STACK #136 Feb 2016

DVD & BD REVIEWS

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The game is afoot. SHERLOCK: THE ABOMINABLE BRIDE

Has Capaldi's Doctor met his match? DOCTOR WHO: THE HUSBANDS OF RIVER SONG

Release Date: 03/02/16

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Release Date: OUT NOW

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Showrunners Steven Moffat and Mark Gattis have done a consistently brilliant job in transplanting Sherlock Holmes into the modern era, while remaining faithful to the Conan Doyle stories. In this special episode they return the super sleuth and Watson to the foggy streets of Victorian-era London, to solve the seemingly supernatural mystery of a bride who commits suicide on her wedding day and then returns to murder her husband. Satisfying fans (and their own) desire to finally see Benedict Cumberbatch in a deerstalker cap and Martin Freeman with a killer moustache,

In keeping with the festive season's merriment, the annual Doctor Who Christmas Special has always been a light- hearted affair, making it the perfect episode to introduce Peter Capaldi's Doctor to the irrepressible Professor River Song (Alex Kingston). Having regularly popped up in David Tennant and Matt Smith's timelines, River's inevitable meeting with the 12th Doctor occurs when she enlists his help to retrieve a valuable diamond from the head of her cyborg "husband", King Hydroflax (Greg Davies). The fact that River never meets the Doctor in any kind of

Moffat and Gatiss have concocted a traditional and twist-laden Holmes tale that's likely to polarise opinion regarding the dubious plot device used to transport them back to the 19th century. With a fourth season still a year away at least, The Abominable Bride serves as a fun filler. • See page 36

chronological order means it takes her a while to recognise her Time Lord husband, but when the penny drops, the chemistry between Capaldi and Kingston is instantaneous. Little Britain 's Matt Lucas guest stars in a fun romp that nicely ties in with River's prior appearances in the Whoniverse.

Beyond the Titty Twister. FROM DUSK TILL DAWN: SEASON 2

Last meal for Lecter and co. HANNIBAL: SEASON 3

DVD&BD

Release Date: 24/02/16

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Release Date: 24/02/16

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This spin-off series from the Robert Rodriguez/ Quentin Tarantino vampire flick spent much of its first season retelling the events of the film. Now that's out of the way, the story of notorious criminal brothers Seth and Ritchie Gecko (D.J. Cotrona and Zane Holtz) and the bloodsucking serpent cult can continue. Ritchie is on the run with Santánico Pandemonium (Eiza González), who has sworn revenge on the Nine Lords who imprisoned her; Seth and Kate (Madison Davenport) team up and plot a

Following the bloodbath that concluded season two, Will Graham and Jack Crawford are nursing their wounds while Lecter has fled to Florence in the company of Dr. Bedelia Du Maurier. Given this is the final season of Hannibal , there's a lot of ground still left to cover in the world created by Thomas Harris. The first half gets off to a surreal start, incorporating elements from Lecter's early years ( Hannibal Rising ) before covering the events chronicled in Hannibal (the book and film) – namely Inspector Pazzi's attempts to

heist; and war is brewing between rival factions of the culebras, over an ancient prophecy involving a wellspring of holy blood. Special guest stars this season include Jeff Fahey as the Geckos' Uncle Eddie, and the great Danny Trejo as a resurrected Regulator.

apprehend Lecter in Italy, and faceless former victim Mason Verger's plan to feed him to pigs. The second half delivers a gripping retelling of Red Dragon , culminating in the final showdown between Will and his nemesis. A fitting swan song for this stylish and nightmarish series.

FEBRUARY 2016

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