Rating: 
Summary: A Good Show
Review: This the best series on the air. I have watched it from the first season.
Rating:
Summary: The movie that keeps on going
Review: Being an action movie junkie, I thought I'd take a look at some of the newer TV programs out these days. When I was younger, action TV shows, due to low budgets, generally featured everything BUT action (A-Team and Airwolf come to mind), but today's shows come off like big-budget films. Content is also a lot more liberal than it once was, which is a great plus, as these programs no longer insult the viewer's intelligence.It came down to a decision between two shows, 24 or Alias. I checked out both, and although Alias seemed to feature more of the things you'd expect from an action show (ie explosions, lots of gunfights), 24 was the better show. In fact, when Alias premiered, its detractors dubbed it "24 for teenagers." I hate to bash away, but I agree. Alias is sort of like a WB show, it has all of the things I hate in TV action programs. For one, romantic subplots take precedence over the action; there are inane comedic bits; puppy dog eyes between the lead female and male characters; quick build-ups and even quicker resolutions to the action scenes - so that the story may return to the aforementioned romantic subplots. Now, I don't mean to trample on Alias, and I hope those Alias fans out there reserve judgment of my review until they get to the end. All I'm saying is, the decision between 24 or Alias comes down to what you look for in your action entertainment. Alias is along the lines of shows like Smallville or Buffy, save for a bit more of a big budget look. 24, though, is more along the lines of the Sopranos or The Shield; there are no romantic subplots, puppy dog eyes, goofy humor. There's no time for any of that. Actually, I can make a better comparison. If you like action movies like Charlie's Angels or XXX, then Alias is for you. But if you're more into Die Hard or the first two Lethal Weapons, then 24 is the show for you. The comparison is apt, because I would rank Kiefer Sutherland's character Jack Bauer up there with the best of the action movie heroes. Like Die Hard's John McClane, he's an everyman caught up in a crazy situation. And like Lethal Weapon's Riggs, he's also a very dangerous man, who can get even more dangerous when pushed. The Bauer character is an interesting spin on the action hero archetype. Generally there are two types, the Everyman (such as McClane, or the Matrix's Neo), or the Superhero (such as James Bond, or most of Arnold Schwarzenegger's early characters). Bauer is a mixture of the two. He's a regular guy as far as his family life and fears are concerned, but when the going gets tough, you start to feel sorry for the bad guys. Most people probably know that 24 was originally greenlit by Fox for 12 episodes. Halfway through the season, though, Fox greenlit an entire season's worth, which meant that the producers had to begin spinning new webs out of the threads they were in the process of closing. This means that the first twelve (actually, thirteen) episodes come off like a first-class action movie, with building suspense and reversals that will surprise even the most jaded viewer. Episode 14, however, begins a downward spiral (amnesia subplots, domestic disputes, etc) that the show struggles for a bit to get out of. Luckily, things significantly pick up in the final episodes, particularly with episode 20, which is the first appearance of the main villain behind everything. The final episode especially comes off like a great action film, with the tension and suspense stretched to the breaking point. The wishy-washy episodes don't take away from the first 13, not at all. In fact, episodes 1-13 of Season One are some of the best TV I've seen. You won't believe many of the things that happen, and the television boundaries that are pushed. People are killed in violent shootouts, mutilated corpses discovered in abandoned cars, heroin used as a painkiller (!), reversals and betrayals galore. The final episodes pack a wallop too, with a few surprise guest stars. Everything is great about the production. The cinematography is great, movie quality for sure. There are hardly any of those annoying, documentary-style zooms and pans you get in most other TV shows. And unlike Alias and CSI, there is a healthy lack of dependence upon computer graphics. Acting is great throughout; none of the campy hamming up you'll get in your average WB-type show. (Okay, maybe one actor in particular hams it up; of course, I'm talking about Dennis Hopper, but what can you expect? That's what he does best!) A lot of money obviously went into the show, but instead of using the money to make soulless eye candy, the producers instead used it to create a quality program with great writing, great characters, and great actors. The DVD presentation is fine, but I would have liked more extra features. There's only one deleted scene, from the final episode, and while the video/audio presentation is good, it isn't great. Most reviewers mention this lack of extras, but most reviewers don't have the heart to tell you this: there are no chapter stops on this DVD! I have no idea what the producers were thinking. It's a minor complaint, but it would be nice to access scenes in each show. At least this was rectified (as well as the extras department) in the Season 2 DVD set. In short, 24 is boundary-breaking television, up there with the Simpsons, Band of Brothers, and the Sopranos. Whatever reservations you might have of Kiefer Sutherland in a role like this, get ready to have those reservations blown out of the water. Sutherland is ON in every episode; he becomes his character in one of the most memorable performances I've seen. 24 is an action fan's dream: a high-quality movie that just keeps going and going.
Rating: 
Summary: One more thing
Review: This is an addendum to my earlier review of 24 Season One where I indicated the Season started great but got a little silly mid-way thru.
Without giving any spoilers I must also criticise parts of the Season Finale which while offering some possible surprises also make no logical sense based on the actions you have seen in the prior 23 episodes.
In other words, after knowing how the first season ends, if you re-watch the whole season from the beginning and pay close attention to the characters, their actions, the opportunites they have and how things evolve, then the surprises at the end of the series are kind of just tossed in as a way to throw you off rather than having any logic or continuity.
Rating:
Summary: Started EXCELLENT, then faded mid-season
Review: The first 12 episodes of the first season of 24 deserve 10 stars for creativity, orignality and good writing.... unfortunately by the 13th episode the writers fell into the habit of stretching the storyline out by having one of the main characters suddenly do something stupid and out of character.
Sutherland is great as is the actress who plays Nina.
On the otherhand by mid-season, his wife and daughter become so irritating you wish they would get killed so he would have an excuse to just focus on his career and get back attached with Nina.
His wife and daughter became so irritating by mid season my wife was hoping they would get killed off. By mid season the "twists" also started to get kind of silly and predictable following a certain formula that became easier and easier to predict. By the way, the show refound itself in Season 2 and actually improved again back to 4-5 stars. Sidenote: Because of the format of this show, it is hard to see how it will work in syndication in the future.
The timeline format would make seeing random shows somewhat awkward and un-appealing.
Rating:
Summary: Smart, Funny, Sad, and all the rest....
Review: A very dark series has hit FOX but one of the best acting that I have ever seen for a TV show. With excellent characters like David,Jack,Nina and, etc., you will never be board.
The show often touches tufty subjects but does a great job covering them.
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely Awesome
Review: I just finish watching season 1 and can't wait to start on season 2. I do not watch any TV shows besides The Simpsons and sports but this is just too good to be missed. Warning to everyone planning on watching this (and you all should) DO NOT assume anything, DO NOT read the enclose booklet, and to the people that does reviews for this please DO NOT include anything that could be a possible spoiler. PLEASE. And make sure you don't have to get up early the next day because you will be hook for hour after hour and will not be able to get too much sleep. A show like this deserve to be enjoy by everyone.
Rating:
Summary: The best TV you will EVER watch
Review: This is an amazing show. From the opening seconds to the conclusion, the plot twists, and willingness of the creators to push the boundaries of a TV show will keep your eyes glued to the screen. I missed 24 when it ran on TV, so I started renting the DVD's (disc by disc) from blockbuster. When renting the discs started becoming inconvenient, I ran out and bought the entire set for $50, even though I already knew the end, and had rented about half the season already. And I don't regret the purchase. Everything about 24 is incredibly coordinated, and the episodes end with convenient twists to keep viewers tuning in. TRUST SOMEONE WHO'S SEEN IT. 24 is the best drama on TV.
Rating:
Summary: Impossible to take a break
Review: This is the best TV show in this category (action, thriller). You just want to go through all six DVDs at once. The acting is very good which I was very pleasantly surprised about. The only shortcoming, which probably is normal due to the nature of this serial, is that its creators had to find unexpected turns and twists so many times that sometimes they sacrifice the logical storyline to be able to surprise us. But even having doubts in my mind about the certain outcomes of show events don't prevent me from being totally consumed by this show.
Rating:
Summary: Great TV Drama
Review: One of the best shows on TV . A must see. You get hooked from the first hour (or episode). Kiefer Sutherland is great.
Rating:
Summary: Suspend Values and Beliefs for GREAT Story-Telling
Review: This first-season 24 edition comprises terrific story-telling, really grabbing you immediately with a threat to detonate an atomic bomb in Los Angeles. However, though it's told in "real time," we never see anyone eating or breaking for a run to the bathroom -- and the distances covered within the alloted timeframes are unrealistic for the L.A. area. But forget about all that, and enjoy! Another interesting aspect is the way Jack and his counter-terrorist associates deal with terrorists. They don't ask, "Why do they hate us?" They don't sit in the corner and do yoga. They don't whine and moan about tolerance, compassion, inclusion and diversity -- they appear to have no regard whatever for any terrorist's religious background -- and they don't attempt to build a coalition involving the United Nations. Nope, this counter-terrorist unit simply wants to kill terrorists, eliminate the danger and protect our nation from evil invaders. They are definitely NOT Democrats, thank heaven!
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