MARS (2004)

I was looking for a good Taiwanese drama to watch and decided to watch this since the reviews for it were good and the summary sounded pretty interesting...

Story- It is very dark. Many things bad things happen to the couple in which they must over come it to reach thier happy ending. I loved the romance in this. Although the obstacles they had to face were a bit too many in my opnion. It got tiring after a while. I would have also enjoyed it more if the episodes were cut short by just a little. Loved the complete ending.

Acting/Cast- The actors did a very good job of playing thier characters. Although, I have seen better acting. The leads had an amazing chemistry that made me want to keep watching to see how thier relationship develops. Amazing character development for Vic Zhou's character. He changed from this womanizer who is able to love wholeheartedly his opposite and his love for her is so lovely to see.

Music- Very good OST but I didnt have an interest of listening to it outside of the show.

Rewatch- This was just too tiring at times so while I would like to see this again it would be a while.

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DÊ UMA CHANCE PARA AS HISTÓRIAS ANTIGAS

Se você é como eu, que não quer assisti um dorama, por achar ele muito antigo, ou porque não vai encontrar com uma qualidade 4K, por favor, MUDE AGORA seu pensamento!

Esse dorama é uma preciosidade, e quero entender, porque não vi ninguém falando dela. Por causa dela, inclusive quero assistir BOF da versão TW, que são com os mesmos atores.
Os atores, todos eles, fizeram seu papel de forma impecável, eu me vi dentro da história, de tal forma que não consigo explicar nesse momento. O fato de os protagonistas terem um passado triste e encontrarem a felicidade juntos, não foi maçante, embora já seja uma história batida. Todos os acontecimentos , ficaram muito bem amarrados entre si.

OST incrível. A música de abertura não sai da minha cabeça kkkkkkk

Já estou pensando em quando irei rever.

A historia me lembra um pouco um filme espanhol, que também é muito bom.

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STORY:

An old but FANTASTIC drama. Based on a Japanese manga, Mars is honestly one of the best dramas ever adapted in that it's ridiculously different from the others of its time. It was not cutesy and adorable like many other "idol" dramas of its time, but deep and emotional, with each character having their own set of difficulties that they had to overcome. It was dark and angsty and one that you'll never forget, but it still had those heartwarming moments between the characters where you saw love, friendship, and so on overcoming the darkness in their lives. Well paced from the get go, answering the questions you have and also showing a steady and realistic portrayal of relationships between the characters.

ACTING:

Barbie and Vic were amazing, of course. From their first drama together, Meteor Garden, you could already feel the crazy sparks between the two. Come time for Mars, their chemistry was ridiculously real and you could see how well they worked together. They were so capable of bringing together two polar opposite characters and let the audience see why they ended up falling for one another. While you could tell from the beginning they would end up together, you still had that sense that they truly trusted and cared for each other before the romance began.

REWATCH:

I've definitely seen it at least 3-4 times now, but just now writing a review since I just rewatched it for the first time in a while. Still tugs at the heart strings in all the right ways.

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When I had found out that there was a drama created from the MARS manga I read back in middle school, I instantly put it on the top of my list. It was perfectly timing really - I was thinking how much I wanted to reread MARS with a completely different perspective as I had first read it back in middle school around 2006. I remembered that it had some dark elements which is something I enjoyed a lot, and I was curious to see if I would love the story and characters around 13 years later.

This drama was super nostalgic for me. I didn't realize it had came out in 2004 and the filming reminded me of an old telenovella I used to watch with my grandma growing up. Almost like it was shot like a reality television show. I honestly remembered bits and pieces of the story line - I remembered that they both had their own tragedies, but I only remembered Qi Luo's (Kira) and not Ling's (Rei). But as I was watching, the story-line came back to me as I was yelling at the tv for the characters to watch out. I am glad that I decided to go with the Taiwanese drama route, and might watch the Japanese one in the future as it is much shorter than this one.

I loved this drama cause it was super nostalgic as I believe it followed the manga well, but also believe that it added it's own flare. I literally spent a whole day binge watching this because even though I remember how it ended and how certain situations were going to play out, I enjoyed the ride. I thought Qi Luo's transformation was a little quick and that I felt sorry for her because she was the only one who was supporting Ling during all his tragedy, but I enjoyed the romance between the two. I don't remember much from the manga, so I am not sure how it was written, but I did feel like in the beginning, their relationship was a little toxic when she was helping him with his first few tragedies. It was sweet that she wanted to support him fully and completely, but it took him until her tragedy for him to realize that there are other people in this world that are suffering, and like him, she had no one to help her through it. But also, unlike him, even though she had her family around who should have helped her, they were the people causing the pain. Both different tragedies - him dealing with internal struggle that he himself created, while her pain was created by people who are supposed to be taking care of her.

The theme and their love blossomed from supporting each other through their struggles. How if they didn't meet or have one another, would would have lost to their tragedies. It was really heartwarming to see them at the end as completely different people. Qi Luo being the introvert who hated/was afraid of everyone who transformed into a loving and supportive girlfriend, friend, and daughter and Ling being a trouble-making playboy to a protective and selfless boyfriend, friend, and son.

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Rewatching For a 100th Time!

This drama is old . But it is GOLD!
Of course the graphic quality, the clothes etc may seem dated but it is a jewel.
It touches to your heart in a very exquisite way.. You feel the pain of the actors. And you encourage them, you want them to heal out from their past experiences.
Sometimes a drama can teach you a lot . This is one of them..

Story:
The story is very unique. It may sound a little cliche with traumatic past experiences but it is unique . It touches mental ilnesses and how we treat them. One or two elements were a little bit too overly dramatic but the story and how it unfolds was really good. Romance wise it is was also fantastic.. Both the lead couple and also side couple were very good..

Acting:
Amazing! you can feel all the emotions. Barbie has done a fantastic job. I sometimes watch it just for her.
Vic Zhou is really charismatic and delivers the profile reaallly good.
Other characters also had good acting skills.

OST:
I listen the opening song still after 14 years!

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MASTERPIECE ( ｡◕‿◕｡ ) Must-see among Taiwanese Dramas !

Excellent drama (voire génial) avec bcp mélo & great actors. Le ton est plutôt gris/noir car il traite non seulement de romance (healing romance) , mais surtout de suicide, harcèlement scolaire et sexuel, inceste, traumas et de troubles mentaux (hôpital psy).

STORY :
Bien écrite mais très mélo, avec des personnages complexes (vu leur vécu) mais leurs comportements ne sont pas tjs cohérents.
- Ce que je déteste dans certains dramas (et ICI aussi), les lovers ou futur lovers, sont traités comme des objets. "you are mine" et "si tu ne la chéris pas, je la reprends" GRRRRRR !
- l'ex, responsable du trauma, qui revient en "propriétaire"sans que le ML ne dise rien.
- compétiteurs en moto GP qui ne s'entrainent pas, passent leurs nuits à boire, etc. C'est un VRAI sport !!

Qq bémols malgré tout :
- les acteurs sont trop âgés pour interpréter des lycéens.
- les coiffures, les vêtements sont très datés.
- C'est un vieux drama dont la qualité de images passe sur Youtube, mais le son est très mauvais :(

Découverte de l'énorme talent de Vic Zhou ❤❤❤❤❤❤ dont je suis devenue une die-hard fan !!

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Deux êtres cassés que tout sépare s'aident à revivre.

Eh bien il est mon N°1 depuis que je regarde des dramas !  

Mars, c’est l’histoire de la rencontre de deux personnes qui en ont vu de dures, qui ont été profondément blessées, mais qui, grâce au sentiment puissant qui naît entre eux, vont réussir à sortir de la hantise de leur passé, non à l’oublier, mais à continuer et et avancer.

Mars, c’est l’illustration du triomphe de la jeunesse, une jeunesse blessée, bafouée, sur une réalité sordide, sur un monde où les certitudes s’effondrent, par la force d’un amour profond et pur et par les amitiés que ces deux êtres perdus suscitent autour d’eux.
La force de cette histoire c'est sa clarté simple, jamais ils ne doutent de leurs sentiments, l'amour est une évidence acceptée, pour eux deux puis peu à peu pour ceux qui les entourent, leur professeur, leurs amis, leurs parents... Ils se parlent sans détour, sans faux semblants, sans non-dits pourrissant la situation.
Le point culminant du drama, pour moi, est le moment où Ling comprend quel est le secret terrible de Qi Luo (que nous savons depuis le début) et sa détresse muette est profondément bouleversante. Le long chemin du retour vers la lumière se fera pourtant.
Chen Ling, c’est Zhou Yu Min(dit aussi Vic) Il a quasiment l’âge du rôle, il crève l’écran par son rire éclatant, sa détresse et son angoisse profondes, il est lumineux et parfois tragique, la couleur rouge l'accompagne, sur lui où dans son environnement elle est présente tout au long de l'histoire. Pour moi, c’est son meilleur rôle !
Vu dans Meteor garden 1 et 2, Silence, sweet relationship, Wish to see you again, Black & White…
Han Qi luo, c’est Barbie Zhu, qui incarne parfaitement cette jeune fille brisée qui reprend peu à peu le goût de vivre, dont on voit revenir peu à peu le rire et la lumière.
Vue dans Meteor garden 1 et 2
An Jun Can c'est  Tong Dao, le Mal incarné. Certains ont dit qu’il était inutile et n’apportait que plus de noirceur à une histoire somme toute assez sombre, mais non, car il est la matérialisation symbolique de l’ombre que Ling porte en lui, d’un passé douloureux, d'un présent difficile, de la folie qui rôde. Il est l'Ombre que suscite toujours la Lumière, qu'il faut combattre, et vaincre.
On dit que les deux acteurs principaux sortaient ensemble et je pense que cela a sûrement aidé à créer cet accord harmonieux entre eux. Toute la distribution est excellente et le ton général du drama n'est jamais sinistre, ni lugubre, il y a de l'émotion, de l'angoisse, mais aussi du rire, de la joie communicative, la jeunesse, quoi !
C’est un drama taïwanais de 2004, les moyens sont modestes, le son pas terrible, l’image un peu grenue, mais il y a une vraie recherche de profondeur dans les dialogues, ancrés dans la réalité, un travail étudié dans les prises de vue récurrentes de vertigineux escaliers ou d’immeuble à la hauteur angoissante suggérant les descentes aux enfers… ou la mort, … ou l’ascension vers la lumière.
Un mot sur l’adaptation : le drama est l’adaptation d’un manga japonais, et il reproduit l’original aux détails vestimentaire du héros près ! Cependant, tout en respectant la grâce et la délicatesse du manga l’adaptation taïwanaise a su lui donner chair en n’édulcorant ni les dialogues ni les situations.
Pour moi, chaque nouvelle vision est une nouvelle découverte de ce drama !
Bon le défaut, (il faut bien en trouver un) c'est comme toujours dans les dramas taiwanais une musique quelconque (sauf la chanson d'ouverture) et envahissante, répétée jusqu'à satiété avec en plus les paroles en chinois et en français par dessus !!! Et encore on a de la chance qu'il n'y ait pas de bandeau d'idéogramme défilant sur le côté de l'image comme dans je ne sais plus quel drama ! mais on est tellement pris par l'histoire, par l'empathie envers les personnages, qu'on oublie ce défaut !

Quant à la fin, eh bien, je l'aime, parce que c'est la Lumière qui l'emporte sur l'Ombre, et que, ma foi, ils l'ont bien mérité !    

En faisant cette présentation, j'ai découvert que l'acteur qui incarne Tang Dao est mort à 31 ans d'un cancer du foie. J'en étais très triste, il était si jeune, beau et plein de talent !

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MARS sets the bar for what a good drama is

WOW! I think MARS really sets the bar of what is considered a good drama. I'm not entirely sure what I was expecting from MARS before going into it but I must say that it has blown me away. I was surprised at how amazing this drama was, especially being from 2004. I think I generally have a little bit if bias towards any drama in generally made before 2010, especially ones from Taiwan because they generally don't match up to the overall quality of Chinese or Korean dramas. I think what really sets this drama apart from so many others is that is isn't cheesy, its not too far-fetched, it feels very real and I think it speaks to the human experience.
MARS is a poignant love story about two college kids who try to move pasts their own past sufferings and trauma together. It tackles subjects like mental illness, suicide, and rape. I have never seen or heard of another drama that portrays those dark subjects in such a skillful and respectfully done way. I love that there are some minor love triangles going on they are NEVER the main focus of the overarching story-line, nor are they as malicious as other dramas. Also, in many dramas, I feel there is never any character growth, but wow I think every single character has some sort of major character development/ growth.
I think as well, that the actors did such an amazing job. Never did I feel like I was watching someone acting, it all felt real, I also attribute this to the pacing of the story. Hsu Barbie, Chou Vic especially did amazing jobs portraying such deep and complex characters.
Overall, I think this drama has and will continue to age well. The topics in this MARS will always be relevant and relatable to everyone in one way or another. I think there is a little bit of something for everyone to be able to relate to in this drama.

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Don't skip this drama

There's not much that hasn't been said in the other reviews that I can say.

This drama is worth watching. I'm glad I didn't skip it because it's from 2004. Writing this review in 2020 I'm so used to new dramas, HD, amazing visuals and audio quality and this drama is old. The quality is not the best, the sound is sometimes lost to background noise, but the story is incredible.

The growth of the 2 characters as they face their separate traumas together is a universal story of love. I found myself unable to stop watching episode after episode, needing to know what was going to happen next.

Please don't miss it.

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