Product Description
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The 7-disc boxed set contains 4 episodes on each disc with a
disc full of bonus features including extended and deleted scenes
and webcast diaries.
.com
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Arguably the series' best season to date, season 5 of 24
literally starts with a bang and never lets up, with an intricate
executive-level conspiracy to control Central Asia's oil supply.
Piling crisis upon crisis in an escalating series of deceptions,
twists, and deeply hidden agendas, the day-long ordeal begins
with a devastating political assassination connected to a
disgraced former CTU agent (Peter Weller) and a radical group of
Russian separatists (led by British actor Julian Sands)
threatening to release lethal nerve in Los Angeles to protest
a U.S./Russian treaty about to be signed by President Charles
Logan (Gregory Itzin). As Logan's unstable wife Martha (Jean
Smart), Secret Service agent Aaron Pierce (Glenn Morshower), and
chief of staff Mike Novick (Jude Ciccolella) gradually uncover
the conspiracy, CTU maverick Jack Bauer (series star Kiefer
Sutherland) emerges from self-imposed exile to aid his CTU
colleagues in a life-threatening quest for the truth. Meanwhile,
CTU chief Bill Buchanan (James Morrison) is thwarted by an
inexperienced, overbearing superior (Sean Astin) and an executive
takeover of CTU led by Homeland Security chief Karen Hayes (Jayne
Atkinson), forcing Bauer and his CTU loyalists to "go dark" and
work independently to honor the memory of a slain friend and
leader. Also figuring in are CTU's resident hacker-nerd
extraordinaire, Chloe O'Brian (played to perfection by Mary Lynn
Rajskub), Bauer's estranged daughter (Elisha Cuthbert), and his
beloved CTU colleague Audrey Raines (Kim Raver).
Pivoting on a declaration of martial law and a mysterious cabal
of unnamed conspirators, "Day 5" shocked even loyal 24 fans with
a high body count including several important supporting
characters. It all adds up to an exceptional season that earned
Sutherland a well-deserved Emmy (for Outstanding Lead Actor in a
Drama Series), equally deserving Emmy nominations for Itzin and
Sharp, and an Emmy win for co-executive producer Jon Cassar's
direction of the riveting season premiere. And while the
breathtaking twists of 24 don't always hold up to intense
scrutiny, these 24 episodes (running about 43 minutes each) are
tightly written and flawlessly directed with an involving
emphasis on thriller plotting and dramatic focus on the complex
and operatically tragic relationship between President Logan and
his traumatized wife. Add it all up, and you've got an addictive
reason to look forward to season 6. --Jeff Shannon
On the DVDs
Discs 1-6 contain four episodes each, with several episodes
including optional viewing of extended or alternate takes of
selected scenes. A total of 12 full-length episode commentaries
are provided by 24's primary cast and crew, allowing listeners a
comprehensive appreciation of the series' extended "family" of
talent, along with a wealth of production anecdotes, revealing
observations about plotting and character, and a welcome overview
of individual personalities and contributions. Disc 7 is packed
with features, beginning with a season 6 prequel that offers a
tantalizing glimpse of things to come, with an interrogation and
escape scenario set seven months after the events of "Day 5"; by
comparison, the season 6 trailer offers little more than a recap
of season 5. The featurettes are all well-crafted and worth a
look, beginning with a "Supporting Players" profile of 24's
extended cast (including some surprising glimpses of their
off-screen hobbies and activities); a detailed documentary about
24's innovative and hard-working camera crew; a profile of music
composer Sean Callery, who demonstrates his versatile
mood-setting techniques; a detailed exploration of the
"Presidential Retreat" set with production designer Jonathan
Hodges and colleagues; a "100th Episode Reel" with tightly-edited
clips from seasons 1-5; and a sampling of cast and crew photos
from 24: Behind the Scenes, a picture book published in November
2006. Kudos to Sparkhill Productions for continuing to provide 24
bonus features as well-made as the series itself. --Jeff Shannon
Beyond 24: Season 5
Stills from 24: Season 5