Dr Who: The Ambassadors of Death: DVD Review
Rating: M
Released by BBC and Roadshow Home Entertainment
1970s Doctor Who gets an outing with this latest from Jon Pertwee's era, in a tale much wanted on DVD and which has been fraught with restoration problems.
Dr Who: The Ambassadors of Death is a key title for the range; it's a 7 part relatively tautly told tale of the return of a Mars Probe, missing for 7 months. When the rescue mission recovers something, it's definitely not human and soon the Doctor and Liz Shaw are doing what they can to save the world.
Dr Who: The Ambassadors of Death is a well put together story which eventually starts to creak over its 7 parts; it's got suspense in spades and good solid central performances from the likes of Pertwee and Caroline John (sadly recently deceased); plus the story has parallels with Quatermass and other sci-fi themes from the 70s.
But this release has to be lauded for the work done to restore the damaged tapes; whilst it still looks a bit poor in places, the team has done a great job putting it all together and ensuring that it works - with one ep surviving in colour and the rest in damaged black and white, this is a masterful piece of love.
The extras are a reasonable bunch over the two disc release of Dr Who: The Ambassadors of Death DVD but they're nothing sensational to write home about.
All in all, Dr Who: The Ambassadors of Death is worth a peek; it shows Pertwee at his best and in a serial which has, for the majority, stood the test of time.
Extras: Commentary, docos, the ever brilliant production notes and a wrap up of Pertwee's time in the role as defined by the press.
Rating:
