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24 - Season One

24 - Season One

List Price: $59.98
Your Price: $41.99
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: BUY THIS DVD
Review: This is an incredible DVD. The whole show is extremely suspenseful, and will keep you guessing to the end (litaraly). The plot is that CTU (counter-terrorism unit) Agent Jack Bauer must protect presidential canidate David Palmer, while protecting his kidnapped family at the same time. As the plot thickens, Jack finds both events are connected, and even are carried out by members of his own agency! For people who have seen the show, the DVD's alternate ending is a nice touch to people who found the ending sad. This is a must buy, with a 5 star rating.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: what a page turner!
Review: When this show first was on TV, and I heard the consistent praise, I thought that I'd watch it during summer reruns. It wasn't rerun. As the mother of a not yet driving teenager, I knew better than to try to commit to never missing an episode. I finally rented the 1st DVD three days ago. The next day I returned it and bought the set. Tonight, having just finished the 1st season, I came to Amazon to pre-order the 2nd. The only thing wrong with this show is the wait for the season to be over before buying. Watching at leisure and all at once is the best way!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Jack Bauer, the gunslinger.
Review: When "24" first hit the air in 2001, I wasn't too worried about watching it. In all honesty, I don't really watch a lot of TV, but I liked Kiefer Sutherland's films, so I gave the show a chance. I'm glad I did. "24" was the perfect platform for Kiefer, he plays the desperate family man and determined government agent to perfection. The show was interesting, much better then stuff that had been released in recent years. Unlike mindless sitcoms, it had weight and issues. Unlike sappy dramas and sensless action sequences, it had intrigue as well as a conpelling storyline. "24" was critically acclaimed but not huge hit, FOX wasn't even sure if they would have the full 24 episodes for the first season, but they thought that the ratings were high enough to at least finish the season all the way through. Though the second half of the show was slower then the first, it ended with a bang. Jack Bauer gun fighting with his enemies at the end, a gun in each hand and blasting away was one of the coolest scenes I have seen on TV. The determination of Kiefer's Jack Bauer was admirable, a man that wanted to save his family no matter what, but felt a responsibility to do his job at the same time, it was a conflict that caused you to like him even more. "24" was one of the best shows I have seen on TV and better then half of the Hollywood released into theaters. Season Two if "24" was even better but that is a review for another time.
5 out of 5.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Innovative, Suspenseful Drama in a Reality TV World
Review: I have always liked FOX's ambitious and inventive spirit as a network, competing against the big three giants of the television industry: CBS, ABC, and NBC. Some of the network's show ideas have gone under, but 24 defies convention, as it never fails to deliver suspense each hour. Give 24 a quick look and you are hooked to the very end. Despite some rather corny, cookie-cutter moments (i.e. Teri Bauer's stint with amnesia), 24 is an intelligent, original, and fresh thrill ride of a show.

Season 1 of 24, dubbed as "The Longest Day" ranges from 12:00am to 12:00am, the full day of the presidential primary in Los Angeles. The story revolves around two men: Senator David Palmer (Dennis Haysbert), an African-American presidential candidate, who is the target of assassination on that day, and CTU (CounterTerrorist Unit) agent Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland), the man whose mission is to protect Palmer and thwart the terrorists behind the plot of achieving their goal. However, Bauer's mission has become personal. His daughter, Kim and eventually his wife, Teri are kidnapped and they, along with Bauer, are also targeted by the very same people threatening Palmer. But why? You would have to see how this plot unravels. To make matters harder, some of the people Jack works with at CTU, are working for the terrorists. Jack has the arduous task to protect Palmer and save his family, while having the right frame of mind on who to trust and not to trust in his mission to realize both his aims.

24 is wonderfully crafted and complicated that demands the viewer to watch its episode carefully, because of its meticulous real-time format. The pulse-pounding suspense can let up at certain points, but the transition scenes, whether it would be a shocking development or a pivotal juncture, kicks up the suspense a notch higher. But what makes 24 so effective is the superb acting of Kiefer Sutherland, who is in a word, masterful as Jack Bauer. He portrays Bauer as the gritty consummate professional, who would do just about anything to get the job done, even if it means walking the fine line of good and evil. At the same time, Sutherland elicits sympathy as a family man, with the desperation of a second crack at family togetherness. Haysbert pulls out a tremendous performance as Senator Palmer, an honorable and honest politician who believes in upholding the righteous ideals of American democracy. Worthy of mention is Penny Johnson Jerald, who plays Sherry Palmer, David's wife, a conniving, greedy woman, wanting nothing more than the power and popularity of being the First Lady. The two Bauer women, Teri, played by Leslie Hope and Kim, portrayed by the eye-catching Elisha Cuthbert, are solid in dealing with the unpredictability of their days. Nina Myers, played by the sultry Sarah Clarke, is impressive as Bauer's reasonably trustworthy secretary, with something up her sleeve. The rest of the supporting cast, from top to bottom are also wonderful.

In my opinion, the first season of 24 is slightly better than its successive second season because it is more unpredictable and provides higher shock value. For those who have not seen 24 in its entirety, it is best not to reveal the story and its highly detailed events in greater detail. Just sit back and watch how the story unravels, with loads of startling developments and intensity, leading up to the unforgettable, piece-de-resistance ending. I highly recommend this along with the second season DVD set, which is slated for a September release.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Everything is good ... except the story
Review: The concept of the show is very good, it s true, but the story is plain stupid.
I don t want to spoil it with exact details, but the complications that happend throughout the episodes are so obvious and easy that it completly loose it s uniqueness. Just as things are already bad it gets even worse, and worse, and worse some more, to the point where you know that no matter how they ll try to solve the case they ll always fall short of the solution (say "I love you" one more time, please...).
Some dramatic parts are exagerated (instant amnesia anyone ?), some are completly unrealistic.
To guess what s going to happend next, just ask yourself "what could go wrong ?" and it ll happend.

The only positive part are the actors, the music, and the concept.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Warning!
Review: If you want to have a life other than watching 24 over the next 2 weeks don't order the DVD. It is terribly addictive. Each episode ends with a twist that makes you want to watch the next episode immediately. With the DVD you can. Before you know it it is 2 am and you have watched 4 episodes.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: No hyperbole. The finest season of any TV show, ever.
Review: There is no question in my mind at this point that
"24" in its first season, is the greatest season of any
television show, ever broadcast.

A bit much, isn't it? :-) Well, I am not pulling your leg.
I say that as a student of commercial television shows.

I've always enjoyed a well done, and original concept.
(Still remember not believing that CHEERS was a show that took
place mostly in a bar. MASH? Another shocking premise.
ER, even the Dallas/Dynasty type prime soaps. I studied them
all and loved a good share of them.)

But at this point in time, I can say unequivocally that the
first season, combines the finest concepts, storyline, twists,
production, creative cinematography, acting and layout, of
any single show. Buy this set. It's deep enough to enjoy
watching all 6 disks several times... each time peeling the
onion a bit deeper and gaining as much as the time prior.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Forget ...American Idol. Tune in an hour later
Review: Let's face it, good shows on TV are hard to come by. This is especially true of FOX, which seems almost eager to kill off anything even remotely interesting ("Futurama" and "Brimstone" just to name two) in order to make room for crap like "Joe Millionaire", "Mr. Personality" or "American Idol." Never the less, FOX has managed to make one smart move: the show "24", which has just miraculously been renewed for a 3rd season.

Quite simply, "24" is the only thing really worth watching on FOX, except possibly for "The Simpsons", which is starting to show its age. Kiefer Sutherland is literally awesome as Jack Bauer, a man willing to protect his family and his country at any cost. It's Sutherland's convincing and charismatic acting that makes it all too easy to forgive and forget the show's faults. Equal praise must also be given, however, to Dennis Haysbert (Senator David Palmer), Penny Johnson (the scheming Sherry Palmer), and Zeljko Ivanek (the chilling Andre Drazen). Carlos Bernard (Tony Almeida) and Xander Berkeley (George Mason), make their first appearances here, but neither really shine until later in Season 2.

The show makes good use of the real-time format, which is both its strength and weakness. It makes the show incredibly addictive (its like the TV form of Crack), but only if you catch it from the beginning. Even with the recap (which is conspicuously absent from this set), you'll just be too lost if you come in at the middle of the season. (Thankfully this is not a problem with the box-set.) When you watch it, you'll be amazed how much can happen in a limited time period, even if it isn't actually a full hour. FOX ought to do what they did at the start of Season 2 and just show each episode uninterrupted.

When focusing on Jack, the writing is top-notch. His tendency to bend the rules gets him into trouble as often as it gets him out of it. The show throws one obstacle after another in front of him, giving Jack (and the audience) little time to breathe until the episode's end. Haysbert's Senator Palmer faces a similar fate, juggling a presidential campaign, an assassination threat, his wife's dishonesty, and a scandal involving his son. Despite this, the show's pacing (which the format contributes to) never seems excessive. It's a roller coaster ride, but one that's never jarring or uneven.

Unfortunately, when the show switches to the kidnapping of Bauer's daughter and later his wife, the writing starts to get bogged down. After a while, the kinds of perils they face begin to border on the ridiculous (Daughter Kim gets kidnapped or almost kidnapped more time than can be counted, Wife Teri develops temporary amnesia.) Also, the writers seem to have trouble with women characters. Both Kim and Teri are remarkably whiny even beyond what might be expected for what they've been through, and Kim has all the common sense of a sleep-deprived spider-monkey. Nina Myers has one or two good scenes, but her character doesn't get really interesting until the end of Season 1. Sherry Palmer is about the only interesting female character on the show.

Despite these flaws, "24" is still easily the one of the best shows currently on TV, blowing CSI and even the latest seasons of Law & Order completely out of the water. In fact, "24" easily ranks up with "The Sopranos", "Homicide: Life on the Street", and the earlier seasons of "Law & Order", as one of the best shows TV has ever aired. So forget..."American Idol". Tune in an hour later for "24".

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Lock up your weekend
Review: The most amazing thriller ive ever seen,all you need to so is get started on a friday evening and rest is history rather the weekend .18 hours of sinnful entertainment.Go Get It.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Great show, DVD not great
Review: I loved this show, heard about it from a friend so I just bought it on DVD without seeing it first. Summary:
- The show is amazing. My wife and I watched about 3 episodes
a night.
- Some of the plotdevices are too farfetched but you will
get over it.
- The DVD set lacks extras (introduction by Kiefer on DVD 6??,
alternate ending, that's it)
- No chapters???? Every new episode I have to fastforward to
the real start of the episode.
- Why were there no men doing irritatingly stupid things,
only women :)
- Some of the acting was so so (especially Leslie Hope)

Anyway go see it!


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