Excellent, a Must See

Blending excellent reporting and strong storytelling, this is a disturbing film truly stranger than fiction

It's an amazing and heartbreaking story.

It is neither dumb nor smart enough to be fun, and spends way too much time with its boring human characters.

4003 people trapped in a cloud belt, and Kazran Sardick (Michael Gambon) will not let them land. They are going to die unless the Doctor (Matt Smith) performs a Christmas miracle.His solution is another reincarnation of Charles Dicken's classic Christmas Carol.Gambon was magnificent here. It probably got him the role of Professor Albus Dumbledore after the death of Richard Harris. Well, probably not, but he was great nonetheless.Sardick is a particularly terrible human being, and a perfect Scrooge. He keeps family members hostage until repay his loans.Featured is the amazing Katherine Jenkins, who I first say on Dancing With the Stars. She opened the season with the highest ever debut score, and was runner up in the final.An unusual and pleasant experience.

I am going to have to side with remembrapril and his review. Yes, it was interesting and touching in many ways, but it violated a Cardinal Rule of Doctor Who continuity. That is: The Doctor cannot intentionally go back in time to make his present situation more favorable. That has been stated repeatedly. For instance, after the death of Adric at the end of Earthshock, The Doctor cannot go back in time to save him. If this is something that becomes a trend, it can easily become a deus ex machina plot device that can be used as a "get out of jail free card" in any circumstance. In fact, if he fails to do this in future episodes, then it will beg the question, "why doesn't he just go back in time and...?" The precedent has been set. As a stand-alone time story in the general "time travel" genre, it works. As a Doctor Who episode, it fails.

I am a great fan of Dr Who and think that the new lineud's great and Mr Moffatt is a breath of fresh air from repetitive offerings of Mr T.Davies. So initially I was really looking forward to this and then I'd read somewhere it was going to be 'A Christmas Carol' with Sharks! My hopes were lowered at that point and I thought 'Hmmm', but I'll give it a chance. Wish I hadn't. IMHO the BBC signed up a couple of stars and then thought "How can we spin a story around these 2?", so they came up with a Christmas Carol (for pity's sake, just leave it will you, I'm sick of renditions of this average morality tail) and a flying shark. WHAT WERE YOU THINKING? Gambon acted well as usual. Matt Smith was wasted. Katherine Kenkins tried (God Bless her), but she's not an actress. Karen Gillan and Arthur Darvill may as well have not bothered turning up, they had no role to play. Far too much time spent on Christmas past and almost nothing on Christmas Present and Future. Unexplained character actions (why all the face slapping/non-slapping?) Flying Sharks? Maybe I missed something, but I get the impression I watched a different program to those who raved about it. I just hope the next season is better.

One imperfection!Great start and yeah a bit of a Star Trek holiday ship rip off I must admit!!The Doctor first begs for the lives of those on board and gets the boot.He then here a Christmas Carol and decides to play Dickens.I do not fault Moffatt for the interference in Time Travel. That actually enhances to the art.And this is fun ( Anyone for a Doctor Who and MArilyn Monroe meetup?)What I did not like was the young Sarkis meeting the old Sarkis.Anyone recall Maydryn Undead and what one brigadier did to another?Also, political power and influence, Moffatt weaves these themes well.Well casted!!