Well that was fun. The start of series 5 finds the Doctor rather in strong form with a renewed sense of wit. Patrick Troughton really does have some good stuff to work with here. Jamie’s, our 18th Century Scotsman pretty much takes anything he sees with the doctor in stride yet while Victoria is still struggling to find her place as a companion, she does have spunk so far (and a face made of porcelain).

Some good touches include the Tomb itself, its design and psychedelic touches and the cyber-controller. The Cybermats have the effect of being kitschy and creepy and the same time.

Less is the storyline itself, the doomed expedition which even then feels like it was wearing thin. The villains of the expedition are fairly one dimensional but Toberman, their bodyguard/strongman, does rise a bit (not by much) above the material. The astronaut-pilot’s faux American accent is brought to you by Elvis. And of course the Cybermen, while defeated, are not totally dead. At least the Doctor wisely refrained from predicting that they wouldn’t come back.

Well it was good for what it set out to do. Nothing groundbreaking and certainly miles above the last all-powerful-all-seeing-being movie I remember seeing (The Forgotten, avoid at all cost). I thin my main complaint, aside from some cheesy dialogue was the choice of music for most of the film. Sometimes less is more folks.

Also helps that these aren’t teens and don’t look like they’re fresh off the mould.

Guess I should read the short story for this.