Hugo: A Movie Review by L Bunting

 Since I discovered The Invention of Hugo Cabret several years ago, it has remained one of my favourite books. The magnificent illustrations that make up much of the story were one of my favourite aspects of the book: it takes great talent for an author to be able to tell a complex and moving story through primarily pictures. 

A few days before Christmas, I and my family saw it in our local theatre/cinema, and it was a stunning movie. 

A breif summary: Set in 1930s Paris, Hugo Cabret lives between the walls of a train station, maintaining the clocks, stealing food and working on his father's most ambitious project: repairing a broken automaton.  However, the automaton is missing one part — a heart–shaped key. 

Hugo was shot in 3D, and although I saw it in 2D it retained depth and detail that made it extremely believable. Similarly, the history of silent film was intriguing as well as accurate as the audience was shown clips of the first film ever and excerpts from the work of Georges Méliès.

Hugo was portrayed by Asa Butterfield, who some may know as Mordred in the BBC television series Merlin, and he is to play Ender Wiggin in Ender's Game, which is set to be released in 2013.

The well-read Isabelle was played by Chloë Grace Moretz, and she perfectly brought out the innocent yet knowledgeable aspects of her character.

Rather than using surplus action to tell the story, it was character driven yet complex--just as the original book was, resulting in a wonderful movie. 

I, without hesitation, give this movie five stars for the phenomenal story telling, acting, plot, and everything else.

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows

A review by PreTitlesSequence

The sequel to the hit 2009 film; Sherlock Holmes - Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows- a version of the Sherlock Holmes stories, starring Robert Downey Jr and Jude Law was released this December, and on December 27, I saw it at the cinema/theater.

In A Game of Shadows, Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson join forces to outwit Professor Moriarty (Jared Harris), and prevent Moriarty from starting a world war. 

Having not seen the first film, the first 15 minutes confused me a little, since characters from the first film were used, without explanation. However, from there on, I really enjoyed the film. There was plenty of action (a bit like a Victorian James Bond), with a couple of great set-pieces (one on a train, one in a forest.) The acting standard was generally very good, with Robert Downey Jr and Jude Law impressing as Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson respectively. Jared Harris, who plays Moriarty, and Stephen Fry, who plays Mycroft Holmes, were both excellent. Noomi Rapace as gypsy Simza was a bit bland however - more a fault of the script than the performance. 

The film was based on the Sherlock Holmes story The Final Problem. I won't spoil the ending here, but the ending is very similar to that of the story. The brilliant final scene sets up Sherlock Holmes 3 perfectly - the final shot is the words 'The End?' on a typewriter...

I would recommend A Game of Shadows for its impressive action and great acting - but it's not perfect.

Happy Christmas from the Doctor and the Ponds!

A very happy Christmas to all my readers from me, the Doctor, and the Pond family!

Multifandom Tip of the Iceberg

Recently, I made my first multifandom video, using clips from Doctor Who, Harry Potter, and The Chronicles of Narnia (specifically The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe). It is set to Tip of the Iceberg by Owl City, as a Christmas/Winter special video.
Enjoy!

Two Missing Episodes Found

Throughout Doctor Who's history that spans almost fifty years, several episodes were lost during the beginning years. To the excitement of all Whovians, the official website has confirmed that two Classic Who episodes have been found, featuring the First and Second Doctors, respectively. The episodes in are episode 3 of Galaxy Four (1965) and episode 2 of The Underwater Menace (1967).

Clips from both can be seen below: 

Galaxy Four:



The Underwater Menace:



Source

Fan-Vid Friday (7)

Yes, I know this feature has been absent for a long time, but I uploaded a new video to YouTube...and it's Friday.
So for this Fan-Vid Friday, we have one of my own videos, set to Owl City's famous song Fireflies. I'm quite pleased with how it turned out. The rest of my videos can be viewed on my channel, TheTardisTraveler10.

Prequel to The Doctor, the Widow, and the Wardrobe

The prequel for The Doctor, the Widow, and the Wardrobe has been released, as part of the Adventure Calender featured on the official Doctor Who website.

Matt Smith on the Christmas Special

In a recent interview with What's on TV, Matt Smith talked about the upcoming Christmas special: The Doctor, the Widow, and the Wardrobe.

Can you set the scene when widow Madge Arwell and her children turn up at this draughty manor house and meet the Doctor?
“He’s very excited to see Madge and her children and make Christmas wonderful for this family who’ve been through so much. It’s very cosy and Christmassy in this house. It’s quite nice to see children as the central characters in a Christmas special.”

Why does he call himself The Caretaker?
“He just wants to give himself a new name for a while. But he’s ridiculous and they’re like, this isn’t how caretakers behave! He just wants to take care of things but of course The Doctor taking care of things is making the house twirl about in ridiculous ways. It’s the Doctor landing in a normal situation and changing it in a way only he can.” 

What happens to the Doctor and the family at Christmas?
“There’s a sort of slow-burning magic to the story and it has a Narnia-esque feel to it – they all get to crawl through this mysterious blue present and into an enchanted forest that looked amazing. They covered this forest in snow. It looks incredible. We covered whole forests in snow. The scale of it is vast and it feels magical. We never see that in this country. It’s never THAT snowy.”

Is there a monster in the forest?
“There is a monster. There is a threat in this magical world, a definite threat. I’ll keep the monster as a surprise. It’s one of our best. The design of it is classic. There are others in the forest, too, who are like forestry workers in these great armoured suits. Their leader is played by comedian Bill Bailey!”

How does he get on with Madge?
“Madge is a plucky feisty mum who is quite clumsy, too, but takes care of things. The Doctor finds out something tragic about her life – and subsequently tries to give her and her children the best Christmas ever – which turns out to be the best Christmas ever in a really dangerous forest! Claire Skinner, who plays her, is great. I’m a big fan of her in Outnumbered.”

What can you reveal about the black space suit he wears at one point?
“At the beginning of the episode the Doctor finds himself in this space suit and he crashes to Earth in it. His helmet’s on backwards and he can’t see to navigate – which is funny, hopefully.”

Do you get a lot of stunts in this episode?
“Oh yes. It’s quite action-adventurey which I like. I’ve done all my own stunts this year – well I’ve done two. There have only been two! There’s a big explosion and I do the jump. And another one involves leaping over something which hopefully will be very funny as I land awkwardly. I really enjoy that. Maybe we’ll see more of an action hero Doctor next season.”

How do you get into a Christmas frame of mind when you start filming it in September?
“The wonderful set does it for you – the snow, the pine trees and the smell of them. I’m so looking forward to Christmas! There have been a few night shoots – they can be tough.”

What were your favourite Christmas memories as a kid?
“I didn’t have Doctor Who as a kid sadly. Boxing Day was always the football in my house. I love Christmas. I can’t wait – family, presents and the rest. The older you get, the more you like buying things for other people. Working so much has meant I haven’t had much time with my family as I have previously, so to have a run of two or three days with them is good.”

Will you watch Doctor Who with your family?
“We will sit down and watch it together. My sister usually gabbles on during the middle of it. My dad will be like sssshhhhh. They like the surprise. I always get a text every Saturday saying they liked each episode.”

Doctor Who is 48!

Fourty-eight years ago today, An Unearthly Child aired.

It was about an old man called the Doctor (portrayed by William Hartnell) who travelled time and space in a police box.

Little did viewers know the show would go on to feature ten more incarnations and becoming the longest running science fiction show in history--as well as one of the best loved.

In two years time, the show will reach its 50th anniversary.

Happy Birthday, Doctor Who!

Images and Summary for The Doctor, the Widow, and the Wardrobe

Several pictures and an official summary have been released for the 2011 Christmas special, entitled The Doctor, the Widow, and the Wardrobe.

The summary:

It’s Christmas Eve, 1938, when Madge Arwell comes to the aid of an injured Spaceman Angel as she cycles home, in this year’s Doctor Who Christmas Special, starring Matt Smith as the Doctor.

He promises to repay her kindness – all she has to do is make a wish.

Three years later, a devastated Madge escapes war-torn London with her two children for a dilapidated house in Dorset. She is crippled with grief at the news her husband has been lost over the channel, but determined to give Lily and Cyril the best Christmas ever.

The Arwells are surprised to be greeted by a madcap caretaker whose mysterious Christmas gift leads them into a magical wintry world. Here, Madge will learn how to be braver than she ever thought possible. And that wishes can come true…

Trailer for the Christmas Special,

The trailer has been released for the 2011 Christmas Special, entitled The Doctor, the Widow, and the Wardrobe. From the trailer and the title, it appears reminiscent of C.S. Lewis's masterpiece.

Hints on the Christmas Special

The latest Doctor Who magazine has dropped several hints on the upcoming Christmas special.

• Matt Smith is madder than ever and Claire Skinner will break your heart
• Bill Bailey, Arabella Weir and Alexander Armstrong are very funny (surprise!)
• Contains the words ‘looms’, ‘panthers’, and ‘wish’
• Contains the line, “Watch and learn, kid,” followed by a loud crash
• It’s a lovely, heartwarming, touching tale and literally magical
• “It’s full of the usual concoction of things that spew out of Steven Moffat’s imagination”
• It’s more of an ensemble piece than last year’s special – “more family”
• The last ten minutes are really emotional
• No Amy and Rory brings out a different side in the Doctor
• A pic of the Doctor running in what looks like a fiery factory of some sort
• The title will be announced at Children in Need along with the preview

Source

Owl City Concert

Last night, I attended the All Things Bright and Beautiful Owl City tour concert.

It was, in a word, breathtaking.

Although we had to wait through two warm-up bands, by the time the concert started, everyone was extremely excited.

It opened with blue lights and the sound of rain, punctuated by flashes of white light and thunder sound effects, than Adam Young and the other musicians went on to perform many selections from over the years. As well as songs from their newest album, All Things Bright and Beautiful, there were older songs from Ocean Eyes and Maybe I'm Dreaming. Some of these included Cave In, Dear Vienna, Meteor Shower, and Vanilla Twilight.

There was also a new song,  I Hope You Think of Me.

Galaxies (which had phenomenal lighting effects)

And of course, the ever-popular Fireflies was performed, with Adam inviting the audience to sing along. Of course, when we did, we sounded about ten because everyone was smiling so hard.

After The Yacht Club was performed as the final song--with magnificent lighting throughout--and Owl City left the stage, everyone began chanting 'One more song! One more song!" To our delight, they complied, singing not one, but two more songs--Vanilla Twilight and If My Heart Was a House, bringing an end to an amazingly brilliant concert.

Wrap Party Videos from The End of Time

Two previously unknown videos were released today, both shown to the cast and crew at the wrap party for The End of Time.

David Tennant, Catherine Tate and John Barrowman perform The Ballad Of Russell and Julie to thank Russell T. Davies and Julie Gardner for their excellent work on the series.



The cast, crew and monsters sing and dance to I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) by The Proclaimers.

Happy Birthday Matt Smith!

Although the Doctor himself is nine hundred and nine, Matt Smith is turning twenty-nine today!

The phrase 'HAPPY BIRTHDAY MATT SMITH' is currently trending on Twitter in the UK...

Wish a happy birthday to the portrayer our favourite lord of time and space!

Final Day to Save Confidential

As you may know, the petition to save Doctor Who Confidential will be sent to the BBC tonight for the signatures to be counted. If you haven't already, add your signature now to help save the inside look at every Doctor Who episode!

SIGN THE PETITION!

Boxset Extras: Mini Episodes

As with Series 5's Meanwhile in the TARDIS, a collection of mini-episodes will be included with the Series 6 boxset. A short summary of each of the five episodes follows (beware minor spoilers):

• “Night And The Doctor” kicks things off in madcap fashion, as Amy answers a phone call from a British royal, and the Doctor dashes in from a party, dressed in top hat and tails, carrying a goldfish in a bowl – a very important goldfish. Well, so he thinks, anyway… It’s inconsequential fare, but good fun. Arthur Darvill also pops up briefly in this segment, after the Doctor wakes him with a cry of “Rory, she’s having an emotion!”

• “Good Night” is this reviewer’s favourite of the bunch (and, at nearly five minutes, the longest). A rather touching two-hander between Smith and Gillan, it sees Amy trying to talk to the Doctor about the fact that “her life makes no sense” (about time too!), and the Doctor taking her to “the saddest moment in her life” to meet… well, that would be telling. One neat idea expressed here is that our misremembered memories and feelings of déjà vu are actually side-effects of time being rewritten.

• In “First Night” the Doctor lands in River’s cell during her first night in jail, to take her out for an adventure. Ending on a cliffhanger, it’s really the first part of a two-parter, which concludes in “Last Night”.

• This tale sees Moffat making characteristic use of the possibilities of time travel, and putting them to the services of a timey-wimey miniature farce: at one point, there are three River Songs in the TARDIS… One interesting point we learn is that it was the Doctor who suggested that River keep a diary of their adventures together, and who introduced her to the term “spoilers”. As for the meaning of that title? Well, we won’t spoil it for you, but let’s just say it has a very poignant significance…

• Finally, “Up All Night” is stuck on a separate disc from the other mini-episodes, which is initially rather mystifying. All becomes clear when you watch it, as it has absolutely no connection to them. Only a minute long, it was clearly written with the intention of using it as one of the “episode prequels” used to promote the series online. Featuring Craig, Sophie and, er, Stormageddon, it’s set shortly before the events of “Closing Time” and basically establishes the set-up for the episode. Viewed after you’ve seen Gareth Roberts’s episode it is, to be honest, pretty pointless.

Thanks to Time Dragon In The Vortex and The Whoniverse Blog for the heads-up

Win at the Scream Awards-Updated

Last night was the Scream Awards, and Matt Smith won an award for his performance as the Eleventh Doctor.

As the Scream Awards is an American awards show, this is quite an accomplishment for Doctor Who. Other names in the running included Daniel Craig (Cowboys & Aliens), Chris Evans (Captain America: The First Avenger), Harrison Ford (Cowboys & Aliens) and Jake Gyllenhaal (Source Code).

Karen Gillan was also nominated for best Science Fiction Actress, but lost to Milla Jovovich.
Doctor Who was nominated for best TV Show, but the award went to Game of Thrones.

Update: A longer video of Matt Smith at the awards ceremony can be seen below:

Moffat on Axing of Confidential

In Doctor Who Magazine, Steven Moffat has given his opinion on the axing of Confidential:

“It seems hard to grasp. All shows have their time, and all shows end, but not, in all sanity, while people still watch and love them,” he says in the latest issue of Doctor Who Magazine. “And going by the numbers and the outcry, this show was watched and loved everywhere.”
He adds: “I’m not supposed to say it, but I’m going to anyway: bad day, bad decision. I know these are straitened times. I know we’re all at sea and the night is colder – but you don’t start burning the lifeboats to keep warm.
“Or to put it another way, you might want to think about the future if you’re planning to live there.”

 
The petition is still running, and a count will be taken midnight Friday 28th October 2011 and sent to BBC Trust.

Sign the petition here!

Source

Win at the Scream Awards

Last night was the Scream Awards, and Matt Smith won an award for his performance as the Eleventh Doctor.

As the Scream Awards is an American awards show, this is quite an accomplishment for Doctor Who. Other names in the running included Daniel Craig (Cowboys & Aliens), Chris Evans (Captain America: The First Avenger), Harrison Ford (Cowboys & Aliens) and Jake Gyllenhaal (Source Code).

Karen Gillan was also nominated for best Science Fiction Actress, but lost to Milla Jovovich.
Doctor Who was nominated for best TV Show, but the award went to Game of Thrones.

A video of Matt Smith at the awards ceremony can be seen below:

Fan-Vid Friday (7)

Another Fan-Vid Friday! This week we have a video by layapajamas.

Karen Gillan on Amy and Rory's future

In the Doctor Who: Brilliant Book, Karen Gillan has shed some light on the subject of Amy and Rory's future.

 

'I don't want Amy to pop up again every so often, because for me it would take away from the big, emotional goodbye.' she says, '...Steven Moffat wants it as well. When Amy actually, properly leaves, we both really want it to be for good.'

And on what that big, emotional goodbye could be: 'I think it could be done, if you tackled it right... death could be an option.'

Moffat Explains Delay

In the 2012 edition of The Brilliant Book, Steven Moffat explains why we're waiting until Autumn for Series 7.

“The truth behind the delay next year is: why are we killing ourselves and risking compromising the show, in order to go out in the middle of summer? I’m sick of it. I’m sick of standing in the blazing sunshine, with a barbecue fork in my hand, knowing that Doctor Who is coming on any minute,” he said. “Six o’clock on a sunny Saturday is the middle of the afternoon, whereas six o’clock on a winter or autumn Saturday is dark and exciting”

Moffat also mentioned that Amy and Rory will be back in Series 7, but will not be in the 2011 Christmas special. More appearance from River Song is “Dependent on Alex Kingston”.

He also teased for the 50th anniversary. “Epic, huge, massive, indulgent… all your treats at once…I guarantee you it’s going to be the best year ever to be a Doctor Who fan. We’re going to be in production for longer than ever, just to do everything that we intend to do”.

Two New(ish) Blogs

As you may know, the Seventh Series of Doctor Who will not be airing until Autumn 2012. A blog has been created, The Whovian Withdrawal Symptoms Club, as a way to share Who theories, ideas, and conversations with other Whovians. Keep in mind it is still a very recent blog, so the design and format have not yet been perfected.

Another blog is similar to The Rory Pond Appreciation Society, but focusing on his daughter, River Song. This blog is called The River Song Appreciation Blog.

Watch Death is the Only Answer

Death is the Only Answer, a mini-episode written by schoolchildren for the Script to Screen competition, was shown in the last instalment of Doctor Who Confidentail. You can also watch it below:

Moffat on Series 7

It's been confirmed that the Seventh Series of Doctor Who will not be airing until Autumn 2012. However, there's been little talk of how many episodes there will be. In a recent update to Total TV Guide, he revealed everything is yet to be decided.

"Our plans are still in flux. It's not a secret that we'll be moving to later in the year, but as to how many episodes there are going to be. I simply don't know." The headwriter also assures Whovians they won't be disappointed. "I will absolutely garantee that you're not going to be disappointed or short-changed. It will be a quite remarkable time for Doctor Who."

The Wedding of River Song Today!

 Today is the day we've been waiting for: The Wedding of River Song airs today!

Summary: The city of London, 22 April 2011 – soaring buildings, glittering and mighty under a perfect blue sky, and life tumbling onto pavements below. And horse-drawn Roman chariots driving through the streets. And a Victorian steam train on a monorail… hang on, like in a sci-fi city, but with Romans and steam trains? And hot air balloons? And pterodactyls? And Charles Dickens appearing on BBC One’s Breakfast! Something isn’t quite right…
In Buckingham Senate, at 5.02pm, Holy Roman Emperor Winston Churchill calls for his Soothsayer to be fetched from the Tower. Greying, unkempt, older, tireder, but unmistakably – it’s the Doctor. “Tick tock goes the clock,” Winston tells him, “but they don’t, do they? The clocks never tick.” It’s always 5.02pm these days. All of history is happening at once. “What happened to time?” asks Winston. The answer, it seems, is a woman…


Next time trailer:

TV trailer:

Prequel:

The Wedding of River Song airs at 7:05 PM on BBC1 and at 8/9 PM on BBC America. Answers are promised, but questions will be asked. Grab your Jammie Dodgers, bow ties, sonic screwdrivers, and fezzes and get ready.

As a side note, I recently made a Tumblr account called Brand New and Ancient.

More Doctor Who Owl City Videos

Here are several videos I've made recently but have been unable to upload until now. They are set to the following Owl City songs: Plant Life, On the Wing, West Coast Friendship, and Captains and Cruise Ships. I am also taking video requests, so if there are any songs you'd like to see put to Doctor Who clips, leave your requests on my YouTube channel (TheTardisTraveler10) or in a comment on this blog.

New Images for The Wedding of River Song

Three more images have been released for the finale:

Save Doctor Who Confidential!

As I mentioned in an earlier post, Doctor Who Confidential is being axed from BBC3. As I also mentioned, it's not too late to save it!

Sign the online petition!

Follow the Twitter page!

No More Confidential

It appears that Doctor Who Confidential, the behind the scenes look at every episode, will be ending.

The BBC is to axe Doctor Who Confidential, the BBC3 spin-off from its sci-fi drama, as part of the corporation’s ongoing cuts programme.
The corporation facing budget cuts of up to 20% across its output as part of its “Delivering Quality First” initiative, BBC controller Zai Bennett has chosen to axe the show at the end of its current series.
Bennett is understood to be pursuing a strategy of focusing investment on original commissions in post-watershed time slots. Since taking over, he has decommissioned shows including Ideal, Hotter Than My Daughter, Coming of Age and long-running sitcom Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps.
Speaking last month at the MediaGuardian Edinburgh International Television Festival, Bennett said: “It’s about focusing my budget on 9pm and 10pm; those are the time slots that count. Budgets are tight, so we have to be sensible with the money we have.”
Mark Thompson, the BBC director general, will unveil the corporation’s cost-cutting strategy – the outcome of the DQF process – on 6 October. It is thought to include proposals to exploit greater “synergies” between BBC1 and BBC3, with the digital channel acting as a “nursery slope” for its terrestrial cousin. BBC3 will also fill a greater proportion of its 7pm to 9pm slots with repeats of BBC1 shows.
A spokeswoman for the BBC said: “The Doctor Who spin-off series, Doctor Who Confidential, has been a great show for BBC3 over the years, but our priority now is to build on original British commissions, unique to the channel.”

HOWEVER!! There is a Twitter page and many Facebook pages petitioning for Confidential to be saved, and the Twitter group already has over 7,000 signatures on their online petition. Help save Confidential!

Follow the Twitter group!

Sign the online petition!

Arthur Darvill Introduces The Wedding of River Song

Arthur Darvill introduces the Series 6 finale, The Wedding of River Song, in the video below.

The Complete Sixth Series Details

Finally, the BBC have released a cover and details for Doctor Who: The Complete Sixth Series for the UK (look elsewhere for the US boxset and release date) and here it is: (as last year, there's a regular and limited edition box set, the regular has a 3D sleeve)

  

Here's what's inside:

Episodes

A Christmas Carol

The Impossible Astronaut/Day of the Moon

The Curse of the Black Spot

The Doctor's Wife

The Rebel Flesh/The Almost People

A Good Man Goes to War

Let's Kill Hitler

Night Terrors

The Girl Who Waited

The God Complex

Closing Time

The Wedding of River Song

Extras:

5 X Night and the Doctor Additional Scenes

Space and Time Comic Relief Specials

4 X Audio Commentaries

4 X The Monster Files (The Silence, The Siren, The Antibodies and the Cybermats)

4 X Prequels (This may be a mistake, since there's five prequels not four)

Trailers

14 X Confidential Cut Downs

Doctor Who Confidential: A Night's Tale

The Complete Sixth Series is released in the UK on November 21st, and the US on November 22nd.

The Bird and the Worm Doctor Who

My second requested video, again by 4everrobinhood. Set to The Bird and the Worm by Owl City, this looks at the pairings of Rose/Doctor, Amy/Rory, and a bit of River/Eleven.

Doctor Who on Radio Times

The Doctor Who finale has made the cover of the Radio Times, featuring the Doctor, River, Amy, and Rory, all wearing the mysterious eyepatches.

About the issue:  

As we bid farewell to another cracking series of Doctor Who, we thought we’d gear up for its sand-blown finale by quizzing the show’s mastermind, Steven Moffat, and stars Matt Smith and Karen Gillan on their hidden Who heroes – and also look back at the Doctor’s five greatest escapes…

Own a Pet Bitey

Character Options has announced a pet Bitey, aka Bump and Go Cybermat, coming this October:

Recreate scenes from Series 6, Episode 12, Closing Time with this replica electronic patrolling Cybermat with motorised tail action. Watch as it hunts, patrols and changes direction when it bumps into an object.

The Wedding of River Song Teasers

It turns out that as last year, Moffat isn't sending out preview DVDs to the press of the finale, but SFX have managed to see a screening, here's their teasers:

• It’s a surprisingly simple tale, though told in a clever way. It’s so rich with detail and it’s enormous fun
• There is technobabble, but that’s largely a red herring
• The teaser looks like it was more expensive than the rest of the “back six” put together. It’s a visual and conceptual delight
• It does answer a lot of questions, but some old ones (from Matt Smith’s first series) are still left open, and some new ones are posed
• There are many, many glorious special effects sequences
• The denouement is bound to cause some debate. If you like the episode, you’ll be able to rationalise it, but if you don’t you’ll be going, “But hang on, in that episode…?” But that’s Doctor Who fandom
• You’ll discover a whole new meaning to the phrase “Live Chess” that has nothing to do with Harry Potter
• The Doctor wonders if he could be the fifth member of something
• Wi-fi comes in handy
• There’s the return of an old look for the Doctor
• There are some unexpected (truly unexpected) returning characters
• There’s a moving tribute to an old friend
• The Doctor offers and eye for an eye patch
• A big revelation may remind you of Little Britain
• There are some peculiar postmen
• Somebody’s portrait looks nothing like them
• The episode title may not be as much of a red herring as you might think. But then again…
• Bow ties are not just cool, they’re useful on occasion
• It’s a bit of a gamechanger
• The eye patch is explained

Weekly Whoniverse

Weekly Whoniverse is a round-up of interesting, strange, and cool Doctor Who information and media from around the web. This week we have minimal Doctor Who posters, a Series 1-6 timeline, anatomy of the earth, and the Smith years.

These are only two of this artist's extensive art. Others include the Tenth Doctor, River Song, Blink, Daleks, Vashta Nerada, and many more. To see the rest, follow this link.

 This is an extensive, thorough timeline of the events of Series 1 through 6. Click the image to view larger.

A simple anatomy of planet Earth.



A video by LastWhovian looking at the adventures of the Eleventh Doctor.

Slightly Spoilery Pictures from The Wedding of River Song

As PreTitlesSequence mentioned in an earlier post, there are some leaked pictures from The Wedding of River Song. Spoilers follow, but very minor ones. This is the first half of the pictures, and PreTitlesSequence will be posting the other half soon.

Next Time: The Wedding of River Song (UPDATE)

After a brilliant cliffhanger, there's just the finale of series six to go now :( (As a Merlin fan however, I don't feel so bad) and it looks amazing! Here's the next time:

WARNING! SPOILER ALERT! DO NOT WATCH IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN CLOSING TIME!

And the prequel:

MILD SPOILERS!

UPDATE: Here's the TV trailer:

Closing Time Tonight!

It's Saturday again, and a new episode of Doctor Who- Closing Time airs tonight! Here's a round-up of trailers and clips:

NEXT TIME

BBC One Trailer

Clips:

CLOSING TIME airs tonight on BBC One at 7.10pm, 9/8C on BBC America, and 8pm on SPACE in the UK, US and Canada respectively. We'll have the next time, (and possibly a TV trailer) prequel and leaked promotional pics for The Wedding of River Song straight after the UK broadcast, so don't look if you don't  want to be spoiled, or want to wait for your country's broadcast to catch the trailer.

Fan-Vid Friday (6)

Another Fan-Vid Friday is upon us! This week we have clips from The End of Time parts one and two set to I Will Not Bow by Breaking Benjamin. This was made by KotoriMendes33

Series 7 will be in Autumn

It seems there will be a long wait between the Christmas special and the start of the next series. According to the Doctor Who magazine, the first half of Series 7 will be airing in the autumn of 2012. The 2012 Christmas special will follow, with the second half of Series 7 airing in early 2013.

It would be almost impossible for Series 7 to be a split series like Series 6, as filming will not begin until Febuary 2012. If this happens, Series 8 will air in time for the 50th Anniversary.

The Wedding of River Song Spoiler Pics Preview

I've compiled a set of The Wedding of River Song leaked promo photos, and I'm pleased to say that the pictures will be posted just after the broadcast of Closing Time in the UK, along with the prequel and next time for the finale. Here's a promo pic as a sample:

Closing Time Clips

It's a bit late, but the BBC have released two clips for tomorrow's episode: Closing Time.

BEWARE OF STORMADAGEON- COMING TO A DEPARTMENT STORE NEAR YOU.

SJA: The Curse of Clyde Langer Synopses

The BBC Press Office have issued synopses for episodes three and four of the fifth and final series of The Sarah Jane Adventures:

EPISODE 3: THE CURSE OF CLYDE LANGER PART ONE

Alien investigator Sarah Jane Smith is back and in today's episode some very unusual weather hits Bannerman Road.

It's raining fish from the skies, and Sarah Jane's investigations lead the gang to the Museum of Culture, where the ancient god Hetocumtek may offer answers.

But when Clyde acts the fool once too often, family and friends savagely turn against him, and he is thrown out of their lives!

Sarah Jane is played by the late Elisabeth Sladen and Clyde by Daniel Anthony.

EPISODE 4: THE CURSE OF CLYDE LANGER PART TWO

The curse of Clyde Langer continues in the second part of this gripping story from the award-winning The Sarah Jane Adventures.

In today's episode, Clyde is alone and abandoned on the streets of London, living rough, cold and hungry. One person reaches out to him, but as they become friends, he's warned about the legendary Night Dragon.

In Bannerman Road, Sky knows something's wrong – why do Sarah Jane and Rani suddenly hate Clyde?

Sarah Jane is played by the late Elisabeth Sladen, Clyde by Daniel Anthony and Rani by Anjli Mohindra.

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Christmas Special in Narnia?

The Daily Star has reported this years Christmas special will be a take on The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe.

Show boss Steven Moffat is planning lots of snow, chases through a wintry The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe-style forest, plus an icy baddie.
The special sees the Time Lord (Matt Smith, 28) crash land in war-torn England. Posing as the caretaker of a creepy old house in Dorset he embarks on a magical mystery adventure with Madge Arwell and her two children, Lily and Cyril. The three have been evacuated from London as the capital comes under attack during World War Two. And there’s plenty of surprises as the Doctor leads them into a new world.

Steven Moffat teased: “If you thought last year’s show was the most Christmassy ever, then think again.”
Moffat added: “The Doctor at Christmas – nothing is more fun to write. It’s maybe because it’s so his kind of day. Everything’s bright and shiny, everybody’s having a laugh, and nobody minds if you wear a really stupid hat. Of all the Doctors, Matt Smith’s is the one who was born for this time of year, so it’s the best news possible that he’s heading back down the chimney.”

Clips from Open All Hours: Doctor Who Confidential

Some clips have been released from the Confidential for Closing Time, entitled Open All Hours:

Details:

Confidential is on set with Matt Smith and his returning co-star James Corden. The two make their very own Doctor Who episode with a difference and talk about the highs and lows of shooting at night -- in a department store, with babies!
Spend the night with Greg James and listen to his insightful, in-depth character profile of his new role.
This week, experience ‘A Day in the Life’ of a Doctor Who location manager, and in Script to Screen, the competition winners get to hang out with Matt Smith on set for the filming of Death is the Only Answer.
Featuring interviews with Matt Smith, James Corden, Greg James, Karen Gillan and Arthur Darvill.

 Clip one:



Clip two:

Christmas Special Guest Stars

Some early cast details has been released for the Christmas Special.

The Sun reports the story will see the Doctor in war-torn England during the Second World War. Joining him are guest stars Bill Bailey, Claire Skinner, Alexander Armstrong and Arabella Weir.

More details:

OUTNUMBERED star Claire Skinner will step into the Tardis as a “super-mum” with comedian Bill Bailey for this year’s Doctor Who Christmas special.
Fellow comics Alexander Armstrong and Fast Show funnywoman Arabella Weir also join Matt Smith.
The festive spectacular will see the Time Lord in World War Two-torn England with young widow Madge (Claire) and her two children.
Claire said: “I am thrilled. Madge is a bit of super-mum. It’s a magical part.”