Customer Reviews

24 Season 1

5 star:		(534)
4 star:		(76)
3 star:		(45)
2 star:		(29)
1 star:		(23)

 

 

The show itself is of course magnificent for the most part. Innovative, exciting and very well acted. A landmark in modern TV drama, despite a brief drop -off in quality in some of the late afternoon episodes. The DVD picture quality is wonderfully sharp, and the sound is nicely crisp.

Important to note if you are buying this package having not seen the show before (having heard about it from others but too late to join in watching it on TV) that there are spoilers all over the presentation. the enclosed booklet includes short summaries of every episode and not much else, so don't look at it until you've seen the whole show. Similarly the menus feature clips from the show which is nice to watch if you aren't worried about information being given away, as the clips on the menu for each disc tend to reveal major plot points.

Also, the DVD extras are actually pretty poor. The alternative ending is dull and obviously only shot to keep the true ending secret. The teaser for season 2 comprises only Kiefer Sutherland talking in very vague terms about the general concept of 24, with no real information about the second series.

Worst of all is the fact that the footage on the discs is only the footage that was originally broadcast IN THE US. In the UK the broadcast footage included an extra couple of minutes for each of the episodes 7pm - 12pm. This footage contained scenes that was cut from the US broadcast for adverts, whereas in the UK 24 was shown on the BBC where there are no adverts.

These scenes ranged from nice additions to important points: one cut scene had a major impact on the crucial events in the final episode and another even greatly improved the climactic battle between Jack and the bad guys.

Fox haven't included this footage on the DVD versions in either the UK or the US, meaning that us poor Brits have scenes that we miss and this has led to calls for a recall and replacement with the full footage. For the US viewer, this is actually worse, in that you are never going to see these great scenes. There are no running time issues on DVD, unlike on TV, so why not let those fans willing to pay for the box set have bonus footage integrated into their box sets?

Bizarrely, this doesn't affect the VHS British release of 24, only the DVD, so if you want those extra scenes you'll need a PAL compatible TV and VCR.

Why not drop Fox an email congratulating them on making such a great show and asking for them to include the full footage as was broadcast on the BBC?

It's just after midnight at the Bauer home. They're getting ready for bed when Jack gets a phone call asking him to report to work at the Counter Terrorism Unit in Los Angeles. There he's briefed on a plot to assassinate Presidential candidate David Palmer. Meanwhile, his daughter Kim has snuck out of the house to meet some guys who are bad news. His wife Terri is finding trouble searching for Kim. And Palmer is facing a crisis of his own concerning something in his family's past he didn't even know about. It's going to be a long day for everyone.

This thriller series is innovative. Each episode represents just one hour in the day. I wasn't sure they could pull if off, but the writers managed to keep all the plots going and make the gaps between seeing characters believable. It quickly turned into a weekly addiction that had me glued to my seat and dreading commercials more then normal. Some of the plots loose steam in the afternoon, but it builds up tension again for the climax, which was the best hour of television last season, period.

Unfortunately, this set wasn't all it could have been. They removed the "previously on 24" recaps, which are very useful if you just want to pop a random disc into the machine. Ironically, they also don't have a play all feature, which would go well with no recaps. The worst thing, in my opinion, is the lack of chapter breaks in each episode. The season 1 intro (on the last disc) is ok and includes a mention of this season. Of course, at this point, we're far beyond anything they would have told us in the set. The best feature is the alternate ending. While (to my surprise) I prefer the original, it's nice to see what might have been. As you would expect, the picture and audio quality are top notch.

It's a shame this great show didn't get the DVD treatment it deserved. I'm willing to overlook the lack of extras because of timing, but the lack of the recap & chapter breaks really bothers me. Even so, it's a good set of a great show worth using to catch up or remember this innovative program.

My strongest memory of watching Season One of "24" was at the end of episode 12, where I thought that we had finally arrived at a moment where Jack Bauer could take a deep breath and catch his bearings for a moment. Of course, I was wrong, because this is a series where things go from bad to worse and well beyond as Jack Bauer experiences "the worst day of my life." Creator Robert Cochran worked brilliantly within the confines of his grand design, where events happen simultaneously and in real time. The official mission might be heading off an assassination attempt of presidential candidate Senator David Palmer on the day of the California primary, but there is always some pressing task at hand as the hits just keep on coming from start to finish in this show. "24" is a series where the obvious goal was to throw everything at Jack Bauer and the other candidates, including a large number of kitchen sinks, mostly with regards to his family.

I think the casting of Keifer Sutherland as Jack Bauer was strategic, because as the one "movie star" in the cast he stands out as larger than life against the rest of the ensemble. The Sisyphus analogy is not meant to be superficial, because any sense of success at any given moment in the series is transitory at best. Sutherland's performance holds the series together, but the true star is Cochran and his team of writers. It is the story that gets you hooked and sweeps you along for the roller coaster ride as the bad things just keep happening. Watching the show a second time (and in a shorter time span) gave me a better appreciation for how things were set up, which you do not really notice so much the first time through because you have to absorb all the rapid fire developments. The second season is following the same pattern, and I fear it will be disappointing simply because the ending cannot have the emotional impact of what happens with Season One. I would be surprised if Jack Bauer and company make it beyond 48 hours, but we shall see.

Finally: One of the "advantages" of watching the complete first season of "24" on DVD is that you can do it less to start watching it straight through some time (of course, you have to start at midnight). I am too old to engage in such a dedicated effort, but that is no reason for the rest of your not to give it a try.

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.

Reading the Worlds Best Suspense/Thriller novel,
but only being allowed to read a Chapter a week!

Now you can get the entire first book(DVD set)!!
And enjoy the entire thrill ride all at once!

I rented 24 from my video store not knowing what to expect. I heard that it was a good show, but I never bothered to tune in. I already watched Alias, and one crazy spy show was enough for me.

How wrong I was.

As soon as I watched the first episode, I was hooked. If my schedule had permitted it, I would have watched the entire series in 16 straight hours. It is hands down the best television drama I have ever watched. It is brilliantly directed and pieced together, to keep viewers guessing until the end's VERY SHOCKING twist. I only wish I would have bought it at the beginning.

It is wonderfully acted, in my opinion, especially by Kiefer Sutherland, David Haysbert, and Sarah Clarke. Okay, and Penny Johnson Jerald, whom I loved to hate.

Take my advice: buy this DVD set. You will not be disappointed. Just remember to expect the unexpected. Because I know you'll be caught off guard.

A couple of weeks ago, I purchased Season One of "24" for one simple reason...I'd heard it was good, but mainly I just wanted some sort of TV drama (my favorite kind of drama!) to pass the time until LOST returns. Suffice it to say, though, that I will be MAKING time for 24 in the coming weeks and months!

Essentially, the plot of "24" involves the United States Counter Terrorism Unit (headed by Jack Bauer) trying to prevent an assassination attempt on presidential hopeful Senator David Palmer. Many more layers area added on with each hour, but there are so many twists and turns that it would be impossible to explain them all.

The plot is intriguing, but the main aspect of the show that kept my attention for, well, almost 24 hours, is the intensity of every single episode. While some shows (The X-Files immediately comes to mind) are able to "slack off" and film strange episodes every once in awhile only to get back in gear for sweeps months, 24's format requires that the action never let up. Each episode is just as important and exciting as the ones previous.

Plus, to add to the complexity of the show, three different threads are going on during the show at once. Palmer's family struggles with what to do about a family tragedy, Jack Bauer puts the intelligence pieces together, while the terrorists kidnap Jack's family and use them as leverage. There is never a dull moment!

Finally, the acting is very compelling as well. Kiefer Sutherland (much like Matthew Fox's Jack Shepherd on LOST) is fantastically intense, while Dennis Haysbert (Palmer) almost steals the show with the portrayal of his moral/ethical dilemmas.

So, if you (like I was) are looking for a show to complement LOST (or any other TV program), 24 is a great series to get hooked on. Be warned, though, that it is very addicting and you will likely want to finish it sooner than later!

With the possible exception of "The Sopranos," there was no more exciting, compulsively watchable, edge-of-your-seat TV show last season than "24." It wasn't just the momentum of the conspiracy plot that kept us watching, but the profusion of deftly sketched, impeccably cast characters. It was a fascinating guessing game to figure out which ones were clean, which ones were dirty, which ones would get killed off that episode, which ones would prove integral to the plot, which ones would disappear and never come back, etc. It will be interesting to see which ones left standing at the end will figure in next year's story! One thing that's certain is that Kiefer Sutherland has the role of a lifetime as Jack Bauer; if Bauer doesn't do for him what Andy Sipowicz did for Dennis Franz or Tony Soprano did for James Gandolfini, there's no justice in Hollywood (and of course there isn't, but occasionally deserving actors DO get recognized). The show had its flaws; one could rightfully complain that Dennis Hopper hammed it up a little too much as Victor Drazen, or that Teri's hysterical amnesia was a little too convenient (though if any character in TV history had a right to hysterical amnesia, it was Teri Bauer!). Nevertheless, the show was so strongly plotted and written in general, and so full of breathtaking surprises, that it deserves to be ranked as one of the classic action-suspense programs of all time.

Every television series has a dud episode every season. Whenever The X-Files focused on its central alien conspiracy plot, doldrums set in. Whenever The Simpsons made Abe Simpson the lead in an episode, there were more yawns than laughter (thankfully, this only happens maybe once a season). And majority of shows also have had their share of dull episodes that exist only as a filler for an entire season.

But with 24, the case is different. Yes, a subplot that's introduced late in the season is there just for filler and it comes across as rather unlikely, but even at its weakest, 24 is still always thrilling and breakneck paced. Put it this way, this show offers every bit of the same adrenaline rush cinematic actioners such as Speed and Face/Off provided, but improves upon such films because of its great characters, complex script, and director Stephen Hopkins' surprisingly adept eye at mixing high-octane thrills and touching drama.

In case you haven't heard much about 24, the plot revolves around CIA agent Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland, making a career resurgence) who, specifically, is one of the heads of CTU (counter terrorist unit). He's having a little trouble at home around midnight, when he finds that his somewhat estranged daughter, Kim (Elisha Cuthbert), has run off for the night. Before he and his wife, Teri (Leslie Hope), can search for her, he's urgently called to work, as it's believed within the next 24 hours there will be an assasination attempt on Senator David Palmer (Dennis Haysbert), a black presidential candidate who stands a good chance at becoming the next leader of the free world.

Plot-wise that's all you really need to know. The joy of the series comes from the unexpected plot twists, the nail-biting situations and the ways Jack Bauer improvises upon these numerous dilemmas. Unlike most thrillers, 24 doesn't cop out; the clever script adds little nuances that'll put a smile on your face (when Bauer is desperate to interview a henchman alone, watch what he does). The central plot holds together amazingly well, and never bogs down in confusion. The final plot twist is a doozy, and while it might be a little puzzling at first, it makes sense after some careful thought.

As stated before, the only time the script really stumbles is in that one subplot, but othewise, this is an unexpectedly well-written thriller that's both intelligent and thought-provoking. There's a lot of attention paid to characters (the villains aren't one-dimensional thugs) and detail, examining the interesting political structure behind a candidacy, as well as the people that make it happen.

24 is directed like a movie, meaning we get very crisp, often brilliant editing and outstanding cameawork. On a technical level, it's hard to fault the show, all the more impressive when you realize the series is in real-time. Such seemingly minor details as traffic lights are not ignored, and these little additions add extra tension, building upon an already unbearably suspenseful storyline. The musical score also adds another layer of suspense, and unlike most TV series, doesn't rely on a repeating theme that gets tiresome and annoying.

As a thriller, 24 delivers an abundance of exciting action sequences. There are shootouts, chases, and nail-biting games of cat-and-mouse that that are set-up magnficently and feature equally satisfying pay-offs. The final episode is perhaps 24's most thrilling segment, featuring an intense gunfight that actually resonates dramatically. There's also an awe-inspiring, heart-pounding game of chicken between two passing cars that possibly represents the series' most compelling confrontation (and believe me, that's saying a lot). These action scenes work not only because of how well-choreographed they are, but because you actually care about the situations and the outcomes.

Unlike most films about assasination attempts, the candidate whose life is at stake is a superbly developed character. As played by Dennis Haysbert in a compelling performance, we actually care about what happens to this man because he's a likeable, flesh-and-blood individual and not just some macguffin that drives the plot forward. A dilemma within this character's own family and campaign adds an intriguing extra dimension that a lesser film or series would have ignored.

But the actor who truly makes the series gel is Kiefer Sutherland. The man has always been an underrated actor, delivering solid performances on a consistent basis. But this his best work to date. As Jack Bauer, Sutherland is riveting, creating a character that works as both a family man and as a tough man of action. With a magnetic presence and dramatic range, this is a wonderful performance that was entirely deserving of the Golden Globe Sutherland received. Leslie Hope, as his wife, adds warmth to the series in a performance that's often touching, and always believable. It's nice to see she's no damsel in distress, either. The rest of the cast is quite good, I especially loved the adding of Dennis Hopper as a villian, but honestly? What's NEW? HE IS The VILLIN ("Speed")

The season ends on a surprisingly powerful note, as if though the creators made certain conclude the story with a bang and not a whimper. They certainly succeeded. The main story arcs are resolved, but each character has a price to pay. It's in the final scenes you realize 24 has transcended beyond the realm of great entertainment and into the pantheon of genuine masterpiece. Believe me, there's no better show on television today.

I'm hooked to this series. I have every episode taped and the suspense was killing me as I waited for the next episode. I wonder what season 2 will be like. This is extremely good move from the people at FOX. This gives people a chance to buy it and discover the series before season 2 starts! I am definitely telling one of my friends the DVD set is out and to buy it because season 1 of 24 was the best show this last TV season period! It blows the competition away! It has twists and turns, suspense, great action scenes, great actors such as Keifer Sutherland and Dennis Hopper. The tension mounts as the show goes on and you will be extremely tempted to watch all 24 episodes in one sitting. This is one DVD set I want without a doubt. Thank you FOX! The plot for everyone who don't know is simple and complex. Keifer Sutherland plays Jack Bauer who works for the CTU. He has to stop a black presidential cndidate from being assassinated on the day of the California presidential primary. His wife and daughter are put in danger. There's a mole in the CTU working for the bad guys. Buy this if you're a fan! Buy this if you haven't checked out this quality show!