Showing posts with label Whovians. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Whovians. Show all posts

Tuesday, 3 December 2013

Fans thank Matt and prepare to say goodbye

I started sifting through videos commemorating the eleventh doctor after watching Matt's episode of Doctor Who Revisited. The first four videos are favourite moments chosen by fans and the next three are personal messages from the fans. I have also included some of the messages left for Matt including my own. As we get closer to the Christmas special, I shall post more tributes.
 
 
 
 
 
In an incredibly touching compilation, a fan asks fans around the world to say thank you to their favourite doctor.
 
 
Brazil thanks Matt
 
 
Canada thanks Matt
 
 
Here are some notes from the Thank You Matt Smith Google+ Community
 
Matt,
I had a seriously hard time thinking anyone could replace David. You’ve proven me wrong! You’re my favorite Doctor, and I’m heartbroken that you left. I hope I like the new Doctor as much as you, but that’s probably unlikely. You’re the quirkiest Doctor, and even though you were the youngest on the show, you still have my appreciation. I hope we’ll be seeing you around in some other shows, though.

Bowties and fezzes were never cooler. If you decide to reappear on the show, even for just one episode, I will freak out, and get a heart attack, but it would be worth it because we would have our Raggedy man back.

So thank you, for making Doctor Who amazing, and making the 50th anniversary unforgettable.

From,
A Whovian Who Wished You Didn’t Have to Leave (Mansi TheGirlWhoWishedSheHadATARDIS)
 
**
When David Tennant announced at the NTA that he was leaving Doctor Who, I cried. He was my Doctor and the show had become a big part of my life. When you first came onto our screens I was slightly skeptical as to whether I would like your Doctor or not. God was I proven wrong!

Over the years I quickly grew to love 11, he became almost like a friend to the Whovians. He was quirky and playful and so loveable.

With the Christmas episode drawing ever closer we will have to say good bye to our raggedy man in his blue box. And let me tell you, it is going to be so emotional for all of us.

You've helped to engage Whovians of all ages across the world and we are so grateful for what you have brought to Doctor Who.

We will never forget you. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you.(John Smith)
 
**
Matt Smith. If you love us, tell us goodbye like you're coming back.
-River Song (modified quote from The Name Of The Doctor epidode (Jemma Song)
 
**
My note:
 
Twenty two years ago I stumbled upon an actor I liked very much. His name was Leonardo DiCaprio. Two years later I came across Kenneth Branagh and Ewan McGregor and they also became my favourite actors. Then it was a long while to 13 years ago when I added Russell Crowe to my list. Although I only stumbled upon Matt a little over a month ago, he is also now one of my favourite actors.

There is a certain joy for a cinephile when you discover another talent.  I was reluctant to watch any Doctor Who. The few attempts I made at the reboot were futile and I almost gave up. Then I watched Matt in the 11th hour and fell in love with him on the spot. I didn't know it until about five episodes in, but as soon as I knew there was an insatiable appetite to devour everything he has ever been in. I watched all three seasons/series of Doctor Who in 2-2.5 weeks and then all his movies and tv shows in four days.

I just rewatched The Rings of Akhaten, because I love the music and speech at the end. As I sat down to watch it again, I noticed the emotional journey I go on in the episode. There are moments when I feel like The Queen of Years staring up at our raggedy doctor and feeling that blind faith and trust in this extraordinary man. There are other moments when I feel like Clara, a young woman who is embarking on this adventure with a mad man in a box and there are other emotions as well.

Although it is easy to say we are meant to see and feel all of these things, I think most of it is due to Matt. He somehow exudes the courage of a strong leader, the soulful thoughts of a professor, the tenderness of a parent, the unpredictable nature and silliness of Jack Sparrow,  and the romantic tendencies of a great partner. It is so easy to believe that we would get in the Tardis with him.

When I compare him to other actors I admire but are not necessarily on the favourite list, I think it is these nuances in his performance. It's the way he is always acting even if the camera isn't necessarily focused on him. It's the way his eyes are so expressive, soulful and searching. It's in his breath, gestures, body language, and all the rest.

He's the perfect acting partner as he treats everyone with equal respect whether it is a child, young adult or senior. Everyone has their moment to shine with him.

I have to admit when I started watching after the announcement was made that Matt wasn't coming back I wasn't sure how it would affect me. I had no idea when I was done that I would be counting down the days or months to the next two episodes, dreading and looking forward to Christmas, and also hoping that How To Catch a Monster comes to TIFF just so I could see this beautiful gift to the world once more.

From the interviews and videos I have seen, Matt seems more than simply a great actor. He seems like a genuinely fascinating person with admirable qualities.

A part of me is so delighted that Matt is moving on and that hopefully more will be able to enjoy the true gift he has to share. Another part of me would have liked the opportunity to tune in each week to see him. I think for the most part I am just happy for him.

So as we say goodbye to our mad man in a box and raggedy doctor, we can also thank him for all the new experiences and adventures we are about to join him on in his ongoing successful career
 
 

Tuesday, 19 November 2013

David Tennant introduces Day of the Doctor

BBC is quickly learning how to really promote The Day of the Doctor. After discovering Night of the Doctor was actually released one week earlier than planned, I'm starting to question the credibility of the marketing team behind this project.

It is one thing to not really address the San Diego Comic Con trailer fiasco, but it is another to expect fans to buy tickets to a movie/episode without knowing the synopsis or seeing a trailer. We did so in droves, partially because we are a little bit crazy. ;) BBC has released some material to us to get us excited, but most of it seems reactionary more so than planned.

Here are a few more links floating around:

David Tennant's intro and other videos

Paul McGann talks about early release and RadioTimes shows us covers

Steven Moffat calls the BBC stupid for cancelling Doctor Who

Admittedly, I find David's intro equally exciting as the second trailer.






Sunday, 17 November 2013

Colin Baker delivers the Rings of Akhaten speech and other moments I love

The Rings of Akhaten is unequivocally one of my favourite all time episodes of Doctor Who. The beautiful marriage between Murray Gold's majestic score and Matt's heart wrenching performance is perfection. Despite what some critics may say about the episode, I thought the blend of Moffat's influences, Neil Cross' script and Farren Blackburn's direction makes this one of the most memorable moments in Doctor Who history.
 
 
 
Admittedly, I don't generally believe crime writers make good sci-fi or fantasy writers, but Neil Cross is an exception. He may be the showrunner for Luther, but he also knows how to draw people in with simple moments. I've seen it multiple times all under a different perspective. One time I watched it in comparison to Star Wars while other times I may be searching for various nuances that might create a polarizing reaction.  
 
I am sure I am not the only one who fell in love with the song either. 
 
 
It is a bit sad to see there are no videos of the entire speech with Matt and the song, but there are audio files that I listened to on an endless loop.
 
 
 
 

If you want to hear how the same speech would have sounded delivered by Colin Baker, here is a video from Toronto's Fan Expo
 
 
As always, I appreciate the self references in the episode:
1. Amy's glasses
2. Possibly a reference to Billie and Chris' episode, Father's Day, with the woman saving the man from a car.
3. The future reference of "She's not possible"
4. Clara mentioning timey spacey, which takes us back to David's form of speech.
5. Clara observing the TARDIS, "I don't think it likes me", which has happened before to others and will again with Clara.
 
 

 
 
I also like the philosophies of destiny, space, reason and souls.
 
Dave: Because this exact leaf had to grow in that exact way in that exact place so that precise wind could tear it from that precise branch and make it fly into this exact face at that exact moment and if just of those tiniest little things had never happened I'd never have met you. Which makes this the most important leaf in human history.
 
I do feel bad for the amount of lines Matt must have to memorize. Some of these monologues are quite long, even if we only remember parts.
 
 

 
Clara: She didn't say stories. She said souls.
Doctor: Same thing. Souls are made of stories not atoms. Everything that ever happened to us. People we loved. People we lost and we found again against all the odds. He threatens to wake and they offer him a pure song, the Soul of the queen of years.
Clara: Stop it. You're scaring her.
Doctor: Good. She should be scared. She's sacrificing herself. She should know what that means. Do you know what it means Mary?
Mary: A god chose me.
Doctor: It's not a god. It will feed on your soul, but that doesn't make it a god. It is a vampire and you don't need to give yourself to him. Hey. Do you mind if I tell you a story? One you may not have heard. All the elements in your body forged many, many, millions of years ago in the heart of a faraway star. It exploded and died. That explosion scattered those elements across the decimations of deep space after so, so many millions of years and those elements came together to form new stars and new planets and on and on it went. The elements came together and burst and part forming shoes, shapes, ceiling wax, and cabbages and kings until eventually they came together to make you. You are unique in the universe. There is only one Mary Galel. And there will never be another. Getting rid of that existence isn't a sacrifice, it is a waste.
 
I also like the messages it spreads about courage:
 
Clara: Why are we walking away? We can't just walk away. This is my fault. I talked her into doing this.
Doctor: Listen. There's one thing you need to know about travelling with me. Well, one thing apart from the blue box and the two hearts. We don't walk away.
 
Clara: What about that stuff you said? We don't walk away.
Doctor: No, we don't walk away, but when we're holding onto something precious we run and we run fast as we can and we don't stop running until we are out from under the shadow.

I also like the humour in the episode too

Clara: Can you open it?
Doctor: Technically, no. In reality, also no. But still, let's give it a stab.
 
Clara: You're going to fight it, aren't you?
Doctor: Regrettably yes, I think I may be about to do that.
Clara: It's really big.
Doctor: I've seen bigger.
Clara: Really?
Doctor: Are you joking? It's massive.
 
Then there's always the behind the scenes
 

 

Saturday, 16 November 2013

Rank your Doctor

Someone asked me to rank the Doctors today and I'm really curious what the Whovian community thinks as well. We all know my list begins with


Then it goes 10, 9, 2, 8, 4, 3 and 1. I haven't seen enough of 5, 6, and 7 to make an opinion. 

I'd love to hear your thoughts.