The Evil of the Daleks (Doctor Who Series 4 Story 9)

No, Mr. Terrall. I am not a student of human nature. I am a professor of a far wider academy, of which human nature is merely a part. All forms of life interest me.

Ahh, after the stagnation of The Faceless Ones, Evil of the Daleks seems like such a breath of fresh air. Its not perfect by a long shot but there is a fairly involved, if somewhat hole filled, plot and some great ideas at play here (in fact Daleks in Manhatten pretty much tells the same story!) There are some real high-points in the Doctors mythology here. The clearly stated fact that he is not at all human and his cold manipulation of Jamie are two of note. I am certain that if this story existed in its entirety it would have been spectacular. instead it is slightly less hard work. The civil war is wonderfully handled (although I don't know why the "Human" Daleks were not destroyed right away) and I still get chills hearing the Emperor scream "DO NOT FIGHT IN HERE"

So we say goodbye to series 4. Onwards and up to series 5 and an encounter with another old foe... in motion!

Holiday on the Buses

When deep in the throes of depression what better solution can there be than a lovely politically incorrect British sitcom movie? Nothing I tell thee.

This dose of Un-Pc humour is the third buses film and shows its colours early on with a debagging of a buxom wench. The film that follows is a generic extended sitcom. Its not heavy on the laughs but a lovely way to pass the time with familiar characters in new situations. There isn't a huge amount I can say about the films other then that they are all generally great fun and well worth passing the time with.

In this one Stan and Jack are sacked by the brilliant (and greatly missed) Michael Sheard and accept a job with Pontins driving tour buses. Little did they know that the similarly dismissed Blakey is the new head of security. Throw in some vintage Mullard and a touch of Steptoe (senior) chatting up Stans old Ma and the time flies by.

Its a change from gore anyway.

Paul Out...

PS… Boobs

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides

You know that feeling you get when you're standing in a high place... sudden urge to jump?... I don't have it.

I am not going to hedge my words here. I will come straight out and say it. This is a far more enjoyable film than the first 3. Not technically or storywise better but so much more enjoyable.

I go against the flow in this I am sure but the reason is probably the same either way. I like the changes to Jack. I detest Jack in the earlier films. He has no likeability for me, Bloom is a nobber and Knightly does little to entice me. Its nice to see a film with a more likable Jack, a less likable (but sexier) female lead and no bloody Bloom.

The plot has more holes then emmenthal cheese but at least this time around you dont need a notepad or the memory of an elephant to know what on Earth is going on. Yes the story of the Fountain of Youth is hackneyed and tired but so what!

So probably a worse film that the others but my favourite as at last I found characters I could like. Rather then a bunch of total pratts and the story doesn't disappear up its own arse, unlike the original trilogy.

Well worth a look.

Paul Out…