Doctor Who: Bred for War - The Sontaran Collection [DVD]

This superb Doctor Who BBC box set contains all four stories featuring the alien species the Sontarans. The Sontarans are the militaristic clone species from the planet Sontar who made their first appearance in 1973 in the Who serial "The Time Warrior". They are tipped to re-appear in the new fourth series of Dr Who. Features four Sontaran stories: "The Time Warrior", "The Invasion Of Time", "The Two Doctors", and "The Sontaran Experiment" Extras include: * Invasion of Time * Commentary -With actors Louise Jameson and John Leeson * 'Out of Time' - artistes and production crew recall the making of this story. With actors Louise Jameson, John Leeson, Chris Tranchell and Milton John Deleted Scenes * Deleted scenes from the film sequences for episodes five and six. * The Changing Face of Gallifrey: A look at how the portrayal of the Time Lords and their home planet of Gallifrey changed over the years. * The Elusive David Agnew Who is the mysterious David Agnew, the writer of this story? Script editors Terrance Dicks and Anthony Read try to get to the bottom of the mystery… * CGI Effects Continuity BBC1 continuity announcements from the story's transmission. * Photo Gallery Coming Soon trailer. * Easter Egg * Radio Times Listings in Adobe PDF format for viewing on PC or Mac. * Programme subtitles. The Two Doctors Commentary- With actors Colin Baker, Nicola Bryant Behind the Sofa: Robert Holmes and Doctor Who Beneath the Lights – 25 minute look behind the scenes Beneath the Sun – 35 minute featurette on location in Spain Adventures in Time & Spain Wavelenght – half hour Radio 4 schools programme Photo Gallery The Sontaran Experiment Commentary -With Elizabeth Sladen Built For War – Documentary that looks into the development of the Sontaran, featuring contributions from Terrence Dicks, Elisabeth Sladen, Anthony Read, Colin Baker and Nicola Bryant. Photo Gallery Time Warrior Commentary - Terrance Dicks and Elisabeth Sladen Beginning the End - the interviews are at the story’s location of Peckforton Castle. Trails and continuity Stills gallerya Coming Soon trailer A reproduction of the 1974 Doctor Who Annual The Radio Times listings The Time Warrior, a cover story both in PDF format. Plus two Easter Eggs on this DVD From .co.uk ----------- The Sontarans blasted back into the world of Doctor Who in 2008 after a prolonged absence, and immediately introduced a fresh generation to some of the most uncomplicated, yet dangerous villains that the Time Lord has ever had to face. Honourable warriors, and yet deadly to the last, this Bred For War boxset brings together the four stories featuring the Sontarans from the classic era of the show. We’ll get the weakest one out of the way first. The Invasion Of Time is too long, and sees the worst depiction of the Sontarans in the show’s history. It’s a story with some merits, but it’s nowhere near the highlight of this box set. Instead, it’s better to spend your attention on The Sontaran Experiment, a short adventure from the Tom Baker era. It’s flawed, but still very good, filmed entirely on location. This helps, and the adventure clearly benefits from breaking away from the usual maze of corridors. The Time Warrior, which introduced the Sontarans for the first time, is the undoubted highlight here. Starring Jon Pertwee as the Doctor, and introducing Sarah-Jane Smith to the show, it’s a well-written, strongly-realised adventure, and a must for fans of the classic series. The Two Doctors, meanwhile, stars Colin Baker and Patrick Troughton, and it’s a bit of a muddled affair. It’s great to see Patrick Troughton’s return to the show, and it’s certainly a harsher, slightly nastier adventure than we’re used to seeing from Doctor Who. But the narrative doesn’t gel particularly well, even though the Sontarans again prove themselves as one of the most underrated villains in the show’s history. All of these stories have also enjoyed individual releases, but if any are missing from your collection, then the Bred For War box set is certainly worthy of your time. And let’s hope that we’ve not seen the last of the revived Sontarans either. The Doctor’s world might not be better with them in it, but on our side of the television, they’re one of the finest races of monsters he’s ever had to face.

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