Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Farewell to "24"

This is topic Farewell to "24" in forum The Afterlife at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Claude S. Ayakawa (Member # 1401) on 03-27-2010, 04:29 AM:

CNN online reported the popular television series "24" will end it's run with the current 8th season that is running now. It will be followed by a two hour theatrical version that will cover the twenty four hour time period within the running time of the movie. The producers are not saying if the series will have a happy or a tragic ending. "24' was the only series I had bothered to watch as it aired every monday night for couple of seasons until last year when I had missed the opening episode.Because of that, I sat out the season as it aired and watched it when it was released on Blu-Ray and DVD. I watched it on Blu-Ray. Because I preferred watching it on BD, with a better1080p picture and DTS sound, I also decided to wait for the current season Blu-Ray discs to come out later this summer and watch it at that time.

-Claude

Posted by Hillary Charles (Member # 769) on 03-27-2010, 08:58 AM:

"24" has been appointment television for John and myself from the second season (and we watched season 1 in syndacted re-runs). In the early seasons, the turncoat agents, CTI infiltrations and sudden deaths of sympathetic characters were surprising, sometimes shocking. Now, watching this season, we keep guessing when and where those elements are going to sneak up again. It was a great formula, but I'm surprised they got eight seasons out of it.

Posted by Bobby Henderson (Member # 840) on 03-27-2010, 12:44 PM:

24 has arguably "jumped the shark" (finally). While some of the plot lines and character developments were intriguing 24 was also very annoying in how so many of its characters would do absolutely stupid, nonsensical things just to get the plot steered into a certain direction. Lazy, bullshit writing. Ugh.

One of my coworkers has still been watching this season. But she told me she's finally had enough due to a certain plot revelation that happens near the end of the episode. Too ridiculous to believe.

Posted by Claude S. Ayakawa (Member # 1401) on 03-27-2010, 10:47 PM:

In order to fully enjoy "24", one must fully disengage one's brain and flow with the tide and accept every bull shit they come up with to 'juice' up the plot. I was able to do that and that was the reason I had enjoyed almost every season. Even after I had disengaged my brain I still cannot believe it is at possible for all of the many bad things that occur during the season is supposed to have happened during a twenty four hour time period For some reason, every time I watch the show, I get the feeling I am watching something that is happening during a period of days or weeks, not hours. It is still a tremendous show and I will miss it. At least I have the movie I can look forward to.

-Claude

Posted by John Wilson (Member # 269) on 03-28-2010, 01:50 AM:

About 6 series too late...and that's being generous.

Posted by Mark J. Marshall (Member # 1409) on 03-28-2010, 08:50 AM:

To me 24 used to be GREAT... then it was really good... then it was great again. The last couple of seasons have been just ok to me. I think it was the second season where I was wishing someone would kill off Jack's daughter because she was so stupid and kept driving the show in the wrong direction. I think it was a good run... maybe a season or two too late. Clearly an example of not ending the show on a high note, but dragging it out until it couldn't be dragged out anymore.

It was also quite frustrating trying to disengage my disbelief with all of their bogus techno speak. Didn't they have any IT consultants on the show? Sending video footage from IP Address 202.098.765.763? Really?? That's pretty freakin cool. Someone alert the media - the Internet isn't about to run out of IP addresses after all! 24 just uncovered some new subnets than no one has ever heard of before!

[Roll Eyes]

Posted by Martin McCaffery (Member # 37) on 03-30-2010, 10:23 PM:

My favorite comment about 24 came from Television Without Pity:
"This show would be alot better if it was called 12" [evil]

Posted by Jonathan Smith (Member # 5609) on 03-31-2010, 09:24 AM:

Farewell to another beautiful 35mm-shot show that is going to be replaced by a crummy looking HD reality show or some other garbage [Frown]

Posted by Hillary Charles (Member # 769) on 04-05-2010, 09:07 PM:

After the last two hours tonight, any qualms I had about this season have become relatively unimportant. It's still cheese, but very good cheese!

I gotta wind down.

Posted by Bobby Henderson (Member # 840) on 04-06-2010, 12:41 AM:

Fox pulled its punches when the hostage merely had his throat cut. Real terrorists (and dope dealers) don't stop at that. They cut off the entire head! Hell, what's the difference? They already showed the dude with a gaping red neck wound. Isn't that R-rated enough? Just show a completely severed head to let the "reality" sink into the viewers.

Violence kicks ass. It's the American Way™.

Posted by Hillary Charles (Member # 769) on 04-06-2010, 07:15 AM:

SPOILER ALERT BOBBY! [Eek!]

There have been other times in which I thought "24" should have been more explicit--primarily the torture scenes. I guess that desire should concern me, but whatever. [Wink]

The way Jack took Hussein's brilliantly coiffed head and tilted it forward made me feel that it was cut through so far it might fall off backward. So I wasn't disappointed. PLUS, he got the silent clock!

The other "shout at the tv" moment was when they made that discovery, they allowed the video feed to continue. Of course it could be explained that the video feed was coming from elsewhere, but it appeared that nearby computer was running the video. At least spare the world the actual execution and diminish its propoganda impact.

Posted by Mark J. Marshall (Member # 1409) on 04-06-2010, 07:51 AM:

Yep, only a select few have ended the show with a silent clock. It's quite an achievement.

The idea of cutting off someone's head reminds me of the episode where Jack shot the FBI witness (I think he was a child molester or something) in the second season. After getting yelled at for killing the guy, Jack looks up from the body and says, "Do you want to find this bomb or not? I'm gonna need a hacksaw."

Posted by Hillary Charles (Member # 769) on 04-06-2010, 08:15 AM:

quote: Mark J. Marshall
"Do you want to find this bomb or not? I'm gonna need a hacksaw."

LOL I forgot about that line! Yeah, Jack's deadpan request really took me aback!

Posted by Bobby Henderson (Member # 840) on 04-06-2010, 09:29 AM:

Sorry about the spoiler thing earlier. I forgot about that episode years ago where Jack killed the child molester dude and cut off his head. Although I seem to remember we didn't see much of the head at all (just a sack with the suggestion a human head was inside).

Posted by Mark J. Marshall (Member # 1409) on 04-06-2010, 03:38 PM:

How did you guys forget that??! That was one of my all time favorite Jack Bauer moments.

Speaking of that... (this could be fun) ... anyone else have any favorite Jack Bauer moments?

The rest of this thread could end up being spoiler territory, so just be warned if you've never seen the show.

Posted by Hillary Charles (Member # 769) on 04-06-2010, 03:45 PM:

Didn't he need that guy's head so he could use the eyes to get past a retinal scan security lock?

A favorite Jack moment that comes immediately to mind is when he threatens someone with shoving a towel down his throat and when his stomach is digesting it, will pull it out, bringing his digestive system along up! [Eek!]

Most upsetting was when he had to shoot Chappelle. "God forgive me."

Posted by Claude S. Ayakawa (Member # 1401) on 04-06-2010, 07:48 PM:

Hi Hillary,

I have not watched any of the current season episodes of 24 because I plan to watch the entire season either on Blu-Ray or DVD so if you have to give away plot details, please use a spoiler tag. Thanks [Smile]

-Claude

Posted by Hillary Charles (Member # 769) on 04-06-2010, 07:57 PM:

Claude,

Rest assured that as long as you didn't read my post which actually said "SPOILER ALERT BOBBY," you didn't see anything I wrote pertaining to this season. Every other post with specifics refers to previous seasons which you most likely already saw. [Smile]

Posted by Bobby Henderson (Member # 840) on 04-06-2010, 10:53 PM:

quote: Hillary Charles
Didn't he need that guy's head so he could use the eyes to get past a retinal scan security lock?

I thought Jack had to use the pedophile's head to gain confidence with some drug traffickers, basically he had to murder someone to prove he wasn't a cop or government agent.

Posted by Hillary Charles (Member # 769) on 04-07-2010, 06:46 AM:

So much of the carnage is a blur to me! [Confused]

What you say sounds right. Once Mark posted the line regarding the hacksaw, I remembered that, but not so much the other circumstances. Thanks.

Posted by Mark J. Marshall (Member # 1409) on 04-07-2010, 10:18 AM:

Yeah, that's right. The pedophile was going to testify against the drug guys (or whatever they were), so Jack brought them his head to gain their favor and get back undercover with them quickly.

Another favorite Bauerism is when he wraps his legs around a bad guy and snaps his neck... usually while handcuffed. That's a pretty cool trick.

Posted by Bobby Henderson (Member # 840) on 04-07-2010, 03:03 PM:

I thought that was a Mel Gibson Lethal Weapon trick.

Posted by Mark J. Marshall (Member # 1409) on 04-07-2010, 05:28 PM:

Maybe that's where Jack learned it! [Smile]