- Doctor Who - Series 4 Vol.2 [DVD] [2008]
- Doctor Who - Series 4 Vol.3 [DVD] [2008]
- Doctor Who - Series 4 Vol.4 [DVD] [2008]
- Doctor Who - Series 3 Vol.1 [2007] [DVD] [2005]
- Doctor Who - Series 3 Vol. 4 [DVD] [2007]
Browse Categories
Ads & Sponsors
ShopScifi.co.ukContributors
Like This? Want More?
Doctor Who - Series 4, Volume 1 [DVD] [2008]
![Buy Doctor Who - Series 4, Volume 1 [DVD] [2008]: Billie Piper,Catherine Tate,David Tennant,Sarah Lancashire,Bernard Cribbins,](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/514fziagN5L.jpg "Buy Doctor Who - Series 4, Volume 1 [DVD] [2008]: Billie Piper,Catherine Tate,David Tennant,Sarah Lancashire,Bernard Cribbins,")
Buy Doctor Who - Series 4, Volume 1 [DVD] [2008]: Billie Piper,Catherine Tate,David Tennant,Sarah Lancashire,Bernard Cribbins,
Buy Doctor Who - Series 4, Volume 1 [DVD] [2008] Now
Suitable for 12 years and over
2 Entertain Video
Release date: Monday 2nd of June 2008
Starring: Billie Piper, Catherine Tate, David Tennant, Sarah Lancashire, Bernard Cribbins, £17.99 We needn’t have worried. The three episodes on this disc, while not vintage Doctor Who (they always save the better episodes for the latter part of each season, after all), have plenty to offer. Partners In Crime is a fun way to start the series, primarily concerned with setting up the Catherine Tate-David Tennant mechanic, and allowing the former to dispel many of the concerns aimed in her direction. It’s forgettable stuff, about a miracle diet, but is still entertaining, and Sarah Lancashire is a welcome guest star. Next up is The Fires Of Pompeii, and this is where the action kicks in. There’s a little bit of continuing to set up the main character dynamics, but this is the episode that the effects budget was clearly thrown at. With a massive volcano eruption, impressive monsters and a fast-moving plot, it’s good stuff. Finally, a welcome return for a foe from series past, in Planet Of The Ood. This is a well-written story, with some solid monsters in it, and throws in plenty of moral conundrums along the way. Good stuff. With three good stories, there’s plenty to enjoy here, and it sees the fourth series of Doctor Who getting off to a strong start. Count us among those who can’t wait for the rest of it... --Jon Foster
Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review
There’s been a lot of pressure on the fourth series of Doctor Who. Could Russell T Davies and his team keep the momentum going? Would Catherine Tate overcome the initial criticisms and prove to be a strong companion for the Doctor? And, well, how do you top the three series of the revived show that we’ve enjoyed so far?
DOCTOR WHO SERIES 4 VOL 1
Review date: 2010-02-27 Rating: 10 out of 10
This DVD was as new still in its wrapping and I received it within a week of ordering it I was very pleased with the DVD
TO AMAZON
I notice you've made me go through every volume of doctor who on DVD I only bought 3 DVD's in series 2 separately the other series I bought in BOXED SETS
Doctor Who - Series 4, Volume 1 [DVD] [2008] Reviews
Dr Who Series 4 DVDs
Review date: 2010-02-21 Rating: 10 out of 10
My son was thrilled with this gift and has taken over the tv providing hours of fun. Came promptly and in perfect condition.
Series Four kicks off in style
Review date: 2009-05-21 Rating: 8 out of 10
'Doctor Who' returned to TV in 2008 with the prospect of featuring what might have been one of its greatest enemies - audience familiarity. With the novelty of new Who having worn off, could the series continue to attract viewers and keep them happy? Remarkably, Series Four seems to have taken the show to new heights of public popularity, and its first three episodes are present on this DVD.
'Partners in Crime' is, on the face of it, a lightweight opening episode, concerning diet pills that literally make fat walk away, in the form of baby alien creatures called Adipose. It's the kind of dubious plot that has the potential to veer into the ridiculous, and to some extent it does - but surprisingly, in a good way. It's helped by not taking itself too seriously, and of course, by Catherine Tate returning as Donna Noble, the titular Runaway Bride of the 2006 Christmas special. Russell T Davies' sparky script provides the kind of breezy breackneck pace regular viewers will be well used to, imbued with a real sense of fun. Also, the Adipose are a triumph, marking a first for the show in providing alien monsters that are genuinely rather cute. 'Partners in Crime' isn't the best the series has to offer by a long way, but it did manage to defy all my expectations and pull something entertaining out of a not-especially promising idea.
Bringing back the Ood must have seemed like a bit of a no-brainer for the production team, as they are one of the few original monsters encountered in the revived series that can properly stand shoulder to shoulder with the best of the Doctor's classic adversaries. Unfortunately, 'Planet of the Ood' is a bit of a disappointment. Visually, it's very impressive with its creation of a sprawling, snowy alien environment, but in attempting to give greater depth to the Ood, the script does them a disservice. It takes away some of the fun, leaving us with a run-of-the-mill 'Doctor Who' adventure, albeit one with one or two entertaining and somewhat macabre twists along the way.
But if you buy this DVD for one episode, make it 'The Fires of Pompeii'. Partly filmed in Italy, on standing sets from the TV series 'Rome', this story manages to cram in more incident and spectacle in 45 minutes than many Hollywood movies manage in more than twice the time. Tightly plotted, and with a collection of interesting and engaging characters, it's so much more than just an effects-filled extravaganza. Particularly noteworthy are the scenes where the Doctor and Donna find themselves at loggerheads over the rights and wrongs of altering history, and whether it is the Time Lord's place to interfere in such matters. David Tennant and Catherine Tate play these scenes beautifully, Tate in particular establishing Donna as so much more than the mouthy, self-centred figure she may have first appeared in 'The Runaway Bride'. It boasts a fine guest cast too, including Peter Capaldi and Phil Davis. If there's an episode that proves 'Doctor Who' still has much to offer, this is it.
So, a solid start to the fourth series, although only one of these episodes is absolutely essential viewing. They're all worthy of your attention to some extent, though, and the scale of their ambition has to be applauded.
Much like the DVD, and works in the US too!
Review date: 2009-05-01 Rating: 10 out of 10
Greetings all from the other side of the pond!
I took a chance and imported this to the states even though it said PAL standard. I suspected it would be a Region 0 like the first set. I was correct and it worked here in the US! Not to mention that even with the currency exchange it was still very reasonably priced!
The selection is much like the DVDs in set up and the sound quality and video quality are DVD comparative. I was very happy with this product and other Doctor Who fans will be too. I can't wait for the Volume 2 UMD to come out!
A new dawn for Donna!
Review date: 2009-02-07 Rating: 10 out of 10
The first `vanilla' release from Series four of the revived Doctor Who series stars David Tennant as the nomadic Timelord and features Catherine Tate as his companion, Donna Noble. We last saw Donna in the 2006 Christmas Special; The Runaway Bride; and she reappears here investigating the mysterious `Adipose Industries', a company that claims to have produced a fat-busting pill that leaves the user transformed - literally. Donna is clearly hoping to re-encounter The Doctor, after she rejected his previous offer to travel in time and space with him; and this she does, as it seems that the Timelord is also extremely interested in what Adipose Industries are up to. The two eventually meet in one of the series' great moments so far, and quickly prove that they are a great combination - Donna is quick to eschew any romance between them and the Doctor courteously (but clearly relieved!) concurs. `Partners in Crime' is a worthy start to the new series; although the Adipose themselves are far too bland and cuddly to make interesting aliens. The real `monster' is intergalactic super-nanny Miss Foster; played with relish by Sarah Lancashire. As a way of kicking off the new series and reminding the viewer of the state of things, this does the job perfectly; as a stand alone episode it is slightly above average.
Donna's first excursion-proper in the TARDIS takes the travellers to Rome at the height of its powers; however it isn't Rome but actually Pompeii - circa AD 79 - the day before Vesuvius erupts with devastating consequences. The lava creatures `The Pyrovile' are hiding under the volcano and using the `Sybilline Sisterhood' to convert people to Pyroviles. The sumptuous scenery (on location in Italy) and the many colourful characters, make this one of the outstanding stories filmed for Doctor Who. The new series' ability to attract great guest stars remains undiminished, with Peter Capaldi and Phil Davis appearing as local marble dealer and sinister town soothsayer respectively. The Pyrovile are also great value and the creepy sisterhood reminded me of 70s Gothic Doctor Who - specifically `The Brain of Morbius'. Apparently this was one of the least critically-acclaimed episodes in the series; but I have to confess that I enjoyed it immensely; the cringeworthy deification of The Doctor at the end notwithstanding. Visual nods to previous serials - such as the aforementioned Brain of Morbius and 1979 story `City of Death' are subtle, but great for long-term fans. Writer James Moran also incorporated several references from the first three series, such as `The Shadow Proclamation' and `The Medusa Cascade'. The central premise - that The Timelord needs an earthly companion to `humanise' him, was well-worked and not to pushy; as R.T. Davies' ideas occasionally are.
The third and final story on this disc sees the TARDIS crew travel to a `proper' alien planet, where they find themselves on the `Ood-Sphere' with the servile Ood; a race that the Ninth Doctor encountered back in the first series in 2005. The year is 4126 and The Ood are being exploited as servants for wealthy humans; Tim McInnerney's oily owner of Ood Operations, Klineman Halpen, is chief villain here; whilst Roger Griffiths plays one-dimensional sadistic Head of Security `Commander Kess'. The episode's central theme of slavery remains true to the show's original tenets to be educational and issue-based, and the central pairing of Tennant and Tate is growing into a great partnership. It's truly exciting to see such a well-realised alien world - if only The Trial of a Timelord had been able to boast such impressive CGI! The story is gripping throughout, whilst the grotesque ending is classic Doctor Who.
Product Details/Specifications
Actor(s):
Billie Piper
To find out more about Billie Piper click on their nameCatherine Tate
To find out more about Catherine Tate click on their nameDavid Tennant
To find out more about David Tennant click on their nameSarah Lancashire
To find out more about Sarah Lancashire click on their nameBernard Cribbins
To find out more about Bernard Cribbins click on their nameCreators:
David Tennant (Primary Contributor)
Catherine Tate (Primary Contributor)
Recording label: 2 Entertain Video
Manufacturer: 2 Entertain Video
EAN: 5014503260521
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: PAL, Colour,
Release date: 2008-06-02
Audience rating: Suitable for 12 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 135 minutes
