Do you reckon that the BBC will ever release improved versions of classic episodes?

EG: Changing the exterior shots of the 'Death Zone' in 'The 5 Doctors', to add the orange glow and dome around it, or changing the Dalek Voices/Special effects in from 'The Daleks'-'Remembrance of the Daleks' to be the same as 'Dalek'-'Journeys End'.

Some of the DVDS already have a CGI facility, like the Invasion of Time for the Vardans, that was a definite improvement. You can also see on YouTube some people have retouched some of the regenerations especially the Pertwee/Baker one.

I'd like to see a music option as well. I think a bot of Murray Gold would suit a couple of the later stories really well!

Those stories work perfectly well as they are. They don't need messing with, and certainly not just to bring them into line with the modern stuff. Why on Earth should they want to do this?

But I have done that with a few episodes, and it just changed lazer gun quality. They need to make that better, and have it so it changes exterior shots of Sontaran Ships/Gallifrey/Dalek Ships etc to match new who.

That's the good thing about the CGI facility on the DVD's. You have the option to watch it with new effects. Other people like yourself can watch it as it was originally transmitted. Everyone's a winner!

I understand your point but I think some of the Hartnell and Troughton stories did need to have some of the effects cleared up a smidgeon

Are you really saying that the CGI Mara isn't a vast improvement on the puppet snake in Kinda? To me, the new effects add to the stories not detract from them, but as daveboy says you've got the option to view the original so everyone's a winner.

Haven't the Restoration Team done things like
changing a slow motion sequence from the "Resurrection"
DVD ? Optional new effects are fine, but viewers
should have the option of seeing each DW story
as it was originally broadcast-even if that original
broadcast including things like dialogue fluffs and
dodgy SFX.

A Hartnell story wouldn't be a Hartnell story without the odd line of fluffed dialogue, mostly from the man himself

Is Kinda out on DVD then? Didn't think it as due for release until next year....???

There was a preview of the "Coming to DVD" clip posted last week somewhere (possibly the Doctor Who News Page). But, you're right, the DVD itself isn't out until next year.

Thanks! Yes, to reply to your original observation, it will be interesting to see what CGI can do with that shot of the very large puppet snake at the end because it ruins what is essentially a very good story.

Here's an idea: instead, why don't they rejig the exterior shots of those ships, Gallifrey Etc so that they match the stuff that actually came first!

I've personally found many of the updated CGI effects in the classic episodes add little if any improvement over the old ones, I always watch with the old effects anyway, they don't bother me, it's all part of the retro charm.

As for re -re releases, I would like to see them remastered to a widescreen ratio, keep the original effects. Re edited versions as extras wouldn't go a miss, as many a Who dvd has been put on hold through sheer boredom.

My feeling is that CGI is no more convincing than model shots, it just looks less homemade and hence less cheap. However, having half a programme clearly from one production era and style with bits shunted in clearly from another seriously disrupts my suspension of disbelief whereas the original effects don't. In fact, slightly rubbish CGI like the recent Prisoner Zero is to me more intrusive than good model work like the Robots of Death.

The CGI 'flying saucers' in The Dalek Invasion Of Earth are a vast improvement on the original models.

On the other hand I prefer the original model space station to the updated CGI in The Ark in Space, despite the odd wobble...

One of the glories of Doctor Who is that continuity can be binned at a moment's notice if something more exciting comes along. We shouldn't get upset about inconsistencies, especially if a cunning retcon can be introduced.

Speak for yourself. I don't agree.

If it ain't broke don't fix it.

Personally I don't need the visuals to be improved to enjoy the story. I find 'real' monsters (people in costumes) much more effective than CGI that always feels a bit empty.

Ok, people in costumes might look a bit crap in the old stories, but they frightened me as a child, so why would I want them to update them? I watch old DW episodes from a nostalgic point of view. Tinkering with it would only rob me of the memories.

Unless it is a crack in time that wipes out some of RTD's ideas.

A little touch up here and there would be OK
BUT I would be worried by what they call the Lucas effect.

Remember Star Wars? Well I do, from the 70's. and sure a little sprucing up did some good. But then there were the new old scenes and the general dicking about with the visuals. We didn't need a full virtual sunderland, sorry I mean Mos Eisley.

Beware my fellow whovians, we don't want them to fiddle too much.

Maybe we could form a support panel and advise the public service broadcaster on what is and isn't allowed.

The BBC already remaster and give us the choice of classic V remaster

But with bigger cash revenue that dr who now brings in, I would like the BBC to reconsider the approach of adding annimation into the lost episodes

The Troughton era has many episodes missing in its vaults with audio intact which should be re-released with animated segments and original audio

They did this before and mostly it worked, but stopped due to cost

Come on BBC reconsider this

They even dropped in the words 'Bad Wolf' written on a wall just to tie in with new Who for those who want it.

Yeah, and considering the new anti-cigarette bans throughout Europe, why not erase those cigarettes from Humphrey Bogert's hand in Casablanca and replace them by a nice non-alcoholic beverage ?

A work from the past should remain as it is in my opinion. If it's really good, no matter if it doesn't fit the new standards or, in DW case, the continuity. If it's really good, its value will go beyond aging.