A kids show for adults too (Sarah Jane Adventures - Invasion of the Bane (DVD))

Member Name: mikebelgrave

Product:	Sarah Jane Adventures - Invasion of the Bane (DVD)
Date:	17/09/08 (55 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Lots of action and well written

Disadvantages: Some of the kids can't act

This isn't the first time they've tried to give Sarah Jane her own series, K9 and Company in 1981 although it never got past the pilot episode. Maybe it was because of the awful theme tune.

So in 2006 Sarah Jane was brought back in the Doctor Who episode School Reunion, which brought us nicely onto her own TV series.

In this story Sarah Jane is a bit of a loner. Living on her own with no friends or family, investigating the paranormal and aliens, in a world that wouldn't understand her or think she is mad, so she keeps herself to herself. There is also the feeling that since the Doctor left her on earth her life has had something missing. Because unlike most companions that leave, the Doctor left her, which for most viewers was sad because she was one of the nations favourite companions. This happened in The Hand of Fear in 1976.

New neighbours Maria and Jack move in opposite Sarah Jane. That night Maria sees Sarah talking to an alien that looks like an angel. The next day her and her father see her in the street to try and make friends only to find her to be aloof and distant. Then she gets interested in following a bus to the local Bubble shock factory. Bubble Shock is a "groovy" new drink that's exploded on the market. Cue aliens using it as a way of invading the Planet Earth of course. Along the way we have aliens in disguise, a super computer, a super intelligent created boy and a cameo from K9. What more could you want from a Doctor Who spin off?

It's worth watching as it's a nice follow up to the Doctor Who episode Family Reunion where Sarah Jane and the Doctor meet again for the first time in years. It's also worth watching the whole series just to get the references in the final two episodes of series four of Doctor Who. And as I would say with Torchwood and the animated episode Infinite Quest, it's a short sharp fix to get through to the next new episode of Doctor Who.

Sometimes it tries to be a bit too "kid cool" friendly, like the name of the drink Bubble Shock and the guy showing them around the bubble shock factory looking a little like Mark Owen from Take That.

Elisaeth Sladen is fantastic. No matter how this episode would have came out, it is just wonderful to see her back in action and she's great in this. She even has a Sonic Lipstick, which is a great touch and she mentions she does things a different way than other organisations that go in "guns blazing", obviously meaning Torchwood and UNIT. The Sonic Lipstick is a lovely idea as she's opposed to violence, so even a "screw driver" can be used as a weapon, but a lipstick cant.

When she talks about the Doctor it's quite a tender moment and we realise that the events from Family Reunion inspired her to do her own investigations, hence the reason why the series happen now and now in 1976 when she leaves the fourth Doctor. A nice touch.

The main villain is a great villain. Mrs Wormwood leader of the Bane. Although she should be used to knowing good villain acting as she plays Moneypenny in the new Bond films and curiously her real name is Samantha Bond. The performance is slightly over the top, but fitting for the role and the show.

When buff Take That boy turns into his true alien self and climbs all over the house, that's a great effect and I'm it will be scary to small children as I was scared watching Pyramids from Mars or the Robots of Death. It's healthy to hide behind the sofa.

However it isn't all great, the character of Kelsey Harper (Porsha Lawrence Mavour) is quite annoying. I know her character is supposed to be like that, but she's just annoying and gets in the way of the plot.

The child archetype (Tommy Knight) is completely wooden. I know he's supposed to be a bit niave, but they could have picked someone better as he's too wooden to be true and is more annoying that Kelsey. Although wooden acting hasn't hindered the careers of Orlando Bloom or Josh Hartnet (Miaow, saucer of milk, table number 2).

All in all it is a children's program mainly aimed at, so you can't criticise it too much and it's unfair to compare it too much to Dr Who, but it's still better than watching the first series of Torchwood.

I give this DVD five stars for giving children a well written, well produced, intelligent program that adults can also watch and enjoy with or without children. Although to just put one episode with no extras is a bit cheeky. The full series one is coming out soon and series two starts at the end of Sept 2008 with a Sontaron two parter.

Can't wait.

Summary: Better than Torchwood series 1 and entertaing all through