‘Daredevil’ Moves To San Fran, Gets A New #1

I love being right.

It was announced this week, through an interview with the Nerdist that Daredevil will relaunch in 2014 with Matt Murdock now centered in San Francisco. The book will keep the same creative team of Mark Waid, Chris Samnee, Javier Rodriguez, and Joe Caramagna will continue into the new series. The new series will pick up after the events of Daredevil: Road Warrior, a series written by Waid,  that will run using Marvel’s digital only imprint, Infinite Comics.

As to why the relaunch is happening now, Mark Waid said:

“We were actually given the opportunity by Marvel to relaunch with a #1 last year as part of the Marvel NOW! initiative, which absolutely would have boosted sales–but together, the team agreed that since we were in the middle of a storyline, it would be a gimmick, not an organic shift. When the opportunity arose to relaunch again this year, it made a lot more sense given the way we’re about to change literally every aspect of Matt Murdock’s life. Every aspect.”

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The cover of the first issue of the re-launch

So what are my two cents on the matter? Well, while I am excited that the creative team is staying on, and my trust in them is almost absolute, I am saddened by the choice of new location. To me, Daredevil is one one of the most synonymous super-heroes with New York, and taking him away from what so much of the character and the book is feels weird to me. The choice of San Francisco isn’t that exciting either, Gerry Conway sent Daredevil there in the 70’s. I think a new city like Chicago, St. Louis, Detroit, or even Austin would be infinitely more interesting.

So what do you folks think about the Daredevil relaunch? let us know in the comments below!

Via Comics Alliance and the Nerdist

 

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Hair’s to Effie: A Follicle Themed Tribute to ‘Catching Fire’

Ash here.

I don’t know about you, but I’m pumped for Catching Fire.  The scenery looks amazing, the effects are delicious in the trailers alone, and I’m overly anxious to see how the new casting works out.  One thing that has had everyone buzzing is the overwhelming amount of costuming needed for the second installment, so in honor of everyone’s favorite Capitol fashion icon, Effie Trinkett, I give you our my* top 10 list of best movie wigs.

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*Fern here.  As this delves into far girlier territory than I am comfortable with, I’m deferring to Ash on this particular list.  However, as I have an opinion about everything, I will share my opinions about each of her choices.

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10. Uma Thurman as Mia Wallace in Pulp Fiction

While I was tempted to choose Samuel L. Jackson’s famous fro for this one (that was a wig, right?), I have to pick Uma’s chic, black bob as a major highlight of the movie.  It just makes all the other things she does that much darker. Not that you need to make a coke-ridden bloody nose darker than it already is.

When it comes to this wig, I’m partial to Britta Perry’s slightly rumpled edition in the Pulp Fiction themed episode of Community

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9. Gary Oldman as Zorg in The Fifth Element

Confessional: I have never actually seen this movie in its entirety, however, it’s on my to-do list.  That said, I already know that whatever Zorg does is going to be evil because you cannot have whatever that is on top of his head and be a good person.  It just doesn’t fit.  Evil hair= Evil spirit.

Did you put Sirius Black on this list just to keep me interested?  Well played.

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8. Javier Bardem as Silva in Skyfall

Again, that was a wig, right? I hope so. Even if it wasn’t, I’m putting it on the list.  Silva’s psychotic stalking actions were only made creepier by his hair.  A year later, I can still remember shuddering at the first sight we’re given into the mastermind behind the mayhem at MI6.  In Javier’s case, blonde is NOT beautiful.

Since I couldn’t quite remember exactly what this one looked like, I took a quick trip to his IMDB page.  Dude has had bad hair in A LOT of movies.
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7. Anne Hathaway as Lureen Newsome in Brokeback Mountain

Think back to 2005 when you first saw this movie and realized that it was Princess Mia playing the southern blonde bride to Jake Gyllenhaal.  I think they used as much hairspray in one scene as I’ve used my entire life.  It only adds to the persona of the rodeo princess turned forgotten wife.

How did you even notice her hair with all the bedazzled clothing?

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6. Katy Perry as Katy Perry in….life.

I know it’s not from a movie, but I have to give props to Katy for bringing fun, colorful tresses off of the big screen into everyday life.  Who wouldn’t want to show up for a night out with Smurf blue hair and have everyone act like it’s NBD?

This reminds me of the time I accidentally dyed my hair purple in high school.  If Katy Perry had been around then, that might have been slightly less embarrassing.  And to be fair, I think there was a Katy Perry movie at some point. Empty Space

 

5. Tommy Lee Jones as Thaddeus Stevens in Lincoln

While I agree with most people who say that this wig was absolutely awful to look at, I’m putting it at the top for what it did for the character.  The first half of the movie portrayed Stevens as a curmudgeon who had given up on most things and didn’t want to fight for what he believed was right because it was too much work.  It wasn’t until near the end that he surprised both us and Congress with his zeal for the amendment, not to mention the twist in his personal life.  His wig only reinforced his lack of enthusiasm at the beginning for the viewer. “Why would he give his time and effort to passing a nation-changing legislation?  He doesn’t even give his time and effort to combing his hair?” The character, and his Oscar opportunities, were better because of the ‘do.

Ash, you know perfectly well I haven’t seen this movie.  I can’t decide if this is more or less pathetic than your admission that you haven’t seen The Fifth Element.

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4. Orlando Bloom as Legolas in the Lord of the Rings Trilogy.

Only an elven prince could pull off beautiful long, blonde layers…or a Norse God with a hammer…or a stuck up servant of the Dark Lord…or an English footballer who may have a movie containing his name. Ok, so I’ll pay tribute to all the Fabio copycats who have better hair than I could ever dream of.  Good luck keeping track of all the brush strokes you have to do every night Marcia Brady-style.

YES.  Just yes.  How is this not number one?  That wig was the thing dreams are made of for all girls in our generation, for multiple reasons.  I definitely did not just do a google image search for pictures of Legolas.  Nope. 

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3. Johnny Depp as Everybody in Everything.

Whoever is Johnny’s wig person is living in high style after all the work they’ve had to do over the years.  Whether snipped in every direction as Edward Scissorhands, frazzled and frizzed as the Mad Hatter, or long and knotted as Captain Jack and Tonto, he has kept that poor soul busy.  Although, they might be to blame for the nightmares of many children for that creepy bob and bangs as Willy Wonka.

He does know how to wear a wig. 

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2. The Cast of Hairspray

With a movie title like that, there is high expectations for the top of the head scenery, and this cast does not disappoint.  Michelle Pfeiffer and  Queen Latifah’s blonde bouffants are fabulous, Nikki Blonsky is the poster child for teasing, and even Amanda Bynes looks adorable before she went child-star crazy.  Of course, the cream of the crop is John Travolta’s crowning beauty. I’ll dance and sing with that cross-dresser any day!

And now I’m going to have songs from Hairspray in my head for the rest of the day.  Suuuuper.

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1. The Cast of Elizabeth

…and Marie Antoinette and The Duchess and basically any period piece where the hair is a main character. Kudos to you for looking the part, spending hours in the hair/make-up chair, and for keeping your neck straight when you have 30 pounds on top of your head.  Effie Trinkett would salute you.

I’m not saying this is wrong, big hair is awesome, and in period movies it can  convey an important part of the story.  But, Legolas….

The Die Cast: Your Own Personal Westeros

 A Game of Thrones: The Board Game is not an easy game. It’s not a light game. It’s not a short game. It’s a long, deep, complicated war game that you don’t approach lightly…but it’s also one of the best board games ever made.

In this episode of the Die Cast, I’m joined by a few George R.R. Martin hipsters (who read the books before HBO’s Game of Thrones was a thing), a few new die hard fans and a few casual watchers to talk about the board game based on A Song of Ice and Fire. Along the way, we talk about other stuff (like our favorite backstabbing game), but if you want 90 minutes of blathering about Westeros and the intense game set there, you’ve come to the right place.

GoT Board Game

Oh, and we spoil the hell out of season three of Game of Thrones. So no bitching. We’re warning you now.

Yet Another Street-Legal Batmobile is For Sale This Holiday Season

Yesterday, we reported that an fan-made street legal Batmobile modeled after the one used in Batman Returns will be auctioned off this weekend. While many geeks dream of owning a replica Keaton-mobile that is loaded with an arsenal of crime-fighting equipment and is ready to drive, some of you out there might be looking for something a bit old-fashioned. For those among you who are lukewarm about the 1989 edition of Batman’s signature vehicle, I return with serendipitous news: you now can purchase your very own road-ready replica of the Batmobile driven by Adam West in the Batman television program from the 1960s.

Hammacher Schlemmer, a retailer and mail-order dealer based in Niles, Illinois that is mostly known for adorning airplanes with Skymall magazines loaded with overly-expensive kitsch, is offering replica Batmobiles to anyone who is willing to pay $200,000. for one. Each car takes approximately a year to build, but if you’re willing to put up the cash and wait, it sounds like you’ll receive something that is as close to the real thing as possible. The description for the West-mobile on the Hammacher Sclemmer website notes the following features:

Built on a custom Lincoln chassis, this crime-fighting cruiser comes standard with a 430-horsepower, 383 Blueprint Crate engine and a Monster TH350 automatic transmission. Though equipped with neither atomic batteries for power nor turbines for speed, a rear-facing propane tank creates the same afterburner effect as the original. The vehicle’s cockpit honors the gadgetry of the TV series with a blinking Batphone, switch-operated electric actuators that open the hood and trunk, and a rotating red beacon to alert citizens while in pursuit of fiendish criminals. Other intriguing, if less functional, accessories include a glowing detect-a-scope screen, a Batbeam ray that raises from a hood-mounted antenna, and empty rear parachute packs. The vehicle’s exterior bears all the hallmarks of its namesake, from bubble-canopy windshields to chrome “rocket” tubes behind the rear windshield. Though the original Batmobile lacked rearview mirrors, this street-legal model comes with clamp-on side mirrors as well as a rear video camera.

I hope for a fifth of a million dollars, the 1966 replica can go faster than the 20 miles per hour of the real 196os Batmobile. No word of the car’s top speed on the website could be found, unfortunately. Regardless, if you have the money to burn and/or an oncoming midlife crisis that’s hastily approaching, you’re no longer limited to one Batmobile. Happy holidays, indeed.

Be sure to come back tomorrow, when I will probably have news about someone selling a replica Bat-tank from the Nolan films.

If you had the option of owning any Batmobile, which one would you pick? Who would win in a fistfight, Adam West Batman or Michael Keaton Batman? Give us your thoughts down below!

Via Hammacher Schlemmer

 

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The INTERN-net Show #9: ‘The Two Doctors’

WELCOME TO EPISODE 9 OF THE INTERN-NET SHOW, WITH YOUR HOST CHRIS HARRISON AND GUEST CO-HOST – JEFF HANNAN.

THERE IS A VAST POOL OF EXCITING NEWS EVERY WEEK, AND IN OUR EFFORT TO BRING YOU BRAND NEW, ENGAGING CONTENT JOIN US IN A DISCUSSION ABOUT FILM, TV, COMIC BOOKS AND ANYTHING ELSE THAT GETS US TALKING. GOT SOMETHING TO SAY? THIS IS THE PLACE TO DO IT!

THIS WEEK, WE WELCOME GUEST CO-HOST INTO THE FOLD IN SPECTACULAR CHEESY DOCTOR WHO FASHION, DISCUSS THE DOCTOR WHO ANNIVERSARY, THE STATE OF COMIC BOOKS AND TIME TRAVEL.

 

MOST IMPORTANTLY, THIS SHOW IS ALL ABOUT YOU. GET INVOLVED IN THE DISCUSSION, TELL US WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT THESE STORIES AND IF THERE’S A STORY YOU WANT TO CREATE CONVERSATION ABOUT THEN THROW A QUESTION MY WAY EITHER ON TWITTER OR RIGHT HERE EACH WEEK. WE’RE WORKING ON MAKING THE SHOW EVEN BETTER SO DO MAKE ANY SUGGESTIONS YOU HAVE BELOW!

TELL YOUR FRIENDS TO JOIN THE INTERN-NET!

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6 Films to Describe Your Sex Life

Wow, this is embarrassing. I was on my roof today trying to access my neighbor’s internet, because well, the OOU masters pay me in gum and whip-lashes, so I can’t afford my own. It was really cold this morning, and apparently, the dew on my roof was frozen. I slipped and fell, and now my head is stuck in the gutter (There’s so much gunk in here! I should really clean it…).

While I was in here, waiting for the ambulance to stop laughing and come to my aid, I opened my laptop and popped in my copy of Shame. What is this film about? Well it’s about a guy who has a sex addiction. The first thing I thought was, “Wow, I would never want my sex life to be adequately summed up by the movie Shame.” My next thought was, “Well, what movies could make for an AWESOME assessment of my sex life?” So without further adieu, here are 6 films you could use to describe your AWESOME sex life…well… more or less:

 

1. The Dark Knight Rises

    “Ah yes! I wondered what would break first. Your spirit… or your body.”

Not only could the title serve as a metaphor for an erection, but bachelor Bruce Wayne has faced a struggle that you or I would fight. You used to be at the top of your game, and everyone would swoon at the mere mention of your name. You would always go out at night, and come home the next morning covered in scratches and bruises. But then… (s)he had to ruin everything. Yeah, you know who I’m talking about. That maniacal person you dated who wears WAY too much makeup (some might even say (s)he looked like a clown). (S)he screwed your best friend and drove him crazy, and then (s)he broke you down. After that, you went through an 8-year dry spell. But then, a new person with a face shrouded behind a mysterious mask catches your attention, and apparently, you guys went to the same school of shadows! Surprisingly enough, your Dark Knight Rises again!

 

2. Passion of the Christ

Nope. Try again. – Editors

2. The Hunger Games

“May the odds be forever be in your favor…in bed!”

Maybe you’ve been in this situation. Your best friend was unfortunate enough to win the lottery that is the heart of an ugly, dirty, and smelly man. Because you’re a good friend , you decided to bite the bullet and volunteer as tribute by wooing him away. Fortunately, it was a one night stand. Unfortunately, he told all his friends, and now they want to holler at you. So then you asked your cake-decorating best friend to pretend to be your lover, just so people can leave you alone. But what’s this? Oh no! (S)he’s starting to fall for you! You don’t see your friend that way, and also there’s someone else. Now, all you can do is survive this brutal world of awkwardness.

 

3. Fight Club

First rule of last night… don’t talk about last night. Second rule of last night… don’t talk about last night.”

No, I’m not talking about a club were people channel all their “aggression” towards each other. All people have that Tyler Durden or Skyler Durden inside them (phrasing!). (S)he’s sexy, confident, and knows how to make soap which means (s)he’s pretty clean. (S)he is everything that you are deep down inside, but in reality, you’re an awkward person that goes to support groups and preys on the emotionally vulnerable. It’s not until Marla/Marlon Singer comes along, and calls you out on your bullshit. One night, (S)he comes over and you let loose your inner Skyler/Tyler Durden. The next day, you try to dismiss that person, and pretend like that night never happened, and claim that (s)he was with someone else. Like a boss.

 

4. The Good, The Bad, The Ugly

There are two kinds of people in this world. Those with loaded guns. And those who dig…”

The title itself is pretty succinct and could serve as a description. There are some good nights, some bad nights, and some ugly nights that end in a hangover and an unappealing face to wake up to in the morning. On a deeper level (no pun intended), perhaps you used to have great sex with a partner, so much so, that you ended up in a domestic relationship. However, the relationship went sour due to disagreements about the division of labor and who handles the money. One person’s neck is on the line after all. In the heat of the moment, just when one is about to kill the other, the landlord decided to increase the rent, and seeing as you both love this nice apartment, you realize the only way they can afford it is together. Also, there is another person who wants this apartment. After countless double crossings and back stabbings, in the end, it ends with one guy dead, a break up, and someone screaming “DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ARE? A DIRTY SON OF A BI-” while the other rides off into the sun.

 

5. Inception

We have to go deeper

We’ve all been here. There’s this sexy person that makes you all kinds of crazy. So much so that you lose your own sense of reality. You even mastered the act of lucid dreaming, just so you can play with him/her in your dreams, and keep that person locked up in the basement floor of a honeymoon suite. Finally the opportunity presents itself, and you score a date! Sadly, this date is overly complicated, and makes you jump through all kinds of hoops just to get in to the bedroom. After this long and emotional journey, how does the night end? Well, (s)he invites you to the bedroom, turns you on, and says “Hold on, let me change in to something that I think you’re REALLY going to like.” (S)he proceeds in to the closet and then… never comes out. You’re just left hanging there, head forever spinning, and now you’re just confused as you attempt to re-evaluate the events of that night, and try to figure out what those last words could even possibly mean. Or maybe, JUST MAYBE… it was all a dream.

 

6. The Hunt For Red October

“Y’know, I seen me a mermaid once. I even seen me a shark eat an octopus. But I ain’t never seen no phantom Russian submarine.”

This one may sound pretty weird, but I assure that it has nothing to do with menstrual cycles. It would be easy to say that this is a hunt for the D. A submarine is pretty much a phallus after all. But it doesn’t have to be! Because just like my ex-girlfriend, it goes both ways (although, maybe I was the reason why she became a little bi- curious). Perhaps you were dating someone, and all of a sudden you decide to run away from this person. You want to be with your true love: the one that you felt guilty about having a one night stand with. However, you aren’t what someone would call a ‘good guy’, because you have been sneaking around using your caterpillar drive, which is why you have been undetectable. The problem is, you’re a changed man, and now you want to defect and settle down with your true love. Heartbroken (and admittedly insane), you’re current ex decided to hire a legion of hitmen to take you out. Sadly, your true love discovers that you may be on the loose with the intention to attack his/her heart once again. So (s)he too hires a bunch of hitmen to take you out. Old habits die hard, and your caterpillar drive is failing, making you detectable because everyone is talking about it, allowing these hitmen to pinpoint your location. You begin to run on this deadly game of two cats one mouse. This is where your true love’s best friend comes in. After analyzing a bunch of ripped up love letters you sent to the one who stole your heart, (s)he begins to suspect that maybe you sincerely have changed. You honestly just want to retire from this life of sneaking around with your now ex, just so you can be with your true love. So now, (s)he needs to find you and absolve this issue before it is too late…

So fellow OOUies, what’s a movie title that you would use to describe an awesome sex life? Whatever they are, comment below and let One of Us know!

P.S. You want to know what’s better than an awesome sex life? Drama that is one of Audio. And boy do we got a steamy one for you! One might say that it’s… Infinitely better than all the hot dates you will have in your entire life put together. CHECK IT.

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Digital Noise Episode 21: Thanks-Viewing

Happy Thanksgiving, Digiphiles!

We have a great episode for you to stuff into your ear holes, and enough stellar titles to cram into your eye-mouths and then collapse into satisfied post-viewing coma.

Chris has returned from the Far East with tales of wonder, and rejoins Brian and Luke to toss around The To Do List, The Complete Dr Who, Paranoia, Under the Dome and much more! Why, just check out that list of titles below to get your appetite whetted for this pre-Thanksgiving episode of review-y goodness.

Empty Space Thinking of purchasing any of the titles we discussed? Or anything from Amazon in general? Please access Amazon via our links to help support the site. We really appreciate it!

Hobbit Extended Edition Blu-ray Review  The World's End Blu-ray Review  Cornetto Trilogy Blu-ray Review

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2 Guns Blu-ray Review   Under the Dome Blu-ray Review   Paranoia Blu-ray Review

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Dexter Final Season Blu-ray Review   The To Do List Blu-ray Review   Ab Fab Blu-ray Review

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Mickey's Christmas Carol Blu-ray Review   Family Tree Season 1 Blu-ray Review   City Lights Blu-ray Review

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Tank Girl Blu-ray Review   Assault on Precinct 13 Blu-ray Review   Maniac Cop 2 Blu-ray Review

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Maniac Cop 3 Blu-ray Review   Maniac Cop 2 Soundtrack  <–GIVEAWAY!!!!

How To Win This Week’s Giveaway:

1.) Follow @OneOfUsNet on Twitter

2.) Tweet the worst possible rapper/horror movie soundtrack collaboration you can think of (not one that exists, but one that you create).

3.) Include the hashtag (#horrorrap)

4.) We’ll select our favorite and contact that winner via direct message on Twitter.

 

 

Follow Digital Noise on Twitter and make sure to review us on iTunes.

Trailer Reaction: ‘The Secret Life of Walter Mitty’

Ben Stiller has returned to the director’s chair and he’s out to tackle something interesting: an artistic blockbuster that’s set to come out this Christmas. Will it end up being another film on the same level of Tropic Thunder’s quality or will it fall more in line with the likes of Little Fockers? Only time will tell, but let’s see if the trailer gives us any sign of the film’s fate.

The film, based on the 1939 short story by James Thurber, the film follows Walter Mitty (Stiller) a meek individual without much life experience that escapes into elaborate fantasies in order to make his life seem worthwhile. Walter works for Life Magazine, which is set to publish its final issue. The magazine has decided that its last cover will be a photo taken by famous Arctic explorer Sean O’Connell (Sean Penn). When said picture goes missing, Walter sets out to prove his condescending boss (Adam Scott) wrong and impress the woman in the office that he fancies (Kristen Wiig) by finding the image on an elaborate global journey that’ll put his wandering mind to the test. The latest trailer is available below:

Ben Stiller has always been a curious figure. Whenever he has some form of creative control or interest in a project, it tends to be a fascinating effort, whether it’s The Ben Stiller Show, Zoolander, Tropic Thunder or even The Cable Guy (an underrated dark comedy, in my humble opinion). Sure, he’s very guilty of selling out and not trying with projects like Night at the Museum or the Meet the Parents sequels, but I can at least praise him for interspersing those efforts with quality productions that he cares about.

So, with that previous track record, I’ve got a lot of confidence in what he’ll do with Walter Mitty. Based on this and the previous trailers, it seems as if Stiller is trying to combine his usual brand of humor with an indie spirit and a blockbuster budget, like a melding of Tropic Thunder and the Noah Baumbach film Greenberg. There is a possibility that it could lead to some tonal shifts, but as depicted in the trailers the mix oddly works. At the moment, I’m excited for what Stiller could potentially pull when this comes out on Christmas Day… though it’ll have to wait in line behind Wolf of Wall Street.

What are your thoughts about Ben Stiller’s approach to this film? Does his track record help or hinder Walter Mitty’s chances for success? Let us know down below!

Via YouTube

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Street-Legal Batmobile Heading to Auction This Week

Have you ever been in a great conversation about how great the Batmobile is, only to have it ruined by some dope who just had to point out that it wouldn’t stay on the road for long, for practical or legal reasons? Well, now’s your chance to chase that fool down the street in your very own completely-functional Keaton-style Batmobile! A fully street-legal replica of the 1989 version of the Dark Knight’s ride is heading to auction on Saturday, November 30th.

UK-based auctioneers Historics at Brooklands plan to auction the car off at Mercedes-Benz World this weekend. While the fan-made tribute car is missing a few of the Batmobile’s more dangerous gadgets, it does contain more of the movie version’s features that one might imagine. According to the car’s description on the auctioneers’ website, it includes the following specifications:

comes complete on a bespoke chassis and powered by a straight six, fuel injected modern Jaguar 3.2 litre engine with automatic transmission. Special crime fighting gadgets include a fully operational flame thrower at the rear, hydraulic suspension enabling the car to be lifted a further nine inches off the ground, a smoke release mechanism, remote full releasing electronic canopy, remote ignition and full LED running lights, dashboard display and front and rear camera’s complete the specification.

Though the previous owner was probably tempted to drive the car around and fight crime, the vehicle’s mileage is reportedly quite low. This is because it was mainly used as a display item at exhibitions and motor shows and was transported to venues rather than driven. Historics estimates the car’s value is between £70,000 – £90,000 (approximately $113,000 – $146,000), so it is likely the bidding will start somewhere around there. The timing could not be better, as this is the perfect holiday gift for the Bat-fan in your life. At such an affordable price, how could you say no? Check out the promotional video for the auction item below:

 

 

Which version of the Batmobile is your favorite? Are there any other geeky vehicles you’d like to see on the auction block? Let us know in the comments!

Via Historics at Brooklands 

‘An Adventure in Space and Time’ Review

While most people were focused solely on The Day of the Doctor, the BBC in truth had two big specials for the celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Doctor Who. An Adventure in Space and Time, written by Doctor Who alum Mark Gatiss, chronicles the early days of Doctor Who, from the problems getting it on the air to the departure of the First Doctor, William Hartnell.

Fittingly, the man that runs away with the show is David Bradley, who brilliantly plays Hartnell. Bradley doesn’t play Hartnell, he inhabits Hartnell, both in his bigger than life persona as the Doctor and the real life man full of fear and doubt trying to hold on despite a mind that is continuing to fail him. Bradley is so damn good in this that even when he isn’t doing anything in the shot he somehow manages to steal the scene.

Other noteworthy performances include Brian Cox as Sydney Newman and Jessica Raine as Verity Lambert. A clever fan might also notice that it is Nicholas Briggs playing the original voice of the Daleks and Cybermen, Peter Hawkins

One thing that bothered me immensely was the Matt Smith cameo. The entire special up to this point had been about the period and had stayed very grounded. This break from reality to see Hartnell looking  off and seeing Smith as the Doctor felt cheesy, unnecessary, and depending on how you want to look at it, possibly offensive given Hartnell’s real life medical problems. It doesn’t need to be there, Hartnell would never had any clue at that moment that the show would last as long as it has in that moment. It is a huge disconnect from the rest of the piece and the idea should have found its way not onto our screens, but into the trash.

What really should have happened here is instead of a special, they should have done a mini-series. Almost none of the characters are given any chance to develop, and thus, even under a pen as skilled as Gatiss’, the people feel more like cutouts than actual people, save for Bradley’s Hartnell. This is a story with people coming and going all the time, the only character that is in it from start to finish is Cox’s Sydney Newman, and even with him, we barely get to see past the surface. Trying to fit in so much history and information makes the special more about what they did then who they were, which is unfortunate. A mini-series would have allowed a better balance of character work  and historical information. Doctor Who broke as much cultural ground behind the camera as it in front of it, and some of the weight of that gets lost because the story has to rush so they can squeeze all of the story in. A mini-series would’ve allowed things to slow down and give the audience time to appreciate all the hard work and interesting people that went into getting this titan of the small screen on the air and making it what it is today.

At the end of the day, the special is well made and is something that both Whovians and Non-Whovians can enjoy for different reasons. While I can’t help but pine for what could have been, what is there is enjoyable and full of charm.

So what did you folks think of An Adventure in Space and Time? Sound off in the comments below!

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