Vic and Barbies preformances were flawless and spectacular. Other than the 1 Litre of Tears drama, I've never seen such amazing acting.
The director had a habit of not playing music at times which just added to the creepy atmosphere. I thought it worked well with the scenes. When there was music, such as the theme song, they were all well chosen.
This is one drama you won't regret watching.
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First thing first, Mars isn't a fluffy feel good drama, it handles serious issues like rape and suicide.
If you do decide to watch it, it has an amazing storyline, the good girl and bad boy meet and fall in love, but there are many more layers to their characters than one would expect.
The best thing js that both characters show growth, it isn't just the guy or the girl changing, they both grow together.
The performances of Vic Zhou and Barbie Hsu are so good that at times I had to remind myself that they were just acting... also there chemistry is just out of this world good!
The music is good, and the fact that there are instances where it isn't used adds to the scenes.
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This review may contain spoilers
STORY------ 10/10 I find this story very interesting, I like the fact that the writer actually adapted most of the scenes from the original Japanese manga (MARS by Furumi Soryo, 1996, if you haven't read it yet I recommend that too you'll be amazed at the resemblance) back to the story line one of the scenes that I was pointing it were the opening where Qi Lo and Ling met and a lot more I won't be a spoiler. It's unpredictable in some way, I kind of didn't know how the story will unfold and what is background of each character until it was revealed in the series itself. The topics touched in this series is a very complicated mix, highly dramatic from family problems to even as grave as rape and suicide. Although it still had some of the usual cliches, I'm giving it a 10.
ACTING/CAST ------10/10
This is a turnaround from how I first saw Barbie and Vic (Meteor Garden) she still had the same hair though, I like the timid side of Barbie and the more arrogant yet lost soul Vic was in this drama. I think he also gained weight here, which is better. The other supporting roles were great.
MUSIC -----10/10
I love the soundtrack,very well placed songs, if it's a cute lovey dovey scene you'll feel the lightness of the scene from the song. If it's those scary psycho turnarounds, It's scary alright. Just listen to it and the intro Very STRONG SONG.
REWATCH VALUE ------ 10/10
I'm giving this a high rewatch value, you just get pulled by the drama. The love for the characters and that Ducati man it's just nice to watch over again, even the struggles that they have it gets you back to see it again.
OVERALL ------ 10/10
Overall it's a 10! although it's a bit old considering it was aired 2004, it's still a great all in all. Something highly recommended.
I hope this is helpful enough for you guys :)
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I don't know how ne1 could not enjoy watching this drama, but I am sure that if u don't like to look at the tragic side of life & the struggle to live through it, then u will not like this drama. My wisdom of the day is: U r only a victim if u act like 1.
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I finally decided to write this review when I remembered a little while ago how much this drama helped me when I didn't even see a future for myself. Mars goes over dark subjects of mental illness, rape, and absolute tragedy, but what it is about altogether..is overcoming that tragedy.
One quote to sum the drama up is from the drama Bloody Monday 2:
“No one was supposed to open Pandora’s Box.
So much catastrophe came out of the box.
But what do you think was left inside?
Hope.”
- J
Normally I am not a fan of Taiwanese dramas because to be honest they aren't always as good as Korean or Japanese dramas. This has to be the best Taiwanese drama out there!! The way it was filmed was perfect and the actors chosen for the leads were sooo wonderful. I was able to relate to the female lead so much that I cried when she cried and was scared or unsure when she was.
This drama is so different than most because it is so inspirational.
Following our dreams and overcoming our tragedies with our foever soul-mate.
The music in this drama was wonderful and I listen to the soundtrack on my iPod all the time. It can get repetitive but it's so wonderful I could care less.
I haven watched this drama about 4-5 times through already and after I'm finished this review I'm going for a 6th. Mars is so realistic but it has some typical high-school cliches at the same time. It is a lot deeper than shy girl meets popular playboy because the chemistry and the obstacles are absolutely real. The chemistry even goes off-screen as the main actors did have quite a long relationship after the drama. I recommend this drama to a mature audience and I'm not talking about age 18+, they just need to be mature. This is a nicely paced but drama that goes over adult topics so if you aren't mature enough or even mentally stable enough I don't recommend watching this.
Although I watched this at a very dark time in my life it did help me, but there were a lot of topics that came up that felt like my soul was being torn apart. I'm so grateful to have watched this because it helped me become stronger. If you choose to watch Mars I surely hope you enjoy it because this is an example of how T.v shows should be.
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This drama has everything you would expect from and Asian drama AND more. It's all i thought about for days, I literally dreamt of the characters when i slept.
The story, although it is appears to be a stereotypical 'good girl meets bad boy' theme, is actually far more deeper then that. The girl wasn't always so reserved, and the boy wasn't always such a womanizer. It really touches upon the consuming physiological problems that tragedy can create. Its normal to see the male lead 'change' throughout the drama and become a better person while falling in love with the female lead, but it is extremely rare to see both characters changing so much; together.
The acting was amazing. That's to be expected with Barbie and Vic. I laughed and i cried with these characters. I felt their heartbreak as much as my own.
Its the rare kind of drama that gets better with each passing episode, and at the end you just wish you could watch it all over again with new eyes.
I would recommend this to anyone.
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This review may contain spoilers
I just finished this emotional T-drama about two young people shaped by tragedy and whether it was possible for them to overcome their tragic pasts. Story:
In this story two kids faced whatever life threw at them and most of the time it was boulders-mental illness, sexual assault, physical assault, PTSD, suicide, parental neglect, and evil outside forces. Somehow these two broken people found in each other the love and support they needed.
Both the ML and FL had to face their own individual traumas by peeling back the layers of lies and pain to heal and grow. And they had to do this while dealing with ongoing stressors and danger.
They fought for the right to walk hand-in-hand through the healing to the fulfillment of their dreams and no one was going to make it easy on them. Danger and disaster waited around every corner. Internal and external conflicts filled nearly the entire 21 episodes with little breathing room. It was a hard drama to let go of for something like sleep. It wasn’t a perfect story but it was compelling.
If you are triggered by any of the traumas listed above I would recommend not watching MARS. I don’t know that I would label this a dark drama but it does deal with very dark issues.
Acting:
I almost didn’t watch MARS because of Vic Chou. I’d only seen him in The Flame’s Daughter and was completely underwhelmed. I liked him in this drama. Maybe it was because he was rocking the David Cassidy/Uncle Jessie hairdo, but more likely it was the relaxed, natural performance he gave.
Barbie Hsu had the more difficult job of portraying a young woman in so much pain she walked and sat in self-protective postures. As the character grew and healed she portrayed believable fear and outrage. She did an amazing job.
OST:
I enjoyed it, didn’t love it.
On a somewhat related note-the production values were surprisingly high. Too often T-dramas look and sound like someone filmed them on a cell phone. I was pleasantly surprised, especially for an older drama.
Rewatch value:
I will likely go back to MARS for another visit.
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Can't say all of the above is true for MARS, though. While it did have a tinge of low budget TV, this is a show with a pretty solid plot & overarching storyline, even if it's a bit heavy-handed in parts. There's quite a bit of angst & melodrama, but luckily it's fairly evened out with lighter moments and a very sweet, passionate romance, so the overall mood of the show remains … less dark. I didn't feel forced to internalize too much of the drama and trauma the characters experienced. While I empathized with their struggles I escaped an onslaught of negative emotions for which I’m grateful.
I enjoyed Qui Lo's story arc a bit more than Ling's. Only because her experiences felt more relatable, like something that could happen to me or someone close to me whilst Ling's family issues were a bit more far removed from my own scope of understanding & experience.
When we first meet Qui Lo, I didn't really care for her. Her demeanour, her way of dress, her body language all screamed GRAY MOUSE. The type of heroine I can watch, probably even like, but who leaves no lasting impression on me whatsoever. Blink and she's gone from your memory like a fleeting dream. Turns out, though, that I misjudged her slightly. Yes, she's your typical Asian drama heroine: sweet, nurturing, a little submissive, but as the show progressed she also blossomed into a stronger, more confident version of herself. I grew to love her quite a bit. I also loved our hero, Ling (and his mullet), ever the debonair lady's man, but a character with so much depth and layers to his personality.
VERY satisfying to watch how their love for each other healed and transformed these people for the better. The way Ling pulled Qui Lo out of her shell with affection, humour and his natural charm; the way Qui Lo worked on Ling as if he were an onion, peeling away every last layer of false bravado and bullshit until she found the real Ling, the young man with the heart of gold. The young man with so much love to give.
The development of their love story is a testament to why I love the romance genre so much. Done well, the perennial effects of this wild, beautiful emotion is a powerful balm to the soul. The reason for being. These two by themselves exuded only half their true potential. But together, they became a powerful whole. Stronger as a unit and stronger individually. Isn’t that the greatest benefit of the best kind of love?
The actors delivered according to their age. Perhaps not as nuanced, not as grounded as a performance that comes with life experience, but they played well off each other. I can’t complain, the chemistry was off the charts. There was a natural flow between them, no awkwardness, no sense really they were acting. I BELIEVED they were indeed girlfriend/boyfriend & their reactions to their individual circumstances rang true for me.
Best of all, I’ve noticed that the Taiwanese are not as conservative as the Koreans and Japanese! The physical interaction between Qui Lo & Ling was perhaps the best I’ve seen so far in dramaland. There's a natural progression to their (physical) relationship. No cringe-worthy kissing, no wide-eyed, disengaged female, no glossing over of the characters’ sexuality! Man, nothing I dislike more than when any and all mention of sex, and the fact that the characters may want to engage in it, is the most scandalous thing ever! I'm not asking for PornHub type action here (for all you prudes who are scandalized by anything more than hand holding). All I want is something natural and convincing, esp when our leads are supposed to be two people who are madly in love with each other.
In general, I really liked the show, esp the characters and the development of the romance. The music wasn't bad either. I tend to be more aware of the OST when the lyrics are translated as they were here. It elicited all the right emotions, esp when connected to certain scenes.
What I didn't like, and what influenced my 8 rating, is that I felt, plot wise, my level of engagement had a huge yo-yo effect. There were times when I was fully engaged because something - ANYTHING - other than two people talking in a room, happened. Other times - MOST times - the show was bogged down by too much nostalgic exposition. That is to say, characters explaining why things happened in the past over and over again. ‘Show, don’t tell’ is a basic rule of thumb in all forms of creative writing. The over abundance of expository dialogue signaled the pen of an unskilled or inexperienced screenwriter, and only served to bore me more times than not.
Another thing that rubbed me the wrong way was how women tend to be portrayed, but this is an overall complaint against Taiwanese dramas (that I’ve seen) and not solely about MARS. Catty to an extreme and willing to go to blows with other females (usually our heroine) who - by no effort of her own - has won over the affection of the hero they like. Whilst the guys, in a similar situation, deal with it in a cooler, more rational & sensible fashion. I don’t like it.
In Korean and Japanese dramas that I’ve seen the cattiness is less amplified & less mean-spirited, imo. It’s a minor thing, in the grand scheme of things, but one which never fails to niggle at the back of my mind. When all’s said and done, though, I wouldn't watch & enjoy Asian dramas as much as I do if I were a raging feminist so it’s all good!
You’ll enjoy MARS if you like romance dramas that try to be more than just mindless fluff. I am not sure to what extent certain parts of the plot worked for me, but in terms of the romance - if this is a genre you like - it will not disappoint.
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Story: This is the drama i keep coming back to. Having watched it around 4 years back, I can still connect with the story and its emotions every damn time. This is not your typical melodrama or a tragic love story. It is much more dark and deep for every character's perspective. Very rarely do i get to see a drama where every story angle is fully nourished bu the author. I also happened to read the manga few months back and realized they have kept the core feeling alive with this adaptations. Be a little patient as it is an old drama but watch it and you won't regret to your life.
Acting/Cast: What a bang on casting it would have been at that time when the makers roled in Vic Zou and Barbie Hsu! Fresh out of Meteore Garden fandon, they both nailed it in as Ahn Qi Lu and Chen Ling. Viz was marvelous in his character but it was Barbie that stole the show for me. Every time she is haunted by her past and her suffering as a victim is portrayed with a top notch acting. I also happened to love every other character and actor of this drama. Even Tong Dao nailed it in his performance.
Music: I am a kind of a person who doesn't really remember much about the music but OST's of this drama was great. It has such a happy yet melancholic feel to it.
Re-watch: I am writing this review right after watching the whole drama for the third time in 4 years. I just felt that everybody should know about this gem.
Overall: WATCH IT. Don't miss the chance to experience this beautiful love story. You won't regret it. I can guarantee on that :)
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On top of it, the mains actors were attractive and let say it, good looking ;)
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Mars isn't made to impress the audience with the sparkle of a big production, instead It is made to move people. It's low budget, old and simple. Which is what makes it all the more impactful. It shines light on the ugly side of humankind. There are many things that people try to hide under rugs and make vanish out of sight but Mars drags them all out and exposes them for all to see. It highlights the crazy in everyone. But most importantly, it's an empowering story of finding the light, acceptance and hope. It assures that even if your beginning is tragic, your ending doesn't have to be. Mars doesn't romanticize mental illness and abuse, rather it delivers an honest portrayal of these issues and offers no excuses. At surface it seems like just another cliche good girl/bad boy story but when you dig a little you discover that there are layers upon layers of meaningful themes disguised under.
Chen Ling was a beautiful man. And I'm not talking about his gorgeous hair, heavenly dimples and angelic face, rather, I'm talking about his beautiful personality. He was such a tortured soul who was so broken and so lost and yet, when he loved he loved deeply. He was loyal, kind, affectionate and brave. There were so many shades and so much color to his character. He laughed so freely; with a childlike glee and always joked around, painting a picture of how he was just a reckless slacker. But at the same time, when he was serious, his cruel eyes and ruthless expression sent chills up my arms. His tears were always so touching and when he was heart broken it showed on his face. His "bitch please" face made me laugh countless of times. And there was that bitter chuckle when he realized that the world had gone and fucked him over once again.
There was much darkness in him, yet, he managed to radiate innocence. He was so charismatic and magnetic that you couldn't help but be drawn to him. Nowadays, bad boys are extremely over-hyped in stories, there is usually more talk than walk about how the protagonist is so badass, but Chen Ling was the real deal. He was bad to the bone with a side of crazy. He could be scary, beyond morals and a little heartless but beneath it all, there was a heart made of platinum that was purely good. I think Vic Chou did the acting of the century in this drama. He mastered every emotion and displayed it perfectly. Which is why, I find it so absurd that his role in Mars isn't as well-known as it should've been.
Then comes Qui-Lou. Anybody who knows me, knows that I can't tolerate bumbling and weak heroines which is why in the beginning Qui-Lou's easy tears and meek voice really grated on my nerves. However, as the drama progressed I started to see her for who she really was; a sophisticated, mature and intelligent woman. She had gone through so much and yet, she found the courage to face it. She had so much empathy and she was tough in her own way. A lot of people were saying that her transition from a quiet presence to a talkative person was very brutal, but I couldn't disagree more, for she retained her shyness till the end and there weren't any drastic changes at all, instead, you gradually saw her become more brave and able to voice her opinion. It was an amazing message on how you can make new beautiful memories to drown the horrible ones and anyone who thinks otherwise, needs to frankly eat shit.
At the start, I thought Barbie wasn't really acting at all because I barely saw her expression change except for the redundant quivering of lips when Qui-Lou was seen breaking down for the millionth of time but after a while, I saw the subtle changes in her demeanor and realized what a phenomenal actor Barbie really was. She was completely in sync with the character and she changed and became stronger as Qui-Lou's wounds healed. It showed that she really did give it all for this role. There were so many powerful scenes that made your heart hurt and a lesser actress would have failed to deliver the emotion.
The relationship dynamic between the two protagonists was outstanding. Going into the series I was a little miffed by what seemed like insta-love on their part but I was proved wrong as I watched more and more. They were two complex people who were attracted towards each other for their own different reasons, they evolved together and licked at each others wounds. They were willing to sacrifice so much for the other and their love was completely unconditional. Even though together they were fearless, what I found so refreshing was that their world didn't revolve solely around each other. They were independent people with their own individual standing who grew stronger in each other's company.
What I also loved about this drama was that besides the main characters, the supporting roles were great too. I know that the actress who plays Qing-Mei is very successful but unfortunately for some reason before this, she always rubbed me the wrong way, due to which I had dropped a lot of dramas she had starred in, however I thought she played her part excellently here. She's so savage, yet sweet and warm. Da-ye is also a complete cutie and I felt happy whenever he came onscreen.
Other characters left noticeable impressions on me too. Tong Dao was fascinating. Qui-Lou's mother was an unredeemable bitch and the stepfather was too pathetic to put in words.
I loved how the characters always spoke in such light and sombre tones which made the gravity of the serial more prominent. And the music was added on the perfect moments to make everything more influential. The OST ( Ling-Zero) is one of the best soundtracks ever made. It's hauntingly deep and even though I didn't understand a single lyric, the tune and the singer's melancholic voice made me feel serene.
Mars deals with serious issues like rape, suicide and mental health and it gives a raw exposure to all that isn't pretty. It isn't a drama that's going to make you cry or heave with emotion but it's definitely something that will move you to a certain extent. Despite the horrible quality and the less than mediocre direction, you'd still be compelled to watch episode after episode.
I am not gonna say that this is something you can watch again and again because its beauty is in watching it only once and enjoying it to the max but I will say, that it is one of those horribly under-rated dramas that are a must if you want to truly experience the whole Asian Drama scene.
P.S: People who've read the manga say that they didn't like the show or that they decided not to watch it in the first place. However, maybe it is just one of those "you like whatever you watch first" sort of situations but I started reading the manga alongside the show, and believe you me, it's absolute trash. Kira and Rei are wholly one-dimensional characters and the parts that were so heart-touching in the drama came out extremely bland in the manga. So, don't feel wary of the drama, if you didn't like the manga. 'Cause I can vow it's better and more well-developed.
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