In association with

Ashes to Ashes: Complete BBC Series 1 [2008]
from Contender Entertainment Group
starring Philip Glenister, Keeley Hawes, Dean Andrews, Marshall Lancaster, Montserrat Lombard

Features:

• Closed-captioned
• PAL
• Surround Sound
• Widescreen

Editorial 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

Swapping the Ford Cortina for an Audi Quattro, DCI Gene Hunt rolls up his sleeves and embraces the Eighties in the sequel to Life On Mars. DCI Gene Hunt (Philip Glenister) is back but he's no longer the self-styled 'Sheriff of Manchester'. Flanked by his faithful sidekicks, Ray Carling (Dean Andrews) and Chris Skelton (Marshall Lancaster), and drawn to the action and intrigue of the London Met, Gene turns his attentions to taking on the 'southern nancy' criminal scum. However, Gene does not expect to be thrown together with sexy, intelligent, DCI Alex Drake (Keeley Hawes). Single mother to daughter Molly, Alex has rapidly risen through the ranks of the Met and skilfully uses psychological profiling to capture suspects. When Alex and her daughter are kidnapped she makes a daring attempt at escape, resulting in a horrific accident. Alex suddenly finds herself in 1981 interacting with familiar characters, not just from her own life-time, but also from the detailed reports logged by none other than Sam Tyler, which Alex has previously spent months pouring over. Alex is ripped from her current world of sexual equality and respect in 2008 and finds herself opposite an arrogant fellow DCI in a Two Tone, New Romantic Eighties London with a soundtrack of Adam Ant, Roxy Music and The Human League ringing in her ears. DVD extras include: Car explosion featurette; Set tour featurette; Life After Mars - behind the scenes of Ashes to Ashes, Audio Commentary on Episodes 1 &2.

ASHES TO ASHES follows on from the hugely successful BBC series LIFE ON MARS, and sees the return of the self styled 'Sheriff of Manchester' DCI Gene Hunt (Philip Glenister). Whereas LIFE ON MARS was a throwback to the crime-fighting style of the 1970's with a style and wit reminiscent of THE SWEENEY and THE PROFESSIONALS, ASHES TO ASHES takes you back to 'the decade that taste forgot', the 1980's. The series revels in 80s nostalgia, providing plenty of sight jokes and of course, a brand new car for Hunt.
DCI Hunt has left the relative comfort of the Greater Manchester Police to take on the 'southern nancys' of London, where he once again acquires a time-travelling sidekick, this time in the sexy and smart DCI Alex Drake (Keeley Hawes). Alex's journey began back in 2008 when she was shot during a botched kidnapping of her daughter Molly. Her psychology background and indepth knowledge of the Sam Tyler case lead her to dismiss her predicament as a vivid hallucination. Nevertheless, with crime rife on the streets of 1980's London, and a police team that's not very receptive to modern career women, Alex has a lot to prove before she can figure out how to get home.

Customer Reviews:

• Avg. Customer Rating: 4.0 / 5.0

• Life on Venus?
  Quite simply, if you liked Life on Mars, there is no reason you should not like this. Yes, there are quibbles, and Sam Tyler is sorely missed - but the writers have managed something quite rare, in managing to keep life in the premise, keeping what worked, and yet injecting something new.
  So what's new? This time, a woman - DI Drake - is the main character, as she was Sam's psychologist and therefore knows this world completely. When something happens to her, she finds herself immersed in it, with the... more info

• Grows on you
  When I first saw the first episode of Ashes, I thought 'this is like a take-off of Life On Mars. I hated Alex with a passion, and thought they'd completly ruined the legacy of Mars.
  However, throughout the series it did grow on me, and when I bought the DVD, I quickly started to love it. Alex went from annoying and snobbish in my mind, to funny and engaging, and I geuinly love her, now.
  The addition of Shaz to the team makes everything that little bit better - she's a real gem. Now, watching... more info

• Addictive and sexy
  Life on mars was fantastic already. I did not get hooked by the first Ashes to Ashes episode but kept watching and got to really love it. Maybe it is because I can relate more to the 80s than the 70s, everytime music starts in ashes to ashes I was going like Uuh I remember that, the same with the fashion and details. The series is perfectly produced and the actors are great. I like how Chris and Ray have developed. And, quite frankly, Gene Hunt becomes one of the most sexiest characters on TV ..... Fire up... more info

• Should probably never been made....
  I loved Life on Mars! Its one of the best tv programmes of recent years.
  And Im not sure making a spin-off from it was the best way to go.
  I liked that the end of LOM left you in a bit of confusment,what was a dream? What wasn't? However when you see this, what really was a dream is pretty clear (unless series 2 suprise the hell out of me)and I didnt want to know what!
  Ashes to Ashes isnt bad. I still love to watch DI Hunt (Philip Glenister is a brilliant actor) and some stories were great... more info

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