Product Details

• Actors: Matthew Fox, Evangeline Lilly, Naveen Andrews, Henry Ian Cusick, Terry O'Quinn
• Directors: n, a
• Format: Collector's Edition, Dolby, Limited Edition, Widescreen
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Number of discs: 5
• Studio: ABC Studios
• DVD Release Date: December 8, 2009
• Run Time: 731 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B0027CSPS8
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #118,173 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

38 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The "AWESOME" outweighs the bad in this decently groovy set., December 9, 2009

By 

Adam - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lost: The Complete Fifth Season Dharma Initiative Orientation Kit [Blu-ray] (Blu-ray)

I'm going to get one thing out of the way... I LOVE IT; it's a great little set with lots of little things that the completist-consumerist geek in me absolutely craves. That'll come last though.

FIRST, MY PROBLEMS WITH THE SET

There's nothing of any real consequence. Now I can't deny, the Geronimo Jackson CD is nice and unexpectedly fun, but the song has been available on iTunes for months, and it offers little insight.

Unlike most, I dig and understand that they wanted retro with the VHS, even if a VHS isn't technically authentic to the time period. What bugs me, like most, is that given that it's truly the only thing about the set with real weight and value to the experience, being VHS is just truly inconvenient. The end result is that the major player of the whole line-up gets seriously shortchanged; it's a brief but fairly important and entertaining video, but what are the odds that you're going to dust off that beast of a machine (the VCR) for viewing this thing more than once.

Everything else, which again I DO love, is pretty much fluff. It's written materials and creative packaging with 2 or 3 inside jokes (Hurley's famous garlic mayo), but nothing lengthy enough that you're going to pour over it again later...

*hypothetical complaint--why make one of the patches unique to a select few sets? I'd be pissed if I didn't get it (the submarine patch) given the price premium. Having said that... I GOT IT, lol. But sadly, my co-worker did not, and is thus sad.

ENOUGH COMPLAINING, I LOVE IT!!

It's big, and impactful. You're basically getting a 3" ring binder packaged in a cardboard box. This may be surprising, maybe even off-putting, but the outer sleeve is plain-as-day thick cardboard, albeit with fancy printing to mimic water stains and masking tape. Other than that, it's no different than moving boxes, and I think it's cool. It's easy to imagine they'd have these things stacked waiting for new recruits to grab them.

Inside is everything you need to know about life in Dharmaville. This is where the bonus stuff, while still admittedly just fluff, makes me geek out. You have the map of the barracks, some orientation materials, security protocols, etc., all packed in a firm, sturdy white binder with the Dharma logo emblazoned on the front. The most important piece in the binder though, would have to the confidential folder. Some are mad because yes, the folder is in fact sealed. To open it is to break the pull tab seal. Big whoop, that's what you bought it for. It does NOT damage your set, it's you enjoying your set. Besides, what's inside IS kinda cool, and though I know you can just search online, I'm not going to say here. It's nothing MAJOR, but still cool.

Some complain about the floppy sleeves for the discs. What the video doesn't show is that the sleeves, with discs inserted, then have their own lined binder pouches which, if the sleeves don't suit you, do a better job at cushioning and protecting the disc than a plastic tray. But I do think that the floppy sleeves go pretty hilariously far for the retro feel and are a welcome playful addition.

So, could we have done with more stuff? Absolutely. But then one has to ask, why now? I mean, especially since we're maybe only a year away from dropping an expected $250+ on a complete series set inside a package that looks like the top of the hatch (guessing, lol). Still, given that I could NOT miss out on LOST University (which is not being graded here but is AWESOME), I had to indulge myself in the now.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars For any real Lost Fan but the whole patch thing is wrong..., December 10, 2009

By 

J. Michael "hitntr" (New Hampshire) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Lost: The Complete Fifth Season Dharma Initiative Orientation Kit (DVD)

This is an amazing box set! One of the best box sets I have ever seen. Instead of a normal 'Special Edition' box set that my have one extra item. This comes with papers that makes you feel like you were actually just brought into the DHARMA initiative. It comes in a white 3 ring binder which automatically had me jumping. Everything inside makes you feel like you were about to start your new job. The DVD's themselves come in very nice plastic holders ,although, I don't know about their choice of paper covers instead of actual cardboard covers. One of mine were rather crinkled and bent (I might talk to amazon about exchanging it but I don't know yet). I am one of the crazed fans who refuses to open the back of the envelope so I can't say much about that.

My only concern and complaint is after spending all this money- they chose to have a patch be very specific to certain kits. I didn't get the patch but it bugged me to think that they would make it seem like we will run out and buy another kit and to think that those kits (because they were in short supply) will end up being worth more than the none extra patch kit bugs me too.

Like I said though, GET IT IF YOU ARE A LOST FAN! This made my day to open! I can't wait to see what they do to the sixth season, it will be hard to top this!

12 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Why disappoint a kid?, December 10, 2009

By 

Beverly A. Kurts - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Lost: The Complete Fifth Season Dharma Initiative Orientation Kit (DVD)

We bought this for our daughter who got the whole family turned on to Lost. Because of her we have bought each season on DVD and/or Blu-ray. Now we bought the "Dharma" special edition to wrap-up our experience. The overall scheme of the "Initiation Kit" is clever and fun, including the contents of the pamphlets, the sealed envelope, and the "authentic" VHS tape (although the video is identical to what one can see on youtube). No big surprises, just some gentle memorabilia. All-in-all some fun geek stuff, indeed.

The biggest disappointment is the random omission of the "rare" submarine patch. What marketing loon thought of this? Were they trying to get us to buy boxes in bulk to get the prize inside like this was some cereal box? To be clear, this cost a true premium as others (no pun) have already noted. It's like buying a deluxe edition of a car that may or may not have a working CD player. We will be contacting Disney/ABC to correct this situation. It's up to them to do the right thing and not cheat the loyal fans.