TV Addict Reports: Life on Mars - US version

[strangevisitor7]

I adored the original British version of this show. I can not express enough how terrific it was. It was unique and creative and incredibly well acted. Gene Hunt is just an amazing character. So it was with some trepidation I watched the US version last night.

No - Just No. It didn't work for me.



I know it was just the first episode and I may give it another but it was incredibly weird to watch these characters I really like being played by others. (Imagine Sam and Dean Winchester being played by British actors) I did miss the accents - somehow the very British nature of the original, added to the surreal feel of the show. I'm sure that's simply becasue I am an American.

Jason O'Mara is no John Simm. John's Sam Tyler not only acted like a fish out of water, I always felt he looked and moved like one too. He isn't a big guy and that to me added to the idea that he never looked like he belonged in 1973.

I was actually excited with what Harvey Keitel might bring to the role of Gene Hunt. But he's too old. Maybe 15 years ago he would have worked. Phil Glenister towered over John Simm adding to the feel that his Gene was larger than life. I don't get that feeling from Harvey - hell I thought Harvey looked frail. Hardly the imposing figure of legend that Gene Hunt is supposed to be.

As for Chris and Ray - Chris is invisible and Ray feels like a caricature of the stereo typical New Yorker - ultimately undecided on these two.

I do like Gretchen Mol. She is the only cast member I see as equal to the original.

I will say the moment when Sam Tyler looks up and sees the Twin towers still standing was an "Oh wow" moment for me and I thought maybe this will work. But unfortunately it was down hill from there. They even gave him the same coat that John wore and all that did was constantly remind me that Jason was not John.

My recommendation - if you haven't seen the BBC version rent it and don't waste your time on the US version.

Comments

[dhark-charlotte.livejournal.com]

I gave semi-serious thought to watching the US version before the Brit.

Thanks, Not going to bother, really. I've got too many shows to keep track of

[strangevisitor7.livejournal.com]

I wish I had liked it becasue I was looking forward to the music and such but I just don't think I will watch any additional episodes.

Get the brit version - it's only 16 episodes and worth the time

[julorean.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I never planned on watching it. The Twin Towers bit sounds like the only good moment.

I read an interview with the producers or whoever, and the think this thing will actually run for a long time. :rolls eyes: I was all "Yeah. Riiiight." I won't dicount the possibility, americans can be woefully uneducated in the brilliance of Brit TV, but I doubt it'll really get off the ground.

[lyl-devil.livejournal.com]

You knew it was doomed when they recast the entire show. Apparently, the first pilot was oh-so-much-worse.

This is good to know, just so I don't waste my time on it. I was already leery of it, because US networks are notoriously bad at remaking anything. But I'm still wondering what they'll be doing for the next few episodes, when they don't have the UK version to cheat from.

Here's my Life on Mars meta: I think the UK version had such an impact - beyond the novel concept, excellent writing, phenomenal acting - because there aren't a lot of looks back at policing in that time period in the UK. We have so many movies and shows in North America, created from 60's until now, to highlight how police departments worked in the US back then, but not nearly as many in the UK. I think part of what grabbed the audiences was that look at how the law enforcement world worked back then in comparison to today.

The UK version also highlighted a couple of issues that impact the UK today, showing how certain things started and escalated - like the football episode. You see the fans before being a spectator escalated into a full contact sport with riot gear and dead bodies. /meta

[sfulton229.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the warning; I just caught the end of the first episode and really wasn't impressed with the acting. I also question just how long they think this will go, as a concept you can't really expect to get five seasons out of it. I think they can't drag it out and the audience will get bored. I have the same feeling with "The Ex-Files"; I can't see that going much longer than a year.

[strangevisitor7.livejournal.com]

I can't see how it could possibly go for more than one season. The BBC version only had 16 and that felt just right.

I get so frustrated that the networks feel they have to Americanize everything. i know many Americans who appreciate Brit TV but try telling ABC that

[strangevisitor7.livejournal.com]

I'm downloading the original pilot - very curious how much worse it could possibly be since Jason O'Mara is still Sam and still miscast.

That's a good point about so many old US cop shows because it felt like an old Kojak episode.

Like I said part of my fascination with the BBC show was an education about older Brit stuff. but truthfully Gene Hunt was just so awesome - he kept me watching

[strangevisitor7.livejournal.com]

The thing I love about Brit TV is that they recognize that some high concept TV shows should end when the high concept runs out of steam. LOM ran it course and was wrapped up before people stopped caring or the concept became too overplayed.

US networks waits until show jump the shark and then they still run 2 more seasons.

There are too many others shows on my plate to give this one anymore time. *sighs*

[sfulton229.livejournal.com]

Yes, they keep things going well past time to get enough episodes for syndication. I'm so far behind that I'm cutting back some. Maybe someday I'll get caught up.

[strangevisitor7.livejournal.com]

Yep and some shows I watch to the bitter end and others I give up and move on. I need to move on more often. XD

Simm is Sam

[simmfaninmexico.livejournal.com]

I agree with you one hundred percent.
O'Mara's Sam seemed so comfortable in this "alien" environment of 1973 that he might have simply been transferred from Hyde in Upstate New York to the NYPD without adding the time travel element at all.
In my biased opinion nobody does it better than Simm.

Re: Simm is Sam

[strangevisitor7.livejournal.com]

Thanks. Nice to know I'm not the only one who thought the US show was woefully miscast. Simm always looked like a man out of time and that added to the believability of the situation

[unbreakableburr.livejournal.com]

I've not interest in seeing this but the Hubby wants to give it a try so I've dvr'd it, we'll see.

[strangevisitor7.livejournal.com]

I recommend jumping to the BBC version. Just rewatched the brit pilot and it really is worlds better.

[unbreakableburr.livejournal.com]

Oh I've seen the original, I've got all of them downloaded to my hardrive, but the Hubby wants to give it a try because he like Harvey Keitel and Michael Imperoli so...
I'm not a fan of either of them so I could care less.

[strangevisitor7.livejournal.com]

Harvey Kietel was the reason i even watched but he's no Gene Hunt. He usually does such good job but he's about 10 years too old for the role.

[unbreakableburr.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I don't know why the switched out from the original American cast actually, seems a huge waste of money and time.

[strangevisitor7.livejournal.com]

Actually after seeing Colm Meany I thought he was better casting but both of the US choices are smaller men than US Sam and to me that messes up the dynamic

[unbreakableburr.livejournal.com]

I've watched Colm Meany for years, and he would've been perfect, he's so awesome in The Commitments and on Star Trek: TNG and Star Trek: DS9, a missed opportunity for sure.