It all started as a children’s television show in 1963. Yes, that’s right I am talking about Doctor Who, one of the best, in my opinion, science fiction series ever created, now a new documentary has been released called Doctor Who Am I which is about the 1996 movie.
Like so many Whovians we grew up watching fantastic adventures, filled with frightening monsters, great companions and fantastic actors who starred as the doctor. Every Whovian has got their favourite doctor, usually the one they first watched I find.
Then in 1996, we were introduced to a brand new doctor and of course the shock when he announced he was half-human on his mother’s side. Then of course the brilliant return in 2005.
So when I was told about this documentary of Doctor Who Am I, of course, I wanted to watch it. Doctor Who Am I is more than one man coming to terms with his place in history as we follow Mathew Jacobs, who was the screenwriter for Doctor Who: The movie, hoping that it would relaunch the series, as he is reluctantly dragged back into the American ‘Whoniverse’ to face the fandom that brutally rejected his work.
The show and movie meant so much more to him than anyone could imagine. A very fun and emotional journey of one man’s life as he comes to terms with finding friends and family in the unlikeliest places.
Doctor Who has really helped so many people find themselves and it has grown so much over the years. And to see how much hard work and devotion this gentleman put into creating the movies is fantastic.
As he travels around comic cons, meeting fans from all backgrounds and you can genuinely see how much it means to him.
We are also revealed to how closely he grew up with the series from a very young age is astonishing.
Seeing the “keeper” of the only TARDIS in the united states and one of the only ones in existence is awesome. Seeing so many people responsible for the 1996 movie and where their lives have taken them was very touching for me.
Phillip Seagal was an executive producer on the movie and his name rings a bell for me as I am also a fan of ice road truckers and remember seeing his name in the credits for that series. These guys changed how fans saw the Doctor as they made the movie very similar and totally different at the same time.
Making the doctor half-human was very clever and of course very risky, then to have the doctor kiss for the very first time was fantastic.
This documentary really does show what making the movie or series really means to those behind the scenes. These people really do live in the fantasy land while walking in reality. Their vision really helped bring the character to life and seeing the emotion as they talk about it really is touching and brought new fans to the show.
Just when he thought he was a part of something so big and got left behind he suddenly found himself at the heart of the community once more, in a way he never thought possible. Finally finding his companionship within the fandom.
From watching his father starring in the very first series way back in 1962 up until the 1996 movie and now beyond that, this documentary is funny and very emotional. It really shows that if you do not understand Doctor Who, You will never understand what it means to the Whovians of the world.
Seeing what this really means to Matthew Jacobs and the joy he brought to the fandom is truly emotional. He helped people find themselves and embrace how different they are instead of hiding away, just like it does to so many people today.
This documentary is a must for every doctor who fan. I absolutely enjoyed every minute of it. Especially the interviews with Paul Mcgann and Eric Roberts were very touching for me as they genuinely shared their thoughts with us. What’s especially moving about this documentary is how much Doctor Who means to them and how much it helped them through difficult times. Helped them to carry on in ways they thought were impossible.
This moving documentary is very emotional. It really touched me as I identified a lot with Matthew, what it means to him and how to be a part of such a massive fandom. It brought out my love for the show and I really respect what he did for the movie, respect him for how the show helped him through his own rough time and heartache. This is for any Whovian, I am sure you will all feel the same way one way or another. It is true a new fan is regenerated all the time. We are all stories in the end. Just make it a good one.
The film will be coming to select UK cinemas from 27th October and DVD & Digital on 8th November courtesy of Kaleidoscope Entertainment.
Taking a trip back in the TARDIS to 1996
Movie title: Doctor Who Am I
Movie description: An infamous Doctor Who screenwriter is reluctantly dragged back into the American Whoniverse, in this funny and moving documentary about finding family in the unlikeliest of places.
Date published: October 17, 2022
Country: UK
Duration: 1h 20m
Director(s): Matthew Jacobs, Vanessa Yuille
Actor(s): Daphne Ashbrook, Nicholas Briggs, May Charters
Genre: Documentary
Will Tomlinson-Roberts is a film and movie enthusiast with an interest in all genres of movies. He is also interested in music of all types and attends comic-cons around the country.
