September 15th, 2016
140 comments
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Doctor Who The Movie Blu-ray
Available to order in the UK from www.amazon.co.uk
Also available to order in the UK from www.zavvi.com
Also available to order in the UK from www.forbiddenplanet.com
Available to order in France from www.amazon.fr
Whilst returning the Master’s remains to their home planet of Gallifrey, the Doctor (Sylvester McCoy) crash lands the TARDIS on Earth in end-of-century San Francisco.
Gunned down by a street gang, the Doctor is rushed to hospital, where exploratory surgery by Doctor Grace Holloway triggers a regeneration.
The Master has meanwhile taken over the body of a paramedic and infiltrated the Doctor’s TARDIS, which he plans to use in his latest scheme to take over the Doctor’s new body and destroy the world.
Filmed as the pilot for a revived ‘Doctor Who’ series – tailored to the American market – which subsequently failed to materialise, this feature-length adventure introduces Paul McGann as the renegade Time Lord.
This Blu-ray is an ‘upscale’ version of the TV Movie.
Disc 1 Extras
- Commentary #1
From director Geoffrey Sax (recorded 2001) - Commentary #2
By Paul McGann and Sylvester McCoy, moderated by Nicolas Briggs (recorded 2009) - The Seven Year Hitch
Documenting the return Doctor Who to the screen. Narrated by Amanda Drew. - The Doctor’s Strange Love
Writers Joe Lidster and Simon Guerrier discuss The TV Movie with comedian Josie Long. - The Night of the Doctor
The Night of the Doctor was a mini-episode released in 2013 in the run-up to the show’s 50th anniversary special. This marks Paul McGann’s second on-screen appearance as the Eighth Doctor. - Photo Gallery
- Isolated Score
The option to view The TV Movie with the isolated music soundtrack. - Music Tracks
Four tracks from the production presented in full: In a Dream, All Dressed Up, Ride into the Moonlight and Auld Lang Syne. - Production Subtitles
Disc 2 Extras
- Paul McGann Audition
- Electric Press Kit
Used by Fox in 1996, this includes a short documentary and interview segments to allow other broadcasters to put together their own packages about the TV Movie. - Behind the Scenes
On set and on location in Vancouver, Canada during the filming of The TV Movie. - Philip Segal’s Tour of the TARDIS
- Alternate Takes
- BBC Trails
- Who Peter 1989-2009
The second part of this documentary, exploring the special relationship between Doctor Who and Blue Peter. Presented by Gethin Jones. - The Wilderness Years
In the years between the end of the classic series and the broadcast of The TV Movie, Doctor Who survived in print, video and audio, kept alive by fans who were determined not to let it die. - Stripped for Action – The Eighth Doctor
Looking at the Doctor’s adventures in comic-strip form. - Tomorrow’s Times – The Eight Doctor
A look back at the contemporary coverage of The TV Movie in newspapers and other publications. Presented by Nicholas Courtney. - VFX Tests June 1994
Early video effects tests by Amblin Imaging in 1994, featuring the ‘Spider Dalek’ design. - VFX March 1996
Video effects presented as mute time-coded ‘work in progress’ shots from the CGI department.
Doctor Who: The Movie is released on bluray on September 19, 2016
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DoctorFan
August 12th, 2016 - 7:15pmNot sure about Eric Roberts strange face expression
Phil
August 12th, 2016 - 6:58pmWill this be released in the US?
booboo
August 12th, 2016 - 7:08pmone would hope so, site will be updated if we see it
mrcrazyesque
August 12th, 2016 - 5:18pmIs there likely to be a zaavi steelbook like with spearhead from space?
booboo
August 12th, 2016 - 5:42pmwho knows
Phil
August 12th, 2016 - 6:57pmI could be wrong but I thought I read that they were. You will have to check with them.
booboo
August 12th, 2016 - 7:00pmwould make sense
Grant
August 12th, 2016 - 4:59pmIf your going to Pre-Order, go for Zavvi. Cheaper as always.
ahunter8056
August 12th, 2016 - 6:11pmCheaper, but very poor service and customer service. Ordered a Blu-Ray from there last year, it took me 11 days to get it, and customer service repeatedly refused to help me. I could definitely not recommend them.
Cyberdevil
August 12th, 2016 - 4:49pmThe Night of the Doctor is on Disc One. Other than that there are no new extras. It is just an upscale.
Gerry
August 12th, 2016 - 2:04pmThis hasn’t dated too badly and I’m looking forward to seeing what the final picture quality will be like. Ironically with all the great CGI in Dr Who now, this movie was the last time the Tardis exterior prop actually resembled a real Police box. The Christopher Eccleston Tardis looked like a fan prop with it’s big dumb square panels and just way too big. Yes it’s improved slightly over the seasons but the Tardis prop in this film is bang on.
Grant
August 12th, 2016 - 4:52pmI agree. Exterior of the movie Tardis is my favourite by far. Never have warmed to 2005+ Tardis. Always seems far too big on the outside (which defeats the point really!)
Floppy Who
August 12th, 2016 - 6:07pmI think the original 1963 is actually the closest to a real Police Box. The main body of the box is taller above the “Police Box” signage panels before the stacking starts on the roof.
Having said that, there were so many variants of the Metropolitan Police Box, it’s difficult to say…!
The Twelfth Doctor
August 12th, 2016 - 7:25pmThe interiors are also larger though Grant
toptimelord
August 12th, 2016 - 1:24pmDoctor Who The Movie always deserved a blu ray release! That is such stunning art work. It’s my favourite Doctor Who story!
Nicholas
August 12th, 2016 - 1:04pmLovely cover! So pleased the spine matches with Spearhead
Cyberdevil
August 12th, 2016 - 12:26pmThe cover is now up on Amazon.
Coolicle
August 9th, 2016 - 7:52pmAlso listed on Zavvi
John Bergqvist
August 4th, 2016 - 3:59pmOf course, lets not forget that despite it being shot (and aired in the US – via pulldown) at 24fps – the R2 DVDs are affected by PAL Speedup. However unfortunately so is the R1 DVD I believe, due to the Restoration Team basing the R1 release from their PAL remaster. So hopefully we may at least this time get a worldwide 24fps release at the correct speed – even if it’s an upscale of the PAL version, they could apply reverse-PAL-speedup to that master tbh.
Anonymous
August 4th, 2016 - 6:18pmI understand the 24fps but just wondering what does “via pulldown” mean?
Gordon
August 3rd, 2016 - 11:47pmLee binding mentioned on Twitter that he has done the blu Ray cover
Jay Glover
August 5th, 2016 - 3:24pmI just got to say I didn’t like his last artwork
On the Underwater Menace
It was just The 2nd Doctor didn’t look right
What happen to the other person who did it
Grant
August 12th, 2016 - 4:56pmIt used to be Clayton Hickman who designed the covers (awesomely might I add) Hit him up on twitter and ask why he stopped, he usually replies to people =)
the ergon
August 3rd, 2016 - 1:08pmI,ll forsake the blu-ray release and await any 4k releases. Its as bog standard now as dvd and am quite happy with that, not starting a format thats 10 years plus. Might be in for a long wait.
Anonymous
August 4th, 2016 - 9:55amSeriously? You expect it in 4K???
the ergon
August 4th, 2016 - 4:07pmRealistically thats not happening yet. maybe series 1-9 in a year or 2.
Anonymous
August 5th, 2016 - 3:34amSome of the releases weren’t even at DVD standard (not the fault of the RT, the footage just wasn’t up to it), HD is pie in the sky, never mind 4K.
Gordon
August 5th, 2016 - 9:36amFrom day of the dead onwards maybe. Everything else isn’t even close to being able to be 4K
Phil
August 5th, 2016 - 7:30pmI’m going to assume that he is cracking a joke as it regards 4k. The BBC was late to both the dvd and Blu-ray formats plus with the Beeb shifting to online media I doubt we would see Anything on hard-disk in the next decade of future installments let alone classic material.
the ergon
August 7th, 2016 - 2:15pmThing is i,ve only just bought the 4k tv and player. The 4k releases are going to be trickling out slowly from september. Until prices for the players and tvs come way down in price like bluray there won,t be that interest. Its mainly to upgrade my tv and film collection and no doubt they will try out the big hitters first like star wars and the like. Doctor who is always back of the queue. We didn,t get the first dvds till 99, 2 years after dvd came in. In fact idon,t see where the range can go from dvd for classic release. I can play bluray releases on the player but i just dont want toshell out for classic releases on bluray now unless the bbc find some way to move with the times and offer a modern option. I do own 1-9 on bluray and will continue with the modern who range.
Anonymous
August 2nd, 2016 - 9:04pmBooboo what when was the first Sarah Jane companion magazine special released?
Gordon
August 2nd, 2016 - 4:30pmim thinking about what extras we can maybe get which wasn’t on the special edition. The special edition isn’t really missing much in regards to commentaries or making of etc so it doesn’t really leave much material missing
2003 Shada (on the disc instead of on the computer which was what happened to it on the Shada dvd)
Night of the Doctor
Doctors revisited: 8th doctor
Pops
August 3rd, 2016 - 5:43amDamn if that’s the case I hope we get another DVD release as well…would love all of this comprised together as a set…
booboo
August 2nd, 2016 - 9:40amDon’t have any more details but this listing is correct and scheduled
When The Doctor Was Me
August 2nd, 2016 - 10:06amI want to preorder it but want to wait until theres artwork and more details.
Andrew
July 31st, 2016 - 11:08pmI suspect this is a toe dipping, vanilla transfer.
But wait and see
Anonymous
August 2nd, 2016 - 12:08pmThere’s various release standards that would make such a release illegal. Just wait and see.
Whovastron
August 2nd, 2016 - 12:39pmWhat does that even mean?
Anonymous
August 2nd, 2016 - 8:47pmIt means they can’t just transfer what they already have on a Blu Ray disc and release it because people expect HD content from Blu Ray purchases.
It’s technically possible and would improve the audio quality substantially, but as the visual element would be left in SD they wouldn’t be allowed to release it. The fact it is coming out suggests they’ve been able to locate the original footage and upgrade from source as they did with Spearhead from Space.
Gordon
August 2nd, 2016 - 11:56pmThey haven’t found the reels. It’s a simple upscale job. Queen and Rolling Stones have had releases where it’s just the audio that’s in high def so it’s not illegal. red dwarf are getting seasons 1-5 released on blu Ray and that was recorded on tape not film and that’s a simple upscale job so imagine it’s similar in this case if the film reels can’t be found
Gareth Pugh
August 3rd, 2016 - 12:00amI’m not sure a straight transfer would be against any actual laws, just as in my yoof (sigh), as a parallel example, the old 12″ format of a single was certainly expected to offer added value in terms of more musical content, nevertheless I do have a couple of 12″ singles from my fave bands of the time that turned out to be simply the same versions of tracks and the same running time, as the 7″ content, just on a bigger piece of plastic for almost double the asking price. But a straight transfer would, I totally agree, go against the public’s expectations of what a Blu Ray should be about – as you say, much better picture (and sound) quality than a DVD.
Anonymous
August 3rd, 2016 - 2:29amI’m taking the word of the Restoration Team, although given their reaction to this it wouldn’t surprise me if they’ve been lied to as well.
Gordon
August 3rd, 2016 - 3:05amWell I wouldn’t say the restoration team have been lied to. When the listing came up Steve Roberts notes “anything other than an upscale sounds unlikely in the extreme”.
DasBjoern
August 3rd, 2016 - 3:01pmThere are compelling reasons for upscales (European TV for US audiences – US-DVD of DW look like shit) or SD material on BD (I own the complete Ren & Stimpy set on 2 BDs!), but here it makes no sense, as the release is listed for the UK and the best available master is the one made by the restoration team in 567i. An upscale would be no improvement for anyone and disc space is no reason as well… I hope for a real HD-release
@gareth pugh:
But a 12″ is able to hold “more fidelity” than a 7″ with the same runtime… so that’s a good thing 😀
Phil
July 30th, 2016 - 10:58pmI am buying it day one if it comes out in the U.S.
Jay Glover
July 30th, 2016 - 9:58pmSo Is this Fake or Not
People are saying it can’t
And It’s Clearly on Amazon which people can’t do Fake Advertising
On there
When The Doctor Was Me
July 30th, 2016 - 9:55pmIf its genuine then i’ll pick it up 🙂
Ian
July 30th, 2016 - 8:23pmI hope it would be true, I would buy it.
Gordon
July 30th, 2016 - 6:53pmMost we can hope for considering the issues with the original film reels (ie potentially lost) is an upscale.
Anonymous
July 30th, 2016 - 6:07pmMight get it but might wait for a steelbook
booboo
July 30th, 2016 - 6:23pmsurprised they haven’t done a 50th yet
steelbooks sell when done well, like the 9th series, it was the cover that sold that
Ian
July 30th, 2016 - 8:00pmOn Twitter someone contacted the Restoration team about this and shared the reply with me from Steve Roberts.
I do not believe that such an announcement was made, in fact the notion of a Blu Ray version of the story was highly unlikely, due to the ay the movie was put together using Videotape transfers of Film. He goes on to say that he is curious to know if this is either a hoax or a leak.
booboo
July 30th, 2016 - 8:07pmI am not aware that Amazon are into hoax’s or a leak’s to be honest, if its either , I’m sure it will not go un-noticed
Xander Grogan
July 30th, 2016 - 5:16pmI already have the Special Edition.
Jay Glover
July 31st, 2016 - 9:12amBut this would have extra ones
Like Spearhead from Space
The super whovian
July 30th, 2016 - 5:09pmHopefully this will lead to a steelbook
The super whovian
July 30th, 2016 - 5:08pmIts about time
Jay Glover
July 30th, 2016 - 5:04pmI need this
Alan
July 30th, 2016 - 4:36pmWhat the heck is this for real?! Sure DWM denied this could be achieved due to the work involved
Chris
July 30th, 2016 - 3:27pmDon’t get your hopes up, it’ll probably only be a slight difference like the Series 1 – 4 blu rays
Nicholas
July 30th, 2016 - 4:01pmDon’t mind to be honest. Would just be nice to add to the Blu-Ray collection 😛
Anonymous
July 30th, 2016 - 4:23pmThe 1-4 blu-Ray’s were TERRIBLE! Waste of money!
Phil
July 31st, 2016 - 1:09amI purchased the series 1-4 blurays and the picture is significantly better without all those lines the dvds have when played.
CelestialAgent
July 31st, 2016 - 11:36amIt was shot on film (just not the VFX) so *could* look as amazing as the Twin Peaks and Star Trek restorations.
Shane
July 31st, 2016 - 6:28pmPhil, you are only seeing lines because you have turned off de-interlacing on your DVD player.
Gordon
August 3rd, 2016 - 4:06amIt may have been shot on film But was edited on tape and the cgi elements were added in effect making the tape the master version. Plus there is no guarantee the film elements still exist
Nicholas
July 30th, 2016 - 3:17pm:O Never in a million years did I think this would happen what with all restoration issues etc
Nicholas
July 30th, 2016 - 3:22pmI hoped, of course, what with it being the 20th anniversary but cor blimey!! I’m pretty certain they have had to completely reedit the film and redo the special effects for this? At least I read something similar when they claimed they weren’t going to do it.
Anonymous
July 30th, 2016 - 3:30pmYes, all the special effects needed to be redone and the original film needed to be located and acquired (it was sitting in an archive over in the US).
That or a change in release standards, all Blu Ray releases need to be offered in HD. There’s nothing they can offer visually, but the audio was severely limited by the DVD format so they could raise that to HD quality.