Wonderfully offbeat film!

Disturbing yet enthralling

Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.

a film so unique, intoxicating and bizarre that it not only demands another viewing, but is also forgivable as a satirical comedy where the jokes eventually take the back seat.

Humanitarian Mish mash. A very effective but violent special forces' agent, running away from the USA where he is wanted for many exploits of his, Jack Bauer is helping out a UN refugee camp for orphans in some difficult country in Africa, is there one that isn't? Then these children become the target of a rebel general who wants them in his army. He tries to kidnap them. Jack Bauer defends them. But the plot sickens at once with American politics. The first woman president has just been elected. The African country concerned is an ally of the US. The outgoing US president has financed, under the table of course, the rebellion against an official ally of the USA in order to create a problem for his successor. Is she really better? Who cares any way. She ends up with her inaugural speech that promises the American people, if they do what they have to do, their patriotic duty, that she will conserve and save democracy and freedom. Where? In hell I guess for the Africans that are sacrificed on the American political chessboard. We wonder after a while who can be interested in seven or eight or maybe twenty if they can seasons of this never ending series that is the most anti-American and anti-humane series I know. Anti-American because it is the Americans who are the only equal people in this world of freedom for the Americans only. It sounds like "Deutschland über alles", Germany above them all. That's not what the American dream is all about. And anti-humane because simple people, individuals, even masses of individuals are nothing but cattle and politics is only how you bring fodder to this cattle or how you slaughter that cattle before they starve to death because there is no fodder, since the fodder has been used to feed the over-fed masters of this world, especially in diamonds and other gold or uranium.Dr Jacques COULARDEAU, University Paris 1 Pantheon Sorbonne, University Paris 8 Saint Denis, University Paris 12 Créteil, CEGID

24 IS BACK. IT'S BACK AND IT'S REDEEMED! Good movie and it's a definite change up from "evil terrorist plot starting" stuff, though I still found the boring political B-Plot tiresome; it was truly a horrendous subplot. I thought they were going to get away from this stuff? Anyways, it was a nice touch to hear Jack say "events take place in real time" at the beginning again; they haven't done that since the first season and props to Sean Callery, who adapted the 24-style music nicely to the setting. It was also refreshing watching an episode of 24 and not having to hear that damn CTU phone ring every 5 minutes.They also seemed to heavily borrow concepts from Blood Diamond and Last King of Scotland. Maybe a more appropriate title would have been 'The Last King of Scotland's Blood Diamond: The Series'. Also, what was the time difference between Africa and the States? Why was there day light in both places? And I guess Hillary won in the 24 universe, which must mean Powers Boothe = John McCain. Also loved the gratuitous tit shots when they were discussing important plot points over the phone.I was also pretty shocked when they killed the kids; a first in 24 and I loved how Jack took out their whole army, especially with that stealth knife kill and that jump from the tree was awesome too. Also loved the "Why don't you go hide in the shelter with the other children" line.They seem to be overdoing the whole Jack torture scene as it's reaching Mel Gibson self parody level now. Hmmm, The Passion of the Bauer? Though saying that, Jack's been in a Chinese prison for a year, you really think the Africans are going to mess with him? And I loved that KILL BY KNEE scene.I was sad when Carl died (damn kids always screwing things up) though it was an awesome way to go out and it was odd how they didn't give him the silent clock. And even more oddly, they did the silent clock at the end of the movie; so either Benton had just died or Jack's soul did. And the "He's not coming. He's DEAD!" line was cooold.The gun fight an the end reminded me of Black Hawk Down and I wish Jack would of shot that kid. I was also disappointed that the subpoena guy didn't die, although that was a sweet thing he did to get Jack back.Oh, and they must have paid a lot to get less commercials in the first half, though we sure did pay for it in the second half.

I watched this yesterday on Dutch Television. I had not been following 24 for quite some time and to see a movie was a great surprise. As an avid fan I really looked forward to this. I made my tea and cookies and was ready to enjoy.Obviously Jack Bauer kicked ass again, no surprise here, what the problem was was the poor ending. Not to mention the film only lasted an hour. It was too damn short, the ending wasn't a real ending. It didn't feel good. I think that you can't really make a good movie out of a series if that series requires 24 hours to make an entire story. They had the same eye for detail but not the time to make it fit. The action scenes weren't really fitting, I felt more as if the director said to himself: "gee, we're lacking some action scenes.. hmmm let's do another one and I don't care why I just want action!"It really didn't feel 24ish. I understand that it may sound strange, requiring a perfect film for a man who is the year 2000's Chuck Norris and usually isn't too complicated other than struggling with the dilemma of deciding to kick them with his left or right leg, but it just wasn't right.I'll look forward to a next season of 24, but I'll pass for another film.

A full length episode of 24, but does it work? Well, I can't help it, but this seems to be kind of rushed. The script and story aren't as good as it should be. I felt kind of bored watching this.Jack seems to be a bit "overpowered" and he seems to have a gift to dodge bullets. Okay I know this happens in a lot, but they kind of over do it here.I like the way that it is real time. Unlike in the series, it seems like it is possible to do all the things they do in the given time period. It doesn't feel the 24ish though, one of the most vital part of 24 CTU is not involved in the movie at all.With that said, it is not that bad. It seems like quite a nice start of the 7th season, and it is nice to get into more details about what has happened between the two seasons. They didn't max out the potential of the movie, the script and story was in my opinion a bit dull.But if you like the series and plan to follow the 7th season, be sure to check this one out.