24: Season Two
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Movie Reviews of 24: Season Two
Movie Review: Less kinetic than Season One, but still highly gripping.
Summary: 5 Stars
Season Two is the true test of this show's mettle. Can 24 sustain itself now that the novelty of its groundbreaking real-time conceit has worn off?The answer is yes. 24's writers and producers are smart enough to know that it wasn't so much the real-time aspect which connected with people, but the array of insurmountable obstacles and impossible odds with which Jack Bauer is faced episode after episode, as befits a good suspense thriller.
Season Two's nuclear-bomb plot is much more ambitious than Season One. And yes, there comes a point in the middle where the action lapses quite badly, when the threat of detonation diminishes. And the show underutilizes Jack's character for a good four, five episodes -- a mistake. It's Kiefer Sutherland's edgy, aggressive portrayal of this dogged, often morally questionable character that anchors the tone of the show, and the first quarter of the show has far too much Kate Warner (Sarah Wynter) and not enough jack Bauer.
The Kate Warner subplot, while a good one in conception, goes awry in execution for a good 50 per cent of the show. Sarah Wynter does an adequate job, but every single character in this subplot remains paper-thin up until the midpoint of the season. It's like the gooey family love-in in Season One without the physical danger. Since the characters have no weight (Laura Harris as Marie Warner is especially irritating), their fussy interactions also ring hollow, especially ranked alongside Jack's apocalyptic nuclear threat and even the Kim Bauer kidnapping subplot. Once Kate and Jack meet and she is incorporated into the conspiracy through-line, she becomes a much better character and Wynter's appeal comes through.
Sutherland remains the center of everything, befittingly. The loss of Sarah Clarke in the main cast does hurt; Reiko Aylesworth does a fine job as replacement Michelle Dessler, but she just doesn't have Clarke's arresting presence. Fans of Season One looking for closure in the Nina Myers subplot can stop looking -- Season Two gives Clarke a wonderful opportunity to chew scenery and play an insidious villainess and Clarke is terrific in this role, but don't expect any attempt to explain just how Nina Myers went from saintly sidekick to vicious double agent. Elisha Cuthbert continues to impress with acting nuances uncommon among actresses her age; she's a pro at making interesting choices at emotional moments. Dennis Haysbert is stately and subtly powerful as President Palmer, and happily, Penny Johnson Jerald as Sherry Palmer is given a more human dimension in the scripts, rather than the blindly destructive saboteur of Season One, and Jerald rises to the occasion. The best performance of the season, however, belongs to Xander Berkeley. Finally this fine actor is given a character arc worthy of his abilities, and Berkeley's portrayal of George Mason's metamorphosis is emotionally devastating, while retaining the character's defining irreverence and scuzziness. I wonder why he was locked out of the Emmys?
Suffice to say that I stayed up for another 20 hours straight watching this thing. This show has a hypnotic quality not found in any other, and you can bet I'll be first in line for Season Three -- especially since Season Two ends on the mother of all cliffhangers. I just hope the writers can keep this up.
Movie Review: Season 2 is one of the best TV seasons of all time, you will be glad you got into 24
Summary: 5 Stars
The 24 collection is a worthy hobby and is certainly growing to be one of largest of the television series DVD anthologies. There are currently six seasons and season seven is planned for 2009. Each season has 6 discs, with 4 episodes per disc. Each episode covers approximately 1 hour of real-time drama although there are breaks for television advertising time meaning each episode lasts for about 45 min. To date there is approximately 6 days worth of 24 viewing. Each season is the kind of item that requires 1 hour a day of your time for the next 24 days. It has won Emmy and Golden Globe awards. It has already achieved some of highest viewer rates for any television show. The discs are held in a cardboard and plastic flip holder. It slides into the slim line box. It is not that easy to remove but this increases the security of the discs. The sound is in 5:1 Dolby Digital and the show is shot in 1.78 : 1.
The real-time nature makes it unique along with its split screen type editing where more than one scene can take place at a time. There is also the clock with its ominous digital ticking that seems more like a countdown even though it is moving forward in time. 24 Season 2 is incredible television. If you had to select the best seasons from any TV series then 24 Season 2 would easily rank up there. It is maybe the best TV action season you can own. So that says a lot. Also it mimics the mindset and politics back in 2003 with respect to post-911 events and the war in Iraq. It is dead-on interesting in hindsight to see Season 2 with respect to the current situation.
24 season 2 is mostly about Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) who has left CTU (counter-terrorist unit) because of his wife's demise. Presidential candidate Senator David Palmer (Dennis Haysbert) is now in office. Bauer's daughter Kim is working as a child minder for a rich but dangerous businessman. CTU learns that there is an atomic bomb about to go off in L.A today. Each episode becomes an edge of your seat thriller with lots of plot twists and character turns. From the bomb chase, to double-crossing, to NSA internal problems, torture, going to war, intelligence reports gone bad and a cabinet that is split on removing the President from office. Can Jack Bauer find a nuclear device, prove the intelligence reports wrong, save the President's career and the millions of people in LA in less than 24 hours? There hasn't been an action season like it!
Overall the show has very high production values and the transfer quality of season 2 is exceptionally better than season 1 which was one of the early DVD TV releases and so sometimes the widescreen bars produced fluffy edges. Well that's gone now. Although at times the suspension of disbelief is sometimes stretched to the maximum (how many times can they accidentally stumble onto something?) you will still you be hard pressed to find better TV that is non-stop rush of action and suspense. Give it a go and see if you want to enjoy some more. The 24 fever is well worth it.
Oh yeah and guess how many episodes there are?
Movie Review: The Jack Bauer Power Hour Returns...
Summary: 5 Stars
24. The groundbreaking television series that made Kiefer Sutherland one of television's most memorable heroes in recent memory. The writers clearly struggled to make it through Day 1, so could they make it through a full 24 harrowing hours and keep things as tense and thrilling as in Day 1?The answer, thankfully, is yes. This season improves many areas of the show, while, unfortunately, losing some ground on others. For starters, the DVD is insanely better than season 1's. This one has CHAPTERS (thank heavens) to make watching the episodes easier. The picture and audio are clearer, there are commentaries (one per disc - 6 discs), and there is a special extra features disc featuring some interesting documentaries.
Jack, one of TV's coolest characters, is back and better than ever. He has a classic moment at the end of the first episode to remind us why we love him so. Kim too is back, still reeling from the loss of her mother. But whereas she was a pivotal figure in season 1's story, she really has no place here, and it shows. Kim's sordid tale alone is enough to rate this season lower than the first. She does have a few saving graces - all conversations with daddy Jack (which are few and far between, but very good).
CTU members Tony Almeida and George Mason are back. Tony's given a little more to do here and is sans his oh-so-memorable soul patch. And Mason, one of the best characters in 24 history, is given a more principal role as acting director of CTU. Mason is one of the few characters in 24 to EVER crack a joke and have a sense of humor.
Palmer too returns, now as President of the US. Palmer's story is a lot of just recapping what's going on, but he does have quite a tangled web of traitorousness to unravel before him, and he makes quite a few surprising moves. Palmer doesn't have the intensity he had in Day 1, but he's lost none of his wisdom and intelligence. He does make a somewhat...erm, not too wise decision that he follows throughout the final 11 or so hours, but if that's what it takes to keep the story going, so be it.
The story is a bit larger and more topical than season 1's more personal and small story. Each side have their pro's and cons and I suppose they balance each other out well. The story's evolution leads to some truly amazing moments and fantastic cliffhangers. The double-crosses are innumerable and a few of season 1's more devious characters make very memorable returns (one in the last THREE minutes of the day).
Overall, this season is not quite as solid as the first. The villains aren't as villainous, their motives aren't as powerful, and their schemes are less realistic. There are some plotlines that just won't die (Kim, Carrie, etc.). But despite all these flaws, there's always Jack Bauer to keep us glued to the screen. It's still better than anything else on TV.
Movie Review: The Definitive Day
Summary: 5 Stars
If someone asks a '24' fan what the show is all about, this is the box set they should be handed in response.
Now, some fans will argue that such a thing can be said about Season 1 as well, and that's actually quite true, but overall, '24' Day 2 ranks as one of the most thrilling and engaging seasons in the history of television. The tale revolves around an imminent threat to Los Angeles, prompting a collection of L.A.'s best agents -- and a woman who ends up getting some crucial information -- to unite in an attempt to counter it, and afterwards, a desperate effort to prevent a misdirected retaliatory strike by the U.S.
This is the season in which the show hits its stride, doing plenty of notable things and doing them quite well.
Character:
We're introduced to Michelle Dessler -- who would go on to become the greatest heroine in '24' history. We've also got the development of Tony Almeida's true character in this season, which marked the beginning of his becoming the show's secondary male hero. We glimpse a very sympathetic side of George Mason, get Jack at his ever-driven finest, and before it's all over, we even see Sherry taken full circle.
Writing:
There are some great lines from David Palmer, particularly at the end, and without giving too much away, there's a very touching scene between George and his son this season, while the last scenes between George and Jack stand out as well. One of the most memorable lines comes when Jack comments that the thing about terrorists is that they want to blame the rest of the world for everything wrong with their lives.
Action:
Jack vs. Wald's group, the CTU bust just outside of L.A., Kate going undercover, and a simply amazing season finale are some of the highlights in this area.
Romance:
For a series that abounds in but isn't mainly centered around personal relationships, the romance you'll find between Jack and Kate in this one season is better written than that of some shows that actually are romantic dramas. Even now, it remains by far the most cleverly constructed and interesting one that the protagonist has ever been given. Like Jack's relationship with Teri, it worked because, throughout the day, it was in a stage of development. What the show doesn't seem to have grasped since is that Jack's most interesting romances were the ones of this variety, while his least interesting will always be the ones in which the feelings are sprung on us out of nowhere.
Every thing that makes the show good and more is in this season. That's not to say there aren't flaws, just that the strengths outweigh them, and it's definitely not to say that the subsequent seasons aren't good -- just not quite as good as this one.
Movie Review: The Clock is Ticking... Again
Summary: 5 Stars
If you thought the first season was explosive and intense, wait until you get a load of "24: Season Two." Filled with non-stop thrills, chills, excitement, devastating turn-of-events, tragedy and action, this second season proves to be a better success over the first one. Make sure you've strapped your seatbelt in and prepare for one hell of a ride.It's been well over a year since the horrible events that happened to Jack Bauer and his family. Not working for CTU anymore, Jack's life is a complete mess because he constantly blames himself for what happened to them. Things drastically change when he gets a phone call from the President, telling him that there's a nuclear bomb that is set to go off in Los Angeles at any time during the day. Bauer goes back to work for CTU and is once again faced with a 24-hour catastrophe that could very well bring the next World War.
Again, I was hooked right after the first episode and wanted to watch more. It's great to watch the season for the first time on DVD because you can watch as many episodes as you like. I don't know if I could just watch one episode a week. If you thought the first season was a real nail-biter, trust me, you haven't seen anything yet. The second season offers more twists and turns that will make your body ache in every place. You're afraid to watch, fearing that the worst could happen... but, you still do. That's the kind of effect this show has on you.
Be warned (again), this is NOT an easy show to watch. Anything bad you think can happen most likely will. They do not let you off easy with this show. You will see some terrible things. I'm shocked that this isn't on HBO instead of Fox, as I think they get away with a lot of stuff. Then again, that's what's so great about it. It literally breaks all of the rules. The show gets very disturbing and hard to watch. Just be prepared.
The DVD set this time around is EXCELLENT; offering more features than before. The show is widescreen, which really gives you the impression that you're watching a real movie. The picture and sound quality is great, especially for a TV show. Extra features included are over 40 deleted scenes, commentary for selected shows, featurettes and more. There's even a 7th disk included that is dedicated to bonus material. A great package, in my humble opinion.
"24: Season Two" is an addicting joy-ride that will leave you sweating and shaking. It is almost impossible to only watch one episode; you're going to want to watch them all! "24" is really an outstanding show that pushes the envelope every step of the way. Get ready and expect the unexpected and think the unthinkable. This is a rough and unpredictable ride that will leave you wanting more.