Life on Mars -- Series Premiere -- "Out Here in the Fields" -- 10/9/08
10-09-08, 10:43 PM
#27
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This is like the first office thread
People who saw British show - 'meh'
People who never saw the British show - ' I liked it!'
People who saw British show - 'meh'
People who never saw the British show - ' I liked it!'
10-09-08, 10:45 PM
#28
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10-09-08, 11:09 PM
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10-09-08, 11:24 PM
#31
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I haven't seen the original, nor did I bare witness to the original pilot that was supposedly horrid. With that being the case I greatly enjoyed this episode. I like the premise, I thought the acting was minimalist, and that fits with the time period, it looked great from a setting standpoint, and the story played out nicely. Still, over time I can see how the setting and premise can possibly get in the way of good storytelling.
10-09-08, 11:41 PM
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Good use of the WTC in the scene where Sam arrives in 1973. Thought that was well-done without having them dwell over it.
It'll be tough not to compare it to the original, but I'll have to do my best to accept it as its own show going forward. Hope it's worth the time.
10-10-08, 07:41 AM
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As I mentioned above, I'm a big fan of the original BBC version, and I thought tonight's pilot was pretty good actually. Seemed a bit rushed, I guess because they fit a 60-minute show into 42-ish minutes. Hopefully we get more interaction between Sam and Gene in the coming episodes, which was always the best part of the original.
I think that's what drew me to the show in the first place--actual cops doing actual police work. I find pretty much any modern day cop show way too dependent on passing off special effects as "forensics".
Good use of the WTC in the scene where Sam arrives in 1973. Thought that was well-done without having them dwell over it.
It'll be tough not to compare it to the original, but I'll have to do my best to accept it as its own show going forward. Hope it's worth the time.
I think that's what drew me to the show in the first place--actual cops doing actual police work. I find pretty much any modern day cop show way too dependent on passing off special effects as "forensics".
Good use of the WTC in the scene where Sam arrives in 1973. Thought that was well-done without having them dwell over it.
It'll be tough not to compare it to the original, but I'll have to do my best to accept it as its own show going forward. Hope it's worth the time.
I agree completely. The hardest part for me is imagining anybody else, even a Harvey Keitel, as Gene Hunt from the original - probabaly one of the best television characters of the last decade.
They did a nice job recreating 1973 NYC.
I wonder if they will use all the episodes/plots from the original? Obviously, they'll have to come up with many of their own ideas.
10-10-08, 08:32 AM
#36
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I have never seen the original (I know I have the DVD's somewhere...), but this one was pretty awesome. The level of detail is staggering, that is a very nice touch. Harvey Kitel was a great casting choice...and Gretchen Mol was too, but there is something off about her. Either way, i will be watching this week to week.
Last thing, Lisa Bonet is still hot...who knew?
Last thing, Lisa Bonet is still hot...who knew?
10-10-08, 08:47 AM
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If the credits didn't tip me onto the fact that this was from the same creative team as OCTOBER ROAD, the writing sure would have... was not impressed at all and the October Road like dialogue, with made up sayings and too cool for school type bullshit, I found it to be pretty grating. (not to mention the hero reveal style shot of the WTC - too much).
It does have a great cast though, so maybe I'll give it another shot, but I hate the way these fucking guys write dialogue - so unrealistic...and having a shout out to their own canceled TV show (seriously, October Road is one of the shittiest shows in recent memory) with the 'Cataldo' sign was just another annoying/cutesy/bullshit thing that I wasn't digging...
It made me want to shoot the creators...IN THE DICK.
It does have a great cast though, so maybe I'll give it another shot, but I hate the way these fucking guys write dialogue - so unrealistic...and having a shout out to their own canceled TV show (seriously, October Road is one of the shittiest shows in recent memory) with the 'Cataldo' sign was just another annoying/cutesy/bullshit thing that I wasn't digging...
It made me want to shoot the creators...IN THE DICK.
10-10-08, 09:05 AM
#38
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I really enjoyed it. The cast and setup worked for me. I hope they flesh out the other cop characters a bit as it goes along... they all sort of blend together in one big 'hard as nails male chauvinist' blur. If the big two weren't played by recognizable actors I probably wouldn't be able to remember who's who.
Oh, and two Hall & Oates shout-outs in primetime last night? I was starting to think *I* had went back in time!
Oh, and two Hall & Oates shout-outs in primetime last night? I was starting to think *I* had went back in time!
10-10-08, 11:12 AM
#40
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I see the British show is coming out on blu-ray in the UK on October 27. Anyone know if it will be coded only for Region B or if it will be region free?
10-10-08, 11:26 AM
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Yeah I'll have to ask my dad, who in 1973 was living in Hoboken and working... in the World Trade Center.
Based on the preview, it did seem to reuse a few plot pieces from the first series. I'm guessing it'll be much like The Office, where the pilot is almost identical, and then the first season uses similar plots before becoming its own show if it becomes successful.
10-10-08, 12:48 PM
#43
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Thought is was great. I think when he "went back" in time they should've taken away HD and put it back in SD. 
As for the show, it's got quite a bit of potential. Fantastic cast. I had no idea Clarke Peters was in this. Wondering if they'll flash forward at all and use him more.
As for the show, it's got quite a bit of potential. Fantastic cast. I had no idea Clarke Peters was in this. Wondering if they'll flash forward at all and use him more.
10-10-08, 01:05 PM
#44
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Didn't care for it. The direction was amateurish and the acting off. All of the slow-motion was intended to give things a sort of dream-like quality but it just made everything lethargic and slow-moving. Very little of the dialogue rang true. It's too polished looking and it'll get old really fast if they just throw in a bunch of classic rock songs every episode.
And ending with a shot of the WTC...
And ending with a shot of the WTC...
Last edited by MaxMFP; 10-10-08 at 01:09 PM.
10-10-08, 03:39 PM
#45
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Color me surprised! I enjoyed this much more than I thought I would. Having seen the original, my few complaints and/or observations:
- Harvey is no Philip Glenister.
- Ray is less of an ass. Doesn't suit the character.
- Chris is about the same, but perhaps a little more confident.
- Felt a little less gritty, but not in a good way.
- I really enjoyed the chemistry between GM and JoM. I think that is actually more pronounced than in the original. In fact, I always thought it was one of the weaker points of the original.
Lastly, it has been two years, but I could have sworn that there was a scene in the original pilot with him on a roof and the camera swinging around playing the Bowie song again.
.
- Harvey is no Philip Glenister.
- Ray is less of an ass. Doesn't suit the character.
- Chris is about the same, but perhaps a little more confident.
- Felt a little less gritty, but not in a good way.
- I really enjoyed the chemistry between GM and JoM. I think that is actually more pronounced than in the original. In fact, I always thought it was one of the weaker points of the original.
Lastly, it has been two years, but I could have sworn that there was a scene in the original pilot with him on a roof and the camera swinging around playing the Bowie song again.
Spoiler:
Last edited by Superman07; 10-10-08 at 03:41 PM.
10-10-08, 04:54 PM
#47
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Didn't care for it. The direction was amateurish and the acting off. All of the slow-motion was intended to give things a sort of dream-like quality but it just made everything lethargic and slow-moving. Very little of the dialogue rang true. It's too polished looking and it'll get old really fast if they just throw in a bunch of classic rock songs every episode.
And ending with a shot of the WTC...
And ending with a shot of the WTC...
10-10-08, 04:56 PM
#48
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< Never saw the original so I guess this version will be easier for me to like. 
Anyway, I just watched it online and I liked it a lot. Bonet and Mol are both hot...Imperioli looks totally cool in his 70's hair and mustache, and Kietel is a riot.
That said, I'm getting a "Journeyman" vibe here. And by that I mean this is a good show that may not last long due to hard to please viewers like some of the posters in this thread, and "bottom line only" ABC execs.
But let's hope I'm wrong....
Anyway, I just watched it online and I liked it a lot. Bonet and Mol are both hot...Imperioli looks totally cool in his 70's hair and mustache, and Kietel is a riot.
That said, I'm getting a "Journeyman" vibe here. And by that I mean this is a good show that may not last long due to hard to please viewers like some of the posters in this thread, and "bottom line only" ABC execs.
But let's hope I'm wrong....
Last edited by Giantrobo; 10-10-08 at 05:02 PM.
10-10-08, 05:01 PM
#49
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well, it retained 80% of Grey's Anatomy's viewers and was pretty strong, so it'll be around for at least this season. Provided it keeps this timeslot.
10-10-08, 05:32 PM
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I really liked it
1) a sci/fi fantasy show where the sci/fi elements is in the background, not overburdening it
2) a detective drama removed from the 'lets take a dna sample off the mirror that reflected the killers image' convention of todays cop shows
3) a show set in the city and year that I was born!
4) great cast
1) a sci/fi fantasy show where the sci/fi elements is in the background, not overburdening it
2) a detective drama removed from the 'lets take a dna sample off the mirror that reflected the killers image' convention of todays cop shows
3) a show set in the city and year that I was born!
4) great cast