Starring Kiefer Sutherland, Jon Voight, Robert Carlyle, Cherry Jones, Powers Boothe, Peter MacNicol
Written By: Howard Gordon
Directed By: Jon Cassar
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Buy on Amazon.com link

It’s about time that we get something new from the 24 camp. 24: Redemption is a prequel movie to the upcoming 7th season. It aired 2 weeks on Fox, and now it’s out on DVD already. While the bonus features are worthwhile to see, I’m not sure people are willing to buy something they just saw on TV a few days ago.

24: Redemption takes place a few years after Season 6 of the last season of 24. Jack Bauer has done so much for the United States over the years, yet the Government wants to bring him in. We all know the way Jack gets things done, and what measures he takes when extracting information out of someone. Well the Government doesn’t like that so they want Mr. Jack Bauer to come in so they can put him on trial. So Jack is hiding out in Africa, playing missionary with his ex-Special Forces buddy Carl Benton (Robert Carlyle). You see a softer side to Jack as he tries to wash away his sins by helping out with the school that Carl runs. Meanwhile, African children keep getting kidnapped and being forced to become militant soldiers. The country is undergoing a coup right now and all hell is breaking loose. Some of the kids get caught up with the warlord’s army and the army invades the school. It’s up to Jack Bauer to risk his own freedom to help save the children from becoming militants.

I really liked seeing Jack out of L.A. and not being in the usual settings. The settings were still typical because we’ve seen this type of storyline before in Blood Diamond and even on Lost. But I’m fine with it because it’s still a scary situation that’s happening in Africa today. So it’s a topical subject. I like how Jack was trying to make up for some of the wrong-doings hens done in the past. Hens a good guy who just does things in unconventional ways. That’s why we love the show 24 and Jack Bauer. This prequel to the 7th season definitely made up for the last season. I just wasn’t happy with the last season and I don’t think everyone else was either. It was just same old same old. I’m hoping the 7th season is a lot better and unpredictable. Based on the trailers and the previews, things look like they are going back on track. Especially with You Know Who coming back from the dead!

The DVD extras include an exclusive first look at Season 7 and also include 17 minutes of the premiere episode. Plus if you want to see extras scenes in the prequel movie, you can watch the extended cut which included 10 minutes of never before seen footage. The Making of 24: Redemption shows you behind the scenes footage with on-set interviews and lots of other cool things. It was cool to see them filming the movie in Africa and not some studio or State that is supposed to be Africa. Other features include commentary, a featurette on real life children soldiers in Africa and a featurette that brings you up to speed from Season 6. The 17 minutes of the premiere episode sounds enticing but I held back from watching it because Ind rather see the full episode instead of spoiling things now.

24: Redemption is worth buying if you want to see some extended footage, and check out the extras. But I’m not sure someone will pay for this DVD when they probably just watched it on TV. I thought the prequel movie was pretty good and felt like things were back on track for 24. Now bring on Season 7!

Features:
– Exclusive First Look at 24 Season 7
First 17 minutes of the premiere episode
– Broadcast Version and Extended Version featuring over ten minutes of never-before-seen footage (not shown in the television broadcast version)
– The Making of 24: Redemption Featurette
– “Blood Never Dry”: Child Soldiers in Africa Featurette
– Commentary by Executive Producer/Director Jon Cassar and Executive Producers Howard Gordon and Kiefer Sutherland
– 24 Season 6 in Four Minutes Featurette

Audio:
ENGLISH: Dolby Digital 5.1 CC

Video:
Widescreen 1.78:1 Color

Subtitles:
English, Spanish, French

Favorite Scenes: Anything with Jack really.
Rating: NR
Running Time: 102 minutes
Extras Rating:
Overall Rating: