HERE’S a plot you might find familiar: a father discovers that his daughter has been kidnapped by terrorists who demand that he assassinate a high-profile politician in return for her safe return. The action takes place in real time.
That’s right — it’s the 1995 movie, Nick of Time, starring Johnny Depp.
So you’ve got to ask if this film provided the inspiration for the producers of 24. And “inspiration” is the right word, because 24 is a truly inspired show. When Carolyn and I had finished watching the very first episode, we were exhausted; the tension was incredible. She thought it was too harrowing and never watched any subsequent series. I haven’t watched it for a while, but was reminded of how good it was when my 17-year-old, to whom I gave the six-season DVD boxset for Christmas, was watching the end of season three. He turned to me and asked: “Do you think Superman wears Jack Bauer pyjamas?”
Brilliant. And of course I knew exactly what he meant. If James Bond is the man every man wants to be and every woman wants to be with, Jack Bauer is the man every man wants to be like but is also really, really scared of.
He isn’t exactly a poster by for the liberal left, mind you. 24 has been accused of pandering to racial stereotypes and Kiefer Sutherland’s character of being an apologist for torture, if not fascism.
On the other hand it is top quality entertainment, even if you have to suspend disbelief while you’re watching it; some of the plot twists really are utterly bonkers.
So I started watching the fourth season a couple of nights ago, hence this post. Only three hours in and already Jack’s tortured a prisoner, had an affair with the Defense Secretary’s daughter, assaulted two employees of CTU (Counter-Terrorism Unit), shot dead two terrorists and held up a petrol station at gunpoint. He really ought to take it easy.
But that wouldn’t be nearly as entertaining.
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Friday 13 March 2009 at 4:20 pm
Ahh Superman. Remember the comics? The best thing about those is how they never really thought things through, captions, images, front covers…..
http://failblog.files.wordpress.com/2009/01/fail-owned-action-comics-fail.jpg
Friday 13 March 2009 at 4:45 pm
The fourth season isn’t very good compared to the others. Season six was fairly weak as well.
However, season 5 continues to be the best, though season 7 has certainly picked up half-way through after a confusing start!
Friday 13 March 2009 at 6:21 pm
If I lived in Jack Bauer’s universe, I would wonder why interesting plot twist always happen at 59 minutes past the hour and major plot developments every 8th hour!
Friday 13 March 2009 at 9:35 pm
Season 2 was my favourite, and I LOVED Nick of Time, ‘Twas such a great film.
Season 4 is pretty good, 5 was AWESOME and 6 was a bit of a complete and total mess. I envy you, though – I wish I could watch them all again without knowing what’s going to happen!
The problem with the latest series, though, is that they are devoting FAR too much time to arguing the withertoes and the whyfores of whether or not they should be torturing people. I wish they’d just get on with it and accept that they’re all fictional.
Saturday 14 March 2009 at 12:39 am
What are your views on torture? And your parties views? I would be interested, especially when one espouses the ticking bomb scenario.
As for Jack not being a favourite of the liberal left, that phrase has always annoyed me. Can someone on the right not be liberal, Ron Paul in the US would be one I would consider incredibly liberal but would never call him a left wing person. Likewise, can someone on the left not be anti-liberal (conservative?) such as Stalin, just to go to the extreme.
Sunday 15 March 2009 at 8:13 am
I gave up on this as I did Lost. it just goes on and on and drives you insane. Tom stop wathing things like this. Still it must be better than watching Brown slowly destroy Labour.
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