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Ashes to Ashes: Complete BBC Series 1 [2008]

RRP: £39.99
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Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review

A triumphant return for DCI Gene Hunt, Ashes To Ashes takes some of the characters from the superb time-shifting police drama Life On Mars, and moves the action to the early 1980s. So it's out with the Cortina, in with the Audi Quattro, and straight down to some terrific television.

Joining DCI Hunt -- again played with terrific force and stature by Philip Glenister -- is Keeley Hawes, as DCI Alex Drake. Like John Simm's character in Life On Mars, DCI Drake suddenly finds herself in 1981, with no clear reason why.

This provides the platform for another terrific show, the first series of which is fully present and correct here. Ashes To Ashes is tonally a little different from Life On Mars, but maintains the wonderful attention to period detail (and a healthy 80s soundtrack to match), and the willingness to mix in some fun alongside the serious business of police work.

Ashes To Ashes is some achievement. It grounds out an identify for itself, stepping out of the shadow of Mars. And the rapport between Hawes and Glenister is a real highlight. But there's so much to enjoy here, backed up by the promise of another series in the offing. For now, though, there's plenty to get your teeth into here, thanks to a quality, very British drama that's simply compelling television. --Jon Foster

"We are coppers, not spies...Look at us Tinker , Tailor, Soldier T**t"
Review date: 2008-05-06 Rating: 8 out of 10

Where Life On Mars garnered an across the board positive critical reception Ashes To Ashes has had a more mixed reception. Obviously the concept is not as fresh this time around and the whole series has a slightly contrived ambience to it. For instance even taking into account it's a series with a fantastical element what are the chances of Gene Hunt (Philip Glennister) ,Chris Skelton (Marshall Lancaster) and Ray Carling (Dean Andrews) all transferring from London to Manchester at the same time? Still willing suspension of disbelief is required with this series so what the hell.

The central concept is that police psychologist Alex Drake(Keeley Hawes) who is tied into the series having worked on Sam Tyler's case is shot in 2008 and wakes up in 1981 to find the same principal characters that invaded Sam,s world existing in hers. The "imaginary constructs" as she calls them must also aid her in that old sci-fi staple of changing the past in order to influence the future. In this case Drake wants to prevent her parents becoming victims of a car bombing -a consequence of their involvement in civil rights campaigning and as defence lawyers.

Mixed up with this is lots of stuff about Drake questioning her parents commitment to her with their busy professional life,s, her relationship with her uncle and her burgeoning fractious relationship with Gene Hunt. Not to mention her motherly feelings for young policewoman Shaz Granger( Montserrat Lombard)who is a kind of surrogate daughter for the one left behind in 2008.Then there is the clown from the Bowie video haunting her dreams and more worryingly her waking moments as well.

The series takes time to get going and too often the writers resort to having Hunt and co run around spouting pithy one liners- though admittedly some of these are very good. DI Drake,s awareness of her predicament also means we miss the air of bewilderment from Sam Tyler that made Life On Mars so enjoyable. The will they ,won,t they thing between Hunt and Drake is wearily predictable but thankfully is not consummated and although the series hints at the socio-political climate of 1981 ( The Blitz club scene , homophobia, the anti-nuclear movement, Princess Di,s wedding ) it too often relies on it's soundtrack to give it a period feel -often using music from the wrong era rather annoyingly. The one time it tackles the times head on is the last episode with Geoffrey Palmer playing Lord Scarman and it,s no coincidence that this is the finest episode of the series , though the electrifyingly tense and emotional conclusion to Drakes obsession with her parents death helps tremendously as well.

Keeley Hawes has come in for some stick for her portrayal of Alex Drake and it is true that she relies on her luscious pout a little too much but I feel she does invest the character with some depth and handles the big scenes well. The rest of the cast are excellent with Amelia Bullmore as Alex's mother especially good and there are some choice lines -usually from Gene Hunt though Ray Carling gets a few as well .

The DVD has audio commentary from Keeley Hawes and the shows producers for episodes one and two(Why not the whole series?), a making of documentary , a set tour and outtake scenes. Compared to Life On Mars Ashes To Ashes suffers , but take it on it,s own merits and it,s an entertaining series that gradually gets better and ends with a genuinely edgy and affecting finale. It will be interesting to see how the writers approach the dilemma of how to get Alex Drake back to 2008 for if she was sent back to 1981 to solve the mystery of her parents death then what is there left for her to do?

Reviews

absolutely brilliant
Review date: 2008-05-06 Rating: 8 out of 10

jean genie is the man for sure.

this is much easier to relate to than life on mars for all those 30 somethings out there, it is scarier more jumpy. but just a tiny bit "this is my fantasy land so I will do what I like"

also only 24.99 in ASDA

You can't beat the Gene Genie
Review date: 2008-04-30 Rating: 6 out of 10

I'll keep this brief....
- Gene Hunt and his crew are charismatic, entertaining characters that continue to be utterly compelling.
- The 70's setting was more amusing than the 80's but the anachronistic stuff is still amusing if sometimes slightly forced.
- Our replacement time traveller is not particularly likeable, convincing or intriguing. Where we might have empathised Sam's plight in the previous series,( i.m.o it's ridiculous not to make the comparison ), the less time this irritating lady is on screen the happier I am!
- Both series have ridiculous and somewhat boring central 'sci fi / fantasy' themes. This one's is lame.
A summary is difficult as it's such a mixed bag. It is disappointing compared to Life On Mars but, as another reviewer pointed out, still a lot better than most of the tripe on TV these days.
I love seeing Gene and co doing there thing BUT let me just say this. When I realised that there would have to be another series to sit through my heart sank. Hmmmm........

Better than most telly
Review date: 2008-04-20 Rating: 6 out of 10

but not a patch on Life on Mars. More importantly though this was not as good as Clocking Off or half a dozen other dramas which have featured Phil Glenister. Sadly I think the problem is the character of Alex Drake. I wonder if a different actress would have been the answer ?

That sound? The Beeb flogging a dead horse.
Review date: 2008-04-19 Rating: 2 out of 10

If ever a show should not have been subjected to a spin-off it was Life on Mars. Thematically original and one of the best BBC shows of the last decade it shone like a jewel and deservedly won critical and public acclaim. That shine is sadly tainted by this appalling derivative mess. Like some bad ITV rip-off it stinks like week-old fish. Even Glenister when interviewed by Jonathan Ross seemed to know it was a stinker, warning audiences not to expect more of the same (I now realise he meant "more of the same quality") as LoM. Almost constantly sountracked by eighties hits, stitching together a weak and unconvincing 1980s setting, this unappealing production is sunk from the get-go by the casting of Keeley Hawes. Acceptable in Spooks, this actress can do cold and distant until the cows come home but not once does she ever get the audience to empathise with her plight. The constant self-awareness ("Morning constructs") grates even by episode 2 and the way her storyline is shoe-horned into every episode regardless just destroys any dramatic tension from whatever else is going on in that episode. I say dramatic tension but really there's hardly any at all as this is "Carry On Life on Mars", played almost entirely for laughs - They've artificially enlarged Hunt's character (pandering to the character's success from the parent programme) and now have him slavering over Hawes' character in a wine-bar! What a betrayal of everything they achieved with Hunt in LoM. One wonders now if John Simm's decision to leave wasn't in some way down to having seen what Kudos has planned for the series. If so his reputation as one of the most astute and respected actors of his generation is only enhanced by his refusal to continue with the show.

Product Details/Specifications

Actor(s):
Montserrat Lombard
Keeley Hawes
Dean Andrews
Philip Glenister
Marshall Lancaster

Recording label: Contender Entertainment Group
Manufacturer: Contender Entertainment Group
EAN: 5030305620561
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 4
Format: Closed-captioned, PAL, Surround Sound, Widescreen,
Release date: 2008-05-05
Audience rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 480 minutes
Theatrical release date: 2008
Language: English (Unknown)

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Ashes to Ashes: Complete BBC Series 1 [2008]

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