Doctor Who

TV Review: Clever ‘Orphan Black’ Joins BBC’s Supernatural Saturday

BrianTT — Sat, 30 Mar 2013 15:05:08 -0400

CHICAGO – “Orphan Black” joins “Doctor Who” and the new program “The Nerdist” for a night of genre fun on BBC America every weekend that is known as “Supernatural Saturday.” “Who” is still the gem here but “Black” starts promisingly enough with an engaging, sexy lead performance and clever, high-concept hook. Have you ever been mistaken for someone else? Has a friend told you they saw someone who looked JUST like you on the bus? It’s happened to us all. But what if your doppelganger was more than just a coincidence?

Television Rating: 3.5/5.0

Sarah (Tatiana Maslany) is on the run. She’s led a strange, difficult life and is trying to get her daughter back from a mysterious woman known as Mrs. S. (Maria Doyle Kennedy), the adoptive mother who took her and her foster brother Felix (Jordan Gavaris) across the pond years ago. Now, Sarah and Felix are back in the U.K. and Sarah has gotten in with some violent, drug-dealing types, including a boyfriend named Vic (Michael Mando). Sarah is struggling one night in a train station when she looks across the platform and sees her mirror image, a girl named Beth. Beth drops her purse and then drops herself in front of a train.

Orphan Black
Photo credit: BBC America

Sarah gets over the shock of essentially seeing herself commit suicide quickly enough to make the most crucial decision of her life — she steals Beth’s identity. Why not? She needs a way out and it was Sarah who died on that train track not the seemingly wealthy, happy, stable, and in love with a cute guy named Paul (Dylan Bruce) girl who looked just like her. Sarah copies Beth’s accent, wears her clothes, and then learns that Beth was into a weird world. Beth was a copy investigating something revolutionary — that it’s no coincidence that Beth & Sarah looked identical.

“Orphan Black” took a litle while to work on me, in no small part because Sarah/Beth and Felix aren’t the most likable of characters to start. It’s hard to root for this girl who the writers give us almost no background on. I get that the idea is to unwrap new secrets about both Beth & Sarah’s pasts as the show goes along but it makes for tough going at the start when there’s no emotional hook to give us a reason to care what happens to them.

With that in mind, it’s remarkable how well Maslany carries the show. She’s in nearly every scene and will be forced to play multiple characters throughout the show. She’s an engaging, beautiful lead and her charismatic performance is the best thing about the premiere. Some of the cheesy dialogue does her no favors but Maslany makes this incredibly complex character (more than one of them actually) engaging enough to keep me interested in what happens to her next week.

“Orphan Black” stars Tatiana Maslany, Jordan Gavaris, Dylan Bruce, Maria Doyle Kennedy, Michael Mando, and Kevin Hanchard. It premieres on BBC America on Saturday, March 30, 2013 at 8pm CST.

By BRIAN TALLERICO
Content Director
HollywoodChicago.com
brian@hollywoodchicago.com

TV Review: Beloved ‘Doctor Who’ Returns with Stellar Series Premiere

BrianTT — Sat, 01 Sep 2012 12:34:27 -0400

CHICAGO – The good doctor is back in the TV office as “Doctor Who” returns tonight, September 1, 2012 for a five-episode run in which two characters will say goodbye and we will transition into the next phase of one of the most influential sci-fi shows of all time. Can “Doctor Who” survive without Amy and Rory? Can a show that has always adapted to change do so yet again? Of course. As long as the writing remains this impressive and consistent.

Television Rating: 4.5/5.0

How is it that “Doctor Who” can adjust its cast and tone so often and still remain creatively potent? It’s all about personality. As I watched the stellar premiere, “Asylum of the Daleks,” I was struck by how unique and instantly identifiable the world of “Doctor Who” has been for decades. Especially in its current reboot phase, the creators of “Doctor Who” have maintained a consistency of storytelling and vision that can be adjusted no matter who is in front of the camera. It never feels like “Doctor Who” is sacrificing its vision to appeal to a lowest common denominator or focus group. It is only loyal to its own history and its devoted audience, one that’s sure to be satisfied with a series 7 premiere that makes nods to the show’s past while also looking to its future.

Doctor Who
Photo credit: BBC

The biggest nod to the past in the series 7 premiere of “Doctor Who” is right there in the title — “Asylum of the Daleks.” In the opening scenes, the Doctor (Matt Smith), Amy (Karen Gillan), and Rory (Arthur Darvill) are kidnapped by the Dalek Parliament and taken aboard a ship above a planet that is revealed to be the title of the episode — a spinning orb of the Daleks that were deemed crazy and uncontrollable. There’s a human shipwrecked on the planet sending a distress signal of classical music. Naturally, the concern is simple — as the Doctor says, “If something can get in, everything can get out.” They send the Doctor, Amy, and Rory in to determine the source of the signal before the entire asylum is shut down permanently.

Doctor Who
Photo credit: BBC

“Asylum of the Daleks” (which was written by the brilliant rebooot show showrunner Steven Moffat and actually represents the writer’s first attempt at crafting a story for the legendary characters) reportedly features a visual incarnation of every Dalek from the long history of “Who” but it’s no mere ode to the iconic villains that still charmingly look like trash cans with flashlights taped to them. It’s a wonderful script with a spectacular series of twists in the final act that will leave “Who” fans smiling. The actual planet is built up as such a place of sheer lunacy that the art direction after the Doctor and his bickering partners get there is a bit of a letdown. I wanted a bit more creativity to the design of the Asylum but it’s a minor complaint.

All complaints I could levy at “Asylum of the Daleks” are minor. The massive hit (numbers for the show’s airings on BBC America keep rising every year) has lost none of its confidence, creativity, or, most importantly, personality. The show has such style, confidence, and sense of character that it’s easy to see why viewers have been so loyal to it for years. We’re only getting “Doctor Who” for one month this year (it will be on five episodes — every Saturday in September) but it’s going to be a fantastic month for sci-fi fans.

“Doctor Who” stars Matt Smith, Karen Gillan, and Arthur Darvill. The Series 7 premiere was written by Steven Moffat and directed by Nick Hurran. It premieres on Saturday, September 1, 2012 at 8pm CST.

By BRIAN TALLERICO
Content Director
HollywoodChicago.com
brian@hollywoodchicago.com

Blu-ray Review: Excellent Set For ‘Doctor Who: The Complete Sixth Series’

BrianTT — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 11:30:38 -0500

CHICAGO – The sixth season of “Doctor Who” made the biggest waves stateside, in no small part due to a marketing blitz tied into the fact that the program was, for the first time, premiering in the U.S. at the same time it was in the U.K. (For years, the series would air in its home country and be imported later.) It also became a very divisive season. Do a Twitter search and you’ll find ecstatic love and pure hatred for this season. In the end, I think it settled into an agreement that it may have had some inconsistency but that it was yet another quality season overall of one of the best sci-fi shows of the last decade. Now you can see for yourself with the six-disc Blu-ray set from BBC Home Video.

Blu-ray Rating: 4.5/5.0

Few studios do TV-on-Blu-ray better than BBC. They put clear love and devotion into these releases, aware that their programs have loyal followings that don’t just want typical space fillers but have the commitment to dive deeper into their most beloved shows. The sixth series of “Doctor Who” features hours of extras along with spectacular HD transfers. This is one of those very-rare circumstances in which the video looks even better than the original HD broadcast. Too often it is the opposite, as studios don’t bother to do enough HD remastering. These episodes look incredible.

And, like most “Doctor Who” seasons and most BBC releases overall, the set is loaded down with enough special features to take up days of your life. The entire sixth disc is made up of episodes of the great series “Doctor Who Confidential,” which offers behind-the-scenes insights into every single episode of the season (for the record, the set opens with the Christmas episode, “A Christmas Carol,” and that episode’s “Confidential” is on the first disc with it, along with two “Comic Relief Sketches.”

The set also includes five “Night and the Doctor” additional scenes, four “The Monster Files,” trailers, “Doctor Who Confidential: A Nights’ Tale,” and commentaries on “The Impossible Astronaut,” “The Doctor’s Wife,” “The Rebel Flesh,” “A Good Man Goes to War,” and “The Wedding of River Song.”

Doctor Who
Photo credit: BBC

Synopsis:
Matt Smith and Karen Gillen make their triumphant return as the Doctor and his companion in an all-new series of Doctor Who coming to DVD and Blu-ray in 2011. This release combines the two halves of series six with the 2010 Christmas Special plus hours of bonus material to make a spectacular collectible that no fan will want to miss! The new series includes the first ever episodes shot in the US and promises new thrills, new monsters, and new adventures which will leave fans pinned to the edge of their seats.

Special Features:
o 5x Night And The Doctor Additional Scenes
o 2x Comic Relief Sketches
o Commentaries
o 4x The Monster Files
o 5x Prequels
o Trailers
o 14x Doctor Who Confidential
o Doctor Who Confidential: A Nights’ Tale

“Doctor Who: The Complete Sixth Series” stars Matt Smith, Karen Gillan, Arthur Davill, and Alex Kingston. It was released on Blu-ray and DVD on November 22nd, 2011.

By BRIAN TALLERICO
Content Director
HollywoodChicago.com
brian@hollywoodchicago.com

Blu-Ray Review: ‘Torchwood: The Complete Original UK Series,’ ‘Doctor Who: Series Six, Part 1’

BrianTT — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 17:27:24 -0400

CHICAGO – Are you loving the Starz import of the great “Torchwood” into the pretty-good “Torchwood: Miracle Day” and wondering where the heck Jack Harkness (John Barrowman) came from? Do you already know about one of the best sci-fi series of the last decade? Either way, the gorgeous HD box set for “Torchwood: The Complete Original UK Series” is spectacular and you might as well keep your BBC fix going with the strong “Doctor Who: Series Six, Part 1,” both released this week on Blu-ray.

“Doctor Who: Series Six, Part 1”

Blu-Ray Rating: 4.0/5.0

Let’s start with the new material. “Doctor Who” made something of a controversial leap stateside earlier this year with a two-part season premiere that not only played with American history but aired here on BBC America simultaneously with its U.K. premiere for the first time. “Doctor Who” was international. After a strong start, fans grumbled a bit about the course of the season with more comparing it unfavorably to recent seasons than is often the case, but there are still some incredibly strong episodes in this two-disc set, including one written by the spectacular Neil Gaiman.

Doctor Who: Series Six, Part 1 was released on Blu-ray and DVD on July 19th, 2011
Photo credit: BBC/Warner Bros.

If you’re unfamiliar, Matt Smith took over for the great David Tennant and stepped into some pretty big shoes as the new doctor but he’s given this beloved character his own unique personality while also not breaking too far from what works about him in the first place. Smith is just getting better, blending intelligence, whimsy, and a bit of danger into his performance. He’s very good here. And Karen Gillan matches him in the performance department, perfectly imbuing Amy with both infatuation with the doctor and infuriation at some of his behavior. She’s both attracted to him and terrified of him. She’s great.

Of course, a show like “Doctor Who” requires more than strong leads, as fans have become accustomed to some whimsical, charming, clever adventures for the Doctor and his team and the writing was a bit off in this half-season. I liked the premiere the first time but it doesn’t hold up well again and the third episode about a siren and a group of pirates is shockingly ineffective. Still, a sub-par half-season of “Doctor Who” is better than a lot of sci-fi choices on the market. Pick it up.

Synopsis:
“Matt Smith and Karen Gillan make their triumphant return as the Doctor and his companion in an all-new series of Doctor Who! The new series will split in two parts, with DVD/Blu-ray release dates in July and in early November, closely following their premiere runs on BBC America, and then a complete series gift set just in time for the holidays. In Part 1, the Doctor, Amy and Rory find themselves in Sixties America, battling the invasion the world forgot, then journey on the high seas of 1696 aboard a pirate ship, to solve the mystery of the Siren. In a bubble universe at the very edge of reality, the Doctor meets an old friend with a new face, and in a monastery on a remote island in the near future, an industrial accident takes on a terrible human shape. And waiting for them, at the end of all this, is the battle of Demon’s Run, and the Doctor’s darkest hour. Can even the truth about River Song save the Time Lord’s soul? Only two things are certain. Silence will fall. And a good man is going to die…”

Special Features:
o Monster Files

“Torchwood: The Complete Original UK Series”

Blu-Ray Rating: 5.0/5.0

I adore the original “Torchwood.” There’s something both tragic and great about the fact that it will never be more than two series/seasons and “Children of Earth.” Like a band that broke up before it could release a crappy album, “Torchwood” in its UK incarnation will always be a thing of perfect beauty. All sci-fi fans should own every episode and if you haven’t picked up the individual box sets yet than this is clearly the way to go. It’s a showcase item for your TV-on-Blu-Ray collection. Don’t miss it.

Torchwood: The Complete Original UK Series was released on Blu-ray and DVD on July 19th, 2011
Photo credit: BBC/Warner Bros.

Synopsis:
“Separate from the government, outside the police, beyond the United Nations, Torchwood sets its own rules. Led by the enigmatic, ever watchful Captain Jack Harkness (John Barrowman, Doctor Who, Central Park West), the Torchwood team delves into the unknown and fights the impossible. Everyone who works for Torchwood is young. Some say that’s because it’s a new science. Others say it’s because they die young.”

Special Features:
o Deleted Scenes
o Outtakes
o Torchwood Declassified
o Featurettes
o Commentary

“Doctor Who: Series Six, Part 1” and “Torchwood: The Complete Original UK Series” were both released on Blu-ray on July 19th, 2011 from BBC/Warner Bros.

By BRIAN TALLERICO
Content Director
HollywoodChicago.com
brian@hollywoodchicago.com

On WGN Radio: HollywoodChicago.com’s Brian Tallerico on ‘Doctor Who,’ ‘Cinema Verite,’ ‘Treme’

BrianTT — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 10:42:09 -0400

CHICAGO – Brian Tallerico guests on Bill Moller’s show on WGN-Radio in Chicago on Apr. 23, 2011 to preview and review new shows for the next week including BBC America’s “Doctor Who,” HBO’s “Cinema Verite” & “Treme,” NBC’s “The Voice,” Comedy Central’s “South Park,” and more.

By BRIAN TALLERICO
Content Director
HollywoodChicago.com
brian@hollywoodchicago.com

TV Review: Riveting Season Premiere of BBC’s ‘Doctor Who’

BrianTT — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 13:14:31 -0400

CHICAGO – BBC America has been blanketing major markets with advertising for tonight’s premiere of the new season of “Doctor Who,” debuting for the first time on the same weekend as it does in the United Kingdom. Maybe you saw the billboards at the Lake Street station and marveled that a program that first premiered in 1963 was still on the air. Not only is the TARDIS still functioning but the program has arguably never been better.

Television Rating: 4.5/5.0

It may be coincidental but the season premiere of “Doctor Who” not only marks the first time the season will air on both sides of the pond nearly simultaneously (most BBC America programming consists of episodes that have already aired in the U.K.) but it also marks the first time that a large portion of the show was shot in the States. The good doctor really is taking over the world. And he’s starting in 1969.

Doctor Who
Photo credit: BBC

The premiere of “Doctor Who” is titled “The Impossible Astronaut” and I wouldn’t dare ruin its many surprises. It has already been revealed that this season would mark a darker turn in the tone of the show (although last season featured some dark episodes as well) and that seems clear from the very beginning. A major character dies in the first episode, forcing the action into, of all places, Richard Nixon’s White House in 1969.

Doctor Who
Photo credit: BBC

Why there? Well, there’s an alien invasion on the way. Isn’t there always? Nixon has been getting phone calls from someone/something, no matter where he may be in the world. The child-sounding thing on the other end of the line sounds scared and Nixon calls in a special agent to try and solve the terrifying situation. That’s when the Doctor (Matt Smith), River Song (Alex Kingston), Amy Pond (Karen Gillan), and Rory (Arthur Darvill) drop in.

Perhaps the most wonderful element of the new incarnation of “Doctor Who” has been the boundless creativity allowed the writers by being able to play with space and time. In the first episode alone, there’s an alien creature with the brilliant little trick in which you don’t remember they exist when you’re not looking right at them. How else could aliens exist among us but in the shadows? Nobody knows they’re invading because no one can remember them. Brilliant.

Finding a way to work the FBI, ’60s alien paranoia, Area 51, Richard Nixon, Amy Pond, River Song, and the Doctor into one episode and make it feel consistently creative instead of just wacky is a feat of a great team of writers. This is the smartest sci-fi show currently on the air and it’s almost like they’re showing off with the season premiere.

Doctor Who
Photo credit: BBC

And it helps to have a cast this uniformly talented. Smith stepped into some very big shoes when he took over for the great David Tennant but he’s given this beloved character his own unique personality while also not breaking too far from what works about Doctor Who. Smith is just getting better, blending intelligence, whimsy, and a bit of danger into his performance.

Gillan matches him in the performance department, perfectly imbuing Amy with both infatuation with the doctor and infuriation at some of his behavior. She’s both attracted to him and terrified of him. She’s great. And, of course, any episode in which the great Alex Kingston can guest star is probably a good one.

The season premiere of “Doctor Who” runs a little long as most two-part, two-hour episodes do, but the fatigue usually encountered by feature-length premieres is only barely here. With several unpredictable twists and turns, especially in the even-stronger second half, this premiere is a statement — “Doctor Who” is back, possibly better than ever, and ready to treat the sickness of boring TV.

The new season of “Doctor Who” premieres on BBC America on Saturday, April 23rd, 2011 at 8pm CST. It stars Matt Smith and Karen Gillan and guest stars Alex Kingston. It was executive produced by Steven Moffat, Piers Wenger, and Beth Willis.

By BRIAN TALLERICO
Content Director
HollywoodChicago.com
brian@hollywoodchicago.com

Blu-Ray Review: ‘Doctor Who: The Complete Fifth Series,’ ‘Sherlock’ Are Both Great

BrianTT — Sun, 21 Nov 2010 17:31:06 -0500

CHICAGO – Two of the more beloved and acclaimed properties in the 2010 BBC output were released on Blu-ray this month and both should be near the top of holiday wish lists for genre fans. The simple fact is that BBC is doing fantasy, science fiction, and even thriller better than anyone right now and one need look no further than “Doctor Who: The Complete Fifth Series” and “Sherlock,” two sets brimming with greatness.

“Doctor Who: The Complete Fifth Series”

Blu-Ray Rating: 5.0/5.0

The eleventh doctor made his debut this year in the fifth series of the new version of “Doctor Who” and one of the best sci-fi programs of the ’00s not only didn’t lose a step but arguably improved. The elder stateman of the best network on television in terms of genre programming (with other great offerings that include “Torchwood,” “Primeval,” and “Being Human” among others) shows no signs of its age with this incredible box set of entertaining programming, perfect HD video & audio, and an amazing amount of special features.

First, a very brief history. One of the most influential and beloved characters in the canon of TV science fiction had faded into relative obscurity until 2005 when Russell T. Davies rebooted the legendary franchise. It started with the great Christopher Eccleston in the timeless role but he quickly handed the controls of the TARDIS over to the excellent tenth doctor played by David Tennant, someone who was so good in the part that fans wondered if he could ever be replaced. Who could have the same blend of comic timing, charm, and straight-up heroism?

Doctor Who: The Complete Fifth Series was released on Blu-ray and DVD on November 9th, 2010
Photo credit: BBC/WB

Enter Matt Smith. He’s far from a Tennant copycat but he brings a similarly-impressive amount of small-screen charisma with his own unique style, look, and energy. With the new doctor, a new showrunner (Steven Moffat) and a new female lead (Karen Gillan), “Doctor Who: The Complete Fifth Series” proved that shows this good can survive major creative shifts as long as they stay true to the fundamental appeal of the program in the first place. This is the same clever, witty, and subversive science fiction that has made “Doctor Who” a household name.

Smith finds a way to be somehow smooth and gawky at the same time. He’s “nerd cool” in the way he often appears to stumble to his destination and yet believably plays the intellect of his character at the same time. His comic timing is excellent, especially when playing off the strikingly-beautiful Karen Gillan as his new companion Amy Pond. In a very clever move, Moffat designed a back story for Amy that creates a unique doctor-companion dynamic. It turns out that Amy has been somewhat obsessed with the Doctor since he first dropped into her life as a youth. He’s kind of her childhood hero but also an object of sexual chemistry. Gillan matches Smith with pitch-perfect delivery and charming characterization. She screams future star.

The Blu-ray release of “Doctor Who: The Complete Fifth Series” looks about as impressive as any HD transfer I’ve recently seen. It’s beautiful, as nearly every BBC/WB Blu-ray release typically ends up (and the sound mix is similarly strong: an essential part of the sci-fi experience in that the effects, music, and dialogue need to find just the right levels). The special features on past “Doctor Who” releases have been notable and they’re not about to start releasing bare-bones collections now. This is yet another fantastic release for a fantastic show.

Special Features:
o 2 “Meanwhile on the TARDIS” Additional Scenes
o 4 “The Monster Files”
o 3-Part Video Diary
o 13 “Doctor Who Confidential”
o 6 “In-Vision Commentaries”
o Outtakes
o Over 20 Teasers and Trailers

“Sherlock”

Blu-Ray Rating: 5.0/5.0

I was familiar with “Doctor Who” going into my coverage of the fifth series of BD and have more than a passing knowledge of quality British programming but I had yet to catch up with the highly-buzzed “Sherlock,” a modern adaptation of the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle legend that replayed stateside not on BBC America but on PBS. I had heard it was great and you probably have as well. It’s even better than you’ve heard.

I would gladly watch hours of this version of “Sherlock” over the Guy Ritchie/Robert Downey Jr. incarnation which turned the brainy hero into an action star. This version has more in common with “Doctor Who” than mere studio and release date: It too was created by Steven Moffat. With his work on “Coupling,” “Jekyll,” “Doctor Who,” “Sherlock” and more, he needs to be considered for the short list of the most inspired TV writers working today. And “Sherlock” is arguably his best work to date.

Sherlock: Season One was released on Blu-ray and DVD on November 9th, 2010
Photo credit: BBC/WB

“Sherlock” is not a typical TV series by U.S. standards. There aren’t 22 episodes of generic mysteries of the week. Instead of that structure, the team behind the show produced what are essentially three TV movies with the same central characters but different mysteries. They are titled “A Study in Pink,” “The Blind Banker,” and “The Great Game” and they’re all five-star fantastic.

Benedict Cumberbatch (“Atonement”) stars as the title character, reimagined in modern times as something between an annoyance and a genius for Scotland Yard. This Sherlock is sort of a recluse, a man turned into a loner by his amazing insight. When he meets Dr. Watson (the great Martin Freeman of “The Office” and “Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy”) in the first film, he immediately knows that the good doctor was injured in recent combat in Iraq or Afghanistan. When he later explains to Watson how he knew, it impresses the somewhat-sad doctor instead of pushing him away. An instant partnership is formed.

What can I say about “Sherlock”? It’s smart, quickly-paced, funny, charming, and riveting. Mystery fans that have been fed a steady diet of popcorn entertainment with the U.S. franchises like “C.S.I.” or “Law & Order” will be blown away by the taste of this full meal. This is television closer to “Prime Suspect” than “The Mentalist” and it nearly makes all other mysteries that aired in 2010 look stupid by comparison. Don’t miss it.

Special Features:
o Episode 1 Commentary featuring: Mark Gatiss, Steven Moffat, Sue Vertue
o Episode 3 Commentary featuring: Benedict Cumberbatch, Martin Freeman, Mark Gatiss
o Exclusive Pilot Episode: Sherlock - A Study in Pink
o Unlocking Sherlock - The making of

“Doctor Who: The Complete Fifth Series” stars Matt Smith and Karen Gillan. It was released on Blu-ray and DVD on November 9th, 2010. It is not rated and runs 585 minutes.

“Sherlock: Season One” stars Benedict Cumberbatch and Karen Gillan. It was released on Blu-ray and DVD on November 9th, 2010. It is not rated and runs 270 minutes.

By BRIAN TALLERICO
Content Director
HollywoodChicago.com
brian@hollywoodchicago.com

HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Free Blu-Rays, DVDs to BBC’s ‘Hamlet’ With David Tennant, Patrick Stewart

HollywoodChicago.com — Fri, 14 May 2010 13:42:13 -0400

CHICAGO – Following our rave review this week of the new BBC and Royal Shakespeare Company production of William Shakespeare’s “Hamlet,” we have secured for you a rare opportunity to win two Blu-rays and two DVDs for four winners!

This “Hamlet” features “Doctor Who” star David Tennant, “Star Trek: The Next Generation” star Patrick Stewart, Penny Downie, Oliver Ford Davies, Peter De Jersey, Mariah Gale and Edward Bennett. It was written by William Shakespeare and directed by Gregory Doran. The Blu-ray was released on May 4, 2010 from BBC Home Video. The film is not rated.

To win your free “Hamlet” Blu-ray or DVD courtesy of HollywoodChicago.com, all you need to do is answer a question in this Web-based submission form. That’s it! Directions to enter this HollywoodChicago.com Hookup and immediately win can be found beneath the graphic below.

David Tennant and Patrick Stewart star in BBC’s “Hamlet”.
Image credit: BBC Home Video

Here is the “Hamlet” plot description:

David Tennant and Patrick Stewart star in this critically acclaimed production of William Shakespeare’s masterpiece from Britain’s renowned Royal Shakespeare Company. No recent stage production in Britain has attracted the excitement and nearly unanimous critical praise as this “Hamlet”.

Tennant’s interpretation was recognized as defining the role for a generation. Stewart’s complex Claudius won the Olivier Award, which is Britain’s highest stage honor. In this specially shot screen version, which was filmed on location rather than in the theater, Tennant and Stewart reprise their roles. Dynamic, exciting and contemporary, it breathes new life into Shakespeare’s greatest play.

The trailer for BBC’s “Hamlet” can be watched now below.

To secure your free Blu-ray or DVD, you must be logged into your HollywoodChicago.com Web site account. If you don’t yet have one, you can quickly register here. Having a free Web site account with a valid e-mail address is required to win this HollywoodChicago.com Hookup.

Next, simply answer our question. You must submit your answer using this confidential, Web-based submission form. Please do not comment in this Hookup. Your entry will be invalid if you only comment here and don’t submit into our Web-based form. Please only submit your answer using this submission form.

You must include your first and last name, e-mail address and physical mailing address in your submission. Your personal information will not be sold or shared, will be kept strictly confidential and is only for awarding winning entries. Please answer our question below.

When it comes to Shakespeare, do you most love a comedy or a tragedy?

This HollywoodChicago.com Hookup is simple: four HollywoodChicago.com readers will be randomly selected as the winners for our “Hamlet” Hookup! Winners will receive their discs via mail at our expense.

By ADAM FENDELMAN
Editor-in-Chief/Publisher
HollywoodChicago.com
adam@hollywoodchicago.com

Blu-Ray Review: ‘Hamlet’ With ‘Doctor Who’ Star David Tennant

BrianTT — Wed, 12 May 2010 16:13:56 -0400

CHICAGO – Having been a theater major who openly knelt at the altar of William Shakespeare for many of my formative stage years and then later became a film critic, I believe the number of versions of “Hamlet” I have seen to number around eight - three times on stage and five on celluloid. And yet I still was blown away by BBC’s production of the Royal Shakespeare Theatre version of the timeless play.

Blu-Ray Rating: 4.5/5.0

The first version of “Hamlet” available on Blu-ray (Branagh’s 1996 version will be available in August) also happens to be the best in years. The modernized-but-faithful telling of the Bard’s classic tale of betrayal and revenge was a critical smash when it premiered at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre and someone at the BBC was smart enough to suggest that perhaps a filmed record of the show might be in order.

To be fair, this is not merely a “filmed play”. While it’s clear to see what the stage version looked like with its all-black floor and unusual costumes, this was shot single-camera, allowing for close-ups and a more theatrical film aesthetic. The charismatic star of “Doctor Who” until recently, David Tennant, takes on the role of Prince Hamlet with Patrick Stewart playing both King Claudius and the ghost of Hamlet’s father. Penny Downie takes on Queen Gertrude, Oliver Ford Davies is memorable as Polonius, Peter de Jersey appears as Horatio, Mariah Gale devours the role of Ophelia, and Edward Bennett plays Laertes. The film was directed, as it was on-stage, by Gregory Doran, the Chief Associate Director of the RSC.

Hamlet was released on Blu-Ray and DVD on May 4th, 2010.
Photo credit: BBC

“Hamlet” has been told so many times that the twists and turns of its well-known plot aren’t nearly as essential to its telling as the details. It’s the little things that distinguish Doran’s version of “Hamlet”. Take for example the legendary “To Be or Not To Be” soliloquoy. Doran makes the daring decision to shoot the monologue almost entirely in extreme close-up, counting on the incredibly expressive face of Tennant to sell the piece without the typical pacing or other blocking so many directors use to enhance the scene.

And Tennant absolutely closes the sale. This is my favorite filmed portrayal of Hamlet since Olivier (and, to be fair, it’s completely different than Sir Laurence’s). There’s an emotional rawness to Tennant that’s perfect for the role of a man who is literally turning himself inside out with each revelation of betrayal. (I loved the costume choice during the “To Be” soliloquy and the scene with Ophelia that follows to put Hamlet in a shirt that looks like you can see his insides.) Tennant brings the same charm as he did to Doctor Who, which makes the idea that Hamlet is a well-liked Prince an easy sell, but he lays his soul on the stage with a truly remarkable performance. Tennant’s work is all the more amplified by Stewart’s typically fantastic supporting work in that the man formerly known as Picard has such buttoned-up, refined, eloquent style that it serves as the perfect villainous counterpoint to Tennant’s emotional rawness.

It helps the production that the Blu-ray release of “Hamlet” is visually flawless, bringing the immediacy and urgency of the play right into your living room. The release also includes an audio commentary with Gregory Doran, Sebastian Grant and Chris Seager, and a brief making-of featurette.

‘Hamlet’ is released by BBC Home Video and stars David Tennant, Patrick Stewart, Penny Downie, Oliver Ford Davies, Peter de Jersey, Mariah Gale, and Edward Bennett. It was written by William Shakespeare and directed by Gregory Doran. The Blu-Ray was released on May 4th, 2010. It is not rated.

By BRIAN TALLERICO
Content Director
HollywoodChicago.com
brian@hollywoodchicago.com

TV Review of ‘Doctor Who’: New Team, Same Great Show

BrianTT — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 11:54:27 -0400

CHICAGO – The eleventh doctor makes his debut tonight on the highly anticipated BBC America season premiere of the great “Doctor Who,” one of the most purely entertaining shows on television. If you call yourself a science fiction fan and you’re not watching what BBC America has offered over the least year with good-to-great programs including “Torchwood,” “Primeval,” “Being Human,” “Demons,” “Ashes to Ashes,” and “Survivors”. “Doctor Who” is the elder statesman of them all and he shows no sign of his age.

Television Rating: 4.5/5.0

Although he has, technically, gotten younger with the addition of new star Matt Smith. In case you’re completely unfamiliar with the current resurgence of one of the most essential genre characters of all time, get thee to a Netflix queue. After fading into relative obscurity for many years, the man who rides the TARDIS was brought back to the forefront in 2005 with the premiere of Russell T. Davies’ remarkable reboot of the franchise. Christopher Eccleston played the good doctor at first but quickly handed the reins over to the excellent tenth doctor played by David Tennant, who has held the role for the last five years. His shoes are big ones to fill as the show has remained wildly popular with BBC America fans here in the States.

Doctor Who: Karen Gillan and Matt Smith.
Photo credit: BBC

As the series approaches its fiftieth anniversary, the saga of the doctor must go on. And so we meet the newest doctor, played by the boyish Matt Smith, a stage actor who becomes the youngest actor to ever play the doctor at only 27. Wisely, the team behind “Doctor Who” didn’t try to find a Tennant copycat and brought on someone with his own style, look, and energy. The show has also seen a major shift behind-the-scenes with a new showrunner (Steven Moffat) and it definitely has a slightly altered tone to reflect the new lead. Don’t worry: This is still the clever, witty, subversive sci-fi that you know and love.

Doctor Who: Matt Smith and Karen Gillan.
Photo credit: BBC

We meet the new doctor hanging from the TARDIS as it speeds through the sky toward Big Ben. After the credits, he’s crashed in some poor girl’s backyard and emerges somewhat worse for wear but having lost none of that typical Doctor charm. He’s still being “formed” as the new doctor - the character regenerates into new bodies, explaining the different actors - and Smith puts his stamp on the character immediately. He’s somehow both suave and gawky at the same time. He’s quick-witted and yet somewhat bumbling; charming but also socially awkward. Smith is a perfect fit in that he can perfectly deliver a line like “Do I just have a face that nobody listens to?”

Immediately, as the Doctor tries to find something to eat and throughout the episode, Smith’s comic timing is perfect. He’s both entertaining and believable as a hero. Of course, nothing can be known for sure after only one episode and we wish BBC had sent us more, but this is the kind of debut that bodes well for the future of “Doctor Who”.

Of course, a new doctor means a new companion: Amy Pond (the strikingly beautiful redhead Karen Gillan), the aforementioned girl who watches the good doctor literally drop into her life. Introduced as a child, we meet Amy again after the Doctor promises to be back in five minutes and shows up twelve years later. Naturally, the handsome man who agreed with her that the crack in her wall was not inconsequential has been her obsession for the last decade or so, making for an interesting companion-doctor relationship in that he’s kind of her childhood hero; it’s an imaginary friend come to life. Gillan matches Smith with pitch-perfect delivery and charming characterization while also being one of the most stunning future stars now on TV.

Doctor Who: Matt Smith.
Photo credit: BBC

The first episode, “The Eleventh Hour,” has a lot to handle. It must introduce the new doctor, new companion, and present a standalone plot; one that’s pretty standard for the show but handled with typical wit and truly remarkable pacing. That’s the most amazing thing about “Doctor Who”. It runs 64 minutes and feels a quarter as long with a breakneck pace that still doesn’t feel rushed. It’s a remarkably well made show despite its budget limitations. In fact, the cheap special effects almost make it more endearing.

Over four decades of time-travelling, shape-shifting, and numerous attempts to destroy our planet and “Doctor Who” has not faltered in the slightest. Of course, changes in lead and showrunner are likely to lead some purists and those who run the David Tennant Fan Club to cry foul, but the show is just as entertaining as it has been at any point during its current era. And the thought that Smith, Gillan and Moffat could actually improve on this premiere as they get more experienced should make any “Doctor Who” fan downright giddy.

The new season of “Doctor Who” premieres on BBC America on Saturday, April 17th, 2010 at 8pm CST. It stars Matt Smith and Karen Gillan. It was executive produced by Steven Moffat, Piers Wenger, and Beth Willis.

By BRIAN TALLERICO
Content Director
HollywoodChicago.com
brian@hollywoodchicago.com