We watched the Paul Vanezis 1995 enhanced edit.
Terrance Dicks script is a masterpiece of structure (split 'em up into two handers and have 'em all meet up at the end) overlaid by the JNT Saward touch of crappy production.
Burdened with 5 Doctors (the most popular of which refuses to join in and one of whom is dead), 19 companions (I think), Bessie, the Timelords, the Master and every DW monster you can remember the fact that there's any plot at all and it makes any sense is a goddamn miracle.
You can criticize the continuity all you want but the story as presented is a watchable tour of the tropes of DW's first 20 years. Crucially it ends with an acknowledgement of the history but a nod to the fact that the present and the future are the focus.
ABM Rating 3.30/4.00
LJM Rating 4.27/5.00
SPJ Rating 9.05/10
No. 30 (out of 129)
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From Quickflix
ReplyDeleteThis version was the first DW dvd that was released in 2000 and contains the updated cut of this story made in 1994 for video release. Producer John Nathan Turner wrote in his memoirs that he strongly disapproved of this version. If it's not quite as you remember it from 1983 then this reason might be why. The new dvd releassed in 2008 contains both the classic version and and even more updated version along with a MUCH better array of extras and commentaries.