Doctor Who - The Aztecs on DVD (1964)

Toejam from East london , 01/10/2004

After enduring the 4 episodes and special features on this DVD it makes me wonder why they continued to make Doctor Who. Even allowing for the fact that TV was still in its early days the actors in the special features kept banging on about how everybody in the new medium was from the theatre. Was the theatre in the 60's this bad as well? I know Doctor who is famous for its dodgy sets and low budget approach but this story was soooo lame so I couldn't enjoy any of that. the only thing left to say I guess is. Lucky the Aztecs spoke English.

  8 out of 11 people found this review helpful

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Matthew#33 from LONDON , 02/09/2004

It's May 1963 and it's the 15th century. The magic of DOCTOR WHO. The series was created to be a drama-educational series (and not just for children - it was NEVER produced by the BBC CHILDREN'S DRAMA DEPT.), and with this William Hartnell (yes, it's broadcast in Black and White) story we travel back to Mexico. A time of deities, worship and sacrifice. For DOCTOR WHO this is dark topic (with lighter moments as an Aztec woman falls in love with the grumpy Doctor. Does he respond? Find out!) and expertly executed (excuse the pun). The dialogue is natural, the set design (for 1963) Oscar winning standard, and the plot is stunning crafted. If DOCTOR WHO ever wanted to re-make 'old' episodes or travel back to a time where it has been before it should revisit THE AZTECS. If you have never watched an old B&W TV show before, or even watched the iconic DOCTOR WHO, rent this before anything else.

  6 out of 7 people found this review helpful

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A customer from Belfast,Nth Ireland. , 05/03/2004

The first episode will have you shaking your head in disbelief at the cheap sets,stagey acting,clumsy editing etc,but perseverve!...Even if you're not so much of a Dr Who fan...Here is a piece of TV history!...There are actually a few tense moments in the story... The acting isn't all that bad considering what they had to work with!...And don't miss the exra feature on the making of these episodes..Fascinating stuff..and will give you a respect for all invlolved.

No they don't make them like this any more..but is this entirely a good thing?

  5 out of 6 people found this review helpful

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A customer from Birmingham, UK , 23/01/2006

I already have this on VHS and, to be fair, it is not one of my favourite stories, but I wanted to see the DVD for the extras which are very good. For example, there is an amusing little cartoon on the origins of cocoa using Aztec characters and an aged short documentary about the Aztecs with Valerie Singleton.

  1 out of 1 person found this review helpful

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A customer from Birmingham, UK , 23/01/2006

I already have this on VHS and, to be fair, it is not one of my favourite stories, but I wanted to see the DVD for the extras which are very good. For example, there is an amusing little cartoon on the origins of cocoa using Aztec characters and an aged short documentary about the Aztecs with Valerie Singleton.

  1 out of 1 person found this review helpful

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A customer from Bristol, UK , 05/08/2004

I'm a fan of the Doctor but not enough to stay awake for this. Like most episodes of Dr Who this has dated very badly. The acting is awful and it seems no attempt was made to remaster the sound quality. Some of the extras were good though.

  1 out of 4 people found this review helpful

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