Owing to complex IP issues, the 1996 Doctor Who tv-movie – featuring the one and only tv appearance of the 8th Doctor – has long been unavailable here in Region 1. (Well, I say unavailable … of course there are region-free bootleg copies of the Region 2 disk floating around, but their picture quality is not great.) But it looks like the legal obstacles to a Region 1 dvd are finally being cleared away.
The tv-movie, a failed pilot for the first attempt at a Who revival, isn’t as good as the revived series that would eventually succeed a decade later; for one thing, it’s too oriented (or orientated, as our transoceanic cousins would say) toward American audiences to feel quite authentic. (The Master with an American accent? Really? It makes me tremble for Torchwood.) Still, this was the first time that Who was presented with modern production values and a decent sfx budget, and it serves as an interesting bridge between the classic show and the new one.
The TV movie’s Victorian steampunk Tardis interior is still my favorite Tardis design.
This organic-looking room from the 10th Doctor’s TARDIS is interesting. You’d think he could have an elevator in there, though.
More details on the announcement. (Though as yet no word as to whether it’ll be part of a Revisitations box set with the new disks of “Androzani” and “Weng-Chiang” as it is in the u.k.)