24: Redemption Review

If you do not know who Jack Bauer is by now I highly suggest you prioritize your life.

We have seen many TV shows, movies and books with interesting and exciting protagonists , but none quite like Jack Bauer.

Character summary: Jack Bauer is the protagonist of the United States television series 24, in which he has trained and worked in various capacities as a government agent, including US Army Delta Force, LAPD SWAT, CIA, and finally the Counter Terrorist Unit (CTU) Los Angeles. Within the 24 storyline, he is a key member of the latter and is often noted as the best agent CTU has. Jack's job usually involves him helping prevent major terrorist attacks on the United States, saving both civilians and governments. On many occasions Jack does so at great personal expense, as those he thwarts subsequently target him and his loved ones.

Brief character summary: don't fuck with this guy

There have been 6 seasons so far of the series 24. The time line between season 1 and season 6 is averaged out to be around 10 years. Well lets just say Jack Bauer has been through a hell of allot in these last 10 years. When the show first started Jack was a happy man with a wife and a daughter. since then everyone he ever cared about and loved has either died or left him. Season 7 of 24 was originally set to air January 2008 but was delayed an entire year because of the WGA strike. This was major letdown for us 24 fans. Then Fox announced that it will be premiering a 24 TV movie to bridge the gap between season 6 and season 7.

24: Redemption

We start off in South Africa where young children are being unwillingly drafted as soliders in a militia. Since we last left Jack Bauer he has been traveling from place to place to find peace with himself. He is also avoiding going back to the states where he is subpoenaed to appear before the Senate hearing. He makes it quiet clear he wants nothing to do with that and if they want him they can come and get him. Jack is staying with an old friend named Carl Benton. Benton is a good friend and mentor of Jacks. He is also running a school for rescued child soldiers. On the other side of town General Benjamin Juma (An African dictator responsible for committing mass genocide in Sangala) is raising an army and drafting every child he can find. Just as jack is about to leave the Generals men come for the children of Carl's School. So as usual its all up to jack to make things right.

The children all hide under the school while jacks kills as many of the Generals men as he can. He just about gets them all until he is knocked down and captured. The Generals men question jack on where the children are witch is really pointless seeing as no one can break Jack Bauer. Luckily Carl is close by and few gun shots later, a one legged neck snap and the Generals men are all defeated. From this point on it is up to Jack and Carl to get all the children onto the last rescue helicopter leaving for the states. They have less than 2 hours and will encounter a few detours on the way, but hey that shouldn't be any problem.

Meanwhile over in Washington it is an Inauguration Day for the next U.S. President. The Inauguration is for Hillary Clinton Alisson Taylor the first female president of the United States. While visiting the white house she is called to former president Noah Daniels office where she is informed of The situation in Africa. President Noah Daniels and Senator Taylor clearly have some different point of view on how to handle it. Meanwhile Senator Taylor's son Roger gets a call from his friend Chris saying he might be in trouble. At first Roger assumes it is alcohol problems but soon finds out it is something entirely different.

The Good: Just seeing Jack Bauer on my television screen again is good enough for me, but other than that were allot of things that made this movie great. The movie took place in "real time" just like 24 usual does with was good.The acting was good in this, Keefer Sutherland did great as usual and Robert Carlyle (Carl Benton) was good on screen. The story line and plot was great considering it was all within 2 hours. The action scenes in this were also very exciting. Another thing I enjoyed about this was how it was different from usual episodes of 24, by this I mean it did not involve CTU or another team backing up jack, this time jack was all on his own with nothing but his two backpacks and trusty side arm.

The Bad: Hmm... not to much to say here. One of the only negative things I would have to say about this would be the sub story line in Washington was a little boring. There is something about The new president Allison Taylor that I just don't like, maybe its just me but something doesn't feel right about her. Also I was a little disappointed that other than Noah Daniels and brief appearance of Tom Lennox there were not any other characters from 24 in this movie though in a way that can also be a positive thing.

So all in all after watching this movie I was nothing short of extremely satisfied. So overall this was a great film. It had great dramatic scenes and intense adrenaline filled action that us 24 fans thrive on. I am really looking forward to the two night four hour premier of 24 season 7 witch will be premiering on fox Sunday, January 11, 2009 and Monday, January 12, 2009.

If you just read this and said to yourself oh shit I should of watched this and think you have missed it fear not my fellow spill friends. Pick up the 24: Redemption DVD in stores November 25th at your local Wal-Mart or wherever the hell it is you go.

By: Adam Taylor