Science Resources RSS Feeds
|
 |
 |
 |
| View Larger Image | Life On Mars: Series 1 (U.K.) | DVDStarring: John Simm, Philip Glenister, Liz White, Dean Andrews, Marshall Lancaster
| List Price: | $59.99 | | Price: | $41.49 | | You Save: | $18.50 (31%) | | | Available: | Usually ships in 24 hours |
| | Binding: | DVD | | Rating: |  | | Run Time: | 466 minutes | | Format: | Box set, Color, DVD, Widescreen, NTSC | | Studio: | Acorn Media | | Number of Discs: | 4 | | Aspect Ratio: | 1.66:1 | | Release Date: | July 28, 2009 | | Sales Rank: | 2,878nd |
|
EDITORIAL REVIEWS |
Description
The time-warping detective series seen on BBC America Dreaming, delusional, or displaced in time? Police detective Sam Tyler (John Simm, State of Play) must decide which describes him in this intriguing twist on the police procedural that has won two International Emmys® and rave reviews from critics and fans. Hot on a killer’s trail in modern-day Manchester, Tyler gets struck by a passing car and wakes up in 1973. The high-tech tools and respect for proper procedure have vanished. Instead, he finds himself working on a homicide squad where hard drinking replaces hard thinking; forensics takes weeks to analyze; and his boss, DCI Gene Hunt (Philip Glenister, Cranford), has no qualms about roughing up suspects--or Sam himself. Still, Tyler has real-world crimes to solve, even as strange voices call him back to his 21st century life. But when he bonds with sympathetic policewoman Annie Cartwright (Liz White, The Fixer), Sam wonders: does he really want to return? SPECIAL FEATURES: Audio commentaries for every episode with cast and crew "Take a Look at the Lawman," an hour-long documentary with cast and crew interviews and behind-the-scenes footage Interview clip with director Bharat Nalluri "The Music of Life on Mars" featurette with composer Ed Butt "Get Sykes" featurette with production designer Brian Sykes Outtakes reel |
Amazon.com
A thoroughly engrossing and unpredictable police drama with a fantastic twist, Life on Mars concerns Manchester, U.K. police detective Sam Tyler (John Simm), who is hit by a car while investigating the disappearance of a colleague. When Tyler comes around, he's still in the street where he was knocked down--but the year is 1973, 23 years before the accident. Certain he's dreaming or in a post-accident delusion, Tyler drifts through the streets in shock and skepticism about everything he sees--especially the dark, smoky, thuggish atmosphere of his police precinct, nothing like the clean, high-tech office with which he's more familiar. After a brutal introduction to his boss, Detective Chief Inspector Gene Hunt (Philip Glenister), Tyler tries to reconcile his apparent responsibilities as a 1973 cop with disturbing suggestions he is trapped inside his own mind, suffering a coma in the 21st century. Part of the fun of Life on Mars is watching Tyler come to terms with the primitive state of crime-solving in the era of Starsky and Hutch. Forget state-of-the-art investigative science, and forget institutional regard for suspect rights and police procedure. Rather than accept Hunt's status quo, however, Tyler fights every step of the way for progressive policing, putting him on a daily collision course with other cops. Still, over the eight episodes in Series One, Tyler does make some inroads and gains the respect of his commander--which doesn't mean the two don't throw their fists at one another regularly. As anxious as Tyler is to get back to the future, his romantic connection to a policewoman (Liz White) helps ground him (or trap him?) in his perhaps-unreal surroundings. Still, there's a question: is there a reason Tyler has turned up in a year when he was still a little boy, facing difficult times? The answer is remarkable, as Life On Mars: Series One moves toward a powerful conclusion. Life on Mars proved such an attractive concept that the show was remade for American television in 2008, starring Jason O'Mara as Sam Tyler and Harvey Keitel as Gene Hunt, and with Gretchen Mol, Michael Imperioli, and Lisa Bonet also in the cast. --Tom Keogh Stills from Life on Mars: Series 1 (U.K.) (Click for larger image) |
CUSTOMER REVIEWS (Average Customer Rating: 4.5 based on 27 reviews)
|
Pretty good by Brian Hill  5 Stars
October 12, 2009
I enjoyed the American version when it was aired, and decided to try the original. Many state that the UK version is better, but I can't entirely agree.
Several of the episode are extremely similar in plot, etc..., but for a few (particularly the 1st episode) I prefer the US version. Whats the phrase I'm looking for..... "Bigger budget" ? Anyhow, if I had to choose any single reason why, it is because the US version feels more like 1973 (to me).
However, I also remember my disappointment as the US series progressed. Strong out the gates, to a rather weak finish. I don't get that same feeling here. The UK version draws me in more with each episode. Perhaps it is what one of the other reviewers complained about; Sam's constant psychotic breaks. I'd say with the UK version they are a bit more true. That is to say, less directly noticeable to other characters in the show (most of the time). They could probably both tone it down a bit, perhaps with Sam actively disguising his problem ("Yeah, I was messed up before, but I'm all better now"). Anyhow, the US version was a little too over-the-top with the whole Sam acting crazy an no one doing anything about it; I think thats why I stared to sour on the US version of the show. The UK version is still a bit to much overt acting out with no consequences, but still, it is a bit more restrained than the US interpretation. Lets face it, in the final episode of series 1... Sam points a loaded gun on his boss allowing a suspected double homicide suspect to flee (permanently), and general crazy behavior. The repercussions for him? A few pints at the pub. Thats asking for a lot of willing suspension of disbelief.
Nevertheless, I'm curious enough about Sam's plight that I'll buy series 2.
| |
Excellent by Kimberly (USA) 5 Stars
October 01, 2009
If you haven't seen Life On Mars UK....you don't know what your missing.
| |
Great series! by Jessie (NY, USA) 5 Stars
September 30, 2009
I saw part of the American version first, but wasn't terribly captured by the show. I really liked the idea though, so I checked out the UK version and loved it! I love trying to figure out what the real deal was with Sam. The cast was wonderful, and that combined with the music, camera work, and great scripts made for a brilliant story. Awesome series!
| |
"Gritty and street wise crime drama...with a twist" by Laurie C. Davis (Northeast GA USA) 5 Stars
September 06, 2009
The BBC version of "Life on Mars" is a gritty, fast-paced crime drama that is in style of "Starsky and Hutch", "Streets of San Francisco" and "Hill Street Blues". It is nice to see the hard line investigations on the street-none of the fluff that comes with current shows. The detectives solve crimes with logic and instinct, not with the fancy gadgets like computers and even less on forensics.
"Life on Mars", like its' U.S. clone, is not your typical cop show. It has a supernatural feel. The main cop, Sam Tyler (brilliantly played by John Simm), lands in 1973 after an an accident. His life is a constant struggle to be a 21st detective while trying to find out what has happened. Besides fighting the criminals, Tyler has to deal with the voices from his own time.
Even so, he finds a place in 1973-building relationships with the other cops, especially with Annie. They learn to respect Tyler and his unusual instincts and methods. Philip Glenister does a nice turn with his portrayal of Tyler's commanding officer, Gene Hunt. The rest of the supporting cast make a good fit.
If you like a good crime drama that is alittle different but down the earth, you can't go wrong with "Life on Mars".
| |
THE BEST TV YOU CAN SEE by All You Need Is Sushi (California) 5 Stars
August 29, 2009
After being intrigued with our American LIFE ON MARS, we tuned into the UK set, and were totally blown away. The character of GENE HUNT is iconic, and as memorable as any cop, including DIRTY HARRY.
If you aren't adept at strong British accents, and many of the relevant parts of the culture of UK 1973, it still won't set you back.
If you hollered and screamed at the ending of the USA series (I did, in disbelief, pain and exasperation), don't worry. You can rest assured that you can scream all over again, with joy and pain and tears (I did!). It's over. What a great sense of loss!
Hang on, you can still see GENE HUNT, and CHRIS SKELTON and RAY, but don't even THINK about checking out ASHES TO ASHES before you get to scream at the 8th episode of UK Life of Mars.
And just for fun, after you've checked Wikipedia and found there was a pilot made for USA TV, with none other than Colm Meany (STAR TREK) playing Gene Hunt, and if you can find it, you're officially an obsessed fan. (I am!)
Phillip Glennister has created a GENE HUNT that is beyond the poor script they gave Meany, and IMHO, far superior to our dear HARVEY KEITEL's GENE HUNT, which at first viewing looked to be memorable....
Enjoy the UK version, spread the word, and put this on your "DO NOT LEND" shelf.
| |
SIMILAR PRODUCTS |
| Life on Mars: Series 2 (UK)
Starring: John Simm, Philip Glenister, Liz White, Dean Andrews, Marshall Lancaster
Directed By: Andrew Gunn, Richard Clark, S.J. Clarkson
Also With: Ashley Pharoah (Writer), Chris Chibnall (Writer), Guy Jenkin (Writer), Julie Rutterford (Writer), Mark Greig (Writer)
The International Emmy®-winning series seen on BBC America Same place, same job. Different time, different rules. That’s the situation facing detective Sam Tyler (John Simm, State of Play) in this British drama that TV Guide calls "an entertaining collision of bare-knuckled police-procedural realism and mind-blowing surrealism." Knocked unconscious by a hit-and-run driver in 21st-century Manchester, Tyler wakes up in 1973. Is he dreaming, time traveling, or just plain crazy?...
| 
| Life on Mars: The Complete Series
Starring: Jason O'Mara, Harvey Keitel, Michael Imperioli, Gretchen Mol, Jonathan Murphy
Directed By: n/a
From the studio that brought you Lost, comes the groundbreaking series that captured the imaginations of fans from coast to coast. With an irresistible soundtrack and one of the most celebrated casts on television, including Harvey Keitel, Michael Imperioli, Gretchen Mol and Jason O Mara, Life On Mars is a smart, suspenseful drama with a finish that will blow you away. Its one of those endings I believe will make you watch the series again, says Executive Producer Josh Appelbaum. There s a fine...
| 
| Murphy's Law: Series One
Starring: James Nesbitt
A maverick Irish cop takes on the London crime world Detective Tommy Murphy has nothing left to lose. Guilt-ridden over the death of his young daughter, who was slain by the IRA, he flees to London to work undercover for the Metropolitan Police. Hardheaded, hard-drinking, brash, and brooding, Murphy is down on his luck. But he still has more than a bit of the old Irish charm, flashing quick wit and a roguish grin. James Nesbitt (Cold Feet, Match Point) is "absolutely brilliant" (The...
| 
| The Rules of Modern Policing - 1973 Edition: "Life on Mars"
by Gene Hunt (Author)
'Don't move! You're surrounded by armed bastards!' Viewers of "Life on Mars" could be forgiven for thinking that the police force of the 1970s lived by the maxim 'The rules are: there are no rules', yet it turns out that this was not the case. A fascinating historical document has now emerged which shows that there were indeed rules and in 1973 they were recorded on paper by none other than DCI Gene Hunt himself. Divided into ten sections, "The Rules of Modern Policing - 1973 Edition" covers...
| 
| Trial and Retribution: Set 3
Starring: David Hayman
Directed By: Tristram Powell;Andy Hay;Edward Hall
"Great crime series" --NPR
"Smartly crafted and acted" --San Francisco Chronicle Crime-to-court suspense from Lynda La Plante Created and written by Lynda La Plante--"the playwright laureate of women crime-stoppers" (NPR’s Weekend Edition)--this British series displays the same hard-bitten sensibility and emotional resonance that made Prime Suspect a television landmark. Each drama follows a single case from crime to conclusion. Every twist in the investigation and turn in the...
|
|
|
|
