I generally don’t take up your time in our DVD Reviews on titles with few bonus features, but there’s a bit of a story with this one.

The Tripods was a short-lived (two seasons of 13 episodes each) BBC series co-produced with a French broadcaster, and it aired in 1985-86 during the “doldrums months” during which, as far as we knew, Doctor Who was cancelled forever. Based on John Christopher’s Tripods novels (“The White Mountains”, “The City Of Gold And Lead”, “The Pool Of Fire”), the Tripods series is actually one of the best examples I’ve yet seen of a book-to-TV adaptation, spreading each book out over a 13-episode season at a leisurely pace. Well, at least that was the plan: the BBC dropped the show before the climactic third season could be made, and the show – like so many cult favorites in the history of British SFTV – ended on a permanent cliffhanger. (more…)

I’ve already raved ad nauseum about the movie, but now it’s time to heap praise – well, mostly praise – upon the long overdue DVD release of The Black Hole.

This is one of those movies that begs to be seen in widescreen, and Anchor Bay, those saviors of Disney’s original troika of non-G-rated films, released a remastered edition of The Black Hole on VHS and DVD. And the package is, minus any commentaries or an isolated score track, almost perfect. (more…)

The original Electric Light Orchestra is fondly remembered (and sometimes even laughed at) for its laser-laden 1970s light show, replete with dancing cellists and rumors that the band used pre-recorded backing tracks. When the group broke up after its 1986 album, drummer Bev Bevan rounded up some other musicians – eventually picking up original ELO alumni Mik Kaminski (violin), Kelly Groucutt (bass/vocals) and Louis Clark (orchestral arranger/keyboardist) for the ride. Thus was born ELO Part II, an oft-misunderstood group which – even after its own disbanding – may be forever doomed to be regarded as an ELO cover band. (more…)

George Lucas would be proud. This DVD, one of the first three Doctor Who titles released in the U.S., does not feature the original version of the show’s 20th anniversary special as seen in 1983, but a new “special edition” promising extra footage and more modern effects.

I’ve always had reservations about revisionist filmmaking – and those reservations come into sharp focus when we’re talking about something I’ve probably seen a hundred times, like The Five Doctors. (more…)