| David Tennant began his victory lap as the Tenth Doctor with this engaging special episode of Doctor Who, one of four from 2009 that brought his tenure as the Time Lord to a close, and the first to be shot in HD. Tennant's palpable energy and quirky charm are the engines that drive Planet of the Dead, and he's well-matched by Michelle (Bionic Woman) Ryan as his one-off companion, Lady Christina de Souza. The lady's chosen profession--jewel thief--launches the story when she attempts to evade the police on a tour bus occupied by the Doctor. As things of this nature often go in Doctor Who, the bus slips through a wormhole in time and space and winds up on the desert planet San Helios, which harbors both the industrious, fly-headed Tritovores and a species of stingray-like creatures with voracious appetites. The script by Russell T. Davies and Gareth Roberts (the first shared writing credit since Davies revived the series in 2005) makes fun references to all manner of desert-bound cinematic adventures, from Flight of the Phoenix to Pitch Black, and if there are a few too many well-worn moments to rank it among the best Tennant episodes (the psychic bus passenger is a bit convenient), the chemistry between Tennant and Ryan, as well as fine support by comic Lee Evans and Noma Dumezweni (returning as UNIT Captain Erisa Magambo from the Rose Tyler era) and the striking Dubai locations, should keep most Who fans entertained. The sole extra is an hour-long episode of Doctor Who Confidential that covers the special episode’s production and location filming. --Paul Gaita |
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 A Fun Ride, Even Without the Tardis |
| Review Date: July 30, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Karen Joan, Texas |
DOCTOR WHO: PLANET OF THE DEAD is a very fun, very entertaining Easter special that provides fans with a light-hearted episode featuring David Tennant, the beloved Tenth Doctor. As we all know by now, this shortened 5th season will be Mr. Tennant's last, and it certainly was enjoyable to see him save the day in typical easy-going fashion.
DOCTOR WHO: PLANET OF THE DEAD is full of the characteristic energy and charm that is brought to the Tenth Doctor by David Tennant. He matches wits with Michelle Ryan, who would clearly make an excellent companion and foil for Mr. Tennant if he were continuing on. The chemistry between the two brought a well needed sparkle back to DOCTOR WHO: PLANET OF THE DEAD, and the pair was quite fun to watch.
As DOCTOR WHO: PLANET OF THE DEAD opens, Lady Christina de Souza (Ryan) is attempting to evade the police after stealing a rare and priceless artifact. Of course, she ends up on the same tour bus as our quirky, lovable Doctor. And as is expected in any episode of DOCTOR WHO, that bus then drives through a wormhole in time and space and winds up on a desert planet, placing all aboard, and all life on Earth, in terrible danger. As always, it is up to our Doctor and his faithful companion to save humanity.
The Dubai location of DOCTOR WHO: PLANET OF THE DEAD is quite spectacular, the aliens cool and retro, and the threat to Earth as expected. Is this "the best DOCTOR WHO episodes ever?" Of course not. But it is engaging, amusing, and very, very Tenth Doctor. It reminds us why we like David Tennant so much and why he will be sorely missed.
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"Doctor Who: Planet of the Dead" - Brilliant and in HD!
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| Review Date: July 29, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Pop Culture World News, |
Just released on Blu-ray yesterday is the recent Easter episode of "Doctor Who: Planet of the Dead." This is the start of the last four hours of David Tennant's tenure as the Doctor and is the first time the series is available in HD. It lives up to a Doctor Who fan's expectations brilliantly!
As writer and executive producer Russell T Davies states in the bonus material, the attitude for the episode was to "go for broke," and they certainly did. The story follows the Doctor and fellow London bus passengers through a wormhole to a deadly alien world where they must contend with humanoid flies and a swarm of armor plated stingrays. As exciting as the action is, the real draw of the series is the depth of the characters involved. The adventures through space and time provide an interesting backdrop to a story of the last member of a destroyed race who is destined to travel the universe essentially alone forever. Tennant continues to play the Doctor with the same quality that has earned him a National Television Award for Outstanding Drama Performance, and the highlight of this episode is the addition of Lady Christina de Souza, brilliantly portrayed by Michelle Ryan ("The Bionic Woman"). Ryan plays the sexy blue-blooded jewel thief with strength, wit, and an edge of irreverent fun and is a quality match to Tennant's Doctor. The chemistry between the characters drives the story as the Doctor meets an equal. One of the great aspects of Doctor Who is the strength and intelligence of the Doctor's companions. These are characters that don't just go around being saved by the Doctor but actively help him save the universe. This episode continues that tradition in spades.
This is the perfect episode to launch Doctor Who in HD. The alien world features the stark beauty of the Dubai desert, and the panoramas of the desert dunes set against cloudless, arid skies are great in HD. The special effects and alien creatures also look good as do Tennant and Ryan, which can't be said for all actors in HD.
The bonus material consists of the 60-minute special, "Doctor Who Confidential." It features interviews with the cast, crew, and creators, as well as behind the scenes footage of the making of the episode. It is quite a story that includes bringing a London double-decker bus into the middle of the Dubai desert, dealing with sandstorms, and creating alien flies. Some memorable moments include the crew sweeping the desert by hand to remove footprints in order to create a "pristine" set. It gives a good sense of all that goes into the production of the episode. Davies gives insight into how the story developed, and the actors share where their characters come from.
All in all, the Blu-ray version of "Doctor Who: Planet of the Dead" is entertaining both visually and dramatically, and the bonus documentary is just enough to add to the experience without overloading the viewer with less than quality material. I recommend it to Doctor Who fans and newcomers alike. |
AWESOME!!!
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| Review Date: June 23, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Eric Walker, |
| One greatest Sci fi programs of all time! I don't see what the big deal is with everyone and the price of the DVD!! Most of the original Who shows with tom baker and john pertwee will run at least $20 or more for one DVD.. Personally I'm Glad that the last couple of David's movies are being release indvidually rather having to pay a fortune for one big box set..The way I see it you have 2 options ... Buy the DVD and enjoy it or don't buy it and complain about how you don't have it!! |
Planet of the Dead
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| Review Date: July 23, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Jon Webster, Pittsburgh, PA |
After the emotional ride of the last season, this special offers a lighter adventure. Don't let that fool you, this is as fun as the show has been since it was revived.
For those people who complain about the presentation, don't buy it. As simple as that. |
The first Doctor on Blu-ray
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| Review Date: September 12, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Geoffroy A. Chamot, |
A great addition to my collection, especially because of the Blu-ray. The color and brilliance is awesome.
The story was fun, and I liked this side adventure. It is sad that there aren't many more episodes with Tennant, but then again, I am excited about the upcoming new Doctor! |
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