Plot: What’s it about?
How many old television shows can be made into films? Well, if there as good as this one, a lot more I hope. New Line home video brings us Lost in Space not only on DVD but as part of there platinum series, which means great all around quality and more extras than you can shake a robot at! The story begins on earth around 2058 and ol’ mother earth is not doing to well, the ozone layer is almost vanished and the resources of fossil fuel are becoming depleted. So who ya gonna call? Ghostbust…..er. sorry. The Robinson family of course! Now ill introduce you to the Robinson family and there roles. John Robinson played by William Hurt (Broadcast News, The Big Chill) is the father and the scientist who has not only uncovered the earths problems but a way to solve them. His wife Maureen Robinson played by Mimi Rogers (The Rapture, Austin Powers) is at her wits end trying to hold the family together. Dr. Judy Robinson played by Heather Graham (License to Drive, Drugstore Cowboy) is the oldest daughter and an aspiring physician. Penny Robinson played by Lacey Chabert (Party of Five) is the younger daughter, and Jack Johnson plays young Will Robinson, a robotics expert. O.K, now that the introductions are out of the way ill try to give you a good overview of the films plot. John Robinson Has come up with an idea that could save the earth, its pretty simple, he’s built a ship in which he and his family will travel to a rendevouz point where a kind of “stargate” is being constructed to provide a two way door to another planet where resources are in abundance. Well, all is not well just yet, the neighboring planet of which earth is at odds with also knows this information and wants to get there first. But if they cant they will simply stop the Robinson family from accomplishing their mission. And how will they do this? By hiring a crooked, greedy doctor by the name of Zachary Smith played by Gary Oldman (Air Force 1, Bram Stokers Dracula). Dr. Smith has been hired to sneak on to the Jupiter 2, (the ships name) reprogram the ships utility robot to destroy the ship and everyone on it and get out. The only problem is that Dr. Smith ends up being stranded on the ship and unconscious during the ships takeoff. Major Don West played by Matt Leblanc (Friends) is the ships pilot and acting captain while the Robinson family is cryogenically frozen for the trip that will take ten years. Well, the robot follows his orders and begins to destroy all the ships computers and operating functions, which means in a nutshell, the Robinson family are now lost in space.
It would be really difficult (and long) to sit here and tell you the movies plot scene for scene and I wouldn’t want to anyway as it would give away too many good surprises and sub-plots. I will say that this was a very entertaining film and if your into sci-fi, there’s no way you can pass this one up. This film has got everything that makes sci-fi great, a good story, great visual effects and good acting as well. The film was directed by Stephen Hopkins (he also produced) and ill be honest, I know Stephen’s work and im not a fan. Boy did this film change my mind about his directing, if this film were put together any better it would have a big red bow around it! Here’s a director that went from making box-office disasters like Predator 2 and A Nightmare on Elm St. 5, and pulls out a film that breaks his mold ten fold. This is a great example of how old television shows can make great movies if they are done right and in my opinion this one was! And I cant get over the job that New Line did of adding on so many bells and whistles that make this one a must own. The talent assembled for the movie is also very good even considering that type casting obviously ran amuck here. Will Hurt is very good in the role of the scientist/father and Mimi Rogers has always been a good actress in my opinion. Jack Johnson who plays young Will Robinson is just awesome in the role and you don’t get that “over acting” crap that you get with most child actors. Matt LeBlanc as major West, well….o.k, im sorry but I think the whole cast of Friends needs to leave acting to actors, they just aint cutting it and Matt is no exception, poorly acted in my opinion. But Gary Oldman as Dr. Smith steals the show, I don’t think they could’ve gotten anyone better for this role. Oldman pulls off the seedy, shady villain perfectly and without a doubt, out performs everyone else on the roster. The real beauty of this film are the visual and special effects, awesome and amazing at every turn. Mix in a great quality disc with awesome video, audio and many, many extras and you’ve got DVD perfection.
Video: How does it look?
Lost in space is presented in its original 2.35:1 aspect ratio and this should be in the DVD handbook on how a movie should look. Razor sharp visuals in a film that demands it. This is a visual and special effects driven movie and New Line did not let us down here, the picture is perfect, no bleeds or color loss, absolutely no detail loss in shadows or low light scenes and the effects make you feel like there in your living room. There is so much to look at here you feel overwhelmed at times but the image on this disc is just amazing. Even the blend of blue screen animations mixed with the actual motion picture come through great.
Audio: How does it sound?
Dolby Digital 5.1 and again this movie could not survive with anything less. The sound here is also excellent as it is always from New Line in my opinion. There is just as much here to listen to as there is to see and the separation is perfect, vocals come in clear as a bell and the sound effects show no sign of being “overdriven” as in most sci-fi sound packed flicks. New Line home video just knows how to make a great all around DVD, its as simple as that.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This section will probably be longer than my review! As usual New Line’s Platinum series makes me wonder how they pack so much on a disc that is only one sided! Hold on tight, here we go. Original theatrical trailer, 2 full length commentary tracks (One with director Hopkins and Writer Akiva Goldsman, the other with the films visual team including the editor, visual effects supervisor and director of photography). Complete cast and crew bio’s (and I mean complete)!, a bunch of deleted scenes, PC extras including interactive games and website links. A 15 minute “building the special effects” featurette, production design artwork, a 10 minute featurette on the future of space travel, and…..yes there’s more. A music video from Apollo Four Forty, who did the films title track, “your mission” trivia game that allows you to play with your remote control, and last but not least, A complete synopses of all the original t.v episodes as well as interviews with the original cast members! Whew! Also id like to mention this disc has some of the best menu’s ive ever seen. Now that’s what I call extras!!!
