A reader 2007-06-12

0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:

You won't find this topping many polls. It doesn't have daleks, a god-like foe or a particularly sophisticated take on politics. Why, out of all my huge Doctor Who collection, is it one of my absolute favourites?

Because it's a cracking good story. The central premise of a portable, microscopic zoo is highly innovative, the pace never lets up and the writing is never less than intelligent. It's laugh-out-loud funny (especially the stiff-upper-lip scenes on the boat attacked by a plesiosaur), the dialogue sparkles, and the regulars do very well (watch out also for an early appearance by Ian Marter, later to play companion Harry Sullivan). The Drashigs are also fantastic monsters - I love the way they rise up out of the marshes and their creepy shrieking noise! Of course it's not perfect - the slave subplot is never resolved - but it's damn good fun. Highly recommended.

2002-04-01

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

This must rate as a classic of the Pertwee era. It seems at first that the Tardis has landed on an old sea going vessel from the 1920s in the Indian sea and the Doctor and Jo set off to investigate. But all is not what it seems and eventually he realizes they are trapped inside a hi-tech "ant farm" and can be viewed by paying customers. Escapades include wandering around the inside of the viewing machine a la Land of the Giants, narrowly being eaten by huge monsters called Drashigs and engaging in fisticuffs with a crew member of the SS Bernice (Queensberry rules old boy!). Plus at the same time witness mind numbing beauracracy and politics on a far distant planet. How could you ask for anything more! Pertwee is at his best (where can I get one of those jackets?) but why are Earthlings referred to as Tellurians and not the more usual appelation of Terrans? I strongly recommend this to anyone who wants to know what a really imaginative (if not to say weird and bizzare) SF story looks like on the small screen. Buy it now!

2000-12-02

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

The concept of perpetual repetition of time and the endless possible outcomes facing our two heros was fascinating. The development of scaled down fiercesome creatures, seemingly under control, the inevitable recipe for disaster, is well handled. We must excuse the now dated special effects, the height of technology at their time, that leave us only inspired by their implication. John Pertwee and Katy Manning are now well settled into their prospective doctor/assisstant relationship, and superbly gel together; a delight for 'Who Nostalgia'. I would recommend 'A Carnival of Monsters' as an excellent example of 'Who Paradox' and cosmic intrigue.

2000-09-09

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

I still remember watching "Carnival of Monsters" way back in 1973, then I had the pleasure of viewing it again when it was repeated in 1981 and it stands up just as well on video today. Jon Pertwee and Katy Manning are on top form, and Barry Letts' direction makes the most of the effects available at the time. Of course, we must not forget Robert Holmes' playful script and the monstrous Drashigs. Look out as well for future Davros, Michael Wisher, as the scheming Kalik who, along with the gullible and cowardly Orum (Terence Lodge), provides drama as well as much light relief. A well deserved five stars for this adventure. Watch and enjoy!

2000-07-27

0 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

The Doc + Jo arrive on the creaky S.S.Bernice in the Indian Ocean, where an oddly robotic bunch of Twenties snobs are being menaced by a giant rubbery Plesiosaurus. Plesiosaurus? Investigating as usual, the Doc learns that the crummy ship is merely a sub-microscopic life chamber in an advanced peep show called a miniscope.....

For once, a Pertwee story drops the moralising in favour of a jolly romp through ridiculous Twenties culture. No probs with me. Unfortunately, we also have to put up with a mountain of completely unnecessary and highly irritating scenes on the planet Inter-Minor (where the minisope is being demonstrated) which generally consist of petty squabbling between three highly murderable natives. Kalik's scheme to start a revoloution is both laughably pathetic but also massively uninteresting. These scenes reduce what would have been an entertaining piece of light entertainment to a disjointed, boring tale which even the well-realised Drashigs can't save. Shame.

James