Dr Who: Colony in Space: DVD Review

Dr Who: Colony in Space: DVD Review

Dr Who - Colony in Space
Rating: PG
Released by BBC and Roadshow

It's to 1972 we head for this six part slice of time travelling with Jon Pertwee's Dr Who.

When the Time Lords realize the Doc's nemesis, the Master's got his hands on a Doomsday device, they send the Doc and his companion Jo to the 25th century to try and save the day.

Slightly wonky and aged sets aside, this serial isn't a bad entry into the final batch of releases from the Who range. Atmospherically put together and acted with such purpose by Pertwee and Katy Manning, plus a great chemistry between Roger Delgado's The Master and The Doctor, it's a fairly pacy romp which looks at the consequences of weaponry - but in a non overtly preachy way.

An average set of extras for the release include commentary and a doco looking back - but nothing sensational.

Rating: 6/10 

Priest: Blu Ray Review

Priest: Blu Ray Review

Priest
Rating: M
Released by Sony Home Entertainment
Paul Bettany and our very own Karl Urban star in this latest outing.
For centuries man has been at war with vampires. And with the vamps hunting them to near extinction, there was only ever one line of defence - the priests.
But after the vamps' defeat, the priests were abandoned and reintegrated back into society.
However, when an apparent vamp attack kills the brother of one nameless priest (Paul Bettany), he has no choice but to hunt down their daughter and break his vow, risking all out war...
Priest isn't a bad attempt at a western crossed with vampires.
There's plenty of imagery from the wild west (including a final set piece on a train) and the bleached look of this post apocalyptic world, along with some quite cool comic style pre titles, give it a bit of different feel. But some wonky CGI and some frankly laughable dialogue see it unable to rise from the dead.
Which is a shame as Bettany is good as the monosyllabic priest and Nikita's Maggie Q and Karl Urban also are solid as supporting cast (even if the latter chews a bit too much of the scenery).

Rating: 5/10

Melancholia: Movie Review

Melancholia: Movie Review

Melancholia
Rating: 8/10
Cast: Kirsten Dunst, Kiefer Sutherland, Alexander Skarsgaard, Charlotte Gainsbourg
Director: Lars von Trier
Not sure about the wisdom of releasing a film about the end of the world just before Christmas...

This latest from Lars von Trier is a sumptuous piece where to be frank, very little happens but everything is affected.

Centring on Kirsten Dunst's depressed Justine's wedding day, the film sees her starting the day in a good mood and sliding into a depression as the night goes on-despite being wed to True Blood's Alexander Skarsgard.

It then switches to after the wedding where there's more of a period of gloom around - thanks to the fact a planet called Melancholia is passing by the earth - and with some fearing it'll hit, you've got cosmic fears on a very personal level as the level of doom rises on an ultimate scale.

From the opening sequences which are gorgeous eye candy - some of the best ever committed to celluloid - and which set a mood of uncertainty, Melancholia is a sumptuous experience (which admittedly some may find hollow).

But it's a mesmerizing and divisive watch - much like Tree of Life earlier this year was.

Dunst seriously impresses, providing her best work as the depressed bride who rallies when the end of the world comes - but equally as good is Charlotte Gainsbourg as her sister who's helpless to save her and who's futile attempts to try and save their already strained relationship.

As it leads to a downbeat ending which blows you out of your seat, this is a mind-blowing film.

Dr Who: Complete Season 6: Blu Ray review

Dr Who: Complete Season 6: Blu Ray review

Dr Who Season 6
Rating: PG
Released by BBC and Roadshow
Matt Smith returns as the Doctor in this box set of the latest season to hit the small screen.
And this time around, after a few years of teases from head honcho, Steven Moffat, we finally get some answers as to who River Song is, what part the travelling companions the Ponds play and what lies ahead for the Doctor.
It's a heady rush of a season which packs in some great adventures in its 13 episode run - but also some slightly less convincing ones as well.
But all in all, the quality is eminently watchable and each adventure zips along with gusto.
However, when the pace slows and the writing comes out, the actors have their chances to shine. Arthur Darvill and Karen Gillan who play Rory and Amy Pond are astounding in the heartbreaking episode The Girl Who Waited, which centres on Amy accidentally being abandoned by the Doctor and Rory. This is the stand out ep of the set and is an emotionally charged ep which is a little scifi and a little human as well.
Matt Smith can do no wrong as the Doc but some of the writing in places feels a little haphazard and seems to service the ongoing season long arc rather than provide quality episodes when it should. Thankfully, there's a feeling of resolution at the end of the season and so maybe the writers next year will be able to provide some stronger standalone material.
Extras are a mixed bunch too - sure, there's extra scenes which have been filmed for between episodes, but the inclusion of the cutdown versions of the behind the scenes companion show are pretty much a waste of time in this format. It's to be hoped the quality of the additional content is upped in future releases because it does feel a little tired currently.

All in all, Who fans will want this set to complete the collection - but newcomers may feel a little lost by how ensconced this latest run is in its own mythology.

Rating: 6/10

Torchwood: Miracle Day: Blu Ray Review

Torchwood: Miracle Day: Blu Ray Review

Torchwood Miracle Day
Rating: M
Released by BBC and Roadshow
How did it go so wrong?
After the stunning mini series of Children of Earth, it was a question of how the writers would top the quality of this Dr Who spin off.
And the answer is they didn't.
The previously Wales set serial has now gone global over this ten episode run - and some American newbies are along for the ride too. Mekhi Phifer stars as FBI Agent Rex Matheson who begins an investigation when one day without warning, people stop dying.
His hunt for answers lead to the abandoned Torchwood team who disbanded at the end of the last series and went underground.
But it turns out the head of Torchwood Jack Harkness (John Barrowman) has more to do with what's going on than anyone could realise.
The problem with Miracle Day is that there's not enough story and plot to sustain the suitably intriguing premise over 10 whole hours. It means some of the episodes feel like padding and plod as a result.
There are flashes of brilliance but they're too sporadic and not enough to give this mediocre serial the punch and deftness it actually needs.
Extras are a decent bunch though - with the web exclusive comic being one of the best of them (and giving the overall release an extra point) - but if this is how Torchwood finishes for good, it's a sadly anaemic and lacklustre end.

Rating: 5/10

Footrot Flats: Blu Ray Review

Footrot Flats: Blu Ray Review

Footrot Flats
Rating: PG
It's the 25th anniversary of the release of the animated tale from Tom Scott and Murray Ball, which of course is now an iconic Kiwi film and NZ's first ever animated full length outing.
Starring Peter Rowley as Dog, the faithful mutt of the cartoon series who worked on the farm with owner Wal (voiced by John Clarke), there's a whole list of talent mixed in to this - with guest turns from Rawiri Paratene as Rangi, and Billy T James as a takeaway chef, it's really a nostalgic collection of the best.
The story is really very thin in comparison to animated films these days; Dog tries to help Wal when he tries out for the All Blacks, falls for local female dog Jess and takes on the dastardly Murphys, who are stealing stags from Wal's friend Cooch.
In some ways, Footrot Flats has aged in quite a way but there's still a lot to love about this - it's a collection of rural snapshots and comic situations and quite deadpan humour, such as when Wal takes prospective girlfriend Cheeky to the takeway for a meal out - "Forget the expense love, you can have chips with everything".
Dated but charming, Footrot Flats is quite a nice throwback to New Zealand of yesteryear.

Extras: Commentary

Rating: 7/10

Luther S2: DVD Review

Luther S2: DVD Review

Luther S2
Rating: M
Released by BBC and Roadshow
A 4 hour long BBC drama starring Idris Elba, who gained fame for US crime series the Wire.
He stars as London detective Luther who's back for another round of investigations following the murder of his wife. He's an obsessive, possessed, and sometimes dangerous detective in the violence of his fixations. But Luther has paid a heavy price for his dedication; he has never been able to prevent himself from being consumed by the darkness of the crimes with which he deals.
He's back in action just as a masked serial killer, wearing a Punch (from Punch and Judy) mask is out randomly killing people and out to make a name for himself
Soon Luther's caught in the net and the case gets very personal and comes very close to home
Dark, bleak, a little bit sinister and scary, it's an intelligently put together show with a great central performance from a weary Elba as Luther. He's kind of the genius you can relate to but there are no flashes of brilliance here and there and a lot of burning and frustration as he investigates. It's slow but also slow burning and there's a hell of a twist at the end of the first episode which makes you want to watch the second very quickly.
Compelling and gripping, Luther's well worth investing your time on a rainy weekend.

Rating: 7/10