24 - Season 1 [DVD]

When 24 first hit British TV screens early in 2002, word had already spread from America that this was one show not to be missed. And so it proved. With its combination of fast-paced storylines, top-notch acting from, amongst others, Kiefer Sutherland, and innovative split-screen action, 24 became the contemporary equivalent of Twin Peaks, the one show you just had to see.The storyline centres around a terrorist plot to assassinate a Presidential candidate, played by Dennis Haysbert, with each of the 24 episodes unfolding in 'real-time', (although stripped of the gaps left for US advertisements, the actual running time of each episode is more like 40 minutes). Sutherland's character, Jack Bauer, heads a crack-team of counter-terrorist agents out to foil the plot. Over the course of the day, as the tension, (and body-count), grows, various plot strands become increasingly intertwined, leading to the final, thrilling denouement.Fox have commemorated this magnificent show by producing a smart looking box-set, with a slip-case that removes to reveal a fold-out container, packed with images and 24 logos. All six of the discs are inside this one pack, along with a full-colour booklet that has snippets of information about the show.So what about the quality of the discs? The animated menus are superb, showing brief, chronologically arranged, clips from each of the four shows on the disc. Select an episode and you are taken to its menu, from where you can play the episode or navigate around its various chapters. A very slick looking, fast moving set up! (By the way, if you do nothing on the episode menu for about ten seconds, you'll hear a slightly unnerving message!)Once you've selected the episode you want to see, you're met with an excellent, high-quality 16x9 Anamorphic Widescreen image, which really makes full use of the show's visual strengths. The sound, although only a basic stereo surround, does a good job. All the dialogue is clear and the many explosions, gun shots and other effects ring around nicely! In truth, a 5.1 soundtrack would have added to the package, but the lack of such a feature shouldn't put you off. One slight criticism of the discs is that, having watched an episode, you are automatically taken back to the menu screens, rather than having the facility to watch all four episodes on the discs 'back-to-back' with no interruptions.As for the extras, all I can say is don't get too excited. The alternative ending, (which I will describe as 'happy' in contrast to the 'sad' ending transmitted on TV), shows that the directors made the right choice of conclusion. The alternative lacks any sense of the dramatic punch packed by the original ending. The Season 2 preview is also a huge disappointment. It consists of Kiefer Sutherland talking about how dramatic Season 1 was, and promising us more of the same next time round. This would have worked better as an introduction on disc one, as it tells us next to nothing about the second series.The lack of extras aside, this set gives you the perfect memento of one of the greatest TV series to ever be made.

My title says it all. I bought this last week having found myself glued to Season 7, which i started watching on Television about a month ago. I recieved this on Wednesday, started watching late Wednesday night, and I finished it on Saturday night... That's 3 Days. I've never been so addicted to a show in my life. My every thought at work was "Get home and watch 24". My whole weekend revolved around 24. I couldn't stop thinking about it, and certainly couldn't stop watching it. The only complaint I have is that when it was over, I didn't have Season 2. It was the saddest I've felt in a long time, which is really quite pathetic when you think about it. Can I sum up how much I loved this? Negative, but I can give an example. 1/3 of the way through season 1, I ordered Season 2 (Which arrived today!) By the time I had only 1 disc of Season 1 to go, I ordered Seasons 3, and 4, with Season 5 awaiting Pay Day, and seasons 7,8 and Redemption sitting on my Wish List (Season 6 will by ordered from another online supplier as Amazon doesn't currently have any copies) That's how good this series is. For crying out loud, I've only seen 1 Series, and I've ordered the next 3! I think it was probably safer when it was on TV, then I only got to see one episode a day!Now enough about my pathetic addiction. Let me just say that superb acting, an incredible, twisty, suspenseful plot, and a great Score, makes this one of the best shows I've ever watched. I feel saddened that I never took the time to watch this when it was airing on television all those years ago. But I'm here now, that's what matters. I wish to spoil absolutely nothing, so I will say, just when you think you have everything figured out, it throws a curveball, and you have to start over. Characters are delightful. The ever brilliant Kiefer Sutherland as Jack Bauer is just the start. I found myself wanting to see a bit more of a few sub-characters. Namely Tony Ameida, who was painfully underused in this season.If you have any difficulties with getting hooked onto a show, avoid this series like the plague. I'm a casualty of this brilliant program, but it's not too late to save yourself. I get to start watching Season 2 when I get home, and I cannot wait. I've heard that Season 2 is EVEN BETTER, so I'm understandably excited.Right now, train Time schedules are threatening to alter the amount of time it takes me to get home. My Boxset is still hours away. And the people I work with, may try inviting me out for drinks. I'm 24 Fan Ceo Take, and this will be the longest afternoon of my life.

Thanks Ideal