TV

Star man

F4�s Vic disappoints as comic-book hero in new series �Mars�

By Nuttaporn Srisirirungsimakul,  Photograph courtesy of Channel 3

Did You Know : Because of its distance from the sun, a year on Mars lasts 687 Earth days.

Following his success as part of the F4 phenomenon, Vic � or Zai Zai as he�s better known to his fans � is back on our screens, this time in a TV adaptation of the comic book Mars.

Mars tells the story of an aspiring motorcycle racer named Ling (Vic). Charismatic and mysterious, Ling is the sort of mad, bad and dangerous-to-know character that many girls dream about but never get. Attractive as he may be, Ling always manages to resist the charms of the opposite sex � that is until he meets shy artist Chi Lua (Xu Xi Yuan from Meteor Garden).

From the outside, the couple seems worlds apart, and no one expects their relationship to work out. However, despite their differences, Ling and Chi Lua both suffer deep scars from traumatic childhoods and only they can understand each other and help heal the emotional wounds the other has suffered.

RIGHT SHOW, WRONG GUY

Having read this comic before, I was disappointed that Vic landed the role of one of my favourite manga characters. Fans would say that Vic has all the required qualities for such a role, but I would disagree. Sure, he�s handsome, but Vic simply cannot convince us that he�s bad-boy Rei, the original comic-book version of Ling.

Whether Vic is right for the show or not, Mars is still worth watching as it does follow the original gripping storyline. Shone from Comic Boyz shines through as the one actor that really matches the original character. His performance as the crazed Thong Tao is near perfect.

F4 fans won�t want to miss Mars, while devoted fans of the comic book may feel slightly short-changed by the casting of the lead role. Either way, catch Mars at 10:05 pm Fridays to Sundays on Channel 3.

Vocabulary

adaptation (n): a movie, book or play that is based on a particular piece of work but that has been changed for a new situation
aspiring (adj): wanting to start the career or activity that is mentioned
charismatic (adj): having the powerful personal quality that some people have to attract and impress other people
traumatic (adj): extremely unpleasant and causing you to feel upset and/or anxious
gripping (adj): exciting or interesting in a way that keeps your attention
short-change (v): to treat somebody unfairly by not giving them what they have earned or deserve

Idiom

to be worlds apart: to be completely different in attitudes, opinions, etc.