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Doctor Who - The Caves of Androzani

Doctor Who - The Caves of Androzani

List Price: $24.98
Your Price: $22.48
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Great story, superb DVD
Review: "Caves of Androzani" is widely regarded as the best story of the fifth Doctor's era, one of the best of the 80's and quite possibly one of the greatest Dr. Who stories of all time. The late, great Robert Holmes returns to the show after a five year writing absense and delivers possibly his best script in the entire series run (high praise considering that he wrote such classics of Ark in Space, Spearhead from Space and the Deadly Assassin). The TARDIS materializes on Androzani Minor, where a minor war has broken out over control of Spectrox, one of the galaxy's rarest and most valuable substances. Sharez-Jek, a reclusive meglomaniac controls the supply and isn't willing to give it up easily. He's also got an axe to grind with Morgus, the private businessman who has seen the shortage of Spectrox fill his pockets and how is financing both the legitimate armies efforts to stop Jek and his robot army and a small band of mercenaries. Enter the Doctor and Peri, who get embroiled in a series of events beyond their control and in which there is no easy way out. Holmes takes some standard Who cliches--the lurking monster, the quick accusations of murder--and turned them into one of the most nuanced scripts in the entire Dr. Who canon. Add to this superb performances by Peter Davison, Christopher Gabel as the deranged Jek and Nicola Bryant's best work as Peri along with Graham Harper's stylish direction and it's easy to see why this story is so well regarded.

But what is to encourage the average fan to pick up this DVD. The story has been out for years on video. It's all in the extras. "Caves of Androzani" may be the best of the Who stories released on DVD so far. The supplemental features include a small featurette on Gabel and how he portryaed Jek and the regenaration sequence. There's also some short clips from various news programs about Davison's departure from the show. But the real treat is an audio commnentary by Davison, Harper and Bryant. All three are having a ball with the commentary and they all offer a unique insight into story behind the Caves of Androzani. (If anyone over at Parmount is reading, it's these kind of extras we Trek fans want on our DVDs, thank you!).

So, you've got a superb story remastered--it's never looked or soudned better and a wealth of extras. This DVD is definitely worth the price of admission.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Sad way for Peter to go
Review: Being a HUGE Peter Davison fan, I found the way he left very, very upsetting. Overall it was an excellent story, but with a crappy companion, Peri. Although you may not agree with me, I find her annoying and the thing is, Nicola Bryant was not American to begin with and what made her act badly in dr who (she did get better) was the fact she had to disguise her accent and act at the same time. This story is very good, but I like the earlier stuff better.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Masterpiece
Review: By far the best Peter Davison, and the best Doctor Who story of the 1980s. Everything about it, from the acting to the plot agrees with the viewer very soundly. Every character, from Morgus to the President to Sharez Jek especially is very well characterized and acted. Nicola Bryant is excellent as Peri, there's hardly a hint of the unlikable character she would later become in Colin Baker's era. Peter Davison - what can I say? He ranged from engaging to bland to totally unmemorable throughout his tenure as the Doctor, but he is simply superb in "The Caves of Androzani". Here he gives his best performance ever as the Doctor. The final part is perfectly shot, and the Doctor's 5th regeneration is by far the best realised and most emotionally effective and memorable one ever portrayed on Doctor Who. Kudos to Robert Holmes the writer and Graeme Harper the director as well for a marvellous tale, one which should have been typical of the Davison era, not an exception.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Change My Dear, and Not a Moment Too Soon
Review: Caves of Androzani is generally regarded as one of the best stories in the 26 year run of Doctor Who; and you know what? It is. It's a masterpiece of style, plot, acting, directing and damned fine writing.

Is there any point going into the plot? If you're on this page, you probably know everything about the story anyway so i won't bother. What I will discuss are the extras; these are what make DVDs what they are and unlike many TV shows the BBC knows exactly how to treat their Doctor Who fans. Steve Roberts and the chaps of the restoration team have yet again done a fabulous job in remastering the video, putting together a superb commentary track and a host of interviews and featurettes. These are what makes Who DVDs worth plonking down your [price] for.

Some people have complained about the slow release schedule of these DVDs, but let me ask you, would you prefer vanilla DVDs every month or 6 jam-packed with features event DVDs a year. I know which I prefer.

So raise a pint to Steve and the boys; visit their fabulous website at restoration-team.co.uk and if you work for the people who put out X-Files, Buffy and Star Trek DVDs show them what can be done with a DVD of a nearly 20 year old tv show.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: It doesn't get better than this!
Review: Caves of Androzani was a high point for Doctor Who in many ways. First and foremost, it marked the peak of the series audience viewing and appreciation figures for the next five years - it was all downhill from here. More importantly, it was arguably the last ambitious and creative story that would be broadcast before the series degenerated into pantomime. The stark contrast between the gripping, emotional story in this episode and the sheer lunacy of Colin Baker's premier, The Twin Dilemma is impossible to ignore.

The scripting, pacing, and performances in this episode are simply brilliant. Peter Davison turns out the best performance of his time, skillfully balancing the Doctor's struggle for his own life with his unwavering impulse to protect the innocent. Superior production values and direction create gritty, edge-of- your seat drama throughout.

With the obligatory extras and the excellent remastering courtesy of The Doctor Who Restoration Team, Caves of Androzani is a five star disc all around. If you can only buy one episode from Peter Davison's era as the Doctor, this should be it.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Caves of Androzani =Magical Moment of My Youth!!!
Review: Don't want to take up too much room here for this other than to say that this is one of the most satisfying Doctor Who adventures there is. I remember watching this for the first time (1985) as a kid and being totally taken by suprise and hopping around the room giddy at the fact that the Doctor was regenerating! Not only was I entertained, but I was overjoyed to witness my first regeneration of my favorite childhood character.I ran all the way outside to our family jaccuzzi to tell my brother and his friends to hurry and come inside to see that the Doctor had regenerated (just so happens I had the VCR on record that night). It was such an experience to witness the complete mystery of just how the new Doctor would look and behave. This was way before I had even heard the slightest thing about this Colin Baker guy even taking over the roll from "my" Doctor, Peter Davison. I soon became just as big a fan of Colin's as Peter's,even with some of fandom's bashing of his tenure in the role. This episode is one that holds a dear place to me in the series. By the way, I met Peter Davison at my first convention here in Georgia (also in 1985), and he was an absolute gentleman! I was completely starstruck. To a kid of 11, I was in heaven getting to meet my childhood hero! Thanks for the memories Doctor Who. I am just one of many fans of the show who have been given lasting memories, and would like to thank all involved with Doctor Who.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: The worst is yet to come.
Review: I admit it. I was brought up on Doctor Who and I liked all of them util this one. He was not THAT bad though, not compared to who would follow.

I agree that this is the best Peter Davison story and I agree that he certainly pulled out all of the stops for this one but there is still a question which nags at me. Why did he not perform like this before the last story?

Recently I have been buying the Davison stories to add to my collection. I find this dark drama compelling, utilising the Shakespearian performances of the real villan, in contrast to the horror story figure of Sharaz Jek who always reminds me of Vincent price in 'Phantom of the Opera'. The plots within plots and the possibility of the death of the Doctor because of the extreme toxicity of Spectrox add to the heightened interest in this story.

For the DVD the extras are great to have and I have to give credit where credit is due. The BBC are doing a great service to fans of this show by providing, not just these, but the CD releases of missing stories. It does not make up for running the show down or killing it off but all credit to them for adding the extras to the DVDs.

If you only own one of Peter Davison Doctor adventures, own this one.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Bafflingly overrated
Review: I have no clue why 'Caves of Androzani' is such a beloved episode. I just watched the DVD to refresh my memory and it was just as I recalled when I first saw it, a pointless story with very little interest, endless running around, terrible effects and sets (although the exteriors are nice) and the patently annoying Peri sidekick, with whom the villain inexplicably falls in love.

The most aggravating thing for me about the story is that the Doctor just 'happens' into it and is basically always on the run, being wrongfully accused, getting poisoned. Obvious holes like 'why is he there in the first place' get glossed over and everyone dies in the end anyway. Even the ... man-in-a-dragon-suit-monster.

The DVD is nicely put together, if for some strange reason you do actually like this episode. Beautiful menus, lots of extra materials, and great clean images.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The end
Review: I relly liked this episode. In it the Doctor and Perry contract a deadly virus and the Doctor only has enough andiote for one. He gives the andiote to Perry and isn't sure if he will regenerate. He does but his mind was affected.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A victim?
Review: I think the defining thing about this story is the fact that the Doctor is in at the deep end from the very beginning. From just wanting some sand to blow glass for an item he needs, the Doctor and Peri are thrown into a situation they have no control over and, for once, the Doctor doesn't have the faintest clue what's going on! The use of real guns and Shakespearian asides by Trau Morgus were also inspired decisions and, as for the end of parts 1 and 3....


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