Plot: What’s it about?
When the Marshall family goes on a rafting adventure, they never imagined they would end up in such a strange world. It seems like they have passed through a dimensional portal and now reside within a lush, tropical world where dinosaurs and strange beings live right alongside them. Whether they are running from the Sleestaks and their unusual weapons or having fun with Cha-Ka and his fellow Paku, the Marshall’s are always involved in some strange activity. But no matter what happens the main concern on their minds is to find a passage home, so they can leave this world behind once and for all.
This classic television show has amassed quite a following over the years and I have no doubts as to why. The acting is a little over the top at times (ok, all the time) and the special effects are among some of the worst I’ve seen, but there’s just something about this show that I love. The main thing I love about Land Of The Lost is the writing, which offers some really good science fiction storylines for this terrific show. The stop motion animation layered onto live action turns out well given the time and budget of this show, but the campish appeal of the effects is enough to justify it all. I am unsure how modern kids would take to this classic show, but if you loved it as a child I recommend picking up this release from Rhino for nostalgic reasons, if nothing else. I look forward to future releases of this show on DVD and hope they arrive soon. Below is a listing of the included episodes and a brief synopsis for each.
1. The Stranger– It seems as though the Marshall’s aren’t the only ones in this world by mistake, as Enik (a Sleestak) has arrived from a different time as well. Enik seeks to use a special device to time travel back to where he belongs, but his fellow Sleestaks and Rick’s quick temper prevent that from happening right away.
2. Tag Team– Soon after the Marshall’s collect some giant vegetables and prepare to return to camp, they discover that their food has been stolen. It seems like the culprit was Cha-Ka and his furry family of Paku, who are just too cute to be upset with. Will the Marshall’s ever be able to enjoy their massive turnips in peace?
3. The Search– Enik is back and now he has the information to return himself to his own time, as well as send the Marshall’s back home once and for all. But when Will has an accident with some crystals, it seems like some things are more important than going home.
4. The Paku Who Came To Dinner– As if making off with the huge carrots wasn’t enough, now Cha-Ka (the furry little Paku) has walked right into the middle of dinner at the Marshall’s. He follows them back to their cave and then decides to stick around once he gets a whiff of the delicious food being cooked.
Video: How does it look?
Each episode of Land Of The Lost is presented in a 1.33:1 or full frame transfer, which retains the original broadcast aspect ratio. The image looks good, but time has not been kind to the source materials, as the whole visual transfer seems dated. The colors look nice and bright, without much fading and flesh tones look warm and natural also. The contrast is usually solid, but some scenes do seem overly dark. This isn’t a fantastic transfer by any means, but fans of the show should be pleased.
Audio: How does it sound?
This release has nice audio, but nothing that will blow you away by any means. This series uses some unusual sound effects and they all sound terrific in this mix. I’ve seen several episodes on television and this release seems to have similar audio to the broadcast versions. The mix is loud to be sure and I don’t think you’ll have any problems hearing anything here. The dialogue is the main focus here and I noticed no errors or inconsistencies.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This release contains a pair of interviews, both of which are loaded with behind the scenes information. The first is a sixteen and a half minute piece with show creators Sid & Marty Kroft, who divulge all sorts of information about the show, their careers, and even how they started in the business. The other interview is a thirteen minute piece with actors Kathy Coleman (Holly) and Philip Paley (Cha-Ka), who also share some experiences from the show and even some anecdotes about how being on the show has changed their present lives. The final extra is a nice catalog of other Kroft titles available on home video from Rhino.
