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ARTS.

 

Netflix Pix

Choices from Netflix
to combat boredom:
24 US, 2001

Aidan

Mouellic
Staff Writer
4 —

4 is on Netflix, but I’d rec-
ommend waiting until after
your midterms are over before
diving in—you won't be able to
get much done after you start.
The show’s general tone
is of a constant paranoia
that the world is constantly
on the brink of collapse. But
that’s okay because (spoiler
alert) Jack Bauer, a super
spy played by Canadian
actor Kiefer Sutherland,
always saves the world.

This show is a riveting
dramatic spy series that is set

 

one hour in a day, and each
season contains 24 episodes,
which make up a day in the
life of Jack Bauer and his team
of counter-terrorism agents.

The show is a non-stop
thrill, and you quickly get
lost in the twisting plots and
explosive action sequences.

Though it does contain
some rather controversial views
towards how awesome torture
is and also paints Muslims
with broad strokes, you have to
keep in mind that the show is
American and debuted on Fox
less than two months after 9/11.

With that aside, another
talented Canadian actor, Elisha
Cuthbert, makes regular
appearances on the show as
Jack Bauer’s daughter who is
prone to being kidnapped.

24 is excellent television
and, if you can get past the
politically incorrect undertones
within the series, you will have
a good time watching eight sea-
sons (and another on the way!)
of Jack Bauer killing terrorists.

 

in real-time: each episode is Still of Kiefer Sutherland in 24

 

The story between Firefly and Serenity

 

Serenity: Those Left
Behind’ review

Brittney MacDonald, Contributor

S erenity: Those Left Behind, a
graphic novel compilation
of a three-issue comic book
series, deals with the events
that take place between the
end of the cancelled cult
television hit, Firefly, and the
fan-demanded film, Serenity.

Written by Joss Whedon
and Brett Matthews, the
graphic novel has a spaghetti
western feel with a lot of
action. It centres around the
crew of the Serenity, a firefly-
class cargo ship in space.

The graphic novel is
illustrated by Will Conrad and
features a very distinctive art
style characteristic of modern
North American works such
as The Exile and the Mass
Effect series. This art style
is perfect for people new to
graphic novels who havea
distaste for the harsh lines
and cell shading of traditional
comic books, yet dislike the

 

stylization of Japanese manga.

It features 96 pages of
full-colour panels, each a
digital painting unto itself.
The smooth gradients and
realistic depictions of the
series’ original actors go a long
way to attract fans of the film
and television series without
alienating more traditional
comic connoisseurs.

For comic fans, the novel
also features guest artwork
by big names such as Adam
Hughes, who is best known
for his work in the Catwoman
and Before Watchmen series.

The novel captures
Whedon’s characteristic sense
of humour, featuring realistic,
situational comedy that works
alongside an often dramatic
plot. The story begins with a
bank heist gone wrong and a
resulting firefight ending in
a loss for Captain Mal, Zoe,
and Jayne. Meanwhile, the
evil corporation, the Hands
of Blue, seeks out Serenity—
and with it River Tam, the
brainwashed psychic warrior
and the sister of Simon,
Serenity’s ship doctor.

Overall, Serenity: Those
Left Behind is a good option for
people looking to explore the
world of graphic novels.

 

Serenity: Those Left Behind graphic novel