Just watched it last night, never having seen it before and knowing almost nothing about it. What can I say!? Dr Who, that quintessentially English show-Americanized! Even the Master is a handsome Hollywood guy with a US accent! Only McGann remains as a concession to the shows anglo-roots. The story itself is pretty flimsy-and the final resolution almost incomprehensible!

Anyone else feel the same-or maybe disagree?

The McGann movie is so much closer to 21st Century Who than most people seem to want to admit. Not least the romanticisation of the Doctor - not actually a bad thing, but this is where it started. And you've hit the nail on the head with your penultimate sentence, which I've highlighted.

Admittedly 21st Century Who is generally better than the McGann film, which comes across as Who made by a committee rather than a team who actually care about the end result. Today's programme has much more of the Who-ishness that I associate with the original series, it's clearly much more British, and hasn't been squashed through the US networks sausage machine - but having a superficial storyline and then a rushed and confused ending is something that bedevils far too many recent Who stories.

The McGann movie has far too much info (Daleks, Eye of Harmony, Time Lords, Gallifrey, two hearts, regeneration, etc, etc) and not enough oomph. It's no way to start a series and no surprise that the series got no further than this!

I watched it on DVD for the first time in aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaages, a little while ago, and it was less awful than I remember, but it's still not awfully good.

That's exactly how I feel about it too Chuff. Less awful than I remember.

Indeed. At least RTD had the good sense to drip feed such information. The info dump in the TV Movie was just a garbled mess.

Also, the scene in which Chang Lee steps inside the TARDIS should have been the first time the (new) audience saw the interior. As it stands, the TV Movie starts with a guy in a vast library/study while a small blue box flies through the vortex. It takes us half an hour to get an explanation of how the library/study relates to the blue box.

Well, there are quite a lot of positives. McGann was a good fit for the role, it was nice to see Sylvester...sans that jumper(although he's said himself he should not have been in it), the TARDIS interior is fantastic, liked Grace. There are nice moments, you know? And it was very exciting at the time for us Who-starved fans.

But it really isn't much of a script. And, obviously in retrospect, I'm relieved the show came back in the form it did rather than go down this route in the Nineties. People were doing their utmost, but there's just a certain something missing for me.

And we only had another 9 years to wait. (eeh, you youngsters complaining about mid season breaks and t'like. Luxury.)

I don't mind the doctor haing romantic feelings and relationships. 10 and Rose were really good. He gave her an amzing gift a half human version of himself to live her life with.11 and River also had some good moments. Got a bit messed up in S7 though. 11,Amy and Rory seemed to forget their little "family" had 4 members not 3. Wonder if 12 will have any romance in S8.

I remember being very disappointed when i first watched the TV movie back in '96. But to me, the movie was a bit like starting off with classic who then ending with modern/nuwho what we know today.

As for your comment sara re romance with dr 12, i cant see it myself, as i see dr who kind of returning to its former glory with the usual dr - companion relationship seen in classic who. However he is married to river song & as has been mentioned on other threads, a capaldi - kingston relationship might work very well indeed.

I just watched it again(yesterday) for the first time since it originally aired.
You know what,it's not that bad,the story could have been a lot better and the Daleks would have been a much more recognisable villain for then to use to pull in an audience.
But overall time went pleasantly enough while watching,and I was never thinking god when will this end.

The Master is a bit bizarre though,he starts off as the Terminator and half way through turns into a 70's stereotype camp villain for no apparent reason.

I agree - the Master was bizarre and obviously cast for the simple reason the Americans wanted to see a name they recognised on the credits.

BUT - we did get McGann, who fittred in the role of the Doctor like a hand in a glove, and was excellent despite a pretty woeful script.

It is just sad that when the BBC decided to go for nu-Who they didn't just ask McGann again.

I really like the movie.
It had it's flimsy parts, but it was a fun adventure, and Paul McGann is great as the Doctor.

The daleks apparently holding a trial before killing someone, then giving the ashes to the doctor as if they all get along no less.

Mcgann narrating from the start even though mccoy is still the doctor at that point

American Master

HALF HUMAN!!

These are just it's crimes from the top of my head. Only got into who in 2005 and when I got around to watching the tv movie I thought 'it can't be as bad as everyone makes out'. I couldn't have been more wrong. Seriously, the whole thing is one shambles to another. Proves why the britishness of doctor who is such an important element, and how bad it can be without it.The only saving grace, and also the thing that is a shame is that mcgann fit the doctor role perfectly and deserved a far better capacity in which to play it. The good thing about the advent of night of the doctor is that you can now completely wipe the tv movie from existence in your mind and still have a good adventure (albeit short) in which to acknowledge him as the doctor.

I welcomed the movie to be honest! As a life-long fan of DW it was nice to see it brought back.
Paul McGann was a great Doctor, Grace was a nice addition. The Master - errm not so sure about that one!
I'm one of the few that didn't like the Tardis interior - far too Gothic and what's with all those bats flying around?? Should have been more futuristic IMO!!
I've never watched it for about 10 years - but I remember it being a bit TOO americanised for such a British series.
Loved how they brought the opening-titles sequence into the new 2005 series though, although done a lot faster!. The theme music was OK - but too orchestral for Doctor Who.......although they've messed that up lately with chorals as well!!

All in all - I'd say 6/10 for trying! (Could have done better!)

Oh yes - and what was the point of those smurf-sounding daleks at the beginning? Bit pointless to any new viewer!!