Anyone watching the TV series- Life On Mars?

[NJmaverick]

I just started watching it and I am catching up through the ABC website and bit torrent. Being a fan of the high tech crime shows of today, the idea of modern cop working on a 1973 police force is just too cool. Plus there is the nostolgia value of seeing things, like cigarette vending machines every where. Then there is looking at how much better our social values have become, compared to back then. Finally you see how society's views have changed toward drinking and smoking. Not really into the sci-fi aspect, but the rest of the show is pretty addictive (and it doesn't hurt that I am a Harvey Kital fan).

[no name no slogan]

1. It's okay. It's based on a far superior British version

I'd recommend watching that one as well.

[NJmaverick]

4. thanks, I'll try to find those episodes

[DS1]

2. Try the original version

The US version is barely decent, and incredibly watered down regarding the psyche aspects

[NJmaverick]

3. Thanks, I will see if I can find it

[DS1]

5. dl the first three eps and see what you think

http://www.mininova.org/tor/1910532

[NJmaverick]

13. I just watched the first episode of the British origninal

I think they did a better job with the sci-fi stuff. I do think that the US version had one advantage though. It appears to be a much bigger culture gap in the 73 US. So that alian culture thing works even better with the US version.
I also didn't realize just how closely the US version is to the British version. It's really weird to watch nearly the exact same story with many of the exact same scenes and dialogs (with only slight changes) using different actors and a different Country.

[DS1]

15. Well for the first part, you're an American, so the time difference will have a lesser effect

Do you think the Gene Hunt in the Brit version works better? Keitel to me just seems to old, whereas the Gene Hunt in the Brit version has some real menacing about him.

Anyway, I suggested you watch the first 3 episodes for a reason. Really, give it a try. You won't be familiar with 1973 England, but the story is much better in this version.

[NJmaverick]

22. I would afree that Gene Hunt is more realistic as his boss

although there is a charisma/screen presense that makes me enjoy the Keitel version (even if it's not realisti). I am going to watch more of the British version when I get some time (interesting that their episodes are an hour long, while US versions are only 42 minutes).

[elocs]

6. I am watching it and it is interesting, but I like The Mentalist and Lie to Me better. n/t

[Kajsa]

7. I like it!

The cast is very good( especially Keitel)and I too love the scenery
and the music.

Each connection with his past which is the future, shows he has
work to do in his current setting.

[tanngrisnir3]

8. "Spaceman" Sam is one of the more sympathetic characters on TV nowadays.

[NJmaverick]

14. I would agree with that

Very likeable and noble fellow

[bikebloke]

9. I'd like to see the British version

But the DVD hasn't come over here yet. I don't care to watch on my computer (plus hard drive space is running low) Do they play a lot of period music? That could lock up the DVd is music rights hell.

[Bill219]

10. if you have a good newsreader

you can find the entire UK series on usenet

that's how i got mine and I concur that the UK version is much better than the US version

[yellowdogintexas]

11. I hunted on Netflix for it so I could put it in my queue. No luck. nt

[Lydia Leftcoast]

20. If you have a region-free player, it's available from Amazon.UK for a reasonable price

Otherwise, it has not been released for Region 1 (the U.S. and Canada).

[DS1]

17. see post 5 for a torrent link for both seasons

a good torrent downloader like utorrent will allow you to only download the episodes that you want instead of allocating all 5 or 6 gigs

[AlCzervik]

12. Ashes to Ashes starts on March 7th on BBC America.

http://www.bbcamerica.com/content/350/index.jsp

the American version of Life on mars is okay, not great and i don't really like the actor who plays Sam.

[DS1]

16. and Keital can't hold a candle to Glenister's Hunt

wait, what?

[Kat45]

18. I'M LOVING IT!

It's my favorite show currently. Interesting stories, excellent acting, and they capture 1973 very well. That's the year I graduated from high school so the year carries a special nostalgia for me. It's great hearing songs from back then. I also love stories involving time travel and similar things that play with time.

I get sick of everyone chiming in with "the British show is better," which happens whenever there's a show here that came from a British show. Maybe it is, maybe it isn't; I don't know because I'd never seen it. I also won't be able to see that new British show derived from "Life on Mars" because it will be on BBC America, which I do not get because it's on a much more expensive cable package. THe OP asked specifically about "Life on Mars" and I for one was curious to see if anyone else was watching it and what they think of this particular show, not this show related to the much superior British version. Even if it isn't as good as the original, judge it for what it is: a show on network TV in the US. On that basis, it's about as good as it gets. IMHO, "Life on Mars" is an excellent show.

[DS1]

26. Tough. The Brit version is better, just like most television that gets brought over

and watered down and quite frankly, shat upon.

[NJmaverick]

28. funny, that could also apply to beer

[DS1]

29. Indeed, it's frozen over here because it tastes like shit

[Swede]

19. My brother ruined the show for me,he was talking about Ashes to Ashes.

Life on Mars' sequel and he told me a spoiler from it. Damn.

[NJmaverick]

23. Sorry to hear that, and thanks for the heads up

about not watching Ashes to Ashes

[Swede]

27. It's a SPOILER of all spoilers too.

He assummed I had watched the BBC series,but I had not.

[ReliantJ]

21. I loved the first episode I saw

But i keep on missing it

[NJmaverick]

24. The more recent episodes can be seen on ABC.com

I had to use bit torrant to download the older episodes.

[ReliantJ]

25. Thanks and nice avatar