Doctor Who - The Aztecs
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Carole Ann Ford, Jacqueline Hill, William Hartnell, William RussellBrand: Warner Brothers
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo; English (Subtitled)
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD-Video, Full Screen, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 98 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2003-03-04
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: BBC Warner
Movie Reviews of Doctor Who - The Aztecs
Movie Review: With stories like this, who needs aliens?
Summary: 5 Stars
You'd hardly think that this was a science fiction series if this was your first Doctor Who story- and yet, the Aztecs culture are so alien to people, that it's really like looking at another world- in an Earthbound serial!
And people talk about four people in the TARDIS being too many- here it actually works. Each member ends up going their different way- and with each person you learn a different part of the Aztec culture, so much so, that by the end of the four episodes, it's like watching a blockbuster. All done in the studio- which had me totally surprised when I found out, the "outdoor" scenes in the garden are extremely convincing (Are you reading this, those who prefer style over substance? Doctor Who can do both at the same time!). John Ringham as Tltoxol is easily as fierce a villain as any alien.
But the real star is Barbara, who's mistaken for the god known as Yetaxa, and is forced not to reveal her true identity to the public. Barbara could easily stand up next to Rose and Martha as one of the best companions, and in many ways even eclipses them. She is the central character here, and Jacqui Hill grabs the opportunity. There are several moments, when Ian's about to be killed, and Tltoxol challenges, "if you are Yetaxa, save him!" Barbara holds a knife to his throat, and forces them to let Ian go! Another when Tltoxol tries to prove she is a mortal by having her drink some poison, with Ian signalling in the background, she turns it around on them and reveals their treason! All this while trying to get rid of the evil in the Aztecs, with their blood sacrifices and such, so that only the good survive when Cortes lands and the Aztecs will survive. A good idea in theory, but as the Doctor so eloquently states, "You can't rewrite history. Not one line!"
Still, The Aztecs is probably the best William Hartnell story around, and really shows that you don't need to always have futuristic aliens in sci-fi.
Summary of Doctor Who - The Aztecs
`You can't rewrite history, not one line.' When the TARDIS materializes in an ancient Aztec temple, Barbara is mistaken for the reincarnation of the Aztecs' High Priest, Yetaxa. The time travelers soon find themselves caught up in a vicious power struggle that could cost them their lives, especially if Barbara continues to wield her influence in an effort to divert the course of history.DVD Features:
Audio Commentary:Original Doctor Who producer Verity Lambert and actors William Russell and Carole Ann Ford
Featurette:Remembering the Aztecs, Designing the Aztecs, Restoring the Aztecs, The Story of Cotez and Montezuma, animated featurette on Making Cocoa the Aztec Way
The Aztecs is the first Doctor Who DVD devoted to the long-running British science fiction television series' initial season (1963-64), so it should be a valuable addition to any fan's collection. It's also a very enjoyable historical drama that pits the Doctor against flesh-and-blood antagonists rather than aliens or robots. In the four-part serial, the Doctor (William Hartnell), his granddaughter Susan, and her teachers Barbara and Ian find themselves in Mexico during the height of the Aztec civilization. There, Barbara is mistaken for the reincarnation of a dead priestess, and she decides to use the ruse to put an end to the Aztecs' human sacrifices. However, she is challenged by the current high priest, which puts Susan and Ian in grave danger, and the Doctor must step in to save his friends and prevent Barbara from altering history. Longtime fans and novices alike will enjoy this rare opportunity to view an early Doctor Who adventure. --Paul Gaita
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