This was close enough to Frontier Earth that if you squint your eyes a bit you can see some of what that series might have looked like on screen. It does have action, and lots of it. Nice locations, aliens that look very much like I envisioned the alien Kra'agh's to be. But beyond the view, the similarity stops. And the plot doesn't fail, it's just missing, along with story and character development. So which would you rather see? this movie, or a more menacing; alien guy with amnesia in wild west with no wrist brace, but with a non-functioning AI unit in his chest. Evil aliens who feed on people and fear who can look completely human thanks to holographics. Alien girl searching country side for her lost partner, and cowboys and indians having separate encounters with the various aliens running around the old west. It would certainly be quieter and you wouldn't have Harrison Ford looking up at a sky filled with alien ships! Take your pick.
Reviews
3 Reviews
Life on Mars
(2008–2009)
A fair showing
10 October 2008
I am giving this a seven based on the plot material alone. This was a fair rendering of the original British pilot script with a few nods to NY society added in.
I think Jason O'Mara is wonderful, however I am worried about Harvey Keitel and Gretchen Mol being the right actors for their parts. Gene in this version is missing his snap, crackle,& pop! He is supposed to be unpredictable, and a slightly dangerous man who will do anything if he deems it necessary: he is supposed to be physically threatening and slightly out of control! Harvey on the other hand is OK, but his voice is Richard Harris' Dumbledore and I can't imagine him running down a bad guy and shoving his face into the ground. Maybe they should have kept Colm Meany, I don't know. This really concerns me because Gene Hunt is basically the second star of the show, he also carries most of the humor, but I didn't feel that he was very funny this time around.
Annie: First of all I am mad that they made her a blond. After that, Annie is supposed to be smart but subdued, a necessary evil of her times when women were supposed to stay in the background. There was supposed to be a reluctant chemistry between her and Sam, but I didn't feel that, I just saw her being resentful of her position in life, and mothering to Sam. There was a realness to Liz White's Annie; a fierceness combined with a certain innocence and deep caring. However Gretchen's performance felt forced and rushed, as though the actor hadn't really understood who Annie was supposed to be.
I thought Michael Imperioli was a good Ray. Ray is the ultimate dumb cop who makes fun of anything he doesn't understand. I love the hair too!
Jonathan Murphy was a passable Chris, who is supposed to be the bumbling new guy on the block, still impressionable and learning the ropes. He's the one who is the most interested in Sam's processes. Gene just wants whatever works, and Ray thinks he's crazy.
Finally Jason O'Mara as Sam Tyler. I think he pulled it off for me because he seems to have gone to the Mel Gibson school of acting. (Mel does a good job of suffering on screen!) That said, I think he was the one actor who made the part his own without trying to be exactly like John Simm. I would definitely watch just for him, and to see what they do with the story arch.
I also wonder if they are going to redo several or all of the scripts from the British version. Next week's episode also looks like a remake. I hope they do take it in a different direction though. All in all, I will continue watching it out of curiosity, to see if it will get better with time, we all remember favorite shows that got off to a rocky start.
If this crumbles, I highly recommend the British version, all two seasons for some of the best cop/drama/sci-fi/comedy mix you'll see this for awhile. Highly recommended
I think Jason O'Mara is wonderful, however I am worried about Harvey Keitel and Gretchen Mol being the right actors for their parts. Gene in this version is missing his snap, crackle,& pop! He is supposed to be unpredictable, and a slightly dangerous man who will do anything if he deems it necessary: he is supposed to be physically threatening and slightly out of control! Harvey on the other hand is OK, but his voice is Richard Harris' Dumbledore and I can't imagine him running down a bad guy and shoving his face into the ground. Maybe they should have kept Colm Meany, I don't know. This really concerns me because Gene Hunt is basically the second star of the show, he also carries most of the humor, but I didn't feel that he was very funny this time around.
Annie: First of all I am mad that they made her a blond. After that, Annie is supposed to be smart but subdued, a necessary evil of her times when women were supposed to stay in the background. There was supposed to be a reluctant chemistry between her and Sam, but I didn't feel that, I just saw her being resentful of her position in life, and mothering to Sam. There was a realness to Liz White's Annie; a fierceness combined with a certain innocence and deep caring. However Gretchen's performance felt forced and rushed, as though the actor hadn't really understood who Annie was supposed to be.
I thought Michael Imperioli was a good Ray. Ray is the ultimate dumb cop who makes fun of anything he doesn't understand. I love the hair too!
Jonathan Murphy was a passable Chris, who is supposed to be the bumbling new guy on the block, still impressionable and learning the ropes. He's the one who is the most interested in Sam's processes. Gene just wants whatever works, and Ray thinks he's crazy.
Finally Jason O'Mara as Sam Tyler. I think he pulled it off for me because he seems to have gone to the Mel Gibson school of acting. (Mel does a good job of suffering on screen!) That said, I think he was the one actor who made the part his own without trying to be exactly like John Simm. I would definitely watch just for him, and to see what they do with the story arch.
I also wonder if they are going to redo several or all of the scripts from the British version. Next week's episode also looks like a remake. I hope they do take it in a different direction though. All in all, I will continue watching it out of curiosity, to see if it will get better with time, we all remember favorite shows that got off to a rocky start.
If this crumbles, I highly recommend the British version, all two seasons for some of the best cop/drama/sci-fi/comedy mix you'll see this for awhile. Highly recommended
Merlin of the Crystal Cave
(1991– )
A faithful rendering of Mary Stewart's Merlin Trilogy
20 February 2006
A faithful rendering of Mary Stewart's first volume of her trilogy of Merlin's life and his part in king Arthur's reign. I had been wondering if any of these books had been put to film, sadly only this one work exists. It is a good introduction to Mary Stewart's Merlin; an honest man who is sometimes baffled by his own power and horrified by the consequences of man's misuse of that power. The scenery is beautiful: George Winter and Trevor Peacock do a wonderful job of portraying Merlin and Ralf, his lifelong servant and friend. For those who are not used to BBC low budget, there are some technical problems that would never be allowed in an American production. Cheifly, the soft focus in the beginning that is supposed to let us know that these are future events, and the badly done voice-over of one of the child actors who obviously had the wrong octave to match the adult George Winter's voice. If you have ever wondered about Merlin's childhood and point of view, this is the movie for you. Ms Stewart is faithful to legend, and you can find her major plot points in any historic report of king Arthur's story. If you want to see what happens after the end of the movie, pick up the next book in the series, "The Hollow Hills". Also if you have missed ever seeing Excalibur, that movie also takes up nicely where this one leaves off. Enjoy!
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