I've been watching...

Due to not keeping track, I have two copies of Beneath the Surface. Finally, over Christmas, I got around to watching at least one of them.

Doctor Who and the Silurians - I didn't watch this all in one go, but I was surprised by how well it worked. The Silurians don't really show up until episode four, and the series continually throws up one challenge after another. Even if it is padding, it's enjoyable padding. It's a shame there were only six Silurians, but the costumes were well made, and the tri-vision thing is nicely innovative. Even if the production crew thinks it went on a bit too long, it's good to see an actual story develop over time (and we're talking over three hours here!). The new series doesn't come close... (And you can even spot the moment where the universe diverges into Blood Heat!)

The Sea Devils - Yay, Roger Delgado! Which, to be blunt, is the best part of this story. Unlike The Silurians six episodes is too long, with people just wandering around a lot and not much being developed. Have to say the Naval sequences are very good, nice visuals, and the actors playing the crew do a great job. I like the fishnet clothes on the Sea Devils, although their shooting ability is fairly typical. And the Master is unleashed unto the world again...

Warriors of the Deep - This is just not a good story in many ways. The whole Nilson/Solow plot line is useless and completely irrelevant when the Silurians and Sea Devils attack. And the Silurians and Sea Devils are nothing like how they were portrayed. And what is up with that polystyrene door. But there is something that I changed my mind on, and this isn't something you'll hear that often...

The Myrka works. There. I wrote it. Fine, the complete execution leaves a lot to be desired, but there are those shots, where the lighting isn't full, where the Myrka is half-shot... and it works. It's actually scary! A ferocious monster that kills anyone and anything that gets near it. Even martial artist Ingrid Bergman can't stand up to it. It's by no means the best monster ever... but it's not the disaster that I thought I remembered...

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