(S01E02) I said it before and I'll say it again: Life On Mars has a fantastic soundtrack. They also continue their use of yellow filter to simulate the dirtiness of New York City in the 1970's. When they go to scenes from 2008, the filter becomes blue. I wonder if the creators intended a deeper significance with that?
Many of the scenes from tonight's episode where taken from the original BBC version, so there is opportunity to further compare the remake to the original. While I like Jason O'Mara's version of Sam Tyler and feel he's comparable to John Simm, there is no way Harvey Keitel can match Phil Glenister as Gene Hunt. He can't even deliver the line "you are surrounded by armed bastards" with anywhere near the ferocity.
Much of the action of the original version involved foot chases and it looks like they're continuing the tradition. However, there is no way that Harvey Keitel can do a foot chase through Central Park at his age. Don't get me wrong. I think Harvey Keitel is a great actor. He's just not appropriate for the role. Another thing: in the original, Sam Tyler is a short, skinny guy and seemed overshadowed by the beefy Hunt. In the American version, Sam Tyler is more muscular and Hunt seems small by comparison. Yet Hunt matches him punch for punch. WTF?
Michael Imperioli, however, wins for best dialogue of the series. I recall reading that Life On Mars wasn't so much a man going back through time to a 1970's police force as going back through time to a 1970's cop show. That's how this series strikes me. I think cops behaving that way would be reprimanded, even in the 1970's.
If you blinked, you may have missed Lisa Bonet's appearance in the episode. I was wondering when they would roll out the hippie chick stereotype. Glad they got it over with. It must be easy for the crew to find the outfits for the era. There are still people throughout New York who dress the same way. They're called hipsters.
I did like the list Sam made attempting to explain how he got to 1973 New York. It goes through possibilities not even examined in the original.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
10-17-2008 @ 2:10AM
LordPaul said...
I've not watched this ep yet (in the UK so will watch it when it arrives on my PC) but from the first episode I agree about Keitel - he's simply too old to pull it off. He might have once been a scary gangster type, but not anymore. Gene Hunt was never supposed to be a nearing-retirement officer, hence him still being around in 1983 but Keitel's version I can imagine being sent to pasture by the end of the 70s
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10-17-2008 @ 4:02AM
Will said...
I'm really loving this show even mre than I thought I would, but I always enjoy time-travel type shows,especially when they go back in time. I loved Journeyman because they did that. However, I've never seen the BBC version of "Mars", so I can't comment on your comparisions. But,while I think Keitel is a great actor & I do enjoy his take on this role, he is a bit mismatched with Jason O'Mara, who looks like he could easily kicks Keitel's ass. But, hey, the show is entertaining, interesting & fun. I sure hope it sticks around.
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10-17-2008 @ 8:30AM
laura said...
Onto the second episode and I still really like this show. I love the music and the clothes! but I really adore Jason O'mara! Last week my husband said "he looks like steve McQueen" and my favorite line this episode by the elderly chain smoking witness "if i squint my eyes you look like mr mcqueen" (or along those lines)
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10-17-2008 @ 8:56AM
Toby OB3 said...
Thanks for mentioning the screwed-up delivery of "You are surrounded by armed bastards". That was my favorite line of TV dialogue for the entire year when the original aired. Keitel tossed it off - and badly - without even giving it any "oomph". Horrible.
I think ABC realized that because they cut right away to a commercial afterwards.
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10-17-2008 @ 9:08AM
Jasmine said...
I think they should be sued for false advertisement because I watched the whole show waiting for Lisa Bonet. I don't think they should advertise her return to television, if we don't see her. I was so disappointed that I didn't enjoy the show.
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10-18-2008 @ 5:31PM
Tobor2001 said...
Jasmine....Were you sleeping? Lisa Bonet plays his wife or girlfriend in 2008. The one who disappeared right before he was involved in a car accident. She was following the serial killer in the park... And in episode #2 she was in the flashback scene when he saw the alien Rover watching him.
10-17-2008 @ 9:41AM
dennis phillips said...
why didn't they just keep journeyman going instead of this "pos" show.
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10-17-2008 @ 8:32PM
maestro610 said...
Because Journeyman was on NBC and this is on ABC.... Also, this show existed in England before Journeyman existed in America.
10-17-2008 @ 10:18AM
Leah said...
Maybe you need to just STOP comparing this show to the original and enjoy it by itself. I bet you would enjoy the show a whole lot more.
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10-17-2008 @ 10:18AM
Courtney said...
Of course they could match punch for punch. Do you really think Sam EVER used his fists in today's cop world? Hunt has just had a lot more practice.
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10-17-2008 @ 1:31PM
George said...
If you told me three months ago that I'd be standing up for any element of the US 'Life on Mars', I'd have laughed in your face. However...
The reason the "You're surrounded by armed bastards" line didn't work for Keitel is because it doesn't work in an American context, for an American character, with American vocal rhythms and an American accent. It's an iconic line in the UK version, but it's a different word here. It should've been changed.
The producers' instincts have generally been strong on these issues, so perhaps they figured they'd see how it played with the audience.
NBC's emphasis on Lisa Bonet suggests that she's going to have a far bigger role than Archie Panjabi did in the UK version. I hope they won't keep trying to find ways to shoehorn her into every episode -- that's going to get old. On the other hand, I was surprised at how little fuss was made over Heather Matarazzo's presence.
Also, that Alien Rover toy was a hell of a lot more sophisticated than any remote controlled toy I saw/owned during the 1970s. Future plot element, or just plain sloppiness? Hopefully the former.
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10-17-2008 @ 2:24PM
C C said...
I know what the significance of the yellow and blue filters are-but I can't reveal what it is. All I can say is it's a reference to the "work" that was the major influence on the original Brit version of Life on Mars.
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10-17-2008 @ 5:42PM
CarenL said...
I thought the 2nd episode lost something. I love the 1973/2008 jokes (like when someone mentioned the Nixon administration and Sam said "don't get too attached") but the plot about chasing around a guy who hits up check cashing places....not too exciting or unique. The show will need more ways to stay fresh than just relying on the time travel gimmick - although I love it. I enjoy reminiscing as I watch.
I think your having seen the British version is clouding your ability to enjoy the American one. I think Keitel is fine, but maybe I wouldn't think so if I'd seen the British dude.
I agree with you on the soundrack. Glad there are some classic rock fans behind the show!
There are so few shows I keep up with these days, that I probably will try to keep up with this one, but I have a feeling I will fall behind soon.
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10-18-2008 @ 12:50AM
R said...
Show sucks and I'm not watching it anymore. Second episode lost me and there are better shows than this on TV. Bye Bye
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10-18-2008 @ 1:31AM
paisley said...
I am really enjoying this show, however I thought the first episode was better than this one. I think they lost some momentum or something, it just seemed off to me.(completely agree with you CarenL). I still enjoyed it, but I also knew that Julie was involved in the whole thing as soon as she started asking questions, and it seemed odd they didn't at least show her in the first epi if she was that important a staff member.
The first episode was more hard hitting, the scenes worked better, and the flow of music was great. Here it was like they didn't know when to put the music, and they just seemed like they were lost the whole episode waiting for the bad guy to do something bad! don't get me wrong I will keep watching, because I love the show. I hope the episodes get better and better as it goes along.
I'm actually hoping they start showing more scenes from 2008 to see what's happening while Sam is away or in a coma or whatever. To show that Lisa bonnet's character is still going about her life etc, otherwise I agree, stop advertising she is making a comeback if we only see her for 30 seconds.
I was wondering about the toy robot as well. Especially after Sam sees the one in the park, for what purpose?? And then when he finds it in the box later, I am wondering if it will serve some purpose in the future episodes, or show him what is happening in 2008, as he saw flashes while the robot shone a light in his face.
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10-18-2008 @ 8:21PM
Bob said...
I agree about Kietel but I do think he was better in the second episode except for blowing the best line from the whole British series.
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10-19-2008 @ 7:59PM
rich said...
In the episode where they were figthing in the hospital room there was a song playing. Can anyone out there please tell me the name of the song and the artist? It had the words, I won't tell you no more so get down get down get down?????
Hope someone can help
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10-19-2008 @ 11:00PM
paisley said...
I think it's get down by Gilbert O'sullivan. if you check on abc.com they always post what music was played in every episode.
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10-26-2008 @ 9:25PM
rich said...
THanks for the reply. I believe you're right on it being Get Down by Gilbery O'Sullivan. Brings back memories......
10-27-2008 @ 3:02PM
sheila said...
The premise is terrific. i really wanted to like the shiow. unfortunately it's too much like watching a rerun of Little House on the Prairie. The same those writers felt the historic west was so boring they had to make the pioneers discuss sexism and racism in every episode is what's happening here. Two minutes into the last show i realized the writers would never use actuial antio-soldier sentiment and go with a borrowed interest form the 90's gay soldier angle.
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