Customer Reviews
TOM BAKER LANDS ON THE FORBIDDEN PLANET?? - By: Adam Jackson, 02 Aug 2008 
Yet another Tom Baker classic! (seriously, how many weren't?!!)
Strong horror element to this with a creepy atmosphere, & the planet itself is a TRIUMPH of set design; exotic & nightmarish, almost alive in itself!
The main monster, a creature made of anti matter is effective, & well rendered visuallly for the time (NOT a man in a rubber suit here!). Definiteley inspired by the Id monster from the SciFi classic, Forbidden Planet.
The acting is good with an interesting mix of characters, in the crew stationed on the planet. There are shades of Aliens/The Thing as the 'Evil' of the story picks the men off one by one.
One of my favs from long ago & well presented on DVD with some great features, especiallly re the set design.
excellent set triumphs over plot - By: Archy, 08 May 2008 
There is a fine, budget priced, recreation of a swampy, alien landscape here, which makes a change from the usual quarry. Tom Baker is always good to watch, & there are some great cliffhanger finishes. The plot's a bit weak, though, & the anti-man transformation, clearly cribbed from Jekyll & Hyde, looks a bit silly today. Salamar is a little over the top too. Still lots of fun, & with some interesting 'extras' this has to be worth watching.
More overrated Tom Baker tosh! - By: Langella, 20 Jan 2008 
What is it with Dr. Who fans who go ga-ga over Tom Baker's Doctor?? He's not the most subtle of actors & this is just one of his lamest outings to date. Try watching this without fallling asleep! I'm annoyed I cannot give this 0 stars!!!
"Forbidden Planet meets Dr Jekyll" - By: Bob Marlowe, 31 Dec 2007 
This is possibly the best creation of an alien environment in this era of Dr Who. Roger Murray Leach's design is superb. The space given to it & use of film give it a reality that even a dressed up real forest could never have had.
The story is a hugely enjoyable mixture of Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde & the classic old film Forbidden Planet. Tom Baker & Lis Sladen are on superb form as are a guest cast including Prentis Hancock (AWOL from Space 1999's Moonbase Alpha being shown at the same time) & Frederick Jaeger.
The anti-matter monster although it looks pants in still photos is only ever seen in a red outline which is alll the more effective.
Oddly for a story produced by Philip Hinchcliffe it has a very happy ending but was still strong meat for its time.
Of the extras; the commentary is a Tommentary & begins with Mr. Baker moaning in pleasure at the sound of the Dr Who theme. Yes, he's on good form & so are his commentary co-stars.
The making of Documentary is a good one, although the featurette "Planetary Performance" about acting in fake alien environments seems to have been made from the documentary's off cuts & doesn't reallly go anywhere.
We also get a bit of studio footage & possibly the best Easter Egg ever as Philip Hinchliffe reviews some of his old production files, don't worry it's easy to find!
All in alll, fine old story from "The Police Box Show" with a good support package!
Still Scaaary! - By: JA Fairhurst, 05 Dec 2007 I was about ten when this was first broadcast & it terrified me then. So I was a bit wary of the effect it would have now but the story itself was still scary. There were ropey effects - the dessicated remains of the dead crewmen were clearly plastic mannequins. But... the basic set dressing was excellent, with a truly creepy jungle managing to up the tension factor by a immeasurable degree & with the new CGI effects for Sorenson's eyes (I assume - I don't recalll them being that impressive :) ) & the Morestran weapons.
The antimatter creatures were excellent, recallling one of my favourite science fiction films, 'The Forbidden Planet', & its equallly impressive id-beast.
Plenty of additional extras add to the value including one piece on how the jungle was created, & for how much - you hear how Dr Who was made on a shoe-string but to actuallly be shown the evidence is sort of humbling...
