A fun continuity note, the Doctor admits to being about 450 years old in "The Tomb of the Cybermen." He also says he can remember his family, when he really wants to. It's a rare glimpse into the mysterious, complicated being at the center of this series.
Not only is "The Tomb of the Cybermen" a great story, but this two-disc DVD set has plenty to merit a purchase. For those who bought the original release a decade ago, this one is digitally remastered, and it does look good, even with a 4:3 black and white picture with mono sound. It appears as crisp and clean as can be expected, given its age. Add to that the wealth of new bonus features, and even those who shelled out money before should probably purchase it again.
Among the new extras is a fresh audio commentary track featuring Hines, Watling, and script editor Victor Pemberton. Also included is the original commentary that Watling and Hines did for the earlier DVD release, as well as a three-minute introduction by director Morris Barry.
A number of featurettes expound upon the story in this serial. "The Lost Giants" is a 27-minute look at the making of "The Tomb of the Cybermen," with cast and crew participation. Fourteen minutes, titled "The Curse of the Cybermen's Tomb," examines the connections of this serial with ancient Egypt. Many elements of the tomb in these episodes are drawn from human history, though obviously adapted with a sci-fi spin.
Given the human connection of the race's origin, this seems appropriate. "Cybermen - Extended Edition" gives a pretty thorough history of the cyborgs in half an hour, beginning with their introduction in 1966, and continuing into the rebooted series.
Seven minutes are given to the VidFIRE process, which is how the quality of this release is achieved. There is also a three-minute interview from special effects guru Jack Kine, title sequence tests, a photo gallery, the expected PDF materials, and a recreation of the battle from "The Evil of the Daleks." There is a lot here, so much so that it will take longer to get through the extras than it takes to watch the episodes themselves.
The BBC has really done a top notch job, updating this once-lost tale into a fully-fleshed out, extra-laden DVD set. Doctor Who - "The Tomb of the Cybermen" Special Edition is on sale now.
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