The War Games -- colororized

[Qonundrum]

The book misses out an episode entirely, and cuts the whole thing down to about 140 pages.

Technically, I was asking about the TV version, but I'd forgot about the novelization, I was fixated on the original televised version. It's amazing how the Target range could take a 10-episode story, or a 2-episode story, and make either size of story fit within 140 pages. I do recall that the novelization also changes the temporal cutoff to World War 2 and a few other tweaks. The Target novelizations were known to tinker at times, especially if the author of the televised story did the novelization. In short, that just means - even without having to look - the tv version could easily be chopped down.

I'm going to wait for customers to respond on the quality of the editing and music applied. The previous colorized story release was often not well-received in terms of the editing (most people still loved the color, the new sound was liked or disliked), based on reviews at the time of release (they've bound to have changed since), but modern audiences aren't going to care about this apart from the original origin of the Time Lords being codified into the show, instead of an inconsistent vagueness between "earthling or extraterrestrial". Any Youtube channel could hack up the story to show the edited highlights.


On edit: One review site has a higher avg. rating now, but many of the reviews all understandably cite the colorization skill involved, which I agree is generally great for overall detail. I wouldn't say it's always convincing, mostly it is, though some color choices also don't make sense as the arid nuked world has lush brown and green everywhere instead of gray or sandy-beige crumbly-to-the-touch ash (per dialogue in the story), Dalek consoles look more like 1988 than 1963, oversaturated skin tones, etc... the latter is probably oversaturated because the source material is technically in less-than-ideal shape... What I'd seen of "The War Games" looks incredible, but the music, if the actual story is as much as what the teaser represents, is definitely off.

 

[Emperor-Tiberius]

I don't agree. I think "The War Games" is very well-paced and never feels padded, because every couple of episodes, the story expands and shifts focus, so it isn't just the same thing over and over. I'd hate to see it hacked to pieces, even more than I hate the idea of colorizing something that was made in black-and-white.

Especially in this serial's case, which I argue is the best the show ever looked in that decade (ironic, I know), the b&w photography really working in the show's favour.

 

[kirk55555]

Why bother with such an abridged version of the story? Also I don't like the added regeneration, I personally maintain the existence of Season 6B.

That said the original serial is almost $100 for a US DVD, so an abridged colorized release, which will presumably get a physical US release, will probably be the only way I can ever justify buying the serial. I will probably give in and buy it if it comes to Home Video in the US, the original version is at least available on Britbox so its not like the colorized version is erasing anything.

 

[VDCNI]

From 10 episodes to 1.5 episodes, which sounds more striking than "from 250 minutes to 90." Even book reviews from the 90s state "rating (episodes 1-9): 6/10, rating (episode 10): 10." If that gives any hints as to what will be chopped out of this story.

10 episodes to about 4 episodes given Classic Doctor Who was mostly 20-25 minutes long per episode.

The old view of The War Games as 9 episodes of padding and then excellent due to the introduction of the Time Lords has long fallen out of favour. If anything episode 10 is one of the most padded of the lot.

 

[Christopher]

The old view of The War Games as 9 episodes of padding and then excellent due to the introduction of the Time Lords has long fallen out of favour. If anything episode 10 is one of the most padded of the lot.

It's really more like 8-9 episodes of the main story and then an epilogue with the Time Lords to wrap up the Troughton era as a whole. And of course, the concept of "padding" doesn't make sense, because these were meant to be experienced one episode per week as a continuous serial, often with one storyline flowing directly into the next (though that was done more in the Hartnell years than Troughton). There was no rush to get to the end; the goal was to entertain people with 25 minutes of adventure between one cliffhanger and the next. Viewers back in first run didn't know how long any given serial might last before giving way to the next one, and probably didn't keep much track. All that mattered was how satisfying each 25-minute package was in itself.

And "The War Games" is very much structured as a long serial rather than a single story. It basically breaks down into five linked 2-parters, each one ending by revealing new information, settings, and characters that lead into the next stage of the evolving saga. (A bit like how 21st-century Kamen Rider seasons in Japan have usually been structured.) It's not just empty time-filling, because it's constantly advancing.

 

[VDCNI]

It's really more like 8-9 episodes of the main story and then an epilogue with the Time Lords to wrap up the Troughton era as a whole. And of course, the concept of "padding" doesn't make sense, because these were meant to be experienced one episode per week as a continuous serial, often with one storyline flowing directly into the next (though that was done more in the Hartnell years than Troughton). There was no rush to get to the end; the goal was to entertain people with 25 minutes of adventure between one cliffhanger and the next. Viewers back in first run didn't know how long any given serial might last before giving way to the next one, and probably didn't keep much track. All that mattered was how satisfying each 25-minute package was in itself.

And "The War Games" is very much structured as a long serial rather than a single story. It basically breaks down into five linked 2-parters, each one ending by revealing new information, settings, and characters that lead into the next stage of the evolving saga. (A bit like how 21st-century Kamen Rider seasons in Japan have usually been structured.) It's not just empty time-filling, because it's constantly advancing.

Yes, that's why I said the old view of it has mostly been abandoned.

 

[Qonundrum]

Why bother with such an abridged version of the story? Also I don't like the added regeneration, I personally maintain the existence of Season 6B.

That said the original serial is almost $100 for a US DVD, so an abridged colorized release, which will presumably get a physical US release, will probably be the only way I can ever justify buying the serial. I will probably give in and buy it if it comes to Home Video in the US, the original version is at least available on Britbox so its not like the colorized version is erasing anything.

That's another up-side to the new release as it does include the original (on DVD). It's a great way to boost sales, even if one doesn't care for the color edition at all. Apparently there's some new footage that's also being used, which is cool.

One can find it for under $20, if you have a region-free player. The US release, of course, is $100~$150 for now, and only people who have 90% of the original DVD collection will be bothered to shell out ~2.5x the original cost when it showed up in 2009 for $70.

 

[Turtletrekker]

The only affordable option that was available when I was seeking it out was on VHS! I snatched it up and dragged my VCR out of mothballs to watch it.

 

[CaptainCalvinCat]

Hmm, if I got the tweet of Diamanda Hagan right, then the whole idea is "für'n Allerwertesten", as we in Germany say - meaning: it's null and void. The episode is 250 minutes long and it's cut down to 90 minutes. Naaah. 1) I have this Serial on DVD - complete. All 250 Minutes of it. I don't need it in colour.
2) If the beebs wants to release it in colour: Do the whole 250 Minutes of it.

 

[Turtletrekker]

That's another up-side to the new release as it does include the original (on DVD). It's a great way to boost sales, even if one doesn't care for the color edition at all. Apparently there's some new footage that's also being used, which is cool.

Now they're cooking with Krillitane oil. This is how it should be marketed, as a re-release of the original War Games with the color version as a bonus feature! My interest has now gone way up, since as I said, I only own this on VHS.

 

[Qonundrum]

Now they're cooking with Krillitane oil. This is how it should be marketed, as a re-release of the original War Games with the color version as a bonus feature! My interest has now gone way up, since as I said, I only own this on VHS.

Cool!

After rewatching the teaser/trailer, it's funny how it starts with the TARDIS approaching Earth. Considering the sheer volume of story content removed, do you think the story is now set on Earth but the kidnapped humans moved in a different point in time in the planet? Sounds stupid, I know...

 

[Qonundrum]

Hmm, if I got the tweet of Diamanda Hagan right, then the whole idea is "für'n Allerwertesten", as we in Germany say - meaning: it's null and void. The episode is 250 minutes long and it's cut down to 90 minutes. Naaah. 1) I have this Serial on DVD - complete. All 250 Minutes of it. I don't need it in colour.
2) If the beebs wants to release it in colour: Do the whole 250 Minutes of it.

^^this. There seem to be a number of people who would be more interested in just the colour, not as much for chopping/retelling the story in a different tone, right down to not just new music but also the removal of important character scenes, as reflected in this review:

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

Apparently, the original War Games re-release was to be 75 minutes, but this was changed to be 90, but that includes 10 new minutes of material is also added. So it's really "250 minutes down to 75 plus 10 minutes of completely new scenes plus recovered material not seen since the original broadcast." Rumor has it that there's new dialogue recorded. So the censor cuts or whatever was removed, found since the wipings, etc, makes another reason to buy the home video when it comes out.

 

[Christopher]

Cool!

After rewatching the teaser/trailer, it's funny how it starts with the TARDIS approaching Earth. Considering the sheer volume of story content removed, do you think the story is now set on Earth but the kidnapped humans moved in a different point in time in the planet? Sounds stupid, I know...

The rest of the scenes in the trailer aren't in chronological order, so there's no reason to assume that shot is at the beginning. I'd guess it's added material at the end to show the Doctor being exiled to Earth. (Didn't someone say they'd be using scenes from that fan video?) They probably just put it at the start of the trailer because it makes sense to open a Doctor Who trailer with a flashy shot of the TARDIS.

 

[Qonundrum]

The rest of the scenes in the trailer aren't in chronological order, so there's no reason to assume that shot is at the beginning. I'd guess it's added material at the end to show the Doctor being exiled to Earth. (Didn't someone say they'd be using scenes from that fan video?) They probably just put it at the start of the trailer because it makes sense to open a Doctor Who trailer with a flashy shot of the TARDIS.

A definite relief, thank you. Knowing the 21st century's preference for staying on modern day Earth, with even fan productions (e.g. "The Power of the Daleks") changing the script to fit the right here right now, it wouldn't be as big a surprise - and the mental processing scenes could easily be removed from the story, just leaving it as aliens hypnotizing everyone with monocles.

 

[kirk55555]

That's another up-side to the new release as it does include the original (on DVD). It's a great way to boost sales, even if one doesn't care for the color edition at all. Apparently there's some new footage that's also being used, which is cool.

One can find it for under $20, if you have a region-free player. The US release, of course, is $100~$150 for now, and only people who have 90% of the original DVD collection will be bothered to shell out ~2.5x the original cost when it showed up in 2009 for $70.

I know that The Daleks colorized had the original included, but nothing I can find says the same about War Games. But if they do have it then thats awesome, and a great incentive to buy the colorized version.

 

[Christopher]

with even fan productions (e.g. "The Power of the Daleks") changing the script to fit the right here right now,

Huh? When did that happen?

Although come to think of it, "Power" was always set around 2020 according to promotional material, so is that really a change at all?

 

[Qonundrum]

Huh? When did that happen?

Although come to think of it, "Power" was always set around 2020 according to promotional material, so is that really a change at all?

Power of the Daleks fan-made recreation

This looks really cool. The folks behind a series of popular UK stage plays based on Doctor Who episodes have created a fan film reimagining of Power of the Daleks. Not only does it look professional grade in many places, but they even got Nicholas Briggs to do the Dalek voices and cast Lisa...

www.trekbbs.com

To be fair, since it's been so long since I saw that fan recreation, it's possible they're just a bunch of folks went to another planet while saying they're working under the same Earth agency. It wasn't anything better than what was already being made at the time, which was largely Earth-centric in the first place. There's nothing wrong with the 1966 original, though - if anything - the use of the name "Planet Vulcan" might trip some people up. I suppose. So that would be why they'd change it to Earth... which I agree is a lame reason...

 

[Qonundrum]

I know that The Daleks colorized had the original included, but nothing I can find says the same about War Games. But if they do have it then thats awesome, and a great incentive to buy the colorized version.

Good point - right now it'll be available for streaming only. It'll hopefully get to home video disc release next year.

 

[Mr Awe]

I'm another who loves The War Games in all its 10 part glory. The story and pacing were perfect. It introduce new elements and kept things moving along so well that I don't really notice its length. And I say that as someone who tends to think that most of the longer stories of the era are overly padded. The War Games is the exception!

I'm not opposed to the idea of colorizing it and even shortening it for modern fans. I still have the original!

 

[Qonundrum]

I'm another who loves The War Games in all its 10 part glory. The story and pacing were perfect. It introduce new elements and kept things moving along so well that I don't really notice its length. And I say that as someone who tends to think that most of the longer stories of the era are overly padded. The War Games is the exception!

Seconded. It was a flowing adventure in an exotic world, with humans believing they were dying in their own world (but were kidnapped and conditioned). Throw in Classic Who's desire for a semi-educational nature and the historical bits we do get are a great springboard, even despite the limitations of the script. Add in how quickly each episode was written and it's a real testament how well this turned out and with so few nitpicks. And @Christopher said it right about padding and how Classic Who was meant to be watched.

I'm not opposed to the idea of colorizing it and even shortening it for modern fans. I still have the original!

Seconded. The original is still there, and any alterations can be a win, a miss, or anything in between. I hope this will get enough modern audiences interested in it. To the younger generations, it would likely be exciting for them more than it would for many older ones.

All things said, the colorization alone clearly looks sumptuous and wins me over as many are not keen on colorization. If done right and with care, it's an easy win for me and "The War Games", from what's shown so far, looks great. I still wish they'd just add color to all 10 episodes and then condense it and even add music to enhance as that WOULD win over more viewers to purchase for the ultimate in choices, but that would be too costly (an extra disc for an extra special release on top of the additional discs for color version and b&w and note all the fees going into re-editing, re-coloring along with re-scoring), "The Daleks" set the template, reasons for doing it that way exist, and there are still cost considerations, so it's easy to see why they would edit out scenes and colorize just those after cutting.

One other idea, will modern Who 2-parters, in a few decades' time, have half their material cut to fit a 50-minute standalone in the modern format, as a novelty? If the original footage without overlaid music still exists, it'll make rescoring even easier too. Also, forget "Aliens of London" or "The Parting of the Ways" and other 2-parters, imagine "Flux" being reduced from 6 episodes to a standalone equivalent of 1.5 or 2 episodes as omnibus, and it was originally going to be 8 until the coughing cooties caused the length to be cut? Hyperbole, yes, but it's still the question being asked by many.