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Reviews DVD Reviews
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Written by Dave Anderson
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Monday, 27 November 2006 |
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Grade Content Grade:
A+
Sound Grade:
A
Extras Grade:
B+
Picture Grade:
A
Specs Fox Home Entertainment 1.78:1 Widescreen English 5.1 Dolby Digital; Spanish 2.0 Dolby Surround Spanish Subtitles 1012 min., color, 2006 Not Rated - contains violence and language
Review
As much as I've loved "24" from the get-go, I was positive the creators would only be able sustain its unique premise for maybe a season or two. Thankfully I've been wrong. Not only has the show endured, it's gotten better and more unpredictable with each season. Season Five has the best, most intrigue-loaded story so far, and thank god no one in the writing department has yet to raise the question, how many catastrophic bad days can one guy endure? This 7-disc boxed set is yet another must-own collection of suspenseful cliff-hangers, plot-twists and large-scale cinematic action, with the added bonus of not having to wait a full week between episodes.
This season starts with the shocking assassination of one of it's most beloved characters, President David Palmer (Dennis Haysbert), and there the ride begins. CTU agent Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) is framed for the crime, and comes out of exile (he was declared dead to escape retribution from the Chinese for events in Season Four), not only to clear his name, but to find out who's behind the assassination. Meanwhile, just as the new U.S. President is negotiating an historic treaty with the Russian resident, Russian terrorists are trying to thwart his efforts by once again threatening all of Los Angeles with chemical weapons. Bauer soon discovers that, not only are the terrorists supported by several high-powered Americans, the President himself is at the core of the conspiracy. I'm simplifying things, of course, because part of the fun of "24" has always been the shocking and outrageous plot turns throughout each season. To outline them here would be ruining the addictive pleasure of finding out on your own. And for a show that revels in its unpredictability, Season Five outdoes all the previous stories, liberally killing off long-beloved characters, so long as their demises serve the story. And aside from Sutherland's dynamic portrayal of Bauer, it's that willingness to place the story above all else that continues to make "24" the best action series on TV.  Picture and Sound
From a picture and sound standpoint, this third boxed set is as good as the first four. Fox has done a commendable job presenting this program on disc, with anamorphic widescreen and 5.1 sound. The show looks and sounds as good as any big-budget Hollywood action picture you can name, and perhaps part of the reason the show plays more like a theatrical film than a TV series.
Extras
Several episodes offer commentaries by various cast & crew (including Sutherland), but most of the supplementary features can be found on disc 7. The most enticing, of course, is the so-called 'prequel' to Season Six. Other season sets have included this feature, and while they are sort of interesting, they are essentially opportunities for product placement (namely, Toyota), and have little or no baring on the story. Also included are 4 great featurettes surrounding the making of the show, 23 extended or deleted scenes (which, if you're one of those who can't get enough of "24", you will enjoy), a perfunctory 100th episode reel (a montage of highlights from all 5 seasons), and a promo for the upcoming "24" book, which apparently has lots of behind-the-scenes stories & photos.
Summary
"24" is the best and most unpredictable action series on TV, and Season Five is the most intriguing season so far. Of course, it has me wondering how they can possibly top themselves for Season Six, but then again, I've been asking that same question every year since Season One. This boxed set is very highly recommended. Useless Trivia: During Season 5, Kiefer Sutherland signed on for three additional seasons, in addition to an upcoming theatrical film.
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