KOOL TV REVIEW: 'DOCTOR WHO - SCREAM OF THE SHALKA' DVD

Sound scares! The new DOCTOR WHO (Richard E. Grant) and friends face the Scream of the Shalka. Images: BBC.

DOCTOR WHO - SCREAM OF THE SHALKA

Starring Richard E. Grant as the Doctor

Written by Paul Cornell
Directed by Wilson Milam

Release date: 16th September 2013, from BBC WORLDWIDE


Reviewed by Scott Weller


Bringing a very definite looking Vampire/Goth aura to his travels through the fifth dimension of space and time, the alternate ninth DOCTOR WHO, as personified by Richard E. Grant in his first and only appearance as the Time Lord hero -fights a scaly new menace to mankind and the universe within the series first animated film, 2003's 40th anniversary celebration landmark Scream of the Shalka, now making its colourful debut on DVD from the BBC.

Arrival in a frightened town: Richard E. Grant's incarnation of the Doctor.

▶ DAVID PREVIEW OF DOCTOR WHO -SCREM OF THE SHALKA DVD OUT 16TH SEPEMPER 2013 - YouTube

Fan author turned respected TV writer Paul Cornell comfortably shapes the destiny of this four-colour version of the Doctor-a more grim looking, isolated and grim attitudes figure who, now firmly working for his Gallifrey superiors, arrives in England to discover just how grim being "Up North" can be when he discovers a Lancashire town gripped in fear by the presence of horrific underground creatures, the Shalka, whose terrifying screams resonate with power and destruction. Having landed on the planet via a crashed meteorite, the creatures soon have a huge plan for our shiny blue/green planet and its resources, hoping to turn humanity into its slaves. Not if the Doctor has anything to do with it though, of which hes ably assisted by youthful and adventurous new companion, Alison (Sophie Okonedo) , her boyfriend, Joe (Craig Kelly), and brave soldiers helping in the best UNIT tradition (led by Jim Norton as Major Kennet) . There's even a robot form of the Doctor's old enemy, the Master (nicely voiced by Derek Jacobi, long before he briefly inherited the part in the David Tennant era), stuck in the TARDIS to occasional help our hero and provide such much needed sardonic, if a little camp, wit. As the presence and plans of the Shalka are properly unveiled in the six-part story, alongside hitherto unknown powers, their malignant leader, Prime (Diana Quick, clearly relishing playing a WHO monster) proves a formidable enemy for our hero of the ages to lock horns with, and another fine female villain to add to the series historical roster. And talking of David Tennant, look out for his fun voice cameo!

The Shalka screaming starts!

Richard E. Grant can't help but channel parts of his earlier and beloved WITHNAIL & I performance into his portrayal of the Doctor, and feels slightly uncomfortable in early episodes, but by by the story's big face-off conclusion you can tell he's had a lot of fun ultimately playing the role and made it uniquely his own, bringing some genuine flourishes of drama and occasionally out there improvised comedy, too. its a shame that his planned for second story was terminated- despite being a big success on the BBCi webcast site, the animated series got very little publicity attention and resources from the BBC, who were, at that time focusing, quite rightly, on the impending arrival of the series live action return with Christopher Eccleston in the role, under the command auspices of new series guru Russell T. Davies. SCREAM's animation looks pretty basic then and now, what with its Flash animation- and was always supposed to be designed to be, for a time when the Internet and its technology was still very much in its infancy, but animators COSGROVE HALL- legends in the field for children's animated television programmes, do manage to sneak in some intriguing visuals and QUATERMASS-like atmosphere that also captures that essential British-ness of DOCTOR WHO.

The evil Shalka leader, Prime (voiced by Diana Quick).

On the DVD extras front, there's a solid behind the scenes commentary from writer Cornell, producer James Goss, and director Wilson Milam, a fascinating and revealing documentary, Carry On Screaming, introduced and produced by Goss (one of the main dedicated creatives on the project from the start) who outlines its inspired but also troubled making-a production concept with inspirational ideas that didn't always pan out (unused stories for a mini season and even the fascinating but bizarre idea of casting WHO fan Robbie Williams, then at the height of his popularity, in the lead role!), facing internal BBC management friction and their poor decision making (resentments from the corporation towards the WHO franchise in general still very much in evidence), plus the limited budget in the face of such a bold new experiment within new technology. And yet, amazingly, the small production time rides the Big Kahuna to deliver something very good for its time, and something still quite unique in the series history. Its a half hour well worth watching, especially for any future DOCTOR WHO producers out there!

TARDIS buddies: the Doctor and the Master (voiced by Derek Jacobi).

There's also another accompanying and excellent featurette, Interweb of Fear, which takes a look at how DOCTOR WHO has evolved to become such a vital part of the online community and been a key success for the BBC, from its early breaks into the Internet to what it is now, making the most of rapidly unceasing advances in website and archive playing (bless that old CULT TV site of theirs!). Furthermore, there are of their time interviews with the supporting cast (including Sophie Okonedo, Diana Quick, Jim Norton, and director Wilson Milam), the complete incidental music score, production notes, an animation photo gallery, and a trailer for the next Classic WHO release that takes us back into live action, and scary goings on at Scotland's Tulloch Moor, as Tom Baker's Fourth Doctor adds some tartan to his costumed get-up, once alongside UNIT, in the just in time release for the shows Fiftieth Anniversary, facing the Terror of the Zygons...

The Doctor and Alison (Sophie Okonedo): protectors of the Earth!

KOOL TV RATING: A nostalgic trip down animation lane, for an overall underrated and mostly satisfying animated project, worthy of a retrospective DVD release of its own- a project celebrating the old series strengths but also providing an early kind of blueprint for format changes, plot and character elements that would play such a vital part of the series modern success just a few short years later. 3 out of 5

Get hold of DOCTOR WHO: SCREAM OF THE SHALKA here:
Doctor Who - Scream of the Shalka [DVD]: Amazon.co.uk: Richard E. Grant, Sophie Okonedo, Derek Jacobi, Craig Kelly, Diana Quick: Film & TV

BLOODIED TOGAS! THE RETURN OF 'I, CLAUDIUS'

Blood and glory- an empire witnessed in I, CLAUDIUS. Images: BBC.

The Ewings, Carringtons and Borgias may know a thing or two about family conflict, but they're still in the nursery compared to the court of the Roman Empire at its peak of power, debauchery and murder, as seen in the history telling of Robert Graves supreme dramatic epic: I, CLAUDIUS, adapted by Jack Pulman for the BBC, and one of the corporation's greatest dramas - a true international success that has indomitably served the test of time. It's now getting a deserved seven part re-airing on the UK's BBC 4, weekly from tonight.

A respected theatre talent, Derek Jacobi launches his TV acting career to great acclaim and audience appreciation with his incredible lead performance as the likable, clever and all-round decent Claudius-the overall storyteller/narrator of this fine and often bloody piece charting the history of the nest of vipers power players that ruled an empire across the world, and of their eventual and deservedly epic fall from grace. Claudius's only weakness was to be born with a stammer, which hampered his progress amongst his family, friends and peers, who all considered him the runt and fool of the litter when, in actuality, he was anything but. Intelligent, clever and resourceful, knowing when to keep his head down and say the right words at the right time (sometimes, even, caught in events by accident or through the vagaries of cruel fate), he learns to adapt and survive the many hurricane-like incidents that the mistress of history throws at him...

Derek Jacobi as the downtrodden Claudius.

With the kind of supporting cast that most casting directors these days would kill for, including Brian Blessed as the wise but brash Augustus, Sian Philips as his wife- the true serpent in Eden- Livia Drusilla, and John Hurt and Christopher Biggins, both of whom thoroughly scare and totally repel as the insane figures of Caligula and Nero, there's also a whole wealth of superb supporting stars adding much to the tapestry, including a curly wigged Patrick Stewart as Guard Commander Lucius Aelius Sejanus, Ian Ogilvy as Nero Claudius, Margaret Tyzack as Antonia Minor, Patricia Quinn as Livilla, and so, so many more...

John Hurt, truly terrifying as Caligula.

BAFTA winning, I, CLAUDIUS is rife with classic moments of character and incident, quiet beauty opposite brutal terror. Pulman's memorable adaptation is concise and effective, capturing Grave's work beautifully for the small screen. Shot entirely in studio, the direction by a Herbert Wise (also launched onto an even greater film/TV career from this success) is lavish and atmospheric-a storyteller who knows how to get the best out of his actors and the environment they bring to life so vividly and decadently. If you've never seen it before, you're in for a treat-one of the real gems of mid-to-late seventies British television.

Iconic title sequence: I Claudius episode 1 A Touch of Murder opening - YouTube