Customer Reviews

24: Season Three

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

La saison III de 24 chronos est la meilleure de la série je crois, Jack valse de tous les côtés, rebondissements inattendus, un vrai plaisir.

24: Season Three was a good season, but not the best I would say so far. The beginning couple hours could have been taken out and brought right to Jack breaking out Salazar where the real plot begins. They definitely have some great plot twists and action throughout the whole series, and some hours were action packed and made us want to get right to the next episode. It is a very addictive series, especially when they being in old characters and introduce new ones. Jack Bauer was marvelous as always with his acting and even shows he is human after all.

However, the only thing I was disappointed in season three was the ending. In season 1 & 2 the season finale in the last 5 minutes were jaw dropping, throw you back in your seat "where the hell did that come from" ending. Season three had no climax ( with a large twist like the others) and didn't explain where they want to take it and what was to happen. It felt like there should have been another episode after to continue on, but there wasn't. I watched the previews for season 4 and I know what it's about, and how they left the ending in season 3 did not fully point to the direction where season 4 was heading to. They could have easily put a few words of dialogue at the end for foreshadowing to lead to the changes coming up in season 4. Some of the episodes ended better than the season finale.

I own all four seasons on dvd, and I am watching the fifth on tv, and so far, this is the best one. It has the best plot, and the best twists. This is the one to buy.

Groundbreaking. Innovative. Intense. 24 is all of these things and more. But the question prospective viewers really want to know is, "Is the series worth watching?" The answer is a triumphant "Yes."

Jack and his counter-terrorist crew return in Season 3 to battle an impending bio-terrorism threat from a pair of Mexican drug lords. As is always the case, not everything is as it first appears. Along the way, new friends are made, shaky alliances are born, and trustworthy partners become enemies. It's all in a hard day's work for Jack, and viewers will undoubtedly get a kick out of watching all the plot twists play out.

24 has always been about putting the viewer through a high-intensity thrill ride, and Season 3 holds up wonderfully in that regard. Key characters are constantly put in the line of fire, and it's anybody's guess who will make it to the nail-biting next hour. There is one episode in particular, about two-thirds of the way through the season, that is incredibly frenzied, even by 24's lofty standards. Without giving away any spoilers, that is one episode in which I had to take a break from 24 for day or two afterwards and let the craziness of the events settle in - such was the ferocious emotional impact.

Besides the non-stop action, the next best quality of 24 is its razor-sharp dialogue. Again, Season 3 does not disappoint. All of the characters are given lines that either flesh out their personas marvelously, or contribute to the madcap pacing of the show. It's a joy to watch Kiefer Sutherland switch between his gruff, angry interrogation techniques and his more diplomatic tone when he talks to his superiors. Dennis Haybert, as President David Palmer, is likewise riveting in his portrayal of an idealistic leader who always wants to do what's right, but is forced to make some ethically questionable compromises. On the flip side, Joaquim de Almeida as drug lord Ramon Salazar is definitely a villian, but you can't help but start to like him for his charming swagger. (It doesn't hurt that he gets in a bunch of memorable one-liners, too). Penny Johnson Jerald and Sarah Clarke return as sketchy allies Sherry Palmer and Nina Myers, respectively. It's admittedly a bit of a stretch to see these two in the thick of the plot again, considering the punishments they received in Season 2. Their presence does add a great deal of uncertainty and dubiousness to the proceedings, though, which is worthwhile enough to erase any logic gaps that might linger.

All the tension that's built up in the show would amount to naught, though, if there weren't any grand payoffs. Not surprisingly, 24 is more than capable when it comes to action sequences. There are gunfights, helicopter chases, stakeouts, escapes through buildings, and all-out melees, all of which are choreographed with expert direction. Two sequences stand out in particular, both of which involve aerial strikes in the midst of large scale shootouts - these are definitely "Holy ****" moments that will have everyone cheering. Another episode pits Jack, Ramon and a couple of prison guards in a game of Russian roulette more intense than any other you'll see.

It's a testament to the show's strengths that even after watching through all 24 episodes, you'll likely be left clamouring for more. Even after the day's unbelievable events come to a close, the story arcs you'll have witnessed will have you wondering how the main characters will cope with their own new personal problems. Anyone who loves good, suspenseful action should absolutely give this series a try. It's true that the viewer needs to stretch logic a bit in picturing so many events taking place over the course of a day - but that quibble aside, 24 is easily the best that TV has to offer.

My friends highly recommended this show to me, telling me how addictive it is.

After 3 months of trying to get through the DVDs, I just don't get what the fuss is about.

Off the top, I can't get past the bad dialogue and melodramatic acting. I understand it's a tense plot, but even the bits that aren't life or death or career ending for the characters are played with the same level of seriousness so that there are no ups and downs to the show, just all ups. I can't get into the characters' problems from being distracted by all the capital-A Acting, particularly in the case of Sutherland. The dialogue is as overwrought and corny as a Vin Diesel movie or daytime soap opera. Really, just listen to any of the dialogue between Salazar and anyone. It's cringe-worthy.

I also can't get past the art direction: it stretches the imagination quite a bit to picture elite hackers dressing that impeccably. Counter-terrorism requires a business dress code? And after spending money for the level of technology they'd need and the experts needed to operate it, I don't see how a government agency could justify spending that much money on custom architecture and interior design, unless they snapped up the building at a bankruptcy sale from the previous dot com owners.

I can suspend my disbelief for any one or pair of these problems, but not all of them together.

On the plus side, I do like the real-time hook for the show, one day, one season, one hour per show. I find this is the one inspired element of the entire show. Although knowing what develops early in the show, one gets the sense that things will twist and turn like a mountain road as the hours go by. I don't find myself hooked at the end of each show as my friends had promised. I'm really not that concerned for the charcters or for what happens next to them. The melodrama is too thick for my taste, ultimately. Getting to the last episode has been a chore; and so I've been playing episodes while doing other chores like laundry or filing my taxes. It's not the worst show I've seen, but it's certainly no where near the best.

Yet again, we find Jack Bauer trying to stop evil in the world while keeping his coworkers and his family safe.

Watching this series is very addictive, as there are so many twists and turns, new characters, old characters, unexpected events, one will find it hard to stop watching.

This season was my favourite so far, but we'll have to see about season 4 in the new year.

24 is undoubtfully an amazing show with a great concept. Season 3 just fell short of a success in my opinion. I enjoyed Season 2 much more than the third. It is still worth buying because you rarely get quality action shows like this one on TV. A great show that might run short of breath as the plots get thiner each year.

I cannot put into words how much this show ROCKS!! Jack Bauer is undoubtedly, THE MAN!!! This season definately trumps season 1 & 2. Can't wait to see the extras this set contains!! Truly one of Fox's best shows, EVER!!!!