Life On Mars

I hope it'll go a bit longer than the UK one did. It was good apart from whoever was playing the WPC.

I don't think it's as good as the UK version, but I'll give it a chance and see if it finds its own way. The biggest problem for me is that they've just taken the original script, tweaked it a bit to give it an American feel, and shot it with a different set of actors. I mostly found myself making comparisons instead of getting involved in the story.

I think it would have behooved them to have actually written a brand new, never-been-done-before pilot episode, especially since they've been so insistent that they've changed the "mythology" of the story.

I liked the concept but not its application. This show needs better writers.

There were too many instances in which the culture clash from 2008 to 1973 were supposed to shock or surprise the main character. Yes, it surely would, at first, but he seems to have adjusted far too easily. Where's the anger, the depression, the desperation to return to his real life and save his girlfriend, or his grief that by now, it's too late? Where's the wonder at what will happen if he [SPOILER ALERT] does manage to kill the little boy who later becomes the monster who's kidnapped her? [END SPOILER] He's not stupid, so he should be at least considering the outcome of messing with the past, shouldn't he? After all, in the 1990s he'd have been required to read that Ray Bradbury story, A Sound of Thunder, like every other American high school student.

It also bugged me that he manages to function as a good cop one moment, then is surprised or taken aback by how things were/are the next moment. And please, must he be the only cop able to catch a bad guy in a foot chase? He's supposed to be 39. A guy that age in great shape is unlikely to be as fit or fast as a cop who's 25.

Alas, poor casting in Harvey Keitel, who's a fine actor. As a door-busting tough guy, he's looking every bit of his age, 69.

Good wardrobe, hairdressers, and such. They've got the look down pretty well.

Maryn, underwhelmed

Maryn said:

Alas, poor casting in Harvey Keitel, who's a fine actor. As a door-busting tough guy, he's looking every bit of his age, 69.

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I agree about Harvey Keitel. He looks OLD. Too old to even be employed, especially in 1973 when they probably had a mandatory retirement age of 65, way back before the coining of the term "ageism".

I was prepared to hate hate hate this, because I loved the BBC version. My preparations were justified. No way no how is it as good as the original.

(Unlike the US remake of the BBCs Touching Evil, about which I think exactly the opposite. Go fig.)

CaroGirl said:

I agree about Harvey Keitel.

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I actually turned if off when he showed up. It was faintly interesting until then, but this role was totally miscast. And I agree with Maryn about the writing. Those lines when he first showed up in the past were unbelievable and corny, and the scene didn't go anywhere.

Maryn said:

Where's the anger, the depression, the desperation to return to his real life and save his girlfriend, or his grief that by now, it's too late?

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In the BBC version.

The ABC version also suffers from a lack of the subtlety and nuance that makes the original so very, very good.

Like I said, I'll tune in for a few weeks to see what they do, but my expectations aren't high.

I enjoyed the first episode. I can see a lot of potential with the show.


Enter The Starter Wife Super Glamour Giveaway at New to TV!

Saw the first episode. Will pass on the rest.

I saw the first episode of this and it makes me miss the short lived New Amsterdam all the more.

Has Ashes to Ashes been shown in the US?

I went into watching this show not expecting much. I was unaware of the UK version, but figured it would be on par with most modern television dramas.

In fact, other than the time travel twist, it seemed to be pretty stock with little originality regarding the NY detective angle. Very cliche.

Despite that, rather than nitpicking all the little issues I had with it, I noted that I would have issues with it and pushed them aside.

After doing that, I found the show pretty fun to watch.

seun said:

Has Ashes to Ashes been shown in the US?

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No, not yet. I've got the DVDs and, while I enjoyed it, it's not as good as Life on Mars.

I had no idea there was a BBC version.

I'm pretty shallow with my reason for watching this particular show, I like Jason O'Mara. I thought he was great in The Closer.

The UK version is brilliant and one of my favourite shows ever. I'm afraid to see to the US version. Is it possible to enjoy it without comparing it to the UK version all the time? If the reactions in this thread are any indication of quality, it's not.

Gads, I hate the US version. The DH watches it and I'm usually writing in the same room. Hate the script, the characterizations, the storylines, everything. What's with the hippie chick naked in the hall?! What about the characters making choices consistent with their perceived storylines? What about giving me someone I give two hoots about?! And what was up with the fistfight in the comatose girl's room?

And I was a sheltered Catholic jr. high girl in 1973, so I asked the DH (who's 8 years older than me) if "twist" was really 1973 derogatory slang for any woman. He said he'd never heard of it.

Did I mention I never want to see another ep of the US remake again? Blech.

Maryn said:

Alas, poor casting in Harvey Keitel, who's a fine actor. As a door-busting tough guy, he's looking every bit of his age, 69.

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I haven't seen the BBC version, so I can't compare, but I'm a big Kietel fan and I like him on the show....however, I think some scenes he takes part in are corny--like on the pilot when the old lady tells them how the killer is keeping things quiet...and then him and Jason O'Mara run off in slow motion and leap over a desk lmao. I got a kick out of it though.

This is a lil off topic but if you wanna talk poor casting, how about Jason O'Mara (Sam on Life on Mars) as Albert Wesker in RE Extinction? That's a prime example of poor casting for ya.

and I like Michael Imperioli on the show. I wish they would avoid all the wise cracking he does tho, cuz sometimes he comes off as chris.

It ended rather abruptly, but I thought it was an intriguing premise while it lasted.

I don't see how it would be possible to discuss without spoilers, but the ending was pretty anticlimactic. Obviously the suits at ABC were not intrigued.

How would you critique this short-lived sci-fi series, overall, if you've seen it? I thought early episodes were promising, especially the Maharishi episode. There was potential for some high wierdness for a while.

Then they went and cancelled.

I loved the UK one, but the USA one was unremarkable. Ashes to Ashes was not as good as either series of Life on Mars, but was enjoyable enough.

I just started watching it and getting hooked when I saw the teaser for the 'series finale'. And then I watched the finale and just was WTF????

Sorry, but for the first 45 minutes, they had me. The last 15 ticked me off. Severely. I'm just glad I hadn't invested two or three years in it to be led to that finale.