Doctor Who – Planet Of The Dead (2009/BBC Blu-ray)
Picture:
B Sound: B Extras: C+ Telefilm Episode: B-
When Doctor Who finally played itself out in
1989, The BBC gave it a rest, then decided to try to revive the character in
1996 with Paul McGann playing The Doctor in a telefilm that did not relaunch
the show, despite some interesting aspects to it. Now all know that David Tennant (after
Christopher Eccleston started the relaunch as The Doctor) brought the character
back when the show was revived in 2005 and now that he is leaving the role, he
delivers one of his last performances in what is the first-ever High Definition
production of the show in Planet Of The
Dead (2009).
While the
hit spin-off Torchwood (reviewed
elsewhere on this site) has always been an HD production, this is The Doctor’s
HD debut and BBC Home Video has issued the telefilm in a solid new Blu-ray
release. After a heist Who interrupts, U.N.I.T.
is on high alert and that is good, because a new set of alien invaders are there
to sneak attack London and do what they have to do to take over. That leaves The Doctor and Lady Christina
(Michelle Ryan) scrambling to figure out what is happening and stop the
invasion.
I have
not been a big fans of the Who
revival, but of what I have seen of the newer shows, this is one of the better
efforts, despite its derivative nature.
Tenant became better in the role as he moved along and has probably done
as much as he could. This is preparation
for Matt Smith to eventually step into the role and with HD, the producers are
adding new punch to the show. Whether it
will be as exciting as the older show remains to be seen, but the series needs
to be an innovator, not follower and though it should retain its comic side,
needs to be darker like Sapphire &
Steel was and come up with the most exciting stories since Baker’s
peak. We’ll see where this leads. As a Blu-ray, it is very much worth your
time.
The 1080i
1.78 X 1 digital High Definition image may have some motion blur here and
there, but it is one of the best-looking TV series we have seen on Blu-ray to
date in its consistency and fullness.
Color is also pretty good and not gutted out, though it can be stylized. Ironically, early pre-Tom Baker shows had
outdoor footage shot in 16mm, which could have been shown in HD if the BBC had
not lost most to all of that footage.
The DTS-HD Master Audio (MA) lossless 5.1 mix is also rich and full
throughout with some of the best sound mixing for a genre TV show on either
side of the Atlantic, one I originally reported as PCM 5.1 in error due to a
receiver issue, but it did not affect my rating when I caught the problem. The only extra is an hour-long Doctor
Who Confidential about the making of this program, which should be seen
after watching the feature.
- Nicholas Sheffo
