Customer Reviews

Doctor Who - The Daleks [VHS]

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Two contrasting stories here. The Chase is a William Hartnell story where the Daleks decide to go after the Doctor and exterminate him. Very much a product of its time and doesn't date too well but it's value is twofold; as a story it shows a consistency in the Dalek concept - the look and feel of their surroundings is the same despite the lack of any timeline or chronology - something later Dalek stories do not have, and as a comparison to its companion Remembrance Of The Daleks.

Here we see an alienness the Doctor has not shown for a long time - hints that there may be a lot more to him than we know (one cut scene does a lot more than hint this). Sylvester McCoy is outstanding in this story, trying to keep the military from getting "diced in the crossfire" and fighting the Daleks as well. His put downs are as good as early Jon Pertwee stories and we are left wondering just how much we really know about the Doctor and how much we can really trust him. Remember, he is an alien.

Two very different stories showcasing the first and last (for the moment) television Doctors.

This story is quite different from the early ones involving the Daleks. Being one of the final Doctor Who adventures it has the benefit of greatly improved graphic effects. It also has some nice period scenes set in the sixties era. One interesting point in this and the other later Doctor who adventures is the shift from the middle class type companions of the early seasons to the `East Enders' type of character `Ace'. Sylvester McCoy makes a fair Doctor Who.

On the negative side is the fact that the Daleks were a well-worn commodity at this stage of the series. However, I liked the idea of the two Dalek factions. There were some good action scenes, but the street shots were marred by the inability of the Dalek machines to smoothly navigate the uneven surfaces. The effect is one of stilted movement and in a couple of instances it looks as though the machines are being carried. There were no scenes involving the inside of the Tardis, although I am not sure if this is common for the later adventures.

The one technical slip that I saw was a glimpse of the cables hanging from the Dalek scout ship.

The story comprises four episodes, which is probably about right.

In terms of collector value this adventure is the last one involving the Daleks and features the last Doctor and companion. Though not one of my favorite efforts I would still recommend this tape.

"The Chase" has to be one of the strangest Who adventures ever! It almost seems to be a variation of "The Keys of Marinus", with six unconnecting episodes of the TARDIS crew being "Chased" throughout the Universe and Time. It's very silly, but at the same time extremely enjoyable. The Daleks themselves come off very well(nice to see the intro to the Supreme Dalek). Peter Purves play a great American tourist, and even better as Steven. The Haunted House episode is the nadir of the adventure, and Maureen O'Brien proves that she might be worse than Dodo(she is given some of the worst lines and the worst deliveries in this story). Hartnell is excellent as he shows his emotions when Ian and Barbara decide to leave. There is posssibly the silliest Dalek line in this one:"Am Totally Immobilised!" And as for the Mechanoids......

This package is a must for any serious collector of the show. The Chase is a very nostalgic episode from the classic sixties era. The plot is rather simplistic, the Doctor and companions are chased throughout time and space by the infamous Daleks. However, the scenarios the Doctor and friends face more than make up for the simplicity of the plot. The Empire State Building scene and the Mary Celeste scene are worth seeing this classic by themselves. Remembrance has always been second favorite Dalek episode next to Genesis of the Daleks. The plot is very intricate with the Doctor returning to 1963 to recover the Hand of Omega that he left in his First regeneration. The two Dalek factions also add much excitement to the plot of the story. I complimented Mr. McCoy personally for this episode many years ago when he visited Macon, GA in 1988.

The Chase is an unusual story of the Daleks chasing the Doctor and companions with a time machine of their own. So many very funny lines and scenes I don't have room to list all of them. However some of the best include the Doctor saying "ain't," Ian calling a Dalek Fred, Ian explaining where his spirit of adventure went, and Vicki and Barbara trying to talk themselves out of being afraid. Another surprise in addition to the humor is what a companionable, close-knit bunch they are. There is no doubt that the Doctor cares a great deal about Ian, Barbara and Vicki and this is displayed very well when Ian and Barbara come up with a plan to get back home to Earth.

The Dalek story with Sylvester McCoy was ok. Great effects compared to The Chase but so-so story. Notable for showing a Dalek ascending the stairs and the Doctor's comment, "Time will tell. It always does."

In 'Remembrance of the Daleks', the Doctor's oldest enemies are attempting to steal the Hand of Omega, a powerful device created by the Time Lords in their latest attempt to become the master race in what ranks as one of the best Dalek stories ever made. The plot is complex and involving, the characters and '60s settings are realistic and interesting, the action sequences are gripping and the ending of Episode 1 must rank as the ultimate Dalek cliffhanger. Ace is a vast improvement over the Doctor's previous companion, beating up a Dalek with a baseball bat and wanting in on the action rather than just screaming a lot. Dalek fascism is cleverly compared with human racism and the Daleks themselves are at their menacing best. A classic.

'The Chase', on the other hand, is played mostly for laughs. The special effects are pretty dire and it has a way of making you wish 'The Dalek Masterplan' wasn't missing, but it's still very entertaining and fun, and the ending is a genuine tear-jerker.

(Updated review) - I very much enjoyed 'The Chase'. It is one of my favorite Dr. Who adventures. To me, the story contains a good deal of interesting situations. I also see the story as having collector value, as it is the last one featuring the two original main supporting characters, Barbara (Jacqueline Hill) and Ian (William Russell).

There were a few disappointments that I did not remember seeing as a child, when the story was first telecast in 1965. These included the use of Peter Purves in two roles, first as the dim-witted tourist in New York and then as the space pilot Steven Taylor, held prisoner by the Mechanoids. Also disappointing was the 'hidden' Dalek in the bizarre 'Journey into Terror' episode. The Dalek apparently arrived on location ahead of his comrades, and before the Dalek time machine did! All things said though, a great experience and comparable in interest to the original Daleks story from the end of 1963.

Two very fun stories, for altogether different reasons. The Chase gives us the First Doctor, Ian, Barbara, and Vicki being pursued throughout eternity by the Daleks in another dimensionally transcendental time machine. How the Daleks managed to construct or obtain this machine, why they're twelve minutes behind the TARDIS even though they're traveling through the vortex, and other points such as the fact that the Aridians are possibly the most pathetic wusses in the history of Dr. Who, are irrelevant. The Chase is an homage to the old sci-fi chapter plays (not to mention to the Beatles and William Shakespeare), and not meant to be taken as serious Who... Remembrance is a Seventh Doctor and Ace story, and sort of a homage to the very first Dr. Who story, An Unearthly Child, in that it takes place in virtually the same time and place. Scenes with Ace, and the scene with the Doctor talking to the cafe employee about ripples in time and the effects of sugar trade, are well worth the price of admission...

The Chase is a definitive classic. The first doctor and his companions are being chased thru' time and space by the daleks. The stops include the top of the empire state building and an abandoned ship at sea. It's absolutely hilarious to watch a dalek falling overboard from an old sailing ship sreaming in it's usual way. The McCoy story is also well worth the money. Definitevely the best I've seen with the seventh doctor. The story also contains som hints back to the very first Hartnell story. A must have for all fans.

What hasn't already been said about "Remembrance"? Possibly the best Who story(and Dalek story) in years. High action content, wonderfully edited, special effects are top notch for Who, and the Doctor himself brings a little mystery back in his character. The Daleks themselves are fantastic, as is the small cameo appearance of Davros, and the deadly Special Weapons Dalek! I could go on and on about this one, there is hardly anything that needs to be replaced or taken out. the regulars and guests give it their best! What a way to start the 25th season!