Torchwood: Children of Earth
by Euros Lynn
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Eve Myles, Gareth David-Lloyd, John Barrowman, Paul Copley, Peter CapaldiDirector: Euros Lynn
Brand: Warner Brothers
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown), Dolby Digital 5.1; English (Subtitled); English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 5.1
Format: AC-3, Color, Dolby, DVD, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
Picture Format: 1.78:1
Running Time: 300 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2009-07-28
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: BBC Worldwide
Product features:
- In this new series, re-join Captain Jack, Gwen Cooper and Ianto Jones, who are still coming to terms with the death of two of their closest friends, Tosh and Owen. This time the Torchwood team are faced with their fiercest threat to date - one which throws the future of Torchwood and the entire human race spiraling into danger. They battle against the odds but do they stand a chance of saving mank
Movie Reviews of Torchwood: Children of Earth
Movie Review: Buckle up, Whoniverse!
Summary: 5 Stars
I'm going to preface this review by saying that I have had a love/hate relationship with Torchwood. I loved the character of Captain Jack in Doctor Who and I had huge expectations when it first came out, but was somewhat disappointed. It did seem to reach its stride mid-way through series one which, to me, seemed comic-booky and cheesy. Series two was a big improvement, with the writers fine-tuning the formula and the characters a bit.
That being said, Torchwood: Children of Earth, is exactly what I had hoped for from the very beginning: dark, intelligent, mature, engrossing, well-written, and fast-paced. And I'll just say it, this ain't your run-of-the-mill Doctor Who story, with the grand hero sweeping in to save the day, and I truly applaud Russell T. Davies and the other writers for being utterly fearless with this third series. The choices faced and made by the characters are anguishing and heartbreaking indeed. Yes, there are some plot holes and inconsistencies, but the overall story and events are a harrowing experience from start to finish, and I happen to think this is one of the best, most effective stories in Davies' re-imagined Whoniverse. It's smart, thrilling ... but also, it's emotionally exhausting. You'll need a bit of a lie-down when it's all over.
John Frobisher, who really is the central character in this story, is brilliantly portrayed by Peter Capaldi; he is a man whose entire life has been in civil service to his country, suddenly thrust front and center by a government who sees him only as a dispensable pawn ~ who happens to be very good at what he does. You may not warm up to him completely at first, but by the end you will be heartbroken over his character and the underhanded injustice that he has been served.
The other performances were just as good. John Barrowman as Captain Jack gives us a nuanced, somewhat tortured portrayal of Jack that we have not seen before. In the first series, he was sort of a happy-go-lucky caricature that couldn't quite break free of the child-geared, Doctor Who mold, but matured a lot in the second series. With this third series, we understand the weight of his years lived, learn a little bit more about him, and feel a certain sadness every time he comes back to life, realizing what a miserable existence he's been cursed with.
Eve Myles and Kai Owen are their usual, perky selves as Gwen and Rhys, with some much needed levity in an otherwise dire set of circumstances. Gareth David-Lloyd, as Ianto Jones, could be said to be the weakest of the bunch, but I found his performance to be rather touching and heartfelt, especially when he realizes just how little he truly knows Jack. And as far as his relationship with Jack, it's a shame we don't see more same-sex stories like this, because the same-sex-ness of it is completely transcended by their affection for one another.
The story itself is downright creepy, especially with the manipulation of the children by the aliens, known only as the 456 (not to mention what the 456 actually want the children for), and humanity's inability to do anything about it. The political thriller side of this story is well-crafted and believable, as we watch the powers that be pull the strings and begin making decisions for the whole of humanity in the face of an unbeatable threat, whilst attempting to finagle their own lily-livered survival at the same time. And for me, watching the political posturing of these people made me wonder what our governments would do in an actual situation like this. Kind of a scary thought.
The finale is one of the worst, most shocking I've ever seen ~ right up there with the finale of Blake's 7 back in the 80s ~ and yet, it is one of the very best, even though it is quite disturbing to watch. But Davies, whether you like him or not, and I know a lot of people don't, doesn't pull any punches here, he makes no apologies, and as a writer myself, I absolutely love and admire that. It takes guts and a certain arrogance to bring your own creation, beloved by many, crashing to its knees, and he chose not to take the easy, politically correct way out, but instead serves up an ending that people will either despise or be enthralled by, but which ultimately carries an unforgettable impact that will leave you breathless and in shock.
It concludes leaving the future of Torchwood unresolved and in limbo, but I think all of us Whovians know exactly where Captain Jack will end up next ;). Where it goes after that is anyone's guess. But if this is the end of the series altogether, well, what a way to go!
In closing, all I can say is: Bravo, Mr. Davies! THIS is the Torchwood I've been waiting for! So, tuck the kiddies in bed, grab your hankie and buckle up! 'Cause it's one helluva ride!
Summary of Torchwood: Children of Earth
TORCHWOOD:SEASON 3 CHILDREN OF EARTH - DVD MovieAfter two engagingly frothy seasons of action-packed science fiction TV, the Russell T. (Doctor Who) Davies-produced Torchwood takes a decidedly dark and thoughtful turn in its abbreviated third season miniseries, Children of Earth. Here, Captain Jack Harkness and the Torchwood Three team, still reeling from the deaths of two of its key members in the previous season, investigate a outbreak of hypnotic chanting by children across the globe. The phenomenon heralds the arrival of an invading alien force, the 456, who plan to destroy the human race if 10% of the Earth?s children are not given to them. Captain Jack and his cohorts must find a way to stop the 456?s plan, but encounter formidable obstacles along the way, including enemies in the British Home Office and Jack?s own past, which is intertwined with the 456. Penned in part by Davies, Children of Earth does an impressive job of bringing the Torchwood characters and mythology into a more complex and mature storyline (which borrows and elaborates pleasantly on John Wyndham?s novel The Midwich Cuckoos and its film adaptation, Village of the Damned). Dedicated fans of the series may decry some of Davies? decisions regarding some of the show?s characters (and new ones are introduced here), but most should enjoy this attempt to bring weight and suspense to the Torchwood universe. The double-disc DVD contains all five episodes of Children of Earth (which were broadcast on consecutive nights on the BBC and its affiliated stations), as well as a 31-minute episode of its companion series, Torchwood Declassified, which addresses the season?s production (and under no circumstances should be viewed prior to watching the episodes). --Paul Gaita
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