Product Description

This Boxset contains Series 1 & 2 of Life On Mars, the smash-hit cop show starring John Simm as a detective who is involved in a car accident and wakes to find himself transported back to 1973 a world dominated by Ford Cortina's, sheep-skin jackets and very hard coppers.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #172 in DVD
• Released on: 2007-09-10
• Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
• Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
• Formats: Box set, PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 8
• Running time: 942 minutes

Synopsis
Sam Tyler, a detective from the 21st Century finds himself catapulted back to 1973, after a car accident knocks him unconscious. In his new state of altered reality, Sam must prove himself to 'new boss', the hot-headed DCI Gene Hunt, all the while unsure whether he is awake or dreaming. LIFE ON MARS is a throwback to the crime-fighting style of the 1970s, drawing its inspiration from such TV series as THE SWEENEY and THE PROFESSIONALS. As was characteristic of classic 60s fantasy, the creators have taken some risks with the show's politically incorrect references, daring to be slightly subversive. While its creators are quick to brush off comparisons to fellow time-travelling TV series QUANTUM LEAP, there are obvious thematic similarities, however unconscious. John Simm (HUMAN TRAFFIC) ably stars as Sam Tyler, the fish-out-of-water detective who must piece together the mysteries of his own situation, while solving the crime du jour. The show takes its title from David Bowie's haunting theme song. Contains both the first and second series.

About the Actor
John Simm was born on 10th July 1970 in Leeds, West Yorkshire and grew up in Nelson, Lancashire. He attended Edge End High School, Nelson, Lancs followed by Blackpool Drama College at 16 and the Drama Centre, London at 18. He lives with his long term partner, actress, Kate Magowan and his son Ryan (born 13th August 2001). Simm won the best actor award at the Valencia Film Festival for his film debut in Boston Kickout (1996).

Customer Reviews

Best of British television series
Old fashioned police drama series with more twists than a 60's nightclub. DCI Tyler (John Simm)is the clever rather politically correct 2006 copper seemingly transported back to 1973 to Manchester and Salford CID after a car accident or is it just a coma induced dream? DCI Gene Hunt (Philip Glenister)is the refreshingly UN-PC 1970's CID boss who has every "ism" you could wish or fear for. The resulting clash of policing styles of the two men is the main ingredient in this superb piece of retro British television. If you missed it first or second time around, you owe it to yourself to find out what all the fuss was about.

life on mars :D
i did actually come into watching life on mars quite late...what a mistake. easily one of the best shows ever put on our television. i thought john simm was a good actor (ok id only seen him as the master in doctor who but that was enough) but after watching this im certain he is one of the best actors around at the moment...he makes this show and im not sure it would have been as good if another actor were tohave played Sam Tyler.
i love the whole mystery surrounding how he got into 1973 and believe it to be incredable well written.
the second series is a lot darker than the first but just a good because of the difference...in the 2nd series we see sam struggling to come to terms with the person he has become.
the ending left me crying but extremly happy because Sam is a character who i deeply began to care about...partly because of the writing but mostly because of simms fantastic acting skills.
a must for anyone who has yet to see it 10/10

Wonderful television without decending into soupy nostalgia
What a programme! Without doubt one of the best shows to grace our screens in a long while, and unusually, fairly original. No spoilers from me (although you'll probably know the outcome), this serial is to my mind, quite unique that it is set in the past (1973) and at no point decentds into a nostalia trip. Quite the opposite, it highlights how we have progressed on many social issues. The stories are all, without fail, excellent, not one single duffer. And the series wraps itself up before it starts repeating and going over old ground.

John Simms is, as always, excellent in the lead role, and particular praise to Phil Gennister who has, in the role of Gene Hunt, being given continuously frankly superb dialogue and made it even better by his acting skills.

This is a series to cherish and revisit on a regular basis. Comparisons have been made to The Sweeney, but that is quite a myopic point of view; this is so much more, and will have you guessing how it concludes. Indeed, it's conclusion is an interesting talking point, one to discuss with those in the know for years to come. 10/10!