Customer Reviews

Doctor Who - Shada [VHS]

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Among Whovians, 'Shada' has achieved a deservedly legendary status (written by bestselling author Douglas Adams, and starring arguably the most popular actor to play the Doctor, Tom Baker). The story seemed forever lost down a video black hole, as it was only partially completed in 1979 when a BBC strike shut down production. When the strike ended, the completed footage was shelved, and Adams wouldn't allow the story to be novelized. It was a story no one had seen, from a script almost no one had read. Hence, a legend was born. And like many legends, the reality of this one doesn't live up to the hype. This video attempts to reconstruct the original story, with the BBC footage bridged by scenes of Tom Baker (recorded in a Doctor Who display), telling us what takes place between the surviving scenes. Adams' complicated plot doesn't get the support it needs from the plentiful narration, and the story gets muddled along the way. Also, as many of the pivotal scenes were never shot, too much was left to our imaginations for the story to hold together. The only redeeming quality the video has are some delightful scenes between The Doctor, his companion Romana (played by Lalla Ward, then Baker's so-to-be-wife), and the eccentric retired Time Lord at the heart of the story, Prof. Chronotis. These scenes are almost worth sitting through the seemingly endless narrations, and trying to follow the wayward plot. The British edition of this video contained a paperback reprinting the original shooting script, and it wasn't until I read it that I was trully able to enjoy the story. (Which, it turns out, wasn't Adams at his best.) 'Shada' is a video for the devout Whovian and the devoutly curious.

"Shada" was a 6 part 4th Doctor, 2nd Romana story that was never finished due to a union strike. The video uses the footage that was shot along with footage of Tom Baker (the 4th Doctor) narating the missing scenes in a museum. The story itself is definately one of the more interesting stories and it is sad that it was never finished, especialy when Baker describes the climax and you're sitting there going "Damnit! Couldn't you guys have shot it for the video? We wouldn't have cared about how much people have aged or replaced due to death." The Doctor is called to Cambridge, 1979, by retired Timelord Profesor Chronotis to take back a very dangerous book back to Galifrey. Unfortunately, An Alumnus of Cambridge had unwittingly barrowed the book from the Profesor and they need to retrieve it from him post-haste. To make matters worse, Skagra, a man with poor fashion sense and the ability to steal peoples minds. He intends to use the book to take the mind of a great criminal Timelord. The Doctor finds himself in a race against time to keep Skagra from succeding in his evil, nasty, and slightly naughty plan. The stary includes an invisable space ship, two (maybe three) TARDISES (or is it TARDISI?), and one evil billiard ball. A kick a** story, this video is well worth the $$$.

A production strike halted work on this the final episode of the Baker's penultimate season as Doctor Who. For years, fans only caught glimpses of the production at conventions. Now producer John Nathan Turner has taken the material and completed the needed special effects and music and along with Tom Baker as narrator to bridge the missing scenes, completes the story, making it available on home video. It's regrettable that the original story could not have been completed as it would have been interesting to compare the two. What works in this video is Tom Baker's narration, the return of David Brierley (sp?) as K9 and the scene of the Doctor biking down the street while the barshop singers chant Chattanooga Choo Choo. What doesn't work is the more modern day effects, the modern day style music and the story itself. Adams has always been one to forego plot elements in favor of a funny scene. Elements are tossed about throughout the story and are only picked up in the end as an afterthought to offer resolution. The video is an interesting piece of Who history, but not one of the better stories.

I just watched Shada 2 nights ago, and let me preface this review by saying that Tom Baker always was, and always will be my favorite Doctor. Having said that, I'll probably always enjoy any Doctor Who episode that has Mr. Baker in it, and Shada was no exception. I believe this would have been a 4 1/2 to 5 star episode, had it been completed. There really wasn't nearly as much narration, as I thought there'd be. The video runs about 110 minutes, and I'm guessing that there's about 15 to 20 minutes of narration in the entire video. The main problem with the narrated parts, is that most of the climax of the episode is narrated. Which is kind of disappointing. But, I felt that the rest of the episode was quite good, and really was better than I had been led to believe. For any 4th Doctor fans out there, you really must get this to complete your collection. Although, I'd buy it cheaper than this. I really don't think you'll be too disappointed.

An extremely overated story only because it is infamous for never having been completed. It is really hard to give this one any higher than 3 stars, as all of it is not here, and Tom Baker's "filling the gaps" doesn't give anyone who doesn't know what it's about a true vision of what could have been. It is fantastic to have seen this tape for the first time, viewing scenes of the Doctor and Romana that you had never seen before. It is a must for the Who fan. Fans and others like to claim this was to be the crown of the 17th season, but that assumption cannot be made, because....they didn't finish it! Great, but very, very, very overrated.

Released a few years ago on VHS, this has long been awaited for on DVD, and with hope 2-Entertain has done their normal fine job of filling in the missing fotage that Tom Baker narated over on teh tape to cover footage missing from a BBC Strike at the time. This story tells of a forbidden bool being taken for the DR's homeworld and hidding on earth adn an powerful Alien threat comming to get it to destroy everything, sound familiar? Very well done. Sorry it was not done at the time by the BBC. Looking forward to the new version very much.

This was supposed to be the epic end-of-season story, with much of the season's budget allocated to it. It features another posh location, Cambridge University; it introduces another of the Doctor's race of Time Lords, Salyavin, an escaped criminal masquerading as Professor Chronotis at the University. It was supposed to be the classic send-off that outgoing producer Graham Williams deserved. But unfortunately, what is supposed to be, as is too often the case, differs from reality. Due to a union strike in Britain, Shada was never completed. There seemed to be a strike every other week in 1970s Britain. It's a wonder anything was ever accomplished.

The BBC gathered whatever footage they had of this serial, and utilizing linking narrative from Tom Baker, put it to videotape. Because of it's incomplete nature, I highly doubt we will ever see a DVD release, so enjoy this one while we have it. This story is as good as can be, with Baker doing his best to narrate the missing parts. However, as with any linking narration, something gets lost in the translation. Though not as good as the previous stories in Season 17, through no fault of its own, this video is an admirable attempt to recapture what was lost a long time ago. Bloody strikes!

I was so excited when I saw this story was for sale at long last. I'd heard much about it and wanted to see more beyond the little excerpts seen in "The Five Doctors". I was not disappointed. While there is a distinct lack of footage in the last few episodes, it's evident from what is narrated and seen that this easily would have ranked alongside "City of Death" as the best story of season 17. No where nearly as silly as some of the previous stories, this is a well written and original tale. It's a shame it's not been finished, as the final parts sound like they are the best. I honestly think this is a must have for the hardcore DW fans.

Well, this episode was nice to see, after it being missing and all. It also gives some time lord history which is always welcome. The characters are great, in normal Douglas Adams fashion. Readers of the Dirk Gently series will recognise Professor Chronotis, a thoroughly amusing character. You can see why Adams didn't want him to be forgotten in the BBC vaults somewhere. This episode pair up Tom Baker, Lalla Ward and Douglas Adams, what more do you want from life? The narration is a bit irritating, but they didn't have much choice, then, did they? The silver and white outfit worn by the owner of the invisible spaceship is not to be missed! All in all, it's a fun episode, and worth seeing.

This story demands by how much was not put into film narration which Tom Baker pulls off quite well and those needing a picture to things not filmed may feel that this isn't the best story for to many a moving picture is better than words describing the missing scenes would give it a lower rating but those that don't mind "speaking books" won't mind the problems with the missing scenes. "Shada" is a prison planet which a lost secrets of the Law Book of the Time Lords takes one there which is being hunted down by a mind absorping alien to absorp a mind control crinimal that was sent as a prisoner there. This story would have been an excellent story if finished for some of what was not filmed was even better than what was filmed and what was filmed was very good. It is also too bad that the writer has a tiff which has disallowed "The Pirate Planet", "The City Of Death", and "Shada" from becoming books for this video of "Shada" may be the only form that this story will be seen in and like "The Pirate Planet" and "The City Of Death" can only be found in video to time present; whatever time future holds time future itself can only tell of these things which is too bad for Douglass Adams is one of the more thoughtful writers out there and there is always something interesting in what he puts out and for this I'd say this is a video not to miss. Its just too bad narration isn't as good as what could have been filmed. "Shada" is a story to remind us all when our own good work is passed by, its not because it wasn't neccessarily good but sometimes past over by a simple twist of fate. Douglass Adams has always been a must see in past, present, and I hope the future. A mind of ideas.