Category Archives: Fox

“Sit Back & Enjoy The Ride”

I’ve been sitting, watching a blinking cursor for half an hour, trying to figure out how best to describe my thoughts on the first four episodes. To coherently present thoughts I’m sure many of you have been having about the episodes we’ve seen so far, that moves beyond “That was awesome!”

But in truth i’ve run out of time, so this review isn’t going to be as comphrensive as I’d like, more simply an overview of why it was so good, using as few cliches as possible.

I’ve already written up my thoughts on the first 17 minutes, but in brief when I saw the first 17 minutes on the 24: Redemption DVD I loved them, I couldn’t imagine how they could have been any better. And so in the manner of those first minutes episode 1 and 2 continued, solid, subtle, with slowly building tension creeping up on you, all created by masterfully crafted dialogue.

The first two episodes have so much to love, Jack’s testimony to the Senate, and in general how the episodes very slightly changed the shows position on torture. They’ve received a fair amount of criticism for the shows use of torture in the past, and rightly so in my view, but whatever your opinion on torture you couldn’t have failed to notice how the writing had grown lazy in using torture as a way out of every corner. This left them with a bit of a condundrum, continue as before and it sends a clear message to a legion of fans who are tired of the repetition that the writers aren’t listening – do a complete u-turn on torture, and it would be seen as a cynical move. But they managed to negiogate the minefield well by being slightly more open about it, not being as defensive, and airing various different sides of the argument. All this added up to some interesting and dramatic moments, how far would Jack have gone after Agent Walker appear to give him the green light?, and how far was Walker prepared to let Jack go?

The most intelligent writing the series has had in a long time means the episode 1 and 2 are extremely entertaining and engergetic, but in reality are just a good solid foundation for the rollercoaster ride that was to come in 3 and 4.

Continue reading “Sit Back & Enjoy The Ride”

Season Seven – 24’s Road To Redemption?

A few words from a post-rehab 24 addict, seventeen minutes into season seven

Hello, my name is J_A and I’m an addict. A 24 addict.

Or well, I used to be.

I have been addicted to 24 from the first second of season 1; actually, even before that. I saw a commercial for it and instantly knew that this was my show. Then, when the pilot actually aired, bang, I was hooked. Addicted. Going down a one-way street into a very cool habit.

I was indeed one of those fans who’d live, breathe and bleed 24, whose ­weeks would run from 24 to 24 instead of Monday to Sunday, who’d turn off their phones whenever watching the show, bore people to death with talking about how great the show was, I’d spend my spare time re-watching 24 episodes, eventually knowing all dialogue by heart; I missed 24 during the hiatus so much that I started my own chain of 24-like events by writing fanfictions, I would have applied for a job at CTU if it hadn’t been a fictional agency, and I most definitely would have elected David Palmer into the Office…

What was so addictive about it, apart from its complexity and the breakneck speed with which it raced through the season? When 24 first hit the screens in 2001, it was simply the most innovative, gripping and thrilling series to ever air on TV. The format was unique, the writing superb, the casting perfect, the acting motivated, the characters had depth and the storyline was one big arc, revealing itself little by little.

Continue reading Season Seven – 24’s Road To Redemption?

iF Magazine Reviews 24: Redemption

Some how the lucky guys over at iF Magazine have been shown a finished cut of the upcoming S7 Prequel “24:Redemption” …

… And boy, what a ride. It’s nice to know Jack, after a year and half of television inactivity is back in action and ready to kick-ass in whole new package.

… Teamed with a former buddy turned missionary Carl Benton (Robert Carlyle), the two of them have been helping out children in Africa through education while a ruthless warlord (Tony Todd) is attempting to overthrow the government while abducting children into his militia …

… Suffice to say, the movie plays out in real-time over a two-hour period, it retains all the things 24 fans love … It also sets up a great group of new cast members that should provide an interesting, different season than we’ve seen before on 24.

I know it’s two months away, but man, after you see this movie, you’ll immediately want Season 7 to start. With the current economy a mess, and our own presidential race still on, not having Jack around to make things right in a fictional U.S. scenario has been solely missing …

… After the network run is over, it’s clear Jack Bauer as played by Kiefer Sutherland is a character that will be able to segue into a big budget film franchise with ease.

I’m not sure how much to trust a review from a someone who got an early preview, your always likely to be kinder when you’ve been given the VIP all access pass, read the full review at the link below.

source : ifmagazine.com

From Exile To Redemption

Just catching up on some news about the S7 Prequel TV movie. Previously called “24: Exile” is now officially titled “24: Redemption”, which is a curious name change and I wouldn’t be surprised if thats simply for DVD marketing sake, and that TV advertising for the first run and in show titles will simply be “24”.

Now for some updated news of the DVD, A UK Region 2 release has been confirmed for the 1st of December, which fits in with what we previously reported about Sky One airing the TV movie in the last week of November.

Dates for your diary.
Sunday 23rd November : US TV Airing
Tuesday 25th November : US DVD Release
Last Week November : UK TV Airing
Monday 1st December : UK DVD Release

Season Seven Production To Stop Again

According to various reports, production on Season Seven will take a 2 week break on September 25th after Episode 18 is done filming. The reason cited is that Howard Gordon isn’t satisfied with scripts and story ideas for the final 6 episodes, and given they’ve almost got 18 episodes of the season proper done with regular episodes not due to start airing until January it would be stupid not to pause to catch breath.

This is far from the first time production has stopped or been delayed on Season Seven, while in pre-production several different storylines and arcs where dismissed as “the wrong direction” or simply “too expensive”, which meant a delayed start to Production. Then came the writers strike which hit with only between 6 and 8 episodes written, which forced Fox to put back the season by a whole year.

It’s been extremely hard to judge the positives and negatives of the previous halts to production, but this one is entirely positive, and quite frankly was surely a no-brainer. Noises from the Kiefer and various Exec Producers have been very happy about the season they’ve produced up to this point, and what trailers we’ve been given certainly grabbed us. Hopes are high, the fate of a potentially lucrative franchise will live or die with this season. If it’s not almost pitch perfect it’ll be the swansong, get it right and a big screen outing is only a matter of time. And so if your not entirely happy with the last 6 episodes, then you’ve got to take a step back.

Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments or on the forums.