Product Details

• Actors: William Hartnell, Patrick Troughton, Jon Pertwee, Tom Baker, Peter Davison
• Writers: Sydney Newman
• Format: Color, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: 20th Century Fox
• VHS Release Date: March 31, 1998
• Run Time: 90 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 630487250X
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #267,747 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Metaphoric Dr. Who (or is that Merlin?) against nuclear war, March 23, 2004

By 

Daniel J. Hamlow (Narita, Japan) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Doctor Who - Battlefield [VHS] (VHS Tape)

The Doctor as Merlin? Well, that's what he's called by Ancelyn ap Gwalchmai, Knight General of the Britons from an Earth where magic is more prevalent over technology. If the Doctor doesn't do something, the "Earth could be in the center of a war that doesn't belong in this dimension." That is a war fought between forces loyal to Arthur and those loyal to Morgaine of the Fay, Battle Queen of the S'Rax and her son Mordred.

Nearby, are two other parties who become involved in this war. The first is Peter Warmsley and Shou Yuing, archaeologists working on a dig sponsored by the Carbury Trust. Warmsley's a dedicated archaeologist, believing that "history has to be eased out of the Earth one painstaking layer at a time." After ten years, he has unearthed the scabbard belonging to Excalibur, but where is the sword?

The other party is UNIT, led by Brigadier Winifred Bambera, who is supervising a convoy carrying a nuclear missile. For the first time, we see UNIT for what it's supposed to be, as soldiers from Russia, Czech Republic, and France are seen. However, as the Russian Zbrigniev tells Bambera, "whenever this Doctor shows up, all hell breaks loose." And when the Doctor shows up at this time, Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart has to redon the uniform, take the baton and service issue revolver, and become reunited with his friend and former scientific advisor. Nicholas Courtney's (Lethbridge-Stewart) a familiar and welcome presence in Who, and this show succeeds mostly due to him.

As UNIT shows up, this does reinforce series continuity, as past monsters are mentioned, and a certain yellow Roadster makes a welcome final appearance, though Ace and Shou Yuing's mockery of it--"zero to sixty in twenty minutes" is short-lived.

There are few moments in Who that are embarrassingly cringing, and unfortunately, this story suffers from it in Episode 2, when Mordred, in summoning his mother, goes over the top with some demonic laughter. Whenever I see this segment, I look for something soft to throw at the TV screen. And the concept of the more magical Earth isn't surprising, as the Doctor says the reverse of Arthur C. Clarke's law, "Any advanced from of technology is indistinguishable from magic" is applicable.

Jean Marsh's portrayal of Morgaine makes her a complex villain. Resplendent in battle armour and crown, she clearly believes in an honourable war--"what is victory without honour?"--at one point scolding her son for fighting on Earth without first paying their respects to Earth's fallen soldiers. Her conversation with the Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart is one of fellow foes showing mutual respect. She tells him calmly that she bears him no malice, but at their next meeting, she will kill him.

The Destroyer, which apart from its bluish skin, is a dead ringer for the Devil in the Tom Cruise movie Legend, is an example of animatronics operating the jaws and saliva dripping from its mouth. And its description by Morgaine, "Lord of Darkness, Eater of Worlds," is a reference to Robert Oppenheimer quoting from the Bhagavad-Gita: "I am become death, the shatterer of worlds; waiting that hour that ripens to their doom." And guess when Oppenheimer quoted that?

Which leads to the metaphor of the Destroyer and nuclear war. The Doctor's horrific description: "All over the worlds, fools are poised, ready to let death fly machines of death...of light brighter than the sun. Not a war between armies, nor a war between nations, but death, death gone mad. A child looks up in the sky, his eyes turn to cinders, no not tears, only ashes. Is this honour? Is this war?"

Part Arthurian legend, UNIT action story, Battlefield does waver a bit unevenly into comedic moments when such moments aren't called for, but prevails with a strong story, characters, and a never to be forgotten theme.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The once and future Merlin, April 20, 2000

By 

Mrs. Donihue (Clear Lake Riviera, California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Doctor Who - Battlefield [VHS] (VHS Tape)

That the Doctor will, in his personal future, be the renowned Merlin of Arthurian legend, is the premise of this episode of the beloved and long-running science fiction series.

The first time I saw "Battlefield" was while sitting cross-legged on a hotel room floor with members of the "Legion of Rassilon" during a science fiction convention. Fast-forward five, maybe 10 years later, and in my second viewing the story lost none of its campy charm. By this time, I was more familiar with the Doctor and his universe, and so, while the story was still just as fresh, I found more to appreciate.

When the Doctor shows up near an archaeological site (and a UNIT exercise) near Lake Vortigern, all hell is sure to break loose, and Sylvester McCoy doesn't disappoint. Bring Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart out of retirement to clash with a younger, female brigadier named Winnifred Bambera and throw in Morgaine and her knights for good measure, and the producers of Doctor Who created a sure winner.

Bambera is an intriguing character who deserved to be brought back in future episodes -- alas, her appearance was late in the show's life.

What can I say about the elder Brigadier, except that he is one of my favorite characters. He is also a character who has weathered the series, from his blood 'n' thunder days with Jon Pertwee to the more reflective man we see coming out of retirement to face one last threat.

The acting is campy, but with great lines of wry, catchy and quotable dialogue. Yes, the special effects are low-budget, but that has always been part of the Doctor's appeal. This episode combines its science fiction and medieval elements skillfully, with well-placed humor.One of my personal favorite episodes, I am sure that I will view "Battlefield" again and again. I am also sure that I will find something new to apprecate each time.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars coming soon to dvd, December 20, 2008

By 

Michael P. Dobey (colorado springs) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Doctor Who - Battlefield [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This story which is pretty good will be released on dvd in the uk in december 2008 , with a release elsewhere in 2009. So wait to grab that when it gets here.