Doctor Who: Ghost Light (Story 157)
by Alan Wareing
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DVD details
Actor: Sophie Aldred, Sylvester McCoyDirector: Alan Wareing
Brand: Warner Brothers
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown), Stereo; English (Subtitled); English (Original Language), Stereo
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, NTSC, Subtitled
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 71 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2005-06-07
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Model: E2218
Studio: BBC Worldwide
Product features:
- London, 1983. An old house mysteriously burns to the ground. One hundred years earlier, the Doctor (Sylvester McCoy) and Ace arrive at a sinister mansion, where they discover that Ace's past and the house's future are inextricably linked. (Episodes 1-3, 71 mins) Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: TELEVISION Rating: NR Age: 794051221827 UPC: 794051221827 Manufacturer No:
DVD Reviews of Doctor Who: Ghost Light (Story 157)
DVD Review: This one's a real mixed bag of a grab bag
Summary: 2 Stars
The restoration team, as always, managed to work wonders to make this story presentable... Shot with poor quality cameras that weren't designed to handle low-light situations (hence the graininess), it's remarkable we got what we did.
But here's the problem: I've been a WHO fan sicne 1978, at the tender age of 6. Along comes 1989. "Ghost Light" is the first story ever that I opted to watch at a later date because it was so uninvolved and unengaging. I don't know why, especially as I managed to survive season 24 without any permanent brain damage and that season was terrible through and through. And how that seasons 25 and 26 were geared toward a mid/late-teen audience rather than the 6 year olds the previous one had tried to court. Of course, "Time and the Rani" is a fun enough romp (though being drunk on a nice cool lager helps considerably), but that review for another day...
So, along comes 1998. I sit down to watch the episode I had taped 9 years earlier. I thought it'd be a good idea to finally say "I'm a dateless geek who's seen them all!"
And sure enough, I became a dateless geek that's seen them all... I somehow managed to sit through it. I think I needed a drink beforehand and I surely did need to down a gallon of Long Island Iced Tea afterward; that always cheers me up... when trying to watch a rendition of chickenscratch scripting, I think alcohol also helps to make even the most schizophrenic writing style that much more coherent... This story isn't just lacking in the engaging category, the writing itself is either convoluted, sloppy, or both. Let's just say "both" and the extra features allude to this inference as well...
I will say this story LOOKS incredibly good (since when does the BBC screw up a period piece anyway? Even the original Doctor Who story, set during the time of the caveman, looked genuine...).
The music is also exceptionally good. Indeed, I bought the standalone soundtrack when it was released in the early 1990s. It's very atmospheric and creepy and worthy on its own. Unfortunately, it can't make second-rate writing come across any better...
This story also cemented the notion (at the time) that the series (sarcastically by annoyed fans) needed to be renamed "Ace Who", given its focus on Ace rather than the Doctor. (it's also ironic to point out that while late-80s Doctor Who is often criticized for giving the companion too much needless background info and development - and it was often needless, the new BBC series (2005) has taken a lot from this era and expanded greatly on it; with people calling it sensational and successful and a triumphant return. Okey doke, having just said that it's time for me to mix a cocktail of my favorite hard liquors and drink 'til I drop: Brandy, Whisky, Vodka, Drambuie, Tia Maria, Cointreau and Grand Marnier. (thank you #6 for those choices!) And if I can stomach watching "Ghost Light", you'll then understand it WILL take a gallon to get me to drop...
But I digress. *hic* There are some rather nice extras on this disc. Especially a great commentary by cast and composer, even with the *hic* writer. There's some insight here, but it's not the best commentary ever...
But if you think the 'deleted scenes' section will *hic* reveal any resolutions to this joke of a plot that makes "Silver Nemesis" seem like Royal Shakespeare by comparison, don't count on it. *hic*
But while the storyline is about as coherent as *hic* an infant attempting to learn English, there are some nice lines - one in particular regarding humanity comes from the Doctor itself. But the trouble is, set pieces and *hic* occasional lines of drool-worthy dialogue can't *hic* make up for a storyline that's a little too fresh from the cow pasture... (hmm, drunk and retching on foul odors, how much worse can this get?)
Also, don't think that the documentary "Light in Dark Places" will be helpful; our mystery writer (it's a mystery that he became a writer) didn't show up for this one to explain it... :-( And, like the 75 minute story itself, this doco is also a bit too long.
This release is obviously for those fans who'll buy every release just for the sake of saying "I have them all, nyah nyah nyah-nyah-nyah" (like myself) or for the true fans of this story, of which there are many on both sides of the *hic* pond...
There, I think I'm *hic* sober again...
It's also been said that repeated viewings can help make sense of this, ahem, DISASTER. This unfortunately goes back to the other point; who in their right mind could truly sit through this even more than once unless they were drawn in by its superficial elements and atypical, bizarre feel (ditto for the new Doctor Who series...)?
Get it on sale if you can, though the 20% off isn't what I'd call terrible. For repeat viewings, for showing your friends as an example of fine quality Doctor Who (or, let's face it, even showing your worst enemies in an attempt to turn them into pillars of salt), this particular story isn't worth the money - but if you're a completist or a fan of this story, it's worth every penny and then some. As for me, I wouldn't likely even spend a penny on it, but then would I even think of confusing you with British slang? :-)
(one little note: You're more likely to enjoy my little review than you are when trying to watch the story, whose plot revolves around Ace, some one-liners featuring the Doctor, and some bafflegab regarding evolution... it's just another form of sci-fi... and unlike most sci-fi, it's badly written out. (and as a Christian myself, I could care less if evolution is real, if it's part of God's plan, or if it's a load of bunk. Helping other people freely, in good faith, is why I am one.))
Description of Doctor Who: Ghost Light (Story 157)
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