Doctor Who: The Tomb of the Cyberman

It's unfortunate that so many of the Second Doctor's adventures are now lost to us, possibly forever. It's very fortunate, however, that one of the surviving stories is this one, recovered back in the 1990s. It's got the Second Doctor, Victoria, Jamie and the Cybermen!

The story consists of a team of archaeologists who arrive on Telos, with the Doctor showing up shortly thereafter. They all wind up going into the titular tomb where they find stacks of frozen cybermen, waiting to be revived. That this happens is something of a given, and things get very nasty very fast.

This is a good, simple story with some wonderful scenes, especially one between the Doctor and Victoria where he talks about the loss of family members, and makes the point that they aren't ever really gone as long as he can remember them. Also noteworthy, though not in the most positive way, are the American accents that a couple of the actors try on for size. Imagine having John Wayne trying to sound Cockney and you'll get some idea of what happens.

This disc was released back in the early 2000s, but now it's getting the special treatment. In addition to the previous features, you also get:

* New Commentary
* Tomb and the Magic of VidFIRE documentary
* All four episodes VidFIREd for the first time
* Sky Ray promotional TV spot
* Lost Giants documentary
* Curse of the Cybermen's Tomb documentary
* Cybermen (extended edition of the documentary that appeared on a box-set of more recent episodes)

(all information comes from a review on Amazon's UK site)

This is an excellent, if not entirely perfect, story and a great example of what the Second Doctor was like. It's also, if I remember right, the only intact story with Victoria, so for that reason alone, it's a must-have.

One of only three complete serials to be recovered since 1978, the Tomb of the Cybermen is a classic story. The Doctor and companions arrive on Telos, where the mighty Cybemen are rumored to have retreated. They meet an archeological expedition, inent on learning the Cybermen's secrets. When the Cyber Controller awakens, it might just become a tomb for everyone involved.

The story is well written and everyone is on top form. Troughton especially shines here, getting great lines and showing what he can do with the Doctor. The guest cast all perform well, with the possible exception of Captain Harper, who puts it on a bit thick. The set design is impressive, and though there are a few bloopers, the story never fails to capture the imagination. This is the only complete story from either seasons 4 or 5, so it stands alone as what a complete early Troughton tale is like.

Originally released in 2002, this special edition features a complete new restoration of the material, The VIDFIRE process has been applied to make the recordings looks like they would have on original transmission. It will also contain a whole disc of new special features:
* Morris Barry Introduction - The director's introduction from the 1993 VHS release.
* Title Sequence - Tests and build-up elements for the Patrick Troughton title sequence.
* Late Night Line-Up - behind the scenes at the BBC Visual Effects department to interview Jack Kine.
* The Final End - The Evil of the Daleks is mostly missing from the BBC archives. A small taste of the climactic battle...
* Abominable Snowmen Audio Trailer
* Coming Soon Trailer
* Production Subtitles
* The Lost Giants - Cast and crew look back on the making of the story.
* The Curse of the Cybermen's Tomb - Sir Christopher Frayling and Dr Debbie Challis examine the ancient Egyptian origins to the story.
* Cybermen - Extended Edition - A history of the Cybermen.
* The Magic of VidFIRE - A look at the technology behind the VidFIRE process.
* Sky Ray Advert - 1960's Doctor Who themed promo for Walls Sky Ray ice lolly.
* Photo Gallery
* Radio Times Listings

With a wealth of features, a new restoration, and a great story, this is a must have. If you have never seen a Second Doctor story, this is the one to start on. It's Doctor Who at his best, and well worth the upgrade.

Got this DVD last week. The quality of the remastered picture is amazing. I also think the special features are very entertaining. This is a must have for Doctor Who fans!

› Go to Amazon.com to see all 8 reviews  4.1 out of 5 stars