Doctor Who (1996)

Good concept, poorly executed.

I like movies that are aware of what they are selling... without [any] greater aspirations than to make people laugh and that's it.

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

I enjoyed watching this film and would recommend other to give it a try , (as I am) but this movie, although enjoyable to watch due to the better than average acting fails to add anything new to its storyline that is all too familiar to these types of movies.

To my fellow Brits: Let's never sell this to the States again, okay?Dr Who ran from 1963-89 and has been going again since 2005. The closest we ever got in the middle were "Dimensions In Time" (don't go there) and "The Curse Of Fatal Death" (which is incredible). Between the two we got the only canon entry from the so-called Wilderness Years in the form of this American 'effort' at a series with this film acting as a pilot-of-sorts.Fox should never have got their grubby hands on it. Dr Who is strictly British and to let the USA touch British property is wrong (even the Master is American). The only British show to have success as a US version is The Office which, in true American style, lasted too long. I'm not knocking US TV, merely stating that some things are better left to its original owners.The reason the pilot failed is essentially the bizarre choice to start by making the title character regenerate at the start. Yes, seeing McCoy become McGann has a fanboy thrill to it but this was made for a new audience and this throws them right in off the deep end. The Eighth Doctor's casting is the best thing about this as Paul McGann is terrific in the lead role. It's a shame he only did it again on screen once for a minisode 17 years later, but still he's really good at it. Just don't mention Daphne Ashbrook or Eric Roberts.It's weird that the most controversial part of this at the time was having the Doctor kiss Grace and ride a motorbike when we regularly see him kiss anything that moves if David Tenant is playing him and that time when Matt Smith motorcycled up The Shard in 2013.History will remember this oddity for one thing only and it's one that fans, cast and crew nowadays have an unspoken agreement to never mention, the elephant in the room if you will. The Doctor is half-human (on his mother's side). He could be joking, but then we see The Master confirm it.Watch this as a lesson in how not to do a pilot. Also watch it to learn about the strangest period of Dr Who history. If you want a good Eighth Doctor adventure try "The Night Of The Doctor" instead. McGann in this film is the ultimate example in wasted talent. What a mess this was. Let's just pretend this didn't happen.

"It was a request they should never have granted" The time the American's made Doctor Who. But was it worth it? Yes. Although it took SEVEN YEARS to make, it turned out to be one of the most pivotal stories in the history of the series: Time Lords, action chases, love scenes and death, destruction and disaster facing the universe on New Year's Eve 1999. With two Doctors, an old enemy and another now-alone Doctor (this one's from San Fransisco), this 90-minute TV Movie is possibly, to fans or casual viewers, either excellent or rubbish. However, with the graphic CGI and first-time orchestration of the historical theme tune, and stunning performances by Sylvester McCoy, Paul McGann (the Doctors), Daphne Ashbrook (Dr. Grace Holloway), and particularly Eric Roberts's portrayal as the Master, this TV Movie, although seen by only 9 Million people in the UK (despite there being no new WHO for seven years!)on original broadcast on Monday 23 May, 1996. With this year commemorating 50 Years of the series, and the 16th Annversary of the TV Movie, this 90 minute special surely is a testament to the greatest show in the galaxy: DOCTOR WHO!

I'm absolutely bonkers about Dr. Who. When it's at its best there is no finer Sci-Fi. It manages to mix the supernatural, science fiction, horror, comedy, and history seamlessly at times. This was the failed attempt at reviving Dr Who, with a stronger focus on getting him to break America. This was probably the biggest mistake of all. It reminds me of when pop stars/comedians try and crack the ever important (in terms of money and fame) market. It seems like a lot of the Dr's identity is lost along the way.However, being able to view this after 6 seasons of the most recent incarnations, this isn't so bad. In fact, it is a damn sight better than some of the nonsense Russell T. Davies subjected the audience to (I love a lot of his stuff, but he was hit and miss). Paul McGann is fantastic. Maybe I have a soft spot for The Doctors that didn't last long, but I can't wait to read the novels based on his character. McCoy gets a decent send off and unlike the more recent Doctors it's also fairly subtle and underplayed. Eric Roberts is menacing, but also confusing at times. He starts almost off robotic, and is later camp. A mix between the terminator, a lizard alien thing, and a gay pop star. There are some awful performances, mostly because the American cast members don't seem to understand the tone they should be going for. This is most likely down to bad direction. Overall most of the plot holes that boil fans' blood can be ignored. The half human thing kind of makes sense in a way, as a planet hopping time traveller should really spend some more time away from Earth otherwise. Daleks holding a trial is confusing though. Certainly one to check out, and actually a pleasant surprise after all the negativity.

America made Doctor Who. And it's bad. This is bad. It's horrible. I love Doctor Who, and have for a very long time. I watched this in 1996, as some kind of a pilot for Fox, and it stunk so bad. Where do I start, and how do I end? It's American made, to begin, so you know it will be bad because they are adapting a British production. So they insult it with American filmmaking. Asian gangs kill the Doctor? Please. Generic Asian actor saving him? Please. How is this story canon to the Doctor Who time line? Because it has Sylvester McCoy in it? I liked Paul McGann, a great actor from "Withnail & I." But lordy, using Eric Roberts to become the Master, yikes. And seeing the Doctor with a make-out scene. This is so American made, watered down to try and sell. Horrible. It's a painful excuse for a story. The ONLY good thing to come of this wretched lousy production (though, cool to see Will Sasso in it) is that it probably helped the 2005 revival of the show. But man, America really knows how to make bad, generic, bland TV. This is just CSI with science fiction in it. Avoid at all costs. This is not Doctor Who, this is bad Fox TV. I will never consider this canon.