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Doctor Who - The Time Warrior [1973]


RRP: £19.99
Our Price: £5.00 (subject to change)

Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review

Dating back to the mid-1970s, and starring Jon Pertwee in the title role, The Time Warrior is a superb part of Doctor Who's back catalogue, and is every bit as enjoyable today as it was back then.

Notable as much for introducing Elisebeth Sladen's iconic Sarah-Jane Smith to Doctor Who, The Time Warrior finds UNIT investigating the disappearance of a number of their top scientists. Soon, it appears that it's a Sontaran (surely one of the classic Doctor Who villains) to blame, who has been kidnapping said scientists and dragging them back in time. And it's up to the Doctor and his new companion to get to the bottom of it all.

Thus the scene is set for a Doctor Who adventure in the midst of medieval Britain, and a rollicking good one it is too. In spite of the fact that it was their first story together, the crackling chemistry between Pertwee and Sladen is there for all to enjoy, and courtesy of a cracking, twisty script, there's plenty to enjoy here. It's all aided by a supporting cast who more than do it all justice too, with Nicholas Courtenay's Brigadier aided by the likes of June Brown and Bella Emberg!

With a glimpse into the back story of the Doctor, and plenty of rewatch value too, The Time Warrior is an unmissable adventure in Doctor Who's heritage, and one that would be real folly to miss. --Jon Foster


"Here Comes Sarah!"
Review date: 2008-04-15 Rating: 10 out of 10

A great debut for both Lis Sladen and classic monster the Sontarans. Sarah Jane Smith hits the ground running, telling off robber baron Irongron & organising a rescue mission. A funny sequence has her unwisely sharing her feminist views with a medieval Delia Smith! A terrific performance from Elisabeth Sladen.
The Sontaran of course has a head that looks like a cross between a troll and a potato. It covers actor Kevin Lindsay's face and yet still lets him give a strong performance! Best of all is his relationship with Irongron. They seem to hate and like each other at the same time. They have many memorable exchanges;

"Are they all so fair of face beyond the stars?"

"Do you think your primitive features are pleasing to me?"

David Daker gives a marvellous performance as Irongron, at the centre of 2 double acts, as well as Irongron & Lynx, there is Irongron & Bloodaxe his stupid second in command who thinks he's wonderful.

Pertwee now nearing the end of his time nonetheless makes the most of a fine Robert Holmes script where he gets many moments of charm and the chance to lead an attack.

"Begining the End" is a fine documentary about the making of the story and the changes for Pertwee's last year. Producer Barry Letts, script editor Terrance Dicks and Lis Sladen amongst other cast and crew give good memories of making the story and place it in context. Listen out for who they wanted 1st for Irongron!

Optional CGI special effects are done with their usual care and are definitely better for the explosion!

A fine commentary in which Lis Sladen is the star offers some extra memories and thoughts including Barry Letts being a fan of June Brown and the shortcomings of the story's director.

An info pod on Sontarans is a fun and easy to find easter egg. Good work 2 entertain-this one's for everyone!

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Reviews


SONTAR!!!!
Review date: 2007-09-12 Rating: 8 out of 10

The first story from Jon Pertwee's final season as doctor who comes to dvd. this was originally released in 1989 on video, and all the episodes were edited together. Thus this is a welcome and long overdue re release, as it's no longer been edited.

In this four part story an alien called a sontaran crash lands his spaceship in medieval england, and teams up with a robber baron in a partnership of convenience. the sontaran's scheme will effect the future of the human race. can the doctor stop him? And what will he do about that journalist called sarah jane who stowed away in the tardis.

A solidly enjoyable story, with a superb performance from kevin lindsay as the alien. watch also for june brown as lady eleanor. she's better known for her eastenders work.

There are two easter eggs [one in the top left of the main menu and one in the bottom left of the second page of special features] a commentary, and a good documentary about the making of the story. this runs for half an hour, and has some very nice music. Also of note are the CGI effects you can choose to switch on and have replace the original effects. they are not intrusive and they make these sequences better.

A good package for a good little story

The one with Humpty Dumpty...
Review date: 2007-09-10 Rating: 8 out of 10

This season actually stands up quite well. I vividly remember the days leading up to this, the first story of Pertwee's last season. The Radio Times for the week of Part One had Jon on the cover and for that reason I got my Mum to buy it for me (I still have it), and what was really exciting at the time was that just prior to Part One, the Radio Times 10th Anniversary special came out. This featured synopses for the coming season and I thought that was great (though not as great as the complete listing of all the stories in the series' history). I am sure that most people who watched this show who watched this show remember the end of part one where Lynx reveals his face. Unfortunately my first thought was Humpty Dumpty rather than terrifying alien.

The story itself is entertaining enough and introduces the best companion in the show's history. I watched it with the new CGI effects and thought that they really helped the story. The acting is mostly good, but as mentioned in one of the earlier reviews, the sentry's big scene, where the Doctor & Sarah bluff their way into Irongron's castle is hilarious. A study in appalling acting (even worse than some of the stuff in Planet of Spiders). This is the only decent Sontaran story.

The special features are quite good and there is an easter egg.

Certainly worth buying.

Another fine release
Review date: 2007-09-07 Rating: 8 out of 10

This is more like it! After the awful Timelash and Time Flight releases (from John Nathan Turner's woeful period when he was in charge of Doctor Who) this is a welcome release to the collection of BBC's Doctor Who dvds. The story is great fun, but the Special Features are of high standard and the interviews with Terence Dicks and Barry Letts really fleshes the backgound to the story out. The new CGI effects are good (esepcially in comparison to the 1973 special effects which as neither special or effective) and as purchase, it is a peach. The first episode is one of my earliers memories, and it has a special place in my list of fave Doctor Who stories. Highly recommended!

A classic Jon Pertwee dvd ... and about time too
Review date: 2007-09-04 Rating: 10 out of 10

The Time Warrior is unique for several reasons. Firstly, it introduces us to Sarah Jane Smith superbly played by Elisabeth Sladen. Sarah Jane is one of the best of the Doctors companions and has also appeared in the new Doctor Who series (School Reunion) and now has her own spin of series The Sarah Jane Adventures.

Secondly, this story marks the first appearance of the Sontarans. Linx the Sontaran is played by the late Kevin Lindsey who gives an excellent performance. Kevin would reprise his role as a Sontaran in the Tom Baker story The Sontaran Experiment. The Sontarans would also go on to appear in The Invasion Of Time and The Two Doctors as well as numerous comic strips and novels.

Thirdly, this is the first time the story has been released in an unedited form. The picture looks superb so you can now get rid of your old edited video version.

So, all in all a great package with the usual entertaining commentary track - this time by Elizabeth Sladen, Terrence Dicks and Barry Letts who give a thoughtfull insight to the making of the story. It seems an age since the last Jon Pertwee dvd was released. I hope that next year more Pertwee stories will be released. How about Terror Of The Autons or The Silurians? Fingers crossed.

Product Details/Specifications


Actor(s):
Elisabeth Sladen
June Brown
Jon Pertwee
John Carney
David Daker

Creators:
Jon Pertwee (Primary Contributor)
Elisabeth Sladen (Primary Contributor)

Director(s):

Recording label: 2 Entertain Video
Manufacturer: 2 Entertain Video
EAN: 5014503233426
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: PAL,
Release date: 2007-09-03
Audience rating: To Be Announced
Region code: 2
Running time: 91 minutes
Theatrical release date: 1973
Language: English (Original Language)

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