dried. Until the soothsayer's sayings started coming true…
Because Master Nostradamus is right, in all respects. The end of the world is nigh. The ships are coming. The monsters are coming. The fire is coming. There's only one thing he didn’t see coming, in fact: the sudden apparition of a certain strange Doctor, in his even stranger TARDIS. Today, the Earth dies screaming. And all the Doctor can do is watch."

2011-09-16T11:53:00.000-07:00

I've put up a review of the below over at my new, Doctor Who only b--g - Wandering In The Fourth Dimension if anyone's interested.

Fourth Doctor and Mrs Wibbsey

CAST:

The Doctor - Tom Baker
Mrs Wibbsey - Susan Jameson
Father Gregory - Tom Baker
Tsar - Michael Jayston
Tsarina - Suzy Aitchison
Boolin - Simon Shepherd
Lucius - Sam Hoare
Server Robot / Rebel - Paul Chequer
Server Robot / Rebel - Grant Gillespie
Server Robot / Rebel - Gabriel Vick

Writer: Paul Magrs
Director: Kate Thomas
Publisher: AudioGO
Release Date: 8th September, 2011

Streamlining...

2011-09-14T10:26:00.000-07:00

I've decided to move all my Doctor Who related activity into a separate b--g. You can find the new b--g thusly:-

Travelling In The Fourth Dimension

REVIEW: Doctor Who 150 - Recorded Time And Other Stories

2011-09-01T10:01:00.000-07:00

Sixth Doctor and Peri

A collection of four short stories featuring the Sixth Doctor and Peri.

(why would you want to) click to read more >

REVIEW: Doctor Who Companion Chronicles 6.02 - The Rocket Men

2011-08-22T07:17:00.000-07:00

Ian Chesterton (and Vicky, Barbara, and The First Doctor)

Cast:

Ian Chesterton - William Russell
Ashman - Gus Brown

Synopsis:

The TARDIS has landed on Platform Five, a floating city in the sky of the planet Jobis, and for a time the Doctor, Ian, Barbara and Vicki get the chance to enjoy this idyllic place.

And then the Rocket Men arrive, led by the sadistic Ashman.

When the only other option to certain death is suicide, Ian Chesterton takes the gamble of his life…

Review:
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REVIEW: Doctor Who The Lost Stories 2.6 - Earth Aid

2011-08-18T06:23:00.000-07:00

Seventh Doctor & Ace ; and Raine

Cast:

Seventh Doctor - Sylvester McCoy
Raine Creevy - Beth Chalmers
Ace - Sophie Aldred
Victor Espinosa - Paterson Joseph
Shepstay - Nadine Marshall
Yanikov - Basher Savage
Lt Baraki - Ingrid Oliver
Metatraxi - John Banks
Grub - Alex Mallinson

Synopsis:

Welcome aboard the space vessel Vancouver. Its mission: to guard a vast shipment of grain from Earth to the planet Safenesthome. Its medical officer is called simply ‘The Doctor’, and he’s perhaps not all he seems.

When mysterious ships target the Vancouver, the Doctor is pushed to the limit. Meanwhile, there’s something nasty in the grain containers. And it’s not very happy...

Review:
(why would you want to) click to read more >

REVIEW: Doctor Who 149 - Robophobia

2011-08-03T06:25:00.000-07:00

Seventh Doctor

Cast:

The Doctor - Sylvester McCoy
Liv Chenka/Elicien - Nicola Walker
Farel - Toby Hadoke
Bas Pellico - William Hazell
Selerat - Nicholas Pegg
Cravnet - Dan Starkey
Tal Karus/SV10 - Matt Addis
Leebar/Computer Voice - John Dorney
Robots - Matt Addis, Nicholas Briggs, John Dorney, Toby Hadoke, Dan Starkey

Synopsis:

Nothing has ever been officially confirmed, but there is a rumour that on a Sandminer, bound for Kaldor City, the robots somehow turned homicidal and nearly wiped out the entire crew. Can that really be true?

The robot transport ship Lorelei has a cargo of over 157,000 robots on board, all deactivated. So even if there were any truth in the rumour of that massacre, there'd still be no danger. Surely, there wouldn't...

But then, the Doctor witnesses a murder.

(why would you want to) click to read more >

REVIEW: Doctor Who Companion Chronicles 6.01 - Tales From The Vault

2011-07-21T04:32:00.000-07:00

Steven, Zoe, Jo Grant, and Romana I

Cast:

Captain Ruth Matheson - Daphne Ashbrook
Warrant Officer Charlie Sato - Yee Jee Tso
Steven Taylor - Peter Purves
Zoe Heriot - Wendy Padbury
Jo Grant - Katy Manning
Romana - Mary Tamm

Synopsis:

Welcome to The Vault - jokingly known as 'The Museum of Terrors' - a high security establishment where UNIT keeps all of its alien artifacts.

New recruit Warrant Officer Charlie Sato is given a guided tour by Captain Ruth Matheson, and the archive reveals some dark secrets. An army jacket, a painting, crystal and a wax cylinder all hold a grave significance, and their stories are told by the Doctor's companions: Steven Taylor, Zoe Heriot, Jo Grant and Romana...

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REVIEW: Doctor Who Lost Stories 2.5: Animal

2011-07-20T04:33:00.000-07:00

Seveth Doctor, Ace, & Raine

Cast

Seventh Doctor - Sylvester McCoy
Ace - Sophie Aldred
Raine Creevy - Beth Chalmers
Winifred Bambera - Angela Bruce
Scobie - Anthony Lewis
Henrick/Metatraxi - John Banks
Willa - Dannielle Brent
Percy - Alex Mallinson
Juno - Clare Fraenkel

Synopsis

Margrave University in 2001, and Raine Creevy is enjoying her first trip into the future.

For the Doctor, there are mysteries to solve: what are the alien creatures imprisoned in the science labs? And what are the true motives of the student Scobie and his followers?

With enemies on all sides, the Doctor teams up with his old friend Brigadier Bambera and the forces of UNIT in a battle for the future of the whole world.

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REVIEW: Torchwood: The Lost Files 3 - The House Of The Dead

2011-07-15T06:10:00.000-07:00

CAST:

Captain Jack Harkness - John Barrowman
Gwen Cooper - Eve Myles
Ianto Jones - Gareth David-Lloyd
Mrs Wintergreen - Rosalind Ayres
Barry - Bradley Freegard
Mr Jones/Tony - John Francis Harries
Helen - Lucy Davis
Ness - Moira Quirk
Late Arrival - Shelley Rees

SYNPOSIS:

The brewery have called 'time' and it's the last night at The House of the Dead - the most haunted pub in Wales. Barry the barman has invited renowned psychic, Mrs Wintergreen, to hold a special seance to mark the occasion, and there's a big crowd hoping for the chance of seeing their deceased loved ones for one last time. But when Jack arrives on the scene, he's determined to stop them. Ianto is puzzled by Jack's behaviour, and Gwen is suspicious. Why is Jack acting so strangely? Then the ghosts start arriving - and all hell breaks loose.

WARNING: Review contains spoilers.
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Happy Birthday Jim

2011-07-14T08:20:00.000-07:00

BODYGUARD: Hey Jim. Bubbles tell me it's your Birthday man. He asked if The Queen and I could pass on a royal congratulations to yourself. She normally doesn't do requests like this for anyone, but Bubbles is an old...

THE QUEEN: Sod him. That Jim is dreamy. He makes one's crotch wet.

BODYGUARD: ...yes. Well... anyway, He asked if we could also sort out something special for you.

THE QUEEN: One does remember Bubbles remarking he once kept something special down in the dungeons.

BODYGUARD: That's brilliant ma'am. I was just going to offre him a knighthood or something, but lets see if Bubbles still has anything down there. Maybe some 40 year Oak aged Scotch Ale or something.

THE QUEEN: Excuse me Jim whilst we go take a look.

---shortly in the dungeon---

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REVIEW: Torchwood: The Lost Files 2 - Submission

2011-07-13T06:56:00.000-07:00

CAST:

Captain Jack Harkness - John Barrowman
Gwen Cooper - Eve Myles
Ianto Jones - Gareth David-Lloyd
Carlie Roberts - Erin Bennett
Sam Doyle - Angelo Tiffe
Captain Cudlow - John Francis Harries
Henry Goddard - John Lee

SYNPOSIS:

Torchwood are chasing aliens down the M4, when Jack accidentally blows a hole in the Severn Bridge, and the SUV hits the water. Whilst submerged John, Gwen and Ianto hear a strange noise, which, back at the Hub they realise is a cry for help. They track the cry to its source which turns out to be the deepest part of the Ocean - the Mariana Trench. Ianto rings old Torchwood flame, Carlie Roberts, who's an expert in marine geology, and Jack pulls strings with the US government to get them all on board the USS Calvin, an Arleigh Burke class destroyer, which is heading for the Trench. From there they board the Octopus Rock, the only submarine built to withstand the pressure at that depth, and follow the signal. But when the Submarine crashes, the team are left at the mercy of a hungry alien.
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REVIEW: Torchwood: The Lost Files 1 - The Devil And Miss Carew

2011-07-13T02:32:00.000-07:00

CAST

Captain Jack Harkness - John Barrowman
Gwen Cooper - Eve Myles
Ianto Jones - Gareth David-Lloyd
Rhys Williams - Kai Owen
Fitzroy - Martin Jarvis
Miss Carew - Juliet Mills
Sian - Hayley J Williams
Uncle Bryn - James Walsh
Old Lady - Shelley Rees

Set before Children Of Earth, this is a decent enough story but did however have its problems. There are moments where I can't decide whether it's really poor acting and you can tell they're just reading, or it's really poor character scripting and I can't imagine them saying it so it sounds fake. But in particular, I just don't think John Barrowman can act well for audio. Jack interacting with Ianto is particularly excruciating... couldn't Ianto have stayed dead? Or just not interact with Jack because at times Gareth David-Lloyd wasn't much better... and it wasn't like their characters actually contributed to the story. Thankfully, most of the story centered around Gwen.

Oh, the music and sound design was quite good, so there's that too.

Score: 4/7

Writer: Rupert Laight
Director: Kate McAll
Publisher: BBC
Released: 11th July 2011