| Author | Message | ||
     Griff (Griff) Username: Griff Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 195.93.21.100 |
Oh dear. Prior to the show, there was an advert on ITV for the soundtrack to the series. It had the actor who plays Gene Hunt demanding we buy it. It sounded lame and detracted from the show somehow. Remember the advert on BBC for LIFE ON MARS where Camberwick Green stylee puppets show Gene Hunt beating up a nonce with Sam sadly shaking his head. It served to underline the difference in quality between the shows. At times quality did show through but for most of the time it was poor fare. Having a close up of the clown in colour where we could see gaps in his makeup was a mistake. It would have been better in black and white. This was compounded by having him speak, his silence was far more scary. It's what you don't know that causes you fear. At times it seemed like they were playing for comedy. When they were in the restaurant immediatly prior to the shooting it was almost embarrassing, it was a smug luvvy fest. One of the good parts however was the reconstruction of the robbery at the start - hilarious! | ||
| Griff (Griff) Username: Griff Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 195.93.21.100 |
Commas. | ||
| Mark_lynch (Mark_lynch) Username: Mark_lynch Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 212.74.96.200 |
I'm afraid I've drifted away from ASHES. I wanted it to be as tight and gripping as LIFE ON MARS. It isn't. I missed last week's altogether, not caring. Went to David Stuart Davies's book launch in Huddersfield instead. There were chocolate biscuits there. | ||
| Griff (Griff) Username: Griff Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 195.93.21.100 |
 That's the spirit! | ||
| Mark_lynch (Mark_lynch) Username: Mark_lynch Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 80.225.193.71 |
Oh yeah, there were spirits too. But I was driving . . . | ||
| Griff (Griff) Username: Griff Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 195.93.21.100 |
Kaboom-tish! (Rim shot) | ||
| Mick (Mick) Username: Mick Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 86.154.242.140 |
My pvr thingy has recorded the seven episodes that've been broadcast so far - we watched the first one tonight. Shall I just bin them or does it get a whole lot (or even at all) better? That first episode was shite. | ||
| Mark_lynch (Mark_lynch) Username: Mark_lynch Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 212.74.96.200 |
I quite enjoyed them, Mick; but that's me. There's some fun stuff along the way. But were it not a Brit SF show, and linked with WHO, I wouldn't be watching . . . What's the deal with Cap'n Jack's hair as well, by the way? It gets increasingly plastic-looking throughout the series. | ||
| Mark_lynch (Mark_lynch) Username: Mark_lynch Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 212.74.96.200 |
Oops. Wrong series, wrong thread. Sorry. | ||
| Gcw (Gcw) Username: Gcw Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 87.242.143.140 |
Mick, Ashes To Ashes just doesn't get a whole lot better I'm afraid...A couple of episodes are better, but overall it lacks the emotional depth & impact of Life On Mars. Then again...the 80's setting is supposed to be trashy & Dempsey & Makepiece like... But even taking that into account, the scripts & one-liners haven't cut it, and the lead characters have simply been difficult to like. There have been so many wasted opportunities...Gene Hunt in the 80's - a fish out of water, his 'method' of policing increasingling marginalised. But this has barely been touched upon until episode 7, and then they blew it by (SLIGHT SPOILER!)... (letting Shazza live). So, a shame really, I think it will go to a second series & maybe it will find its feet...There's been a lot of press about Keeley Hawes not being able to act..dunno if I agree with that, but either herself or the director & writers made a fatal flaw in making her so unlikeable...And to compound the problem making her mother as equally unlikeable. I don't write telly, me, but surely it doesn't take a genius to figure out if your lead characters are all annoying you may not be eliciting too much sympathy for their plight. Hey ho. gcw | ||
| Griff (Griff) Username: Griff Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 195.93.21.100 |
Are there different writers, directors and producers for this series? | ||
| Gcw (Gcw) Username: Gcw Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 87.242.143.140 |
Don't think so Griffy...I think they just didn't get it right somehow. gcw | ||
| Griff (Griff) Username: Griff Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 195.93.21.100 |
What are you up to in that there Norfolk, GCW? I'm intrigued. | ||
| Gcw (Gcw) Username: Gcw Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 87.242.144.237 |
Up to Griff? gcw  | ||
| John_l_probert (John_l_probert) Username: John_l_probert Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 90.209.204.66 |
This whole series has been a disappointment - it is to Life On Mars what those very cheap Italian rip-offs of Mad Max were to their inspiration in the early 80s - but nowhere near as fun. There are very few likeable characters, the emotional aspect of each episode feels forced and sadly a lot of its failure comes down to the fact that I really couldn't care less what happens to Keeley Hawes' character. In fact the only good bits are when she and her utterly irritating arc plotline are nowhere to be seen. Very sad, & I can't see the last episode saving everything unless Ms Hawes gets to 'go home' in the first few seconds leaving Gene & the gang to have a proper episode to themselves. Dear God maybe that's why Torchwood doesn't seem so bad these days | ||
| Mick (Mick) Username: Mick Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 85.158.137.195 |
Sounds like I should give up at episode one then. | ||
| Weber_gregston (Weber_gregston) Username: Weber_gregston Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 83.98.9.4 |
What's with that Mad Max thingy? Did death Race 2000 never happen? | ||
| Zed (Gary_mc) Username: Gary_mc Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 81.96.240.83 |
It happens every day on my streets... | ||
| Griff (Griff) Username: Griff Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 195.93.21.100 |
You make it sound like you live in a post-industrial wasteland! | ||
| Zed (Gary_mc) Username: Gary_mc Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 81.96.240.83 |
I am the Toecutter! | ||
| Griff (Griff) Username: Griff Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 195.93.21.100 |
FEAR.OF.GOD. You are Mark Brandon Read aka CHOPPER! | ||
| Zed (Gary_mc) Username: Gary_mc Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 81.96.240.83 |
Nah, I'm just one of those non-speaking extras from Mad Max 2, with a pink Mohawk and a large motorcycle. My weapon of choice is a homemade chinese throwing star, crafted from the lids of tuna cans.  | ||
| Griff (Griff) Username: Griff Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 195.93.21.100 |
Live in Castelford, eh? | ||
| Zed (Gary_mc) Username: Gary_mc Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 81.96.240.83 |
Leeds. shudder But I'm originally from Sunderland. double shudder | ||
| Allybird (Allybird) Username: Allybird Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 79.70.100.228 |
I watched the last episode - and I still liked it, no matter what all said. | ||
| Mark West (Mark_west) Username: Mark_west Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 217.39.177.173 |
I enjoyed the last episode and the revelations it contained (Gene and the girl, him saying to her younger-self "if you ever need anything, just come to the Gene Genie") - it was a very different beast to LoM but I thought it worked very well. | ||
| Zed (Gary_mc) Username: Gary_mc Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 213.219.8.243 |
Hi, Mark - nice to see you round these parts. | ||
| Mark West (Mark_west) Username: Mark_west Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 217.39.177.173 |
Thanks, Gary, good to be here. I've been following the board for a while, but I like this layout better and decided to dive in! | ||
| Zed (Gary_mc) Username: Gary_mc Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 81.96.240.83 |
Aha! Another vote for the new layout... you'll do for me, sonny.  | ||
| Allybird (Allybird) Username: Allybird Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 79.70.62.32 |
Great to have you here Mark. Hope to catch up with you at some event or other this year. | ||
| John_l_probert (John_l_probert) Username: John_l_probert Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 90.203.130.11 |
I still think Ashes to Ashes was horribly weak compared to its predecessor. The 'poignant' scenes between Keeley Hawes & Amelia Bullmore had none of the emotional impact they should have, and the use of the Bowie song felt awfully forced. My wife had already worked out the ending. I didn't care. | ||
| Mick Curtis (Mick) Username: Mick Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 86.157.94.235 |
I've still only watched the first two episodes; I'm going to give up and delete the rest. | ||
| Albie (Albie) Username: Albie Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 195.195.236.131 |
I hope I die too. | ||
| Zed (Gary_mc) Username: Gary_mc Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 81.96.240.83 |
But your memory will live on, in the form of avant garde dance. | ||
| Albie (Albie) Username: Albie Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 195.195.244.67 |
That's all I ask: that when you see taut buttocks spinning through the air...you'll also see me. |