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Life on Mars

post #1 of 121
10/9/08 at 10:56am
Thread Starter 
Missed the original UK incarnation, but I'm curious enough by the premise and cast to check it out tonight. Anyone else going to watch?
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post #2 of 121
10/9/08 at 11:24am
I'll Tivo it. And I'll just say going in - a 65 year old cop in 1973 wouldn't look like Bad Lieutenant.
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post #3 of 121
10/9/08 at 11:51am
I watch the original UK version and thought it was brillaint. The UK version won't play in the states, though, as I don't think a majority of the audience would appreciate it. It's really a huge mind game.

The US version intrigues me, as the new version - I saw the original pilot before the new cast and wasn't impressed. They pretty much kept the original plot and dialoge from the first UK show and Americanized it. The new version is set in NY, big improvement over LA, and is going to expand on the idea of why Sam Tyler is where he is. I'm trying to be as open about the show, but it's hard knowing where it came from.
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post #4 of 121
10/9/08 at 11:53am
I've been trying to find a trailer of the show that shows NY rather than LA. I have yet to find one.

Although really there could have been other cities to depict. But it's not my show.
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post #5 of 121
10/9/08 at 1:49pm
It has Lester Freamon in it, too. The reviews I've read from people who have seen both versions say it's a massive improvement over the L.A. set version. Plus, it's shot in NYC so it guarantees at least a couple of viewings from me.

Although I will say this -- Michael Imperioli's mustache is ridiculous. Ridiculously awesome.
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post #6 of 121
10/9/08 at 2:02pm
I loved the UK version, but Always Sunny pushes this to DVR land for me.
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post #7 of 121
10/9/08 at 2:18pm
I didn't catch the UK version, and since it looks favorable, I'll catch it this time.
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post #8 of 121
10/9/08 at 5:48pm
I downloaded the pre-air screener of the US version a few months ago, and being a massive fan of the original UK series, I have to say it left me mortified. I knew it wasn't going to be anywhere near as good . . . but downright awful?!

Glad to hear they've changed a great deal since then. I'm still not expecting much, but I'll give it a second chance. Normally I wouldn't even waste my time with an inferior remake (and there's no way in hell that it can't be anything but just that), but it's Life On Mars . . . it had me at hello, and I hate myself for it.
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post #9 of 121
10/9/08 at 7:17pm
I like the new cast members, but Jason O'Mara was so irritating in the first US pilot that I don't know if I'll be able to make it through another episode with him. Maybe I should forget about how much I love John Simm for an hour and try the new show.
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post #10 of 121
10/9/08 at 7:20pm
I'm going to give it a shot. Having never seen the BBC version (and admittedly having never planned on it) it shouldn't destroy me too much if its terrible.
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post #11 of 121
10/9/08 at 7:21pm
It's probably worth giving the BBC version a shot as well. Probably one of the sharpest shows to come out of Britain in a long time, although it's perhaps a little too colloquial to appeal to international audiences.
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post #12 of 121
10/9/08 at 7:44pm
I really liked the BBC version a lot I caught most the series via BBC America on demand, half way through series 2 they stopped showing them and I still haven't seen the end of it.

But I'll check this out, Imperioli's mustache does look fucking awesome.
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post #13 of 121
10/9/08 at 11:33pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by BubWilliams View Post
I really liked the BBC version a lot I caught most the series via BBC America on demand, half way through series 2 they stopped showing them and I still haven't seen the end of it.

But I'll check this out, Imperioli's mustache does look fucking awesome.


You mean you never saw the finale?! Oh man, I'd be going batshit insane if I was you!
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post #14 of 121
10/9/08 at 11:46pm
I don't download torrents, but I getting to the point where I'm gonna do it.

The premiere is pretty good, I'm wondering what the reveal was instead of the Twin Towers when it was set in LA?
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post #15 of 121
10/9/08 at 11:51pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by The NZ Natural View Post
You mean you never saw the finale?! Oh man, I'd be going batshit insane if I was you!
The thing that annoys me about the mere existence of the American re-make, is that there's NO WAY IN HELL that they'll end the series on the same note as the original.
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post #16 of 121
10/10/08 at 12:32am
Quote:
Originally Posted by BubWilliams View Post
I don't download torrents, but I getting to the point where I'm gonna do it.

The premiere is pretty good, I'm wondering what the reveal was instead of the Twin Towers when it was set in LA?
It was this:



Well, that's the scene where Sam does t his big turn around and you expect him to see something.

I might have been expecting the worst so it might explain why I thought this was good. They moved into the past much faster than the original pilot, which gave more time to show the New York of the past that looked great. The music, a big part of the original show, worked well. And, thought Kietel is no replacement for Gene Hunt he was good in the "this is my city and they'll remember me" scene. I'll keep watching with interest to see how they handle Sam's predicament.

And, no, they won't end it like the original.
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post #17 of 121
10/10/08 at 12:38am
Wow that does suck. It's just some random as shit Holiday Inn. Mind you I don't think of anything as iconic as the twin towers was in LA really. It would've had to refer something sports related or maybe the Yorty/Bradley race of '73. Either way, not nearly the same impact.

Also not to derail but what was the word on Ashes to Ashes?
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post #18 of 121
10/10/08 at 12:40am
I was disappointed to see the flashes of the red dress right before Sam woke up in '73. Assuming that the first season will have a larger order than the BBC original, I only hope that they wrap this up in 8 episodes or so. I also think it will help when Sam has to solve new cases, rather than the pilot retread tonight.
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post #19 of 121
10/10/08 at 12:47am
So they're adapting the second episode too, that's kinda lame I was hoping to get something original for the next one.
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post #20 of 121
10/10/08 at 12:47am
Oh man don't me this will be some kind of lame rehash like they did with Cracker ten years ago. The US version of that was unwatchable.
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post #21 of 121
10/10/08 at 12:55am
I liked the red dress bit because it implies they have an overall arc, other than the Maya one they dealt with early. I'm curious as to how they'll play that out,though, as the TV off the air screens, which were historically correct in the UK, has a girl in a red dress which moved that plot forward.

I think there are 13 on order, or that's what they have plans for so they will rum out of UK plots after a bit. I think they'll veer off more in the next show. Also, this first show missed a huge plot with Annie testing Sam. They used the scene differently at the end with Sam with the gun to his chest testing his resolve of where he was.

As far as "Ashes to Ashes" it was a different show. She was back in time and all but they adapted the show and, from what I understand, the pacing and character dramas took more the form of an 80's UK cop show. I thought they were supposed to 2 more season but I haven't if that is going to come about.
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post #22 of 121
10/10/08 at 1:33am
I'm gonna give it a few episodes, but if they are just going to be making a carbon copy episodes from the of the original I'm just gonna skip it then.
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post #23 of 121
10/10/08 at 1:51am
Ashes To Ashes started off cold, but had won me over on it's own terms by midway through the season (and let's not forget, that's 4 episodes). True most of "it's own terms" still included heavy doses of Gene being Gene, but once you get past the fact that it's not - nor will it ever be - LoM, it's quite enjoyable. The twist at the end of season 1 was pretty good, too, and really left you wondering exactly what Gene is.
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post #24 of 121
10/10/08 at 1:55am
Really? I then ask myself why in hell hasn't this stuff been released in dvd to the states?
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post #25 of 121
10/10/08 at 1:59am
Yeah, I liked Ashes to Ashes because it seemed to be toying with an idea of the collective unconscious in a more overt way than LoM did. And that it kind of pulled that from the character (who's name I've forgotten), who, as a police psychiatrist, was treating the whole world with a more clinical eye than Sam ever did, and occasionally using the fact that it wasn't real to indulge some of her baser impulses.
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post #26 of 121
10/10/08 at 2:15am
After all the horrible things that I had heard about the first version of the pilot for US LoM, what ended up being broadcast didn't seem too bad. Strangely, the change from the UK version that annoyed me the most was the fact that they cut out the whole "She's a pain in the ass" scene that explained why they were doing interrogations in the Lost & Found room. I liked the change to the ending, not because it was better, but because it was different enough that having seen the original didn't instantly let me know how it was going to turn out.

I'm still not entirely sold on Harvey Keitel as Gene, but I'm willing to stick with the show for at least a few more episodes.
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post #27 of 121
10/10/08 at 2:17am
I've made it known that I like the original Brit version, but don't masturbate furiously to it like some others, who will remain nameless. That being said, the two main leads (Gene and Sam) were fantastic in the original version and yes, the ending to the series is spectacular and no, they won't have the balls for that in the American version, even if it were to last that long. I made the decision to DVR the 11th Hour instead of this, but I will be giving it view when it...reaches me. I just hope it doesn't punch me in the nuts.
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post #28 of 121
10/10/08 at 3:06am
I really enjoyed this, but I guess I'll have to stay out of this thread forever so I won't know what happened in the BBC version.
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post #29 of 121
10/10/08 at 3:11am
One more thing I though Imperioli was really good.
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post #30 of 121
10/10/08 at 3:40am
Yeah, they'll not only never end it like the BBC show, they'll just never end it. They'll milk this shit for as long as they can.
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post #31 of 121
10/10/08 at 8:04pm
Caught it last night and it's definitely a marked improvement over the original pilot they filmed. I was surprised exactly how much they changed completely. The thing that jolted me the most was changing the ending to the episode - doing away completely with Annie's boyfriend part and instead having the talk with young Colin was pretty interesting, I thought. In the UK version, the "Annie's boyfriend plays a trick" scene was one of my favourite moments of the show - there was just something really eerie about the way they pulled it off. In the US version, it really fell flat in comparison, so the change to just about blowing away a child definitely bought it's own kind of darkness to this version.

A big improvement overall. But (as if there was ever any doubt) still nowhere near the original.
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post #32 of 121
10/11/08 at 7:18pm
Here's a trailer for the "original" ABC pilot. I wish they didn't go color-crazy with the eventual aired pilot. And the dialogue - "This guy's crazier than a fruit bat at a cranberry convention" - oof.
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post #33 of 121
10/12/08 at 2:30pm
I think the one thing missing is the chain smoking/drinking of the decade that is used so well in Mad Men .

Some irony that this import show is up against another import show (eleventh hour)
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post #34 of 121
10/13/08 at 9:33am
not a bad show. My biggest confusion being Is the cops beating up on each other (in the 70's) supposed to be as comical as it plays out?
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post #35 of 121
10/13/08 at 3:01pm
I'll give it a couple more chances, but the pilot didn't knock my socks off.

Keitel is transforming into Ann Ramsey.
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post #36 of 121
10/13/08 at 3:06pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by neaux View Post
not a bad show. My biggest confusion being Is the cops beating up on each other (in the 70's) supposed to be as comical as it plays out?
It was in the original series.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XG2f34GAnTg
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post #37 of 121
10/17/08 at 1:36am
I watched tonight's episode, and I have to say that I really hope that the little Mars rover thing isn't meant to be a replacement for the creepy test card girl.
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post #38 of 121
10/17/08 at 7:52pm
It looks like it is. But from an Interview with the writers it looks like there's not going to be just the one replacement for the Test Card girl.

I didn't mind tonights episode, and despite Keitel playing it a lot looser this time he's totally wrong for the part. He murdered that 'Armed Bastards' line.
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post #39 of 121
10/17/08 at 8:02pm
"With this mythological element to it, it's not just a cop show, and if he was ultimately just in a coma or it was all a dream, it felt a bit unsatisfying. So we made it a deeper mystery."

I guess I'm kinda interested to see what they have in mind for it.
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post #40 of 121
10/20/08 at 11:49am
I think the pilot suffered from overuse of music. I mean, they just playlisted the episode to death. It was OK. Excited to see the original show, which I managed to miss.
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post #41 of 121
10/20/08 at 4:38pm
The original was so much better but I'll give this one an episode or two more to wow me over. I'm not sure if I like the Julian McMahon wannabe or not.
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post #42 of 121
10/24/08 at 10:36pm
I missed last night's episode, but don't want to have to download the plug-in to watch it on ABC's website. Did anything seemingly important and/or interesting happen in the episode, or can I just skip worrying about it and move on to next week's?
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post #43 of 121
10/24/08 at 10:53pm
I thought it was alright. It was about a vet just back from Vietnam who gets killed, and Sam sees his younger self going to a Knicks game with his dad.
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post #44 of 121
10/25/08 at 4:19pm
this week's episode was actually pretty good. Sam didn't get beat up, met some hippies and starts to accept he is in 1973.
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post #45 of 121
10/25/08 at 6:18pm
Its getting better..nudges the other BBC redo Eleventh Hour to DVR
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post #46 of 121
10/25/08 at 7:25pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by BubWilliams View Post
I thought it was alright. It was about a vet just back from Vietnam who gets killed, and Sam sees his younger self going to a Knicks game with his dad.
Quote:
Originally Posted by neaux View Post
this week's episode was actually pretty good. Sam didn't get beat up, met some hippies and starts to accept he is in 1973.
Thanks, guys.
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post #47 of 121
10/31/08 at 7:52pm
I have not seen the UK version but I like this show a lot, I find it ludicrous and campy, and love the soundtrack. Great to see Harv on TV. The cast reminds me of rejects from the Beastie Boys Sabotage video, which is a good thing.
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post #48 of 121
11/3/08 at 5:25pm
I loved the crazy mindsex in the past episode, where he couldnt figure out who he was with, his cop coworker, the bar hooker or his mom!
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post #49 of 121
11/3/08 at 6:56pm
Yeah, I liked it too. I think I'll stick with it for the season.
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post #50 of 121
11/4/08 at 3:27am
Quote:
Originally Posted by neaux View Post
I loved the crazy mindsex in the past episode, where he couldnt figure out who he was with, his cop coworker, the bar hooker or his mom!
The hallucination of Gene (with a Gomez Addams mustache) dancing with Sam's mother made me smile. I kept expecting the hooker to make some comment about Sam shouting, "Mom!" during sex the next time that he saw her, and I was a little disappointed when it didn't happen.

Next weeks episode looks like it could be interesting, but I hope that we don't have to wait too long before we get something that isn't just a reinterpretation of a UK episode.
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