Copper gone back in time (Life On Mars: Complete BBC Series 1 (DVD))

Member Name: english_student

Product:	Life On Mars: Complete BBC Series 1 (DVD)
Date:	29/01/09 (60 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Everything

Disadvantages: Nothing

This is an outstanding show in which a modern city copper gets hit by a car and suddenly finds himself in the 1970s, and it is quite literally as if he has landed on Mars. He is still a copper, but in a completely different world, in which modern rules of political correctness and policing just don't apply and the cops have a far more common sense blast the door down approach to their work. Sam Tyler's 21st century approach to policing constantly puts him in conflict with his boss Gene and the rest of the team.

There is the constant question of what is going on in Sam's world, has he actually gone back in time? Is he insane? Is he really in a coma in his own world? There are several rather freaky phone calls from the modern world about Sam being in a coma, and many of his actions in the past are affected by these phone calls from the future, you also have an even more freaky TV program and a girl with a doll who seem to be blatently evil. These voices discuss his medical condition, changes in medication, and even in one episode him being told that his life machine will be switched off at 2pm. This occurs shortly before he is called to a hostage taking situation in which the hostage taker is threatening to shoot someone at exactly 2pm, and Sam decides that this is his chance to change what will happen in his real world.

His relationship with Annie Cartwright is also an interesting theme in the storyline because she is one of the only female coppers in that station, and is treated as a second class citizen. There is a definite love interest, compounded by the fact that she is desperate to prove to him that this really is 1973.

The film is thrilling, exciting, moving and very amusing at times, you will not be able to take your eyes off the screen at any given moment as the acting is superb and you really get sucked into the drama of the moment. This is by far one of my favourite TV programs and is a fantastic watch.

Summary: Old style policing is so much more amusing.