24: Season Two
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Movie Reviews of 24: Season Two
Movie Review: Action Filled 24 Hours
Summary: 5 Stars
I was not one of those that hooked up with the show 24 during its initial run. Matter of fact, I didn't fall in line for season two either. I felt that I couldn't find the time to make certain I was sitting in front of my television that one particular night each week. Nor could I be certain that I would have a tape ready to go. I now regret that decision.
This is one of the most innovative concepts for a television program I have seen in some time. For those not in the know, the show takes place in one hour segments each episode. In other words, it is supposed to happen in real time. The only fault in this is that no one seems to eat or use the bathroom. But we'll forgive that and have no need to view either option.
The stories have revolved around two central characters. The first is Jack Bauer (Kieffer Sutherland), an agent of the CTU (Central Terrorist Unit), an espionage agency determined to take down terrorists. Along with Jack we have his backup team and boss as well as his daughter Kim. During the first season, Jack's wife was killed by a terrorist Jack was pursuing, leaving him a broken man and causing him to leave the CTU.
The second main character is President David Palmer (Dennis Haysbert) and the members of Washington based powers that surround him. These include members of his cabinet and his ex-wife Sherry, a power player with her own interest and goals in mind.
In the first series, Palmer was running for office and his life was saved by Jack, a man he now trusts implicitly. Then Palmer was running for office. Now as President the story shifts from gaining power to wielding it.
The show begins at 8:00AM and the President's vacation plans are interrupted by the news that a terrorists organization has managed to smuggle in a nuclear weapon on US soil. And the bomb is set to go off sometime within the next 24 hours in Los Angeles. Palmer does what he thinks is best. He contacts the CTU and asks that Bauer be brought in to help deal with this problem.
Bauer is in the midst of reconciliation with Kim. Meeting her at her new job as a nanny for an upper class LA couple, the pair reunites but has their time cut short by the President. Kim returns to her job only to find that her employer is a wife and child beater. She high tails it with the kid in tow and goes for help.
Jack begins reluctantly begins his task of finding the nuke before it can be detonated on the condition that they get his daughter to safety. The promise is made but they can't follow through since she's on the run.
Jack uses the most unorthodox methods to find the information he needs, going so far as to....well I won't say. To do so would be to blow one of the many surprises that this show pops out each episode.
Along with this story is that of the President discovering that members of his staff are working against him throughout this event. Just who is behind it and who he can trust makes for as suspenseful a story as the Jack's search.
All of these story arcs combine to make one stimulating viewing experience. You watch each one, get to the end and can't wait to start the next. I found myself checking the clock as each episode ended, wondering if I couldn't deal with perhaps one more less hour of sleep that night so that I could see what happened next.
Everything about this series is fantastic. The direction keeps the flow of the story moving along at breakneck speed, using visual tricks to heighten the suspense. The story itself is a marvel as the threads of each story are combined to make on long narrative. While a TV show may seem like a chapter in a book, this one that runs 24 hours is like reading an entire novel when watched back to back.
The acting in this series is some of the best I've seen on the small screen. Sutherland is totally believable in the role of rogue hero that does whatever it takes to get the job done. And Haysbert's performance as the President makes me want to go out and campaign for him tomorrow.
Few shows have captured my imagination and enthusiasm like this one has. The last was perhaps THE X-FILES. Now that I've finished with this series, I can't wait for the new fall season to begin.
Movie Review: I have a high threshold for excitement
Summary: 5 Stars
I have a high threshold for excitement. Most movies are slow moving, boring and predictable. Major league football puts me to sleep. Hockey only keeps me awake because of the noise. In short, it takes a lot to get my heart rate above 56. 24 can put me into fibbrillation. I dream about it after watching more than one episode.
My daughter comes down to see me literally on the edge of my seat during an episode. She laughed "Dad, now I know what they mean by edge of the seat thrills, every time I see you your're about to fall off the end of the chair."
The two spotlight reviews give a lot away. I really don't like to drop spoilers in a review so I will stay arms length from the plot. In 24 just about anything you say about classifies as a spoiler since so much happens and the plot is an intricate chain of events with just about everything linked. Just knowing who is recruited to help Jack can totally ruin the end of Season 1 for someone who hasn't seen it.
The public knowledge about this season is that Jack Bauer is no longer with CTU. George Mason is in charge. Jack is off the payroll recovering from the events of last few minutes of season 1. This is a year later. ( real time again) Tony Almeida ( great character and terrific work by Carlos Bernard) is back with a new CTU crew.
Word gets out, there is some sort of nuclear device in Los Angeles planted by a terrorist group called Second Wave. David Palmer is President. ( hell, I would vote for David Palmer! )
There is a link with a domestic terror group that flags Jack Bauer. He was undercover with this group and is the only guy with a half chance of infiltrating them again in order to track down the nuke.
Jack also has to ally with an old enemy - name witheld to prevent a spoiler. The plot starts in overdrive and picks up speed from there.
The plotting is intricate, all events relate to all others. The race is on to find the nuke and save LA. There are several more subplots with of course Kim, Jacks daughter in trouble again. I guess the family aspect helps add tension to Jacks mission, but that subplot is lame compared to whats happening at higher levels of the government with the conspiracy leading all the way to the uppermost echelons of government.
Like Season 1 the action is non-stop. There is at least one major shocker in each episode and each one ends in an irresistable cliffhanger that will have you cueing up the next one right away not even wanting to take a minute to review the "Previously on 24" spot. You want it NOW!
In any other show or movie the plot would climax after they find the bomb, or course trhe guys would cut the green wire and that would the that. Nothing so pedestrian would ever make a 24 Episode.
In 24 you can ever count on them finding and disarming the bomb. Maybe they do, then again maybe not - I won't say here. But whatever does happen with the bomb I will say that the plot INTENSIFIES from there!
Like with Season 1, I had an impossible time turning off the DVD player until the disk was finished.
I didn't expect S2 to have the thrills and excitement of Season 1 since I knew a little more of what to expect from the show but if anything I was even more out of breath after these episodes.
One thing though, 24 will spoil you for most other TV shows and movies. Get used to the real time format and everything else seems lame. The only other TV show with the edge of 24 is maybe the new Battlestar Galactica, but that isn't the same serial format and no where near as addicting as 24.
24 is addicting and beware. Once you start you won't want to put them away until you're done.
The producers, directors and writers do a marvelous job of hooking you into the plot and caring about the characters and even feeling their pain.
Watch this show. It is the best of the best. This is as good as TV gets folks.
I come up with a great idea for a 24 party. Get a bunch of hardcores together and watch it real time. Start at 8am and play the disks realtime with the clock. Only break to bathroom and eat during the commercial gaps. Cue them up and restart on time.
Movie Review: Wow! Season Two may be even better than Season One.
Summary: 5 Stars
The first season of the genre-defining action-thriller ¡°24¡± was a landmark of taught suspense, thrilling action, and inventive story telling. Every single one of the 24 hours had viewers on the edge of their seats as they watched Counter-Terrorism Unit (CTU) agent Jack Bauer race against time to prevent the assassination of presidential candidate David Palmer and rescue his family from terrorists who wanted him dead. Each episode was filled to the brim with depth and detail. There were no wasted movements. Whether it was David Palmer battling treachery within his own campaign or Jack Bauer uncovering another mind-bending twist the conspiracy, ¡°24¡± produced some of the best, movie-quality TV to come along in years. The thought on everyone¡¯s mind was, ¡°Is ¡®24¡¯ a one-trick pony, or does it have legs for a second season that is as good at the first.¡± Fortunately for fans of Jack Bauer, David Palmer, and the show¡¯s unique format, the answer is an unqualified ¡®Yes!¡¯ The end of Season One left Jack Bauer exhausted and heartbroken as, despite his best efforts, he could still not prevent the murder of his wife, Teri. Interim literature such as Marc Cerasini¡¯s ¡°Findings at CTU¡± reveals that Bauer left CTU not long after events of that day. He is estranged from his daughter, Kim, and is just struggling to keep himself from ending it all. Palmer, of course, went on to win the Presidency and is now faced with the worst crisis the Chief Executive could face, this side of 9/11 and Pearl Harbor. Intelligence sources have revealed, with high confidence, that a fully armed nuclear bomb is set to be detonated in downtown Los Angeles at some point during that day. CTU¡¯s best agents are on the case attempting to find the location of the bomb, but there is only one man who has both the background to find the bomb and President Palmer¡¯s utmost confidence in his ability to get the job done. That man is Jack Bauer. Sympathetic to Bauer¡¯s struggles, but in dire need of his help, Palmer speaks directly to Jack and enlists the help of current CTU director, George Mason, to get him back in the fold. Upon realizing the weight of the task at hand, Jack agrees to return to active duty at CTU and embark on what would prove to be the second longest day of his life.
My initial fear was that the plotting wouldn¡¯t be as tight and that it wouldn¡¯t generate the same level of intense emotion as the first season. The first couple of episodes of Season Two do actually move slower than in Season, but soon the action picks up and ¡°24¡± returns to the same level of quality it showed in its debut. The richness of detail and depth of plotting are as prevalent as in the first season and perhaps even more so this year. In addition the plot to detonate the nuclear bomb there is more of Kim getting into trouble, scheming within David Palmer¡¯s administration, plots against CTU, and subplot where suspicions that the Arab-born fianc¨¦ of WASP-ish woman may be involved in the bomb plot come to the fore on the day of their wedding. As much as I wish I could, I cannot reveal any more details about this season, lest viewing experience being ruined for you. I should add, however, that in addition to be being a great overall season, one of its episodes (Episode 15, 10:00 pm ¨C 11:00 pm) is one grittiest most dramatic television episodes I have ever seen on TV. Its excellence rates it right up the annals of television history with ¡°Abyssinia, Henry¡± from M*A*S*H and ¡°Love¡¯s Labour¡± from ER. You will understand when you see it. Without a doubt, ¡°24: Season Two¡± is as good, if not better, than the original ¡°24¡±.
Movie Review: Jack's Back
Summary: 5 Stars
I enjoyed season one of this inventive show. When I found out it had been picked up for another season, the only question left in my mind was "Will they be able to match the first season?" When this season started, I had my answer. They surpassed it with flying colors.
Season two picks up a year and a half after season one. Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) is estranged from his daughter Kim (Elisha Cuthbert), who has moved out and is working as a nanny. Jack has also quite his job at the Los Angeles branch of the Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU). That doesn't matter to now President David Palmer (Dennis Haysbert). When the President gets news that there is a nuclear bomb in Los Angeles, he calls Jack to personally ask him to help prevent the disaster. Reluctantly, Jack agrees to go back to work for CTU to find the bomb before it goes off. But first, he calls Kim and warns her to get out of LA in case he can't find it in time. Meanwhile, Kate Warne (Sarah Wynter) is busy getting ready for her sister's wedding. But something about the groom to be doesn't feel right to her.
One idea discussed at the end of season one was going to more self-contained stories. Fortunately, the producers decided to keep their one day per season real time. I have seem some argue that the real time format isn't followed as closely this season, but if so, I found no evidence of it.
This show builds on the returning characters from season one and even manages to bring back villainesses Sherry Palmer (Penny Johnson Jerald) and Nina Myers (Sarah Clarke) in believable ways. The story is mostly self-contained, so you could jump in here is you wanted to, but watching season one will help explain all the relationships and increase your enjoyment of the show. The new characters help build the story of season two, although the Kate sub-plot seems out of place until at least a third of the way through the season when you begin to understand how it fits with everything else. Kim's sub-plot of trying to leave LA starts out believable, but grows increasingly ludicrous as the day goes by. The main storyline, however, moves quickly with lots of twists and turns. Each episode ends with a cliffhanger that will make you want to keep watching.
After the success of season one and the DVD release of that season, the producers had more time to plan this DVD set, and it shows. The twenty-four episodes are preserved on six discs. Each episode is shown in sharp wide screen and presented in surround sound. Removing my complaint from season one, the "Previously on 24" recap is included, although you can skip over it if you so desire. Chapter breaks and a play all feature are also included on these discs. Each disc includes one audio commentary with a member of the cast and crew as well as deleted scenes from the episodes.
If that's not enough to make you happy, check out the seventh disc. It includes all 44 deleted scenes in one place with optional commentary. In additional, there are two featurettes on the production and post-production of the show. A third featurette goes into behind the scenes detail on the bombing of CTU from early in the season.
Not only did the producers step up the plate with a better over all second season, but the DVD set is better as well. A few minor sub-plot complaints can't hamper the enjoyment of the thriller that is 24 season two.
Movie Review: Just Another Day For Agent Jack Bauer!
Summary: 5 Stars
I must admit that I did not expect the second season of 24 to be as exciting and thrilling as the first, and I had my doubts especially since it was using the same formula of real time events unfolding over the course of one day,and hence the originality factor that made the first season such a success is not there.Moreover, many friends have advised me that indeed Jack Bauer's second adventure was weaker.
Yet two things I have learned after years of a passionate appreciation of cinema and good TV:
Never let other opinions or reviews influence your own judgment, and
Not being quite original does not mean a bad thing a all, if the writing, acting and direction are good enough to pull it off.
So, watching the second season of 24, I was totally captivated from the very first hour till the very last..Indeed I found the second series of 24 to be far better in many ways, and this is why..
First of all the familiarity with most of the characters ensured that the viewer sympathizes/connects with them from the very start, as opposed to taking maybe few 'hours' to be totally involved as with the original.
Secondly, the writing was superb:
While the first, despite the nail biting tension, twists and suspense, had a very simple and straightforward plot, an eye for an eye personal revenge, the second expands the possibilities much more, and delves into very dark and dangerous grounds, both on a international terrorism and domestic conspiracies levels. The writing is so good in fact that you will be excused in believing even for mere seconds, that you are watching more than the entertaining fiction that it really is.
All actors involved are excellent, but I am surprised no one has mentioned one particular actor who was instrumental in lifting this second series up, and infusing a lot of humanity albeit tragic, and that is Xander Berkeley.He, in my opinion, gives the performance of his career , as does Berkeley's real life missus the lovely Sarah Clarke, who makes a comeback, and is chillingly transformed into this cold blooded assassin and traitor that we only saw few glimpses of in the closing minutes of the first season.
Dennis Haysbert aka David Palmer now president,is not only a very able actor who added a lot of dignity and class to his role, but I must admit he makes one helluva president too!!!
The twists and suspense in the second season never lapse for one second, up until the very last minute, which leaves the door open for lots of possibilities for the third season.
I liked the fact that the plot in the second season was evenly divided into two sections, connected smoothly over these crucial 24 hours.. The hunt, against the clock for the nuke and the conspiracy inside Washington, and the shadowy men behind it all.
Of course, the second series has its minor flaws: the sub plots involving the gorgeous Elisha Cuthbert were somehow weak in comparison to everything that was going on ..(a psycho abusive father, the loner nut case in the woods, the over the top deranged Latino father-to-be in the store..).
All credit should go to all people involved in this wonderful series for the collective effort that has been put to produce quality television that is guaranteed to keep you glued to your screen, for 24 hours and more! Can't wait for yet another day!