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Showing posts from March, 2017

Doctor Who - The Enigma Dimension

This review, and indeed all those in this set, is dedicated to the legend that is Sir John Hurt. You can read my full tribute to him here: http://fandoctorwhoproductions.blogspot.co.uk/2017/01/sir-john-hurt-painter-of-thousand-words.html . Rest In Peace, John.   Starring John Hurt, Jacqueline Pearce, Louise Jameson, Alan David, Beth Chalmers & Jane Slavin, with Nicholas Briggs as the Daleks.   Written & Directed by Nicholas Briggs.   The Dalek Time Strategist has a new plan to ensure final victory in the Time War. As its forces gather for a huge assault on the enemy, ahead of the fleet something hovers above the planet of the Time Lords. And on Gallifrey itself, shadows move among the Cloisters.   The Time Lords face a threat alien to their entire universe. To save their world, the War Doctor and his allies mu st enter the Enigma Dimension... So, here we are. The final story to feature John Hurt as the Doctor. This very last story really isn't at all w

The Spotify Chart Rankings - Week Commencing 27th March 2017

So, we're back to relatively normal service. While there is still a lot of Ed Sheeran in the charts, for the most part it's the usual mixed bag. So, lets dive straight in: 10. Blem - Drake (Chart Position - 8) This song is boring. Plain and simple. Why this has even charted, I don't actually know. It is heartening to know, however, that unlike Sheeran, Drake's album barely maintained dominance for a week. And it's no wonder: his material is either offensive or boring. Blem is definitely in the latter category, and sure, Drake does actually try to do some things a little differently. However, that feels wasted by the fact that everything else is the same, and that... well it's Drake. His vocals are so, so flat. Bad, but I can't see this sticking around till April. 9. Passionfruit - Drake (Chart Position - 3) This is possibly the most drastic drop on my chart since these rankings began, and while some would say that it's unwarranted, the reason why t

Doctor Who - The Lady Of Obsidian

This review, and indeed all those in this set, is dedicated to the legend that is Sir John Hurt. You can read my full tribute to him here: http://fandoctorwhoproductions.blogspot.co.uk/2017/01/sir-john-hurt-painter-of-thousand-words.html . Rest In Peace, John.   Starring John Hurt, Jacqueline Pearce, Louise Jameson, Lizzie Roper & Chris Porter, with Nicholas Briggs as the Daleks.   Written by Andrew Smith & Directed by Nicholas Briggs.   As a Dalek Strike Fleet heads to destroy another defenceless world, the Doctor seeks help from a shadowy guerrilla force. The Time War leaves many casualties in its wake, and inside the Obsidian Nebula the monstrous Unlived are held at bay only by the ‘Lady’ and her dwindling band of fighters.   The War Doctor soon finds himself at the Lady’s mercy, and two old friends face new revelations…   Oh boy... This is going to upset a few people... But...   I'm not the biggest fan of The Lady Of Obsidian. I know, I know,

The Spotify Chart Rankings - Week Commencing 20th March 2017

So, this week, Ed Sheeran's chart dominance has been defeated. Sure, I love his songs, but I'm glad to be talking about something else. But what is that something else? What has been so strong that it forced out all but three songs off Divide? Is it someone with great talent, or skill with lyrics? It's 2017, of course it isn't. Because, on a Sunday night, Drake decided to release his new album. Great. Fecking great. Well, let's get started, so I can get this over with. 10. No Long Talk - Drake (Chart Position - 4) No Long Talk? Are you s***ing me? Is this Drake's attempt to defend his manhood? This is terrible, honestly the worst thing I've heard all year. The lyrics are total nonsense: they make loads of innuendos that make no sense (you're going to 'butter' the p***y, are you? So, you think that it's as big as a slice of bread, and want to rub a knife up and down it, do you?), and some that aren't even innuendos, but are just ref

Doctor Who - Pretty Lies

This review, and indeed all those in this set, is dedicated to the legend that is Sir John Hurt. You can read my full tribute to him here: http://fandoctorwhoproductions.blogspot.co.uk/2017/01/sir-john-hurt-painter-of-thousand-words.html . Rest In Peace, John. Starring John Hurt, Jacqueline Pearce, Mark Elstob, Joseph Kloska & Julia Hills, with Nicholas Briggs as the Daleks. Written by Guy Adams & Directed by Nicholas Briggs. Trapped and desperate, light years from their armies at the heart of the Time War, the War Doctor and Cardinal Ollistra discover that wherever they go, destruction follows. A war reporter named Schandel may provide the key to their escape, but it is often said that the first casualty of war is the truth. When the choice between grim reality and a hero’s story means life or death, will the Doctor allow Schandel to print the legend? After the tragic passing of John Hurt, Casualties Of War (the final set of stories John recorded as the War Doct

Doctor Who - The Gift

Starring Paul McGann, Hattie Morahan, Nicola Walker & James Jordan. Written by Marc Platt & Directed by Ken Bentley. The TARDIS deposits its crew on Earth in San Francisco, 1906. There they find an actor-manager desperate to stage his definitive production of King Lear. But a real storm is headed their way when he becomes the possessor of a mysterious psychic ‘Gift’ which is hungry for power and intent on wreaking havoc and destruction. But exposure to so much psychic activity has the Doctor becoming increasingly erratic. Can he battle his demons and save the world? It's strange to think that, in 20 years of adventures, the eighth Doctor has hardly ever been back to San Francisco, the setting of his first (and only full length) televised story, The Enemy Within (aka The Movie). But, with The Gift, Marc Platt has rectified that fact, giving the eighth Doctor another story in the city, this time on the eve of the 1906 earthquake. And, while The Gift has plenty of po

The Spotify Chart Rankings - Week Commencing 13th March 2017

Ok, so, I said that last week Ed Sheeran's Divide's takeover of the charts would only last a week, and we'd be back to normal next week. Well... I have to eat my own words now. One song (my personal favourite) has changed places with another from the album, but other than that, Ed still rules... Expect this to be recycled from last week. Why? Because I can, that's why. Again, this is in the Spotify order, because these songs are, for the most part, on a completely level playing field. 10. Barcelona I don't even want to talk about the beginning of the song... However he recorded that sample will more than likely be completely disgusting. Nevertheless, Barcelona is a fairly decent little bit of fluff made to pad out the album. And, hey, I'm ok with that. There's nothing wrong with having a song that is just a bridge between others. I have a horrible feeling this might be released as a single down the line, however, which I certainly hope isn't the cas

Doctor Who - Scenes From Her Life

Starring Paul McGann, Hattie Morahan, Nicola Walker, Vincent Franklin, Emma Cunniffe & Jacqueline King. Written by John Dorney & Directed by Ken Bentley. Investigating the appearance of the Voord on Earth, the Doctor, Liv and Helen follow a trail which takes them to the other side of the universe. There they discover a mysterious and almost deserted gothic city lost in space and time, in which the grotesque inhabitants are conducting a vile and inhumane experiment. The Doctor and his companions must hurry to save the lives of those in danger before the experiment is a success and the unimaginable consequences become all too real. Following on from the initial mystery presented in Beachhead, Scenes From Her Life is perhaps one of the most bizarre bits of modern Big Finish. The premise of the story (odd psychic experiments taking place in an inside-out TARDIS) isn't an idea that springs to mind immediately, and it's thanks to the talent of writer John Dorney tha