Lost in Space (1998)

AS A BIG SCREEN REMAKE, NOT SO HOT - AS A BIG BUDGET SCI-FI EXTRAVAGANZA - PRETTY GOOD!

Hated it in the theaters (We were big fans of the 60s TV series and like most fans of the show, felt the film didn't do the series right.) However, when it came out on video we decided to watch it again on its own merits. Somehow, this time it all seemed to work. (Funny how some films can change when you watch them again with different eyes.)

The Amazon reviewer says it all brilliantly. We second their esteemed opinion. A superior DVD of a not-so-bad-movie. Certainly a fun time waster and if you've never seen the original series, you'll probably enjoy it even that much more. The cast is first rate - Oldman gives a finely shaded performance that manages to pay tribute to the original Dr. Smith (Jonathan Harris) without going too far over the top. And how delightful that they brought in the original voice for the Robot.

Give this one a shot. April 12, 2008

iS THERE A WORD FOR WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU?

Lost In Space DVD

Lost In Space starring William Hurt,et. al. is based on a 1960's TV show. I never really cared much for the TV show, but the movie is kind of interesting. The Robinson Family aboard their starship Jupiter II is bound for another system to construct a hyper-space gate which will allow instantaneous travel or almost instantaneous travel.

A Science Fiction thriller that will provide plenty of entertainment.

Recommended for Science Fiction Fans and fans of 1960 era TV.


Gunner December, 2007


December 20, 2007

Wow, This was an unexpected Treat : Five Stars

First of all, I am a huge fan of anything sci-fi. That said, chances are that if you liked "Serenity" and "Firefly", and if you could imagine those movies/shows with a lot more humor and camp, then "Lost in Space" is the movie for you. I had never seen the TV Series as I wasn't born then, but the film is a delightful confection, one that you will surprisingly keep remembering days after you've seen it. This one is a panned film, with negative reviews all around, but for me it succeeded as pure sci-fi escapism and entertainment, and it surpassed my wildest imagination.

William Hurt is good in anything, and he was great here as the father who loves his work more than his family. The dialogue, which most people found inane and juvenile, is certainly nothing to write home about, but its servicable. I would say that if they had a better screenwriter the film would have probably done better business all around.

My only 'problem' with this film is the monkey-like alien that they suddenly introduced. They get this off a deserted space station in a hyper universe. The moneky names itself Blarp. Yes, you heard that right. The CGI on this is especially bad as it looks like it belongs in a much different, much less sophisticated film. If the monkey were removed, this would have been an even better film.

Matt LeBlanc was 31 years old when he made this, and he has never looked better either before or since. I was quite surprised that Joey looked 'this good' because frankly looking at him today is a task. The same cannot be said of Heather Graham who has a very weakly written role. Mimi Rogers has the worst lines, as some sort of neglected housewife who just happens to be a pro at interplanetary travel. Whatever. This all worked for me, no matter how convoluted it sounds.

The best way to watch this treat is to leave your brain at the door and take it for what it is. This is a fine slice of sci fi heaven, and definitely better than other more serious films of the genre like 'Red Planet'. And since this DVD is full of features, I'd suggest buying this as soon as you can (it went out of print officially in early 2007 - no idea when its going to be back).

Five Stars. HUGELY entertaining, and I could watch this over and over. October 1, 2007

Good - Not Great

It could have been better, just by using story lines that have been used and re-used. That would have been more entertaining. Its based on the 1960's TV show and copies the events of the first episode, so they could have made a sequal that could have been better. The Robinson family launches into outerspace on a pro-longed foyage, only their course is altered because of excessive weight from a stow-away, the infamous, selfish and trouble making Dr. Smith. They wake early from stasis and know only that they don't know where they are. Great concept, just very poor execution. September 17, 2007

Would have been a good graphic novel

Keeping the same plot and dialog, and done in comic book form, Lost In Space would probably have been very good. Creatively, it had a lot on its side. Its vision of what future clothes and hardware will be like (besides the hyperdrive and the seemingly indestructable Jupiter 2) actually seems plausible and insightful. The time travel storyline may not be entirely consistent, but sets up some intruiging causality violation what-ifs, and the set design and lighting are interesting and occasionally evocative, if a bit too gloomy. The direction is efficient and fun and worthy of imitation and the score is worth buying. In other words, it had potential.

But then you hear the script spoken aloud and somehow it suddenly hits you how implausable large chunks of the story are and how badly the screenwriter's dialog translates to the screen. Also hindering the whole affair is the near ubiquitous bad acting. The only actors who truly do their jobs well are Gary Oldman and the two children. The film's computer generated space effects are imaginative but the technology of the time simply wasn't as good as model work, which is distracting. Meanwhile, the story plays havoc with physics, which is distracting to people who know anything above average about science, though this reviewer is willing to be forgiving with regards to that, simply because one gets the sense that the screenwriter at least thought he was doing the science justice.

Lost In Space isn't a bad movie and its not quite a good movie. So get some nachos, take it for what it is, and enjoy. September 15, 2007

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