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Doctor Who : Complete BBC Series 3 Box Set - Limited Edition Lenticular Master Sleeve (Exclusive to Amazon.co.uk)


RRP: £69.99
Our Price: £168.50 (subject to change)

Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review

There were a few moments in the third season of the revived Doctor Who when you begin to wonder if the bubble has burst. A couple of tepid Dalek episodes, and a handful of forgettable stories, make you begin--perhaps for the first time since the show’s revival--whether it’s already hits its peak.

But never underestimate the new Doctor Who. For the back run of series three is as good as anything that’s gone before it, with ingenious plotting, the clever layering of elements it casually--nah, crucially--refers to later on, and some quite superb individual episodes. It not only restores any hint of lost faith, it sets the bar even higher.

Examples? The stunning single story Blink is extremely clever, genuinely scary and has immense rewatch value. While the equally strong double-header of Human Nature and The Family Of Blood is a two-parter in the traditional Doctor Who way, building up its story in a measured and really effectively creepy way.

Then there’s the finale. Presenting the Doctor with one of his finest, most ingenious villains makes for quite brilliant television (albeit with a slightly underwhelming concluding episode), as exciting to long-time fans of Doctor Who as it is for the newcomers.

And that, ultimately, is the brilliance of Doctor Who. It staggers so many levels of viewer enthusiasm, appeals to an extremely broad age demographic, and woos over fans new and old in a manner that no show currently on television can manage. And while the cliché of hiding behind the sofa may not be as accurate as it once was, Doctor Who season three will undoubtedly leave you gripped to the TV. --Simon Brew


The best of the new adventures, but not perfect
Review date: 2008-02-01 Rating: 8 out of 10

First of all I must declare that I prefer the classic series, 1970-1977 era. However, the 3 new seasons have been better than the dark days of the classic series (i.e. the post-Davison era).

I found series 3 to be the best since the programme returned. David Tennant has settled into his role & Freema Agyeman is very good as Martha. The standard of the stories is pretty consistent, unlike the variability of the previous two series. In my opinion the soap-like family issues that Martha and before her, Rose, had were completely unnecessary. However, Martha's problems were not as intrusive.

The best stories are Human Nature/Family of Blood, Blink and Utopia. Derek Jacobi is very good as Professor Yana, and the music does a superb job of building the tension. If I had to pick my favourite story it would be Human Nature/Family of Blood, in which Tennant is allowed to act his socks off and play it straight. If only he was allowed to do this more often (and if only Chris Ecclestone had been allowed to play it straight). The two part finale to the series is the biggest disappointment for me. It was built up to be something special, but like the finales of the previous two series it was a let-down. I just did not like John Simm's characterisation of the Master - it reminded me of Tom Baker when he was at his worst, but without the sheer presence. It might have been better if he was shown to be sinister & serious when he was alone. Unfortunately he was just too silly.

This set is well worth getting. The extras are quite good as well. Let's hope that series 4 carries on the quality of this series & the Xmas special, although with Donna repacing Martha, I have my doubts...

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Reviews


get a life
Review date: 2007-12-13 Rating: 10 out of 10

why are all these reviews by anoraks, who make no comment on the product itself? These reviews are for those wishing to know what the product itself is like, ie.. the box quality, the extras and overall value for money. If I wanted to get feedback on the show I have already seen I could go to any of the sites dedicated to Dr Who,(where no-doubt all of these people have already added billions of words about this show) please remember this space is to review the product, not the TV show. Thank you.

Solid Series
Review date: 2007-12-12 Rating: 8 out of 10

I would first like to say, i am soo looking forward to the return of Catherine Tate. She was brilliant in the Xmas special, and anyone that says otherwise hasn't got a clue. The problem is, that people have typecasted her as this obnoxious, loud comedian...when in fact she is an actress. And a bloody good one...Plain and simple. And i remember people were quick to moan about the use of Billie Piper, and how she was a singer and not an actor, and see how that turned out. I think that instead of Martha Jones, (Freema Agyeman) Catherine Tate's character would have made a better assistant, but i like how they have returned her into the up and coming 4th series (As well as Rose :O :D)

I believe that the reason why people didn't enjoy the 3rd series as much as its predecessors, was because it was a change from the usual 'up-and-at-'em' approach that the previous series' carried. They lost this sense of spontaneity from the removal of Billie Piper's character Rose. The episodes were very focused around her going back to visit her family, and the baggage that she carried, which meant that when they did travel to distant planets, the going back and fourth kept the series fresh...whereas with Martha, we didn't really know much about her, or her family...and the fact that she was made to fall in love with the Doctor after barely knowning him, not only made the storyline a bit superficial, but her character lost all meaning with it. So there was nothing to fall back on when the episodes were a little boring...no character development for Martha (which was a good thing because Freema's role was boring and her character was immature...there was also no emotion in anything she said), and i feel that the Doctor's grief for Rose wasn't as targetted because of Freema's poor character, it felt like they just chucked in the mention of Rose willy-nilly just for namesake...to make people aware that actually, this still is Doctor Who. But overall, the episodes were fun and exciting, John Simm was just fantastic, and the Doctor was as brilliant as ever, but it was flawed by the trite and emotionless Martha. I suppose we could compare her to an illness...When you get sick in your holidays...you still try to make the most out of it and your still thankful for the time off :|.

Oh and the whole Dalek thing...leave it be...A great singer once wrote; "it's better to burn out than to fade away." Please, after series 1 which featured the Daleks, let them burn out instead of lose their meaning...

DR WHO GETS BETTER AND BETTER
Review date: 2007-11-23 Rating: 10 out of 10

Im suprised that there seem one or people who dont like this series
as much as the last one what was wrong with love and monsters lol
love the mr blue sky bit . After season 2 i like a lot of who fans thought how can you follow that But the writers again have come up with the goods , its always been the stories and not the effects that make DW
what it is. loved Martha Jones was sad when she didnt carry on at the end
Hman nature , Blink , the master episodes where up there with the genesis of the Daleks love and monsters lol. at the end of the 3rd series i came to the conclusion that it gets better and better roll on kylie at christmas i say.

Ace!
Review date: 2007-11-23 Rating: 10 out of 10

A lot of people have given mixed reviews. All I'm going to say is, when New Who - and especially this series - is good, its bloody magnificent. And when it's bad, it still knocks spots off everything else on telly these days.

There. I will gladly sit through the episodes that other people didn't seem to take to (Daleks in Manhatten, anyone?) rather than the tripe on cable TV. And after having watched the very last episode again, it comes off not quite as weird as I first thought.

The other outstanding eps - "Smith & Jones", "Shakespeare Code", "Gridlock", "The Lazarus Experiment", "42" (yes, I loved "42"!), the fantastic "Human Nature" + "Family of Blood", the freaky-is-cool-for-deep-people "Blink", the impossible-to-beat "Utopia"... oh what am I saying, this is 90% of the series...

You get the idea. I loved it. Just a few more outtakes on the boxed set would have been nice...

Product Details/Specifications


Actor(s):
Freema Agyeman
Derek Jacobi
John Simm
David Tennant
John Barrowman

Creators:
David Tennant (Primary Contributor)
John Simm (Primary Contributor)

Recording label: 2 Entertain Video
Manufacturer: 2 Entertain Video
EAN: 5014503253929
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 6
Format: Colour, DTS Surround Sound, PAL,
Release date: 2007-11-05
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Audience rating: To Be Announced
Region code: 2
Language: English (Original Language)

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