Life On Mars (TV series)

MrB (Simon) · #1 21-01-2009, 12:45 AM

I just watched a 'sneek preview' of this on Ten.
I have mixed feelings about this remake.
The original UK version as shown on ABC was an excellent programme, loved it even though there were a limited number of episodes (two seasons?)
But I'm a bit worried that this could be the next 'The Office' or 'Kath & Kim' or even 'Top Gear'.
Thoughts?

Clarry (Clayton) · #2 21-01-2009, 01:14 AM

Yeah, haven't seen the preview, but I fear this one will be stuffed up like the others you mentioned.

Dog Star (Phil) · #3 21-01-2009, 06:59 AM

Well, we can always hope, I suppose.
Just can't imagine an American Gene Genie.
What I'm really looking forward to is the sequel to Life On Mars;
Ashes To Ashes.
Still no word from ABC as to if and when they are going to show it though.

OneOfOne (Trevor) · #4 21-01-2009, 07:49 AM

Sorry, never watched it! I refuse to watch shows with titles that don't describe their content. Every time I see it in the TV guide....a warm feeling comes over me and I get all excited...and then depressed

Another one is Big Bang Theory

My expectation would be that if the Americans have decided to do a remake of anything funny....don't expect much, K&K being the latest example.

Dog Star (Phil) · #5 21-01-2009, 08:45 AM

Understand what you are saying Trevor, but in this case you may just be doing yourself a dis-service.
"Life on Mars" refers to the Bowie track of the same name that "stitches" the entire series together.
Not a comedy, although it is frequently very funny; not just a drama, although it can be gut-wrenchingly suspenseful; not just a cop show, although all the main characters are cops; not exactly science fiction, although it's ocasionally difficult to interpret it in any other way.
Quality wise, the acting and scripts are first class.
All these comments refer to the British version, mind!
Check it out on dvd. Please.

DJDD · #6 21-01-2009, 09:01 AM

The ad made me think it was going to be more melodramatic, like most American cop shows, especially with Harvey Keitel in it.

what we need is a doctor who/life on mars crossover...

DJDD · #7 21-01-2009, 10:00 AM

I think Life on Mars was on BBC America. I wonder if that was well received.

mark3d · #8 21-01-2009, 01:39 PM

life on mars was very original so might be hard to remake...lets see.

regarding the US office... that is a classic show. series 2 and 3 are better than the original

its not as good now its into series 5 but still worth a laugh

Ric · #9 21-01-2009, 01:56 PM

I always cringe when I see an American remake of a great English show, as always I'll give it a go and keep the fingers crossed.

Cheers

MrB (Simon) · #10 21-01-2009, 09:38 PM

Trevor your missing out, as Phil has said quite nicely. Top show. The DVD's are on my to-buy list as I missed an eposide or two..... and I'm in love with the young female cop.

As for Big Bang Theory.. have only watched it once but the title is actually very descriptive.....
A bunch of nerdy, horny, twenty-something college guys living across the hall from hot chicks... no doubt what they're always theorising!

MrB (Simon) · #11 06-02-2009, 01:26 PM

Well... watched this last night, was okay in an okay kinda way... Visually it was brilliant, except for the computer generated twin-towers.
The story was kinda fractured and rushed and ofcourse ch10 pumped as many ads into the show as they could, one even cut-in half way thru some dialog... seen 10 do this regularly with the Simpsons, cut to an advert mid-sentance(spelling?), even cutting out whole scenes from the show to fit in an extra ad.

Ric · #12 06-02-2009, 07:57 PM

Hi Simon, I didn't think it was too bad. I not sure about Gene though but I think he'll grow on me. I'll definitely watch the series and give it a go.

The ads really peeved me off and went to the point of almost ruining it.

Cheers

Ford Prefect (James) · #13 06-02-2009, 11:28 PM

I watched a bit but couldn't continue. It wasn't bad, but reminded me enough of the BBC version to come off as a pale comparison. If it were an original show, fine, but all I could think was that it wasn't the BBC version...

MrB (Simon) · #14 07-02-2009, 08:02 PM

One thing that I did enjoy was the music... can't really go wrong there tho.

Enchilada · #15 07-02-2009, 10:23 PM

Those that missed it, will find a re-screening on Channel 10 again at 10:49 pm tonight...

This program also reminds me for some reason of of Alexi Sales "'Ullo John, Got a New Motor?", with the lyrics...

"Is there life on Mars?
Is there life on Mars?
Is there life in Peckham?
Is there life in Peckham?"*

* For those who mightn't know, Peckham is an working class area in London with a very large migrant population, whose reputation is based on some crime. It has many public high-rise flats and dilapidated old houses, and a mostly poor population.

Clarry (Clayton) · #16 11-02-2009, 12:03 AM

Well I watched it and much to my surprise I enjoyed it. Perhaps not as punchy as the UK original, but still better than expected. I'll be in there for the long haul.

Enchilada · #17 11-02-2009, 01:28 PM

What I thought was the most interesting was the various props they used in both series. Frankly, I did recognise more of the America ones than the British ones.
Also 1973 was pretty depression in the US due to the savage economic times, but the outlook of the population was much more positive. The only huge changes were with changes in black America and the rise of feminism. (This is why Annie in the US version is implausible character, because she is a little too submissive.
Britain was more like the post-war, where life was much more grim with the outlook for the future for the middle to lower classes was zero.
The David Bowie song matches the British version much better, as it is more about wanting to escaping the futility of our commonplace existence;
For example, the lyrics;
"It's on America's tortured brow
That Mickey Mouse has grown up a cow
Now the workers have struck for fame
'Cause Lennon's on sale again
See the mice in their million hordes
From Ibeza to the Norfolk Broads
Rule Britannia is out of bounds
To my mother, my dog, and clowns."

The lyrics also describes a girl regular escape to the movies theatre - seeing the same movie endless times I.e. "...ten times or more."
"Is there life on Mars?" is certainly rhetorical, because the picture of Britain in 1970's left one wondering is there really any more life than depressing and meaningless everyday existence in 1973.

I wonder how an Australian version, say, set in Sydney would be? Then, under tough law and order reforms of Robert Askin, along with the dramatic rise in drugs and organised crime. Characters like Gene Hunt and his motley crew of detectives would fit like a glove.
I will be watching the second episode, but will probably drop it altogether as the characters don't really engage me. Anyway, that's what I think...

Comment: Frankly, the US program that had time related elements was the 2007 TV Series "Journeyman", which was much more slick and believable - especially of America in the 1960s, 70s and 80s. Sadly it was killed by low ratings and the 2007 Writers Guild, even though the filmic quality of the series was second to none. (It also had the fairly sexy Gretchen Egolf

)

Jen · #18 11-02-2009, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrB

As for Big Bang Theory.. have only watched it once but the title is actually very descriptive.....
A bunch of nerdy, horny, twenty-something college guys living across the hall from hot chicks... no doubt what they're always theorising!

sounds like one big bang to me

Yes very misleading title i was all excited to see that i even taped it thinking it was a science show and oh boy was i very dissapointed
But i havnt watched Life On Mars yet

Enchilada · #19 13-02-2009, 11:05 AM

I was a little bit shocked at the second episode of Life on Mars, mainly because I sort of enjoyed it. The guy who played the main character seems pretty good - especially with his logical reasoning and deductive abilities against the aghast of the sloppiness and corruption of his police colleagues.
Some of the general photography of chasing the bad guys reminded me very much of the Clint Eastwood "Dirty Harry" films, and I was expecting to see 44-Magnums popping out all over the place.
I also particularly like the general subtle references to Mars, like the little couple of models of the two rovers ______

_____

______ now still five years later rolling across the red Martian surface. (They should have been Viking landers if it were in 1973, which we then in the process of manufacture.) Also the reflected image of plasma TV was a cleverly thought out. Other selected random comments were also of Nixon and interesting events of the time.
They are probably in all this taking the story-line a bit too seriously and quite literally for the dummies (usually expected for American dramas) - but at least it isn't overtly too offensive.
Might even now give Episode 3 a go, though the promo seems to suggest a familiar story-line seen in the UK version.

A real improvement nonetheless.

NOTE: I've tried to avoid spoilers for those who are yet to see it, but the information given above is cryptic enough to avoid ruining it for others.

Dog Star (Phil) · #20 14-02-2009, 07:14 AM

Local stations still haven't picked this up yet, which is a pity, as I'd like to see what it's like.
Guess I'll have to wait for the dvd release.