24: Redemption – DVD Review

By Patrick Luce Dec 15, 2008, 12:52 GMT

The pulse-pounding countdown gets a jumpstart as 24: Redemption, the unprecedented feature-length event from television\'s most provocative and suspenseful series, arrives on DVD November 25th. After sacrificing everything for his country, Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) stands to lose the only thing he has left - his freedom. Wanted by the U.S. government and working as a missionary in Africa, Bauer is called upon to stop a ruthless warlord from drafting ...more

The creators and producers of 24 have done a very smart thing in providing a 2 hour movie event before the next season appears.  With the writer’s strike and other postponement factors for this series keeping it off the small screen, it has been difficult to keep story lines and plot twists in the viewing audience’s memory.

24: Redemption is a perfect construct to allow everyone to catch up with the characters and the action, before sending them on another whirlwind season of action and intrigue.  It is also nice to report that the story is a good stand alone adventure.

The resident scientist was yelling at the television, “oh no Jack’s getting tortured, again,” as we watched the 24 special.  It is somewhat daunting to see Jack helpless and at the mercy of the current evil power, much less being hurt in horrible ways.  The average human probably would not survive this kind of treatment, but as viewers will attest, Jack Bauer is not an average human being.

He is strong, dedicated and just the type of person we hope holds the power to keep us safe and free. 

In 24: Redemption, he is helping a friend Carl Benton (Robert Carlyle) at an African school in the fictional country of Sangala.  Jack has been searching for peace, and refusing to appear before the Senate on torture charges.  Sangala is in the middle of a political coup, and Jack and Benton and the school become targets. 

Jack hides the children, and fights until he is captured and tortured, but he escapes killing the brother of an important rebel leader.  Getting the children to safety is the mission of Jack and Benton and much will happen to them on the way. 

The events of 24: Redemption takes place in real time between 3:00 and 5:00 pm.  It is the day of the Inauguration of President Allison Taylor, and the action bounces between South Africa and Washington D.C. 

In true 24 style, there is a lot of action, and the subplots are as important as the main story of the trek of Jack and the orphans to safety.  Robert Carlyle gives a stunning performance as Benton who is written with a hero gene similar to Jack’s.  The entire production is on the edge of your seat entertainment, and too intense and graphic for young viewers.  Some adult viewers have to look away as well. 

This story brings home the idea that the innocent are almost always pulled into these violent struggles, and are often its victims. 

I saw 24: Redemption on a screener disc, but I understand that it is released on a special edition DVD with an extended cut.  This one was about 88 minutes, but the longer cut is supposed to be over 100 minutes.

There was also a Making of special shown on television before the air date of 24: Redemption.  This will be included on the DVD extended version as well. 

This is a must for 24 fans, and a must see before the series resumes in January 2009.

24: Redemption (Special 3-Disc Edition) is now available at Amazon and AmazonUK. Visit the DVD database for more information.