5 Stars
January 02, 2009
I was put off watching this "live" as the plot outline sounded a bit too silly but I decided to get both box sets of series1 and 2 and boy was I in for a treat. It draws heavily on "The Sweeney" for the "Blags and Slags" type character played by Glennister, who brings to life one of the most memorable characters seen on the small screen for many years. He is quite simply hilarious. Simm by contrast rather underplays his role, the exact thing to do as Gene Hunt is the real scene stealing "star", but the chemistry between the 2 is excellent, and all of the supporting cast are wonderful. My only small niggles are really the way that Sam doesn't have as much fun with his "future knowledge" as he should do, he doesn't go placing bets for example (although he "knows" that Red Rum will win the Grand National as Gene has picked it on the office sweep). But then if you think back to 1973 yourselves, you might be hard pressed to remember a lot of detail. Who won the FA cup? (Sunderland beat Leeds 1-0, I think, but its 1976 before I could tell you the next one (Southampton beat United 1-0 I think!). Three years to wait to place a bet is a long time! Oh, there was a sugar shortage in 1975, a drought in 76 and the Silver Jubilee in 77. Which might enable Tyler to ensure he has sugar for his tea, water for his lawns and a stock of Union Jacks but not useful information. So perhaps I am being a little harsh! Its fun to speculate "what would I do" in the same situation. Buy this, get a multi region DVD player and enjoy screaming around Manchester in a brown Ford Cortina, its a blast!!!

This is a review of the first US episode by John Bonavia (Needham, MA USA)

4 Stars
October 10, 2008
I just watched the first episode of the US version on ABC - pretty darn good! It's not "loosely based on" the British, but a close translation with many of the very same script lines. Really about as close as you could get, and quite convincing. Gretchen Mol as Annie is not as cute as Liz White, but this is the US, they had to get a blonde... I think they did a good job, taking advantage of some extra possibilities offered by Manhattan: one thing that really hits Sam Tyler hard in the first minutes after his transition is when he looks up and sees the Twin Towers in all their glory! But to me the original has still got a little extra something. I think it may be Sam himself...British Sam, John Simm, was a little less clean-cut, a little more simpatico. [NOTE ADDED 4/16/2009] I read somewhere that this US version has been canceled. On reflection, I am not really surprised. Although I was initially somewhat impressed, as you can see from the review, it was more a matter of not having totally messed it up! But so much of the strength of the British series was in the pungent, individualistic, wildly alive characters. That was what was missing.

DVD IN America Yet? by Heather Gibson (sf, ca)

5 Stars
October 03, 2008
Want to buy the DVD, but from what I can tell it hasn't been released in America yet. Am I wrong about this? If not, do we know WHEN the DVD is set for American release?

Brilliant! by Hill (Texas, USA)

5 Stars
August 28, 2008
This show is fantastic! It has action, suspense, fascinating characters and the puzzle of figuring out why Sam is suddenly back in 1973. The ending just blew me away. They sure as hell will NOT do anything so daring with the US version, and I cringe at just thought of what how the networks will mangle this. WHY OH WHY ISN'T THIS AVAILABLE IN REGION 1??!?!?! I will buy a copy for all my friends when they do.

Best 'Cop Show with a Twist' I've Seen by Monica Midbon (Madison, WI)

5 Stars
July 03, 2008
Life on Mars is a cop show set in 1973 with a big twist - the lead character, Sam Tyler, is from 2006. He is everything a modern cop should be - professional, methodical, meticulous, and politically correct. When his girlfriend (a fellow police officer) urges him to follow a hunch, he scoffs. Then, in a speeding turn of events, his girlfriend is kidnapped and he is hit by a car. When he wakes up, he finds himself in a time so removed from his own, he might as well be on Mars. The embodiment of this world of prehistoric policing is his new boss, DCI Gene Hunt. The fascinating chemistry between Tyler and Hunt is what makes the show. Although the show initially condemns Hunt's brute force technique, Hunt is never painted as a villain. Instead, he and Tyler work out a balance, and make an excellent team as they start solving crimes using Hunt's instinct and Tyler's careful evidence-gathering. Another gem of the show is Annie Cartwright, a long-suffering but good-natured Women's Division police constable. She provides Tyler with a sympathetic ear and level headed advice, and their easy flirting is fun to watch and never feels forced. The first episode is perhaps a little too packed, as it sets the premise, introduces Tyler to his new world, and has him work a case that may be connected to his girlfriend's kidnapping 33 years in the future. The second episode eases the pace, though, and the show falls into it's satisfying groove. Every episode has has laugh-out-loud moments and great one-liners, moments of suspense as the characters tackle a case, and moments of creepy surrealism as Sam wonders what reality really is. Every episode also features some rollicking good music! I can't recommend this series highly enough.

SIMILAR PRODUCTS

	Life on Mars: The Complete Series Two (Region 2 Import- Non USA Format) Also With: John Simm (Primary Contributor), Philip Glenister (Primary Contributor), Liz White (Primary Contributor), Dean Andrews (Primary Contributor) As seen on BBC.
	Ashes to Ashes - Series One - 4-DVD Set ( Ashes to Ashes - Series 1 ) [ NON-USA FORMAT, PAL, Reg.2 Import - Great Britain ] Directed By: Jonny Campbell Also With: Adam James (Primary Contributor), Amelia Bullmore (Primary Contributor), Dean Andrews (Primary Contributor), Geff Francis (Primary Contributor), Joseph Long (Primary Contributor), Keeley Hawes (Primary Contributor), Marshall Lancaster (Primary Contributor), Montserrat Lombard (Primary Contributor), Philip Glenister (Primary Contributor), Stephen Campbell Moore (Primary Contributor), CategoryArthouse (Commentary), CategoryMiniSeries (Commentary), CategoryUK (Commentary) Great Britain released, PAL/Region 2 DVD:it WILL NOT play on standard US DVD player. You need multi-region PAL/NTSC DVD player to view it in USA/Canada: LANGUAGES: English ( Dolby Digital 2.0 ),SPECIAL FEATURES: Behind the scenes, Box Set, Commentary, Deleted Scenes, Documentary, Interactive Menu, Multi-DVD Set, Scene Access,SYNOPSIS: A triumphant return for DCI Gene Hunt, Ashes To Ashes takes some of the characters from the superb time-shifting police drama Life On Mars, and moves the action...
	Life on Mars by Life on Mars Soundtrack to the 2006 BBC television series that sees the main character, Sam, who is a modern day detective, slip into a coma and then finds himself working as a cop in the '70s! The movie's theme and incidental music were composed by Edmond Butt while each episode contains a smorgasbord of British '70s hits. 23 tracks including cuts from T. Rex, Atomic Rooster, The Faces, Thin Lizzy, Audience, Free, Sweet and more. Sony/BMG. 2007.
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	The Lakes ( 1st and 2nd series) [ NON-USA FORMAT, PAL, Reg.2 Import - Great Britain ]