BAUER'S BATTLES! '24' - NOW SHOWING ON NETFLIX

Don't get on his bad side! Kiefer Sutherland, now a TV legend as Jack Bauer in 24. Image: FOX.

In an age where James Bond is back to bigger box office business than ever before, and where Jason Bourne has managed to be a success within a series where, at one point, he wasn't even in one of the movies!, you'd think that 20th Century Fox's handling of their potentially biggest action hero-American patriot and badass Jack Bauer, as played by the dedicated Kiefer Sutherland, and his destiny in the once planned for premiere big-screen 24 movie, would've been handled better. With much time wasted trying to find a scripter and director (which took two years), then Sutherland committed to the now axed after two seasons TOUCH, the on-track production ball has seemingly been well and truly lost forever, and, according to top action director Antoine Fuqua (once attached to the project-one of many, including the likes of the late, great Tony Scott), dead in the water. A great pity-so much potential, time and big-league profit revenue lost.

I think it likely that, if 24 eventually does return, it will be back on the small screen a few years from now, in all probability "re-imagined" with a younger lead actor/character. But regardless, no one will ever forget the incredible contribution to the series made by Sutherland- he'll truly be a hard act to follow...

Despite the loss of the film, we still have eight exciting seasons of Bauer-ness to enjoy, too. And if you've never sampled the series and its always innovative format, created by Joel Surnow and Robert Cochran, check it out from the beginning on NETFLIX: Watch 24 Online | Netflix

Get the complete series here: Amazon.co.uk: 24 box set

KOOL TV CLASSIC IMAGE: THE DARK SIDE OF PARADISE - 'LOST'

Another side of hell? The survivors of LOST. Image: ABC TV.

It may have sharply divided fans and critics alike with its wrap up finale episode, but the fantasy/drama of the stranded survivors of the doomed Oceanic Flight 815 - LOST - remains one of US TV's greatest achievements-exceptionally well cast (so few modern series ensembles get this crucial factor so right) and inspirationally written (kudos to Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse for surviving the long haul and taking so many spot-on story-telling risks), beautifully made by a dedicated team within the stunning vistas of Hawaii (putting the holiday hotspot back on the map as a place to make Hollywood entertainment). The opening episode's spectacular and frightening plane crash alone remains one of the best and most exciting, edge-of-your-seat sequences achieved in television ever.

And with polar bears, "The Others", the Dharma Initiative, submarines, time-warps, flashbacks and flash forwards, the mysterious Jacob and "Old Smokey" soon becoming a compulsive part of the shows rich tapestry (and a firm fixture capturing modern pop culture), within a place where anything could and did happen-forcing our heroic and vulnerable characters to undergo many critical life-altering decisions, LOST proved itself far and above any previous Robinson Crusoe-ish ideas seen on the big or small screen...

Catch the epic series now, on the UK incarnation of NETFLIX: Watch Lost Online | Netflix

A LIFE FOR A LIFE? 'THE PROTECTORS' HAVE ARRIVED ON UK DVD

An honorable profession for Andre Babikan, Cecilie Stenspil and Soren Vejby in THE PROTECTORS. Image: ARROW DVD.

If the recent season enders of hit Danish drama series like THE KILLING and BORGEN have desperately left you wanting more, why not add a little adrenaline pumping action in to your life with the hit new series from our friends in the north: the Emmy award winning THE PROTECTORS-think a modern THE PROFESSIONALS but with a higher brain powered European flavouring: a 2009/2010 two season running series about a Copenhagen based personal security company, the P.E.T., and the inside and out lives of three of its key personnel in the day to day protection of their assigned VIP's, be they politicians, royalty or businessman- targeted by today's straight from the news headlines terrorist groups and other potential headcases. 

Created by Mai Brostrøm and Peter Thorsboe, winning acclaim from critics and audiences for its slick, often nail-biting scripting (fully delving into our heroes profession as bodyguards and the strain and difficulties it entails, whilst also developing the supporting characters they're partnered to), realistic visuals (courtesy of director Rumle Hammerich) and strong production values up there with the very best anyone else in England or the States can do, THE PROTECTORS has a solid main cast with lots of film and TV experience, including Thomas W. Gabrielsson (as team leader, Leon Jensem), David Dencik, Cecilie Stenspil (playing ballsy female lead Jasmina El-Murad), Andre Babikan, Ellen Hillingsø (who made a big impact as a duplicitous politicians wife in the first season of that other hit Danish series, THE BRIDGE), Søren Vejby, and Dar Salim. 

Trailer: Award-winning Scandinavian drama The Protectors - exclusive trailer | Radio Times

THE PROTECTORS has been making the rounds on NETFLIX for some time, but has now finally arrived on UK DVD via ARROW's very popular Nordic Noir range. Get it here: The Protectors: Season 1 [DVD]: Amazon.co.uk: Thomas W. Gabrielsson, David Dencik, Ellen Hillingso, Dar Salim: Film & TV

Join the Nordic Noir FACEBOOK page: Nordic Noir TV

KING OF THE PACK! KEVIN SPACEY's 'HOUSE OF CARDS' USA

Seat of power! The gloves are off for Francis Underwood (a towering Kevin Spacey) in the US version of HOUSE OF CARDS. Images: Netflix.

Two of Hollywood's finest talents of their generation-Academy Award winning actor Kevin Spacey, and director David Fincher (known for his dark storytelling work on hit movies like SEVEN and THE American remake of THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO)- join forces with the ever growing NETFLIX movie downloading service to create an all-new, premiere commission, thirteen episode political drama/ thriller series: HOUSE OF CARDS

Keeping the title and the kind of bare bones format of the original and superb British BBC 1 TV series upon which it's based, originally created by all-knowing politician Michael Dobbs (who's also an Executive Producer on this new version), the US re-imagining, bigger and broader stroked, sees Spacey (taking his lead role cue from the original series masterful performer, Ian Richardson) portraying the powerful, corrupting and all-knowing politician and House Majority Whip Democrat  Francis 'Frank' Underwood, who unleashes his charisma and personal enterprise to rise to even greater power and ambition within the American political system, after feeling manipulated and betrayed by the current President, Garrett Walker (Michael Gill), whose taking of the centre seat he helped win. As the brutal war between the two opponents is initiated, a young political reporter, Zoe Barnes (AMERICAN HORROR STORY's Kate Mara, sister of actress Rooney), is beguiled and manipulated to the full by Underwood, as his personal in-it-to-win-it grudge match escalates to even greater opportunity and risk taking.

Netflix Original Series House of Cards - Trailer - HD - YouTube

The series key cast: Robin Wright, Kevin Space and Kate Mara.

Co-starring Robin Wright as Underwood's equally ambitious wife (Fincher, directing the opening two episodes of the series, having cast the actress after she made an impression on him with her performance in his GIRL WITH A DRAGON TATTOO adaptation)-truly the Lady McBeth of the series, NETFLIX's debut series has won critical acclaim and continues apace with its two season order, paving the road further to an even darker direction for the series lead anti-hero character: one surely tailor made for Spacey's biting, amoral, antagonistic and all-dominant style, always enjoyed and appreciated by worldwide audiences.
Let's hope that Ian Richardson classic, now immortal political line- "You might think that. I couldn't possibly comment!"- also makes it across the pond...


Watch HOUSE OF CARDS USA here: Watch House of Cards Online | Netflix

Check out the original British version here: The House of Cards Trilogy [1990] [DVD]: Amazon.co.uk: Ian Richardson: Film & TV