DVD EXTRAS

• DVD Commentary - with Colin Baker, Nicola Bryant, Terry Molloy and Sarah Berger
• THE COLD WAR - cast and crew look back at the making of the story. With actors Colin Baker, Nicola Bryant, Terry Molloy and Sarah Berger, writer Eric Saward, director Matthew Robinson, fan Ian Levine and film cameraman Godfrey Johnson. Narrated by Stephen Greif
• THE CYBER STORY - a brief history of the Cybermen in the classic series. With director Morris Barry, writer Eric Saward, costume designers Sandra Reid and Dinah Collins, Cyberman actor Mark Hardy, voice artiste Roy Skelton and Professor Kevin 'Human Cyborg' Warwick
• HUMAN CYBORG - an interview with Professor Kevin Warwick, who has used himself as a human guinea pig for cybernetic implant experimentation.
• THE CYBER-GENERATIONS - a gallery of Cyberman theough the history of the series
• Photo Gallery + Trails and Continuity + Isolated Score + Coming Soon Trailer + Easter Egg + PDF Material + Programme Subtitles + Subtitle Production Notes

COMMENT

Yet another fan polarising CLASSIC SERIES release from 2|entertain that aims to redress the balance theough an attentive reassessment. Well, that's the hope.

Eric Saward's (yes, yes, I know that it is "credited" to Paula Moore) 1985 broadcast ATTACK OF THE CYBERMEN is hardly regarded as the Sixth Doctor's iconic story (that is the previously released REVELATION OF THE DALEKS) but is not a "turkey" (DVD Heaven nearly burst into flames when TIMELASH was published); is has a positive unravelling plot (complete with "drop-in" references to series' history - a return to Totters Lane scrap-yard, a chameleon circuit repair, Time Lord interference and the Cybermen's home planet Mondas) characters that are given development time to be engaging and a highly perceptive direction provided by Matthew Robinson.

What is remarkable is the noticeable "cleaning" of the print for this DVD release. It is superb. Nothing more to add except that even the Doctor's "costume" is a pleasure to view. Yes, truly.

The DVD extras, however, are lame and the contents a Woolworth's Christmas Party Cracker is more exciting sans "bang".

THE COLD WAR documentary is the singular production (by John Kelly) that garners any form of interest. A précis of the Sixth Doctor's first full season explosive premiere as regenerates into a forty-five minute format, a shift back to its rightful place on Saturday evenings and a conflict against an old enemy. Contributions from Colin Baker (who admits that some fans now call his debut story, THE TWIN DILEMMA, "a bit crap"), a perennially youthful Nicola Bryant, a straight-talking Eric Saward (he dismisses the perpetually chuntering WHO fan, Ian Levine, who continues to assert that he "co-wrote" ATTACK OF THE CYBERMEN . Oh, hand-bags at dawn at BBC television centre.) and Matthew Robinson (surprisingly, filmed in Cambodia, and giving a suitably fitting tribute to actor Maurice Colbourne). Overall, it is focussed, enterprising and balanced, and finely edited so not to repeat content that was revealed in the studio commentary.

Other DVD EXTRAS are "sponsored by Nytol. Soporific. The on-screen history of the cybermen and the history of cyber-design were glorified photographic slide-shows. Oh, then there is a slide-show of episode photos.

The interview with the "human cyberborg" scientist (and the "Easter Egg") was uninterestingly bizarre. 2|entertain DVD Producers: focus on DOCTOR WHO content or publish the DVDs as "vanilla", cost-reduced releases (£9.99). DOCTOR WHO DVDs are not "personal showreels" for budding terrestrial TV Producers or Editors.

The DVD EXTRAS are redeemed by the STUDIO COMMENTARY provided by the consummate double-act of Colin Baker & Nicola Bryant (along with Terry Molloy and Sarah Berger). The commentary benefits on two levels: it seems that all contributors had recently reviewed the story before the DVD commentary recording (so there were no "I cannot remember" admissions) and that there was no "moderation" by non-cast/crew member.

Colin Baker on returning to the home of DOCTOR WHO: In a studio at the BBC. Where I belong!

Colin Baker on Peri: ".my delicious companion, Nicola Bryant.

Colin Baker on his costume: ".it's cruel"

Nicola Bryant revealed that her BBC Dressing Room was burgled with her belt, shoes and underwear stolen. Of course, cheekily, Colin cast an aspersion that Molloy was the culprit.

Terry Molloy on Robinson's direction: Matthew was good at allowing dialogue to overlap.

Colin Baker on the "leaked news" that the TARDIS would no longer be a Police Box: JNT wound-up all the hardcore DOCTOR WHO fans. A past master of leaking stuff.

Colin Baker on Malcolm Clarke's incidental music: More noticeable that in other stories. Intrusive.

Terry Molloy on Michael Kilgarriff's return to DOCTOR WHO: The fat Controller.

Colin Baker reveals that planet Telos is now the destination of his family's domestic waste. The "gravel-sand pit" is now a landfill site near Junction 3 & 2 on the M4 near to High Wycombe.

Colin Baker on DOCTOR WHO ephemera that he should have retained: I wonder how much you'll fetch on eBay, Nicola?

DOCTOR WHO - ATTACK OF THE CYBERMEN DVD is a "of its time"; may disappoint CLASSIC SERIES fans (remembering a period when we all thought that DOCTOR WHO was a safe hands with a incontrovertible future) but it will captivate NEW SERIES fans (it has all the features that have been so lovingly crafted into the 2005-2008 series) - expectant darkness, unnecessary murders and a returning alien with focussed vengeance against humanity.

However, a focus on "better" WHO-related DVD EXTRAS needs to be addressed across the range.