Doctor Who

The ever-so-British "Doctor Who" first hit black and white TV screens (at tea-time) across the UK in 1963. Dr Who is now probably the most definitive of all cult TV series world-wide ... along with Star Trek.
In 2005, with original theme-tune still mostly intact, the BBC resurrected the Time Lord from Gallifrey in an attempt to appeal to a new generation of viewers. Brilliantly cast and written as the new series is, it seems to be appealing far more to retrospective grown-ups in huge numbers (old fans) rather than attracting its intended fresh, young audience. No surprise there really. However, what makes this new Doctor Who really stand out from its previous generations is the sheer quality of the scripts. Generally penned by the acclaimed Russell T. Davies ("Bob and Rose", "Queer as Folk") and a posse of new-wave writers, it's the intelligently paced and sometimes very creepy plots versus humour and humanity that are so well delivered, with no hint of tacky, melodramatic embellishment. Sci-fi frolics are cleverly balanced with choice comedy moments and an emotionally charged characterization often found weaving though each episode, which gives more insight into the Doctor and Rose's personal backgrounds.
The choice of the two main actors paired in the first series will probably never be surpassed in any future Dr Who. The new Doctor in the first 2005 season was latest ladies heartthrob Christopher Ecclestone, who rose to fame in the TV mini-series "Second Coming" and "Jude". The Doctor's "human" sidekick, Rose instantly turned out to be a surprise hit. Former pop-singer Billie Piper is a newcomer to drama, but from the very first episode she has instantly rocketed (so to speak) to "IT" girl status of TV and movie entertainment for the long foreseeable future.
The intrepid Piper is brilliant, and the extraordinary chemistry between these two partners in police-box-time-travelling-shenanigans seemed to present itself as nature (sci-fi style) fully intended; finally humanizing the part of Doctor Who when no previous incarnation ever really had. The bubbly, sure-footed Piper plays close-up to the camera with pouting perfection and pure, down-to-earth sincerity; and with this she triggers off all the appropriate feel-good, heart-wrenching emotions that viewers love (and Dads of the programme's intended younger audience stifle a longing sigh). Along with just the right look and acting ingredients required to attract even Hollywood, Billie Piper has the world - in 2005 AD - as her time-travelling oyster. Over the years that Dr Who had been off the air, much had changed in the world of TV Sci-fi / fantasy. In America a new cool-teen shlock-horror phenomena called "Buffy The Vampire Slayer" had emerged, producing brilliantly scripted and sharp-witted drama, and with stylish effects and great soundtracks Buffy represented the right ingredients necessary to capture a new generation otherwise easily bored by slow-moving, predictable story-lines and dull (I can see the join) special effects. Dr Who had a lot to live up to.
Up to a point the BBC may have realized the necessity to follow Buffy's winning formula in so far as bringing a more humanized feel to Dr Who's unfeasable plots, and to embrace the power and independence of the female role. But there is one thing that the Americans can never achieve looking out from their sterilized window of the world, and that is the tactile earthiness achieved in many UK productions. The UK may not have the production budgets of the US to create such lush sets and special effects, but what Dr Who may not achieve so lavishly in those areas, it makes up for in the soulful realism of its characters and subtle flurries of irony laced throughout its script. (The kind that the Americans just don't get)
The quintessential Doctor Who and Co is a national institution ... and the Brits will always hold on to that cozy thought ... for better or worse.
Que theme tune .... "Oooweeeeoooo ..."

Doctor Who
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Dead Like Me
(2003-2004)
USA
UK
Canada

See also Cult Digital's short review of Dead Like Me

Doctor Who
(new series 2005)
USA
UK
Canada

See also Cult Digital's short review of Doctor Who top of this page.

The Prisoner
(1967-1968)
USA
UK
Canada

Best Screen Adaptations of Alice in Wonderland

Lightly brushing the genre of 60's psychedelia, the 1966 BBC production by Jonathan Miller still remains one of two of the most original, mind-stretching adaptations of Lewis Carroll's book ... The other being Jan Svankmajer’s ‘Alice’ (Neco z Alenky) from 1988 - an outstanding, if not slightly gruesome part-animated version of the logical versus the illogical.
If you are more comfortable with the Disney's reworking of Carroll's surreal masterpiece, then Miller's or Swankmajer's eerie / dreamlike visions of wonderland may not be for you.
Both these DVD's are highly recommended by Looking-Glass Cult Digital.

Jonathan Miller's Alice in Wonderland
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Jan Svankmajer’s Alice
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Double Five Star Recommendations
(Region 1 + 2)

Bagpuss

At Amazon ...
UK
Canada

The Clangers

At Amazon ...
UK
Canada

Camberwick Green, Trumpton and Chigley

At Amazon ...
UK

Roobarb and Custard

At Amazon ...
UK

Muppets

At Amazon ...
USA
UK
Canada

Mr Benn

At Amazon ...
UK

Mr Men and Little Miss

At Amazon ...
UK

Wallace and Gromit

At Amazon ...
USA
UK
Canada

Harry Potter

At Amazon ...
USA
UK
Canada

Creature Comforts

At Amazon ...
USA
UK
Canada

The Gerry Anderson mini-shop

Here you'll find the most popular of Gerry Anderson's classic TV Series in chronological order...

Supercar (1961)
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Fireball XL5 (1962)
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Stingray (1963)
Amazon USA
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Amazon Canada

Thunderbirds (1964-66)
Amazon USA
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Captain Scarlet And The Mysterons (1967)
Amazon USA
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Joe 90 (1967/8)
Amazon USA
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Amazon Canada

UFO (1969/70)
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Space 1999 (1973/76)
Amazon USA
Amazon UK
Amazon Canada

Landmarks of Early Film Volumes One and Two

Volume One archives nearly every important film from the beginning of early cinematography. This includes Edison Kinestoscope films (1894-96), films by the brothers Lumière (1895-97) and the magical movies of French special effects pioneer Georges Méliès.

Volume Two covers George Melies in more detail. Melies was the pioneer of film special effects many years before the term was coined. Audiences of the new medium of cinema were witnessing spectacular film illusions that seemed like pure magic to them but what we now realise as simple film and theatrical trickery.
Apart from 15 of his films included in Vol Two, there is also a documentary "Georges Melies: Cinema Magician". His most famous film "A Trip to The Moon" can be found on Volume One of this collection.

The two volumes together make up almost four hours, providing a fascinating study of the pioneering days of cinema.

Note: Only Available through Amazon USA & Canada (Region 1 DVD)

USA
Landmarks of Early Film Vol. One
Landmarks of Early Film Vol.Two

CANADA
Landmarks of Early Film Vol. One
Landmarks of Early Film Vol.Two

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Home Theatre Surround Systems at Amazon USA

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