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Life On Mars - BBC1 cop series
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Just been on BBC1. Not bad at all. Bit of a strange concept, but seems to have been written and produced well.
Were the 70s that bad though?
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Watched Life on Mars. With a few little criticisms, generally excellently well observed. This is not written or directed by a hack. Especially liked the sequence just after he was transported back in time; standing dazed in the rubble, framed by the rotting hulk of a factory, as the camera panned around him with the same tune echoing over both times, very well done and evocative. The characters were well observed and the changes in social mores interesting. He does slightly overstate the seventies aspect, times haven't changed that much, or have they?
In many ways it shows that not only is the past a different country, but the recent past is the fading echos of a world we know and knew, the familiar and unfamiliar juxtaposed, both seen through the shimmering lense of time's drifting frets. As one thinks one recognises a familiar way of speech, a snatched fragrance or familiar fashion, the mist is swept away and we see the recent past for the empty shore of memory it is.
It's plot and premise was complex enough to make a one off two hour drama. Given the rich vein to be mined, it's somehow just right that the seventies are observed from the new century, the difference is just long enough.
A couple of years ago I was labouring in the yard of a building merchants, I was about 40, with a young guy, about 18. He asked me, "what was it like growing up in the seventies then".
I said, "much the same as growing up any other time, except you had to dress like a prat."
The wheel is just.
In many ways it shows that not only is the past a different country, but the recent past is the fading echos of a world we know and knew, the familiar and unfamiliar juxtaposed, both seen through the shimmering lense of time's drifting frets. As one thinks one recognises a familiar way of speech, a snatched fragrance or familiar fashion, the mist is swept away and we see the recent past for the empty shore of memory it is.
It's plot and premise was complex enough to make a one off two hour drama. Given the rich vein to be mined, it's somehow just right that the seventies are observed from the new century, the difference is just long enough.
A couple of years ago I was labouring in the yard of a building merchants, I was about 40, with a young guy, about 18. He asked me, "what was it like growing up in the seventies then".
I said, "much the same as growing up any other time, except you had to dress like a prat."
The wheel is just.
The above was my reaction to the first episode of Life On Mars. Which I still stand by. All the episodes up to and including the last have been intriguing, witty and thought provoking.
It's ironic that given the chance to end the series at it's zenith, and leave it to be remembered as a good, well thought out drama, the writers have chosen to carry on to a second series, possibly a third, etc etc, and milk this cash cow for all it's worth. It's a decision that is like the seventies itself, the fading echoes of hippy values and long hair and flares hiding the tarnished wreckage of sixties idealism.
I don't blame the writers, the unexpected success means they have the chance to make more money than they may ever earn again, this may be the last series they ever produce that is this popular.
On a technical level the ending, to a otherwise strongly written episode, had the feeling of being tacked on, changed, or pre-written just in case.
So, no Fawlty Towers then, just another series destined to become a sad parody of its former strength. "Mash, Only Fools and Horses, Last of the Summer Wine" et al. Gene Hunt's world weary cynicism would be shocked by the eighties world that the series will become, milking nostalgia for all it's worth. Sam Tyler would understand it only too well.
Guess we're all ****** when you get down to it, Gene would have understood that.
The wheel is indeed just.
Ian
It's ironic that given the chance to end the series at it's zenith, and leave it to be remembered as a good, well thought out drama, the writers have chosen to carry on to a second series, possibly a third, etc etc, and milk this cash cow for all it's worth. It's a decision that is like the seventies itself, the fading echoes of hippy values and long hair and flares hiding the tarnished wreckage of sixties idealism.
I don't blame the writers, the unexpected success means they have the chance to make more money than they may ever earn again, this may be the last series they ever produce that is this popular.
On a technical level the ending, to a otherwise strongly written episode, had the feeling of being tacked on, changed, or pre-written just in case.
So, no Fawlty Towers then, just another series destined to become a sad parody of its former strength. "Mash, Only Fools and Horses, Last of the Summer Wine" et al. Gene Hunt's world weary cynicism would be shocked by the eighties world that the series will become, milking nostalgia for all it's worth. Sam Tyler would understand it only too well.
Guess we're all ****** when you get down to it, Gene would have understood that.
The wheel is indeed just.
Ian
Just noticed that in my post the word "*** ***" has been commented out. Pathetic. Perhaps whoever it is who's wasting his life writing this website or blog or whatever it is should put up a sign for "kiddies only", then I wouldn't waste my time under the assumption I was dealing with a adult. On the other-hand, a child wouldn't censor would they? It takes a lack of perspective to do that, don't you think?
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