Entertaining from beginning to end, it maintains the spirit of the franchise while establishing it's own seal with a fun cast

a film so unique, intoxicating and bizarre that it not only demands another viewing, but is also forgivable as a satirical comedy where the jokes eventually take the back seat.

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

It's simply great fun, a winsome film and an occasionally over-the-top luxury fantasy that never flags.

This is sooooo bad seriously the Americans should seriously stick to theirs own shows as they really foul up on remaking British shows, this along with The Inbetweeners and shameless prove they can not pull it off, please stick to your own shows of which you are good at such as walking dead and breaking bad.

If you have seen the original Life on Mars, then you will understand why I am writing this review. The other night I caught an episode of this American life on mars, which at first I thought was supposed to be a joke. But to my horror and bewilderment it was for real. I actually felt my brain was being assaulted!! Harvey Kietel who I rate as a good actor was just cringe worthy in his attempt as Gene Hunt, who if you have seen the real Gene Hunt played by Philip Glenister then you know exactly where i'm coming from. And as for the American Sam Tyler, he can't act for toffee!!!. He like a reject from a bad soap opera. He's a type of "actor" you just want to slap!!This type of program doesn't not translate well from an English script, and yet these American writers think they can do it as well. You can't!!! Life on Mars (original) lasted two series which were 8 episodes each. Those 16 episodes where magic, but unfortunately American TV doesn't understand or even comprehend that sometimes less is more. The only thing I can say in a positive way about this program is that ABC have seen sense in cancelling this insult to TV, and thank goodness there won't be a sequel of Ashes to Ashes.For all those that have never sen the original, I strongly recommend you buy the English version of Life on Mars and Ashes to Ashes, and then you will see how you have wasted your time even watching the American version.Please note that I love American TV, but In reading these other positive reviews, I felt it was only right to give you a wake up call, and suggest that the American Life on Mars should dropped into room 101 and never to see the light of day again!!!

It's an old-fashioned TV show, namely something so missed in these days, with a police officer chasing the criminals, solving the crimes, passing more time in the street than his office, yet all of that mixed with the irony of someone from the 2000s living the 1970s, or in another word; a time travel matter.The way how the lead did travel was hasty and forced. The writers tried to philosophize it, but with results, I think, assure the pure desire of doing something just new. (John Simm) as the lead is blank. More than once I asked for what he was chosen, else being tall and blond, to find no answer. While (Harvey Keitel) handles a real enjoyable character enjoyably, he looks so old to be a police officer, being 69-year-old in real life, and 77-year-old on screen ! The direction isn't that distinguished; ahh, imagine this work as a Blaxploitation's big homage. WAW. That could have been more attractive and 70s I can tell you that !Still, my heaviest problem with this show is its YELLOW color. OK, I'll try to be as quiet as I can be. So…WHY THE HECK IS THAT??!! Is it a way that saves time and money that may be spent for giving the sets, the clothes,…etc. any harmony? So is it a way to shoot faster while no effort would be done for directing the image colorfully? Whatever the reason is, it is a way to damage my nerves!Maybe someday I would make a list of the yellow TV shows; where all the images of all the scenes during all the episodes have JUST ONE COLOR. (Relic Hunter – 1999) comes to my mind powerfully, with its repulsive, unjustified and forever reddish yellow. At any cost, it's certainly a move that only happened during the end of the 1990s and the whole 2000s; the age of (CSI : Crime Scene Investigation) along with its many brothers and sisters of other Crimes; The age of how to annoy the viewer!Anyway, it's ugly to unbearable extent despite any stupid allegation that it's done for artistic purpose or special atmosphere. Well, yellow can't be the color of the 1970s. I'm damn sure that nearly 90 % of the world is with me on that. The 1970s rather defines gaudiness, as the era of ALL the colors ! The writing is better than the rest, all the rest. It brought back the old days, of the 1970s in America and the 1980s in The TV of America, altogether. Its directing just missed the artistic qualities of both. For me, it deserved more than 17 episodes, if only was cured of the yellow fever it had !

Our hero is thrust back in time by unknown means from 2008 to 1973 he is mysteriously holding a cops ID and is expected at the station house as a new transfer into H Keitels "team" of detectives. Its all confusing to him but he pulls himself together and for some reason goes to work every day as a new york detective working cases and living adventures with his new partners. We get to experience the culture shock first hand. There is also a dark unknown force always teasing Sam as to why he is there and that Sam is following someones unknown plan....There are funny moments which are played out quite well almost looking like they are happening for real. Its a credit to the cast that they can pull it off considering the script quality.more light hearted than the UK version and not quite so edgy. Even so in its own right its a decent show. the characters are intriguing and make you want to know more. As normal with yank shows there is always some big moral backdrop to the story which a lot of UK fans will find cheesy but the Americans love that stuff.....each episode has its own story though they are all linked, I think the show could do with a bigger arc for us to get our teeth into spread out over several episodes or a season, though I would say it does look like its heading that way.excellent cast. Though Harvey Keitel and Gretchen Mol both outshine Jason O'Mara the lead. He doesn't seem very realistic as a character and I wish he would take more advantage of the fact that he's from the future to make him more believable. in summary thumbs up, good entertainment.