MovieChat Forums > Life on Mars (2008) Discussion > US Version is 'probably' better

US Version is 'probably' better

posted 15 years ago by fallom14
94 replies | jump to latest

I have always felt that the original UK version of “Life on Mars” was uninspiring. Don’t get me wrong, they had a superb idea, but due to the meagre funding British television dramas receive, they could not fully exploit the concept. In contrast, budgets for American dramas are comparatively high, and I tend to think that the concept of “Life on Mars” needs a large budget for it to be entirely convincing. I think the limitations of the UK version were that three sets were used to depict the 1970s. There are only so many times you can show the same sets until it starts to become tedious. Also, the culture of Britain in the 1970s was rather dull and lacklustre. I do have some fond memories of 70s UK detective dramas, but I don’t want it regurgitated. I haven’t seen the US version, but can imagine that, culturally, 70s US is, by far, a more interesting period to reference. There is so much to draw upon. Compare The Sweeney to Starsky and Hutch? Which is more culturally significant?

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[–] cactusx 12 years ago

No. No, you're wrong.

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You're about as on the ball today as a dead seal

[–] fallom14 12 years ago

Who or what is wrong and why?

[–] cactusx 12 years ago

You. That it's uninspiring, and that the relative disparity of budgets makes the US version better. I've seen both versions. As for the three sets, that's neither here or there because the show took advantage of the fact that certain areas in several northern towns, such as Burnley, haven't advanced past the 1970s in terms of architecture. So, our version didn't need dozens of artificial sets, it had authenticity to go on.

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You're about as on the ball today as a dead seal

[–] adambrown-497-328050 12 years ago

so your basically saying the US version is better simply because its American

oh and by the way

the budget to the UK version was big and Manchester was depicted perfectly during the 70s. If you actually paid attention, you would see that there are more than three sets in the show. Life on Mars isn't about how well the 70s are depicted as you seem to think it is.

[–] fallom14 12 years ago

Oh, Ok, maybe they used 4 sets.

[–] barkbarkwoof 12 years ago

UK A+

US C-

The main character was played by an Austrailian no not a slight on US actors.

[–] InjunNose 8 years ago

I enjoyed both versions, but having seen the U.S. version first and fallen in love with it, I did find the original a little flat. After some initial discomfiture on Sam's part, the British LoM settled into the standard cop show formula and lost the sense of eerie magic that it should have maintained. The U.S. version clearly learned from this error because, no matter what else Sam was doing, he was consistently haunted by what had happened to him and never ceased to be shaken up by his run-ins with his parents (and himself as a child). The U.S. Sam was working out some very heavy, deep-seated psychological issues and it was such a pleasure to watch; the Brit Sam was just some guy who'd been transported back in time. (I vastly preferred the ending of the original, however.)