24: The Movie (Damn, That'll Be A Long-Ass Movie)
After much speculation, and Keifer's public comments that he'd love to do it, it looks like a 24 movie is going to be a reality, according to Entertainment Weekly.
Of course, things like this get to the pre-production stage quite often (think about how long it has taken for the Simpsons movie to come to life or the long-rumored Indiana Jones 4, to name two examples) and then move no further. But it sounds like this one will actually happen, especially if Season Six turns out to be as increasingly popular as Season Five was.
Does this mean the quality may suffer? I think so, given that this past season had the best ratings yet but was considered almost too ridiculous by the long-time viewers. Don't forget, though, to appeal to the masses, TV and movies need to be produced with the lowest-common-denominator, simpleton brains in mind. It sucks for everyone else but them's the breaks. It's yet another illustration of why we love 24 so much when it gives us a little biscuit for being longtime watchers and for, as I often say, paying attention.
Another thing that nobody will like but that we probably have no choice about is the fact that the real-time format will have to be relinquished. Don't holler too much, though; we all know there's really no way it could work for a movie. It's strictly a TV gimmick and a brilliant one at that. The movie might actually be helpful in filling in lots of gaps in between Seasons Six and Seven, or Seven and Eight, or maybe even as a wrap-up of Jack's story if Seven seasons turn out to be the run of 24. Remember, with a movie, there can be flashbacks and things of that nature, whereas the real-time format doesn't allow such things.
Oh, and you didn't think there were going to be no posts between May 2006 and January 2007, did you? I wouldn't do that to you.
Of course, things like this get to the pre-production stage quite often (think about how long it has taken for the Simpsons movie to come to life or the long-rumored Indiana Jones 4, to name two examples) and then move no further. But it sounds like this one will actually happen, especially if Season Six turns out to be as increasingly popular as Season Five was.
Does this mean the quality may suffer? I think so, given that this past season had the best ratings yet but was considered almost too ridiculous by the long-time viewers. Don't forget, though, to appeal to the masses, TV and movies need to be produced with the lowest-common-denominator, simpleton brains in mind. It sucks for everyone else but them's the breaks. It's yet another illustration of why we love 24 so much when it gives us a little biscuit for being longtime watchers and for, as I often say, paying attention.
Another thing that nobody will like but that we probably have no choice about is the fact that the real-time format will have to be relinquished. Don't holler too much, though; we all know there's really no way it could work for a movie. It's strictly a TV gimmick and a brilliant one at that. The movie might actually be helpful in filling in lots of gaps in between Seasons Six and Seven, or Seven and Eight, or maybe even as a wrap-up of Jack's story if Seven seasons turn out to be the run of 24. Remember, with a movie, there can be flashbacks and things of that nature, whereas the real-time format doesn't allow such things.
Oh, and you didn't think there were going to be no posts between May 2006 and January 2007, did you? I wouldn't do that to you.
posted by J Money at 10:26:00 AM
5 Comments:
Thanks J, Lord knows we need that occasional 24-fix, and I right now, I'll take it from anywhere (I've yet to buy a PS2 and Cat's CLaw is yet to be released, so I'm in trouble for NEW Fixes)
The movie sounds great for a inbetween-Day-Story, but my prefrence would have been Operation Nightfall. Yeah, I know everyone who even KNOWS about it already knows what happens, not to mention it's a prequel to Day I so the shock factor would appear to be greatly diminished, but still, it would be awesome for long time fans everywhere.
As for the real time aspect, I can live without it when it comes to an inbetweenquel. I mean, the Day V Prequel wasn't real time was it? And yet we still enjoyed it - A movie would be just like you said: A brief window in between seasons!
Oh thanks for the posts, J. I've been checking daily and it's nice hearing from you guys. Say hi to D if you get the chance!
Hi back at you, phoenician!
Another thing to assuage anyone who gets all het up about dropping the real-time format: the original idea for '24' was a bit artificial or something of a happy accident, depending on how you look at it. Long before '24,' dramatic series on network TV typically ran for between 22 and 24 episodes per season. That changed with the advent of reality TV, summer series, and cable series but still, sometime around 5-6 years ago some genius (Mr. Surnow, perhaps?) made that great intuitive marriage of 24 episodes to 24 hours and an idea was born. I expect the idea of a real-time structure was born even before the content of the show was developed.
Cheers, y'all!
Also, the real-time format for a movie has been used before (there was some German movie I remember that consisted of a woman who had 30 minutes to get money for her boyfriend. The movie ran through those 30 minutes three times with three different scenarios. It was called "Lola Runs" or something and was pretty good) and will apparently be used again soon (88 Minutes).
You are right,D: it was Lola Rennt,starring an almost mythical Franka Potente,the redhead who was capable of breaking glass with a scream. Midway in between Groundhog Day (I *love* Bill Murray) and Trainspotting.
But speaking of movies entirely in real time,it's been just a couple of months since 16 Blocks came out: a mediocre movie by all standards who dug in the ground like Wily E.Coyote when Bruce Willis took its direction (and the actor from Hitchhicker's Guide to the Galaxy movie who portrayed Ford Prefect,which here is the classic witness to protect,was really really REALLY miscast). 2 hours in real time,with a mostly credible "live feed" feeling but whom nobody but Clint Eastwood should have made. And many more action movies had a similar deadline,remember,count-downs are nothing but real-time inserts after all.
Though,the real king of real-time movies is obviously Rope by Hitchcock. Done in a way that not only what you see is happening in 2 real hours,but also without breaks in the acting and in the camera movements: meaning,there are no cuts...apparent cuts at least,because there is actually some clever editing behind it and the movie was not really shot in a single 2 hours take.
Rope tells everything about what real time means in a movie: it means that you are somehow going back to the roots,to theatre. A "live" movie is more or less like a theatre show on a stage,only "phoned" to you through a screen. This is why I am not really surprised after the 24 movie news,there's nothing really one should marvel at if he knows that cinema history didn't start with Star Wars.
Oh,just a disclaimer about myself: I may sound a little arsh when criticizing what I think are the show's faults,but I'm really the kind of guy who jumps from the seat and exults every time Jack punches someone away: gooooal! :D Ehm.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0113972/
it HAS been done in a movie, and worked... kind of... quite ok... not bad...
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