Customer Reviews

Lost: The Complete Fifth Season Dharma Initiative Orientation Kit

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

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.

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!

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.

This is defintly a product for the hardcore fans of LOST only, any casual fan would probably feel cheated. It is a fun little kit though. The pamplets are fun to read, the orientation tape is pretty cool, and of course (if you can bring yourself to) the cool dharma patches can be added to whatever clothing you choose. You shouldn't expect anything that will solve some of the show's mysteries though. Even though the confindential folder does have some interesting info, this set really is just a fake DHARMA Orientation Kit and you shouldn't be expecting anything more.
I can't give this product a full 5 stars though for two reasons. 1)The submarine patch should have been included with all the kits. If you're going to charge $100+ for a fan only product, then why have something that is only going to be included with a few of them? 2)The pages that hold the DVDs and CD broke off during shipping so now they're just loose in the folder. They should have made something stronger to keep that stuff more secure.

If your a big fan of the show and can't get enough of LOST stuff, then you should defintly get this. If you just like watching the show then you're better off just buying the regular Season 5 DVD set.

My wife and I are huge fans of this show. If you are a casual fan or merely inquisitive in finding out what this polar-bear-having, island-hopping, character-redeeming show is all about, shell out your hard-earned cash for the basic Blu-ray or standard DVD box set.

However, if you love all that is LOST, this is a nice set to display your passion. The packaging is clever. A water-stained box (it only looks that way, it isn't actually damaged) houses several pamphlets, welcome guides, and a Dharma orientation VHS tape complementing the castaways' integration into the Dharma organization this season. The attention to detail is evident, right down to the DVD sleeves looking like floppy discs. But if you're looking for answers to the many(!) mysteries in this package, most of the items can be seen as gimicky rather than revealing. The highlight is a draft of the peace treaty between the Others and Richard Alpert's original island dwellers.

The season itself is a departure from previous seasons, where a shift to it's sci-fi tendencies come to fruition. Time travel predominates the season, but never compromises on character depth or story telling. I've always found the show to be a character drama with a science fiction proponent. Never the other way around.

All in all, this product is a fine presentation of a captivating show, with a captivating season.

I have been a Lost fan since the beginning. Season 5 was the best! This season 5 is very unique because of the Dharma Initiative box. The water stains on the box making it look old. The worker patches that are included in the box. The videotape about Dharma Initiative that is included in the box. Just the whole layout of the packaging, the way it is set up and what is included is a nice touch.

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, LOST has been there for me since my first semster in college, and now that I'm gradating just before season 6 starts, I had to indulge myself.

This is truly a product for the hardcore Lost fans. It comes in an a seemingly aged cardboard box with the Dharma Initiative logo stamped into the front. Opening up the box reveals a three-ring binder with the aforementined logo. Inside they include a pletheora of items that have to do with the show (including DI patches, informational pamphlets, confidential paperwork, the Blu-ray discs themselves and a Dharma Initiative Orientation video on VHS!) This product screams of authenticity, so if you're a fan of Lost, you'll not want to be without this boxed set!

You DO NOT have to destroy ANYTHING in this set to enjoy it. The "sealed" envelope can easily be opened by simply carefully peeling the lower half of the flap up. The tear strip remains intact to look as though it was never opened. The cd can also be easily be removed from its sleeve without a person having to physically touch the cd at any point and if done right neither the sleeve OR the cd will have any wear on it. Then you place the cd in a removable sleeve and place it right behind the cardboard one. It's not hard to figure out how to do it!

ok...

im kinda torn on this purchase... i mean... i really like LOST... but... this set was a bit of a letdown.

first of all... i didnt get the sub patch... which i find to be completely ridiculous considering only the biggest of fans would buy this set to begin with... why wouldnt they just put the patch in every box?

secondly... the holes holding the bluray sleeve pages to the binder became ripped during shipping... so now i just have a couple of loose pages... pretty annoying...

and thirdly... this thing is MASSIVE... pictures dont really do it justice... i really had no idea it would be as big as it is... from all the pictures i saw before it came out, i just figured it was an oversized bluray case... its a FRIGGIN 3 RING BINDER! where exactly am i supposed to put this thing?

I will say however that the outside box is actually really cool. which sounds kinda stupid considering its basically just a cardboard box with "fancy printing"

but anyway... the show is great and all... and its the only reason this set isnt rated any lower... i was just hoping this set would be better.