24: Season 8, 24 The Complete Final Season, Day 8 whatever you want to call this end to the series that happens in real time with no flashbacks is an interesting exercise in nonstop action.
Film making 18/25
Video 18/25
Audio 20/25
Bonus Features 10/25
Total 66/100
I was not very interested in reviewing 24: Season 8 much less watching the series when it first came out but it is pretty good in the end. There’s something about watching a real time show that does not take time out for anything, it just plays the show in real time with no flashbacks.
When 24 first aired I was not interested all that much and could not understand how in the world they were going to pull it off. To have every episode of the season, 8 episodes covering eight hours of time jam packed with action to keep an audience glued to their seats would be hard.
This show very much seems to me like a full season of action for any other show packed into eight hours and was going to be too much action to be believable. It’s like a freight train running into a wall head on in slow motion, each episode is packed with action but it is way too much for eight hours of time.
Not even in the most outrageous drama does this much action and suspense happen in such a short period of time, that is what 24 is all about. Whether you believe it or not 24 does take the action of a full season and crams it into eight hours of a show starring Kiefer Sutherland as Jack Bauer.
Jack Bauer is a spy, special agent or whatever other euphemisms you might want to give for the good guy fighting for the right side. In this season he is just about to get on a plane and head off to retirement to spend his days babysitting his granddaughter when the stuff hits the fan.
A Russian wants to turn himself in and uncover a plot that Russians want to kill a foreign leader during a peace negotiation. Bauer comes in to help but is drawn back in full time to uncover the plot behind the assassination attempt, the subsequent plots that are beneath that and the eventual attempt at nuclear terrorism.
The season has plenty of plot twists and of course with everything happening in real time, 45 minutes or so per episode, it is a lot to take in. Just knowing that with every hour major action scenes are happening is a bit too much and after awhile just detracts from the show in my opinion.
In the end Jack finds out the truth and ends the overall plot to blow up the United States and kill millions but for those who just can’t get enough Jack may be back. It seems a movie version may be in the offering but I hope they do not continue the same real time events, a full two hours of nonstop action is just too much.
Just how much of a story could they even fit into that two hour film anyway; if they do come out with a film you can be sure there will be plenty of eager followers to witness more 24 action. The show is fairly good even with the real time oddity and really does keep the action moving with really good acting as well.
24: the Complete Final Season on DVD is a good set and with excellent but expected audio and video for a DVD you get everything you could want as far as quality. The audio is in 5.1 Dolby Digital with Spanish and French subtitles with video in 1.78:1 widescreen.
Extras for the eighth season of 24 on DVD is a bit sparse with deleted and extended scenes, a few making of features and a look at the New York of the show. The extras are alright but pretty slim for such a big show well into its run that was disappointing, they could have included more.
If you’re a 24 fan this final season is well worth the purchase and like me it is one that can grow on you but if you haven’t seen it before try a rental.
