tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3737235139994190228.post2903472156947722392..comments2024-01-10T00:07:48.304+00:00Comments on Cathode Ray Tube: DOCTOR WHO: Series 5 - The Eleventh Hour / ReviewFrank Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00680654042528560764noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3737235139994190228.post-66949772005241399902010-04-20T20:15:21.850+01:002010-04-20T20:15:21.850+01:00Glad someone else noticed how Michael Palin-ish Ma...Glad someone else noticed how Michael Palin-ish Matt looks! :D I loved the guy instantly.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3737235139994190228.post-7988195394040340382010-04-15T20:01:11.076+01:002010-04-15T20:01:11.076+01:00Hi Frank, like you I wasn't raving about the t...Hi Frank, like you I wasn't raving about the theme tune - sounds like distortion has been introduced. I thought that there were lots of references to Spearhead from Space which was nice.Beekeeperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16713043865895170503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3737235139994190228.post-61069094444810152872010-04-05T23:22:14.249+01:002010-04-05T23:22:14.249+01:00Sarah and Tim - again thanks! Like that notion of ...Sarah and Tim - again thanks! Like that notion of yours Sarah that the computer virus that sets everything to zero is a perfect metaphor that indicates that Moffat is also setting the series to zero! Brilliant.Frank Collinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00680654042528560764noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3737235139994190228.post-67285701971542646322010-04-05T23:19:10.679+01:002010-04-05T23:19:10.679+01:00chas_m, thank you so much for those comments. I...chas_m, thank you so much for those comments. I'm so glad you brought up the cinematography on this episode. It's something I too noticed. Lovely use of deep focus and lighting and it makes the series look so much better and very cinematic.<br /><br />There is a lot of stuff in that episode that quite frankly suggests something much darker going on under the surface and Moffat has indicated this in his last column for DWM. <br /><br />Amy and the Doctor play a game of bluff with each other and the scanner screen on the TARDIS indicates that the Doctor is aware that something is up and that he can't tell Amy. And why does he purposefully go back and collect her? She's important to the whole crack in the universe plot I betcha!Frank Collinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00680654042528560764noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3737235139994190228.post-2349369718289158812010-04-05T20:13:37.719+01:002010-04-05T20:13:37.719+01:00Really insightful review as always (I love your bl...Really insightful review as always (I love your blog!). Wonderful episode: I liked the concept of the virus created to communicate to the Atraxi - 'reset' everything to zero - also works as an implicit comment on the 'all new' nature of the new Who set-up?Sarahnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3737235139994190228.post-21751642294505110032010-04-05T17:07:40.371+01:002010-04-05T17:07:40.371+01:00What a lovely write-up, Mr Frank sir. Thankyou.
&...What a lovely write-up, Mr Frank sir. Thankyou.<br /><br />"Adam Smith acquits himself far better in the whole of the opening half with the young Amy, played with utter charm by Caitlin Blackwood, and the entire sequence of the Doctor trying various items of food is edited and scored to perfection and has that wonderful reverse in the comedy of the situation when the Doctor concludes that Amy is very brave but it "must be a hell of a scary crack in your wall" considering she's sat in the kitchen, in the middle of the night, with a total stranger who's eating fish fingers and custard."<br /><br />I thought this part was delightful too :) I hope we see Caitlin again at some point...<br /><br />TimAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3737235139994190228.post-69102107857819200052010-04-05T12:03:31.994+01:002010-04-05T12:03:31.994+01:00PS. Look at that shot you posted of Matt appearing...PS. Look at that shot you posted of Matt appearing over the ruined TARDIS and tell me that's not Michael Palin. HA!chas_mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10365057094888352212noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3737235139994190228.post-2005632140324320492010-04-05T12:00:18.078+01:002010-04-05T12:00:18.078+01:00As usual, Frank, you are a very sharp writer and a...As usual, Frank, you are a very sharp writer and a keen-eyed reviewer. Of all the comment/reviews on the 11th Hour I've read, yours has the single best line:<br />"Not since Tom Baker skipped on the spot with Ian Marter in Robot have we had an actor who so physically owns the role."<br />Well done.<br /><br />What's most interesting to me on second viewing, however, is the cinematography. Lots and lots and LOTS of depth of field effect, particularly noticeable in the HD version. I don't think Tennant had so much of that, and while we're on the topic the lighting in this thing was just WOW throughout. Flawless.<br /><br />So it turns out, I read elsewhere, that Matt's mum is a massive DW fan, specifically of Troughton. Explains much. I definitely saw that in Smith's approach, along with a fair bit of Davison and (as befits this episode) some direct and indirect Tennant. Oh, and somewhere Douglas Adams is smiling, that much is sure.<br /><br />Another thing: this episode REALLY stands up to repeated watching. Indeed, there is some VERY subtle stuff and significance in places unseen on first viewing. Did you notice, for example, the "wall crack" was being monitored on the oscilliscope in the TARDIS? Or how Smith looks over Jeff on their first meeting? Plenty there for fanwank writers to nobble on ...<br /><br />As for the titles and theme: I'm even more down on it than you are. Won't say "hated it," might let the theme tune grow on me, but the title sequence (sponsored by the Weather Channel) is (I'm sorry) utter FAIL.<br /><br />The "eye of the Doctor" sequence was forced but not without precedent; the TV-Movie had a very similar sequence. As long as that sort of thing is used once per Doctor to try and explain to a new audience why he really IS an alien, I'm perfectly A-OK with it. Just don't do it again. :)<br /><br />Overall, it's a great "new Doctor story." Next week, however, is the real test. Isn't it always?chas_mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10365057094888352212noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3737235139994190228.post-23285226886349320662010-04-04T21:35:18.305+01:002010-04-04T21:35:18.305+01:00Frank
As ever, a brilliant piece of analysis. We ...Frank<br /><br />As ever, a brilliant piece of analysis. We are going to have an exceptional 27 episodes with Moffat, Smith and Gillan at the helm of our show. This episode sets the bar so high already and the coming soon section made it feel like it will deliver.Kevhttp://fazzinchi.co.uk/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3737235139994190228.post-77095402750283198052010-04-04T19:01:55.963+01:002010-04-04T19:01:55.963+01:00Oh, I'm so glad other people had a problem wit...Oh, I'm so glad other people had a problem with the titles and the music. I was actually hoping Murray Gold would be sent packing with RTD, Julie and David, as his intrusive attitude just gets on my nerves. There were actually moments during the original broadcast of "Silence in the Library"/"Forest of the Dead" in which I couldn't hear the dialogue! Same with "The Waters of Mars". Anyway, Gold rant over.<br /><br />Loved the episode, love Matt Smith, like the Eleventh Doctor, and very fond of Amy Pond. The naysayers were always going to have a problem: it's part of their nature.TheatreMad87https://www.blogger.com/profile/15750070810229335224noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3737235139994190228.post-46976308265124060512010-04-04T14:03:48.654+01:002010-04-04T14:03:48.654+01:00Having seen "The Eleventh Hour" last nig...Having seen "The Eleventh Hour" last night with<br />my brother, we both agreed it was an excellent<br />episode. <br /><br />"The New Doctor Who" must be surpassed<br />only by "the New James Bond" in terms of <br />an actor's performance getting subject to<br />fan scrutiny, but I think Matt Smith managed<br />his first story very well. The scenes with <br />the young Amy were very good and he reminded me<br />a little of both Tom and Peter there. I liked<br />the idea of Amy meeting him as a kid and being<br />obsessed with meeting him again. Although the<br />idea of a child going away with a strange man<br />did strike me as a little dodgy. <br /><br />I thought the rest of the cast performed well-<br />Karen makes a likeable companion, Arthur<br />is good as her boyfriend (he reminded me of<br />"Blink"'s Larry) and, who'd<br />have thought "Peep Show's" Sophie could have<br />made such a scary alien? <br /><br />I agree with you about Murray Gold's new theme<br />not being much good, but otherwise, it<br />was an excellent Doctor debut story.<br /><br />Roll on the 2010 season!Vector-Victorhttp://anorakzoneforum.informe.com/portal.htmlnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3737235139994190228.post-77389204487102205842010-04-04T13:10:59.532+01:002010-04-04T13:10:59.532+01:00Very kind comments!
I really enjoyed that episod...Very kind comments! <br /><br />I really enjoyed that episode apart from my personal niggles about the titles and music. Matt's debut is so assured here and must silence the naysayers who thought he was too young for the role. And Karen is lovely and makes Amy so different from the previous companions post 2005.<br /><br />I think we're in for a treat in the next 13 weeks!Frank Collinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00680654042528560764noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3737235139994190228.post-38921779040930986692010-04-04T12:39:50.663+01:002010-04-04T12:39:50.663+01:00A very good review of an excellent episode. Apart ...A very good review of an excellent episode. Apart from the opening titles, I enjoyed it immensley, and Smith is a great doctor.Wostry Ferenchttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07846171947391655246noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3737235139994190228.post-54879946975782339682010-04-04T11:40:23.964+01:002010-04-04T11:40:23.964+01:00You are a fantastic writer Frank and this is a fan...You are a fantastic writer Frank and this is a fantastic reviewxxnapoleonsolohttp://scyfilove.comnoreply@blogger.com