Customer Reviews

The Lost Room

5 star:		(87)
4 star:		(29)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

I really enjoyed this Sci Fi miniseries. It was an original concept with a well developed plot and generally good acting. Being from western Pa, I enjoyed the fact that it was set in Pittsburgh. I won't describe the plot, that's already been done in previous reviews. So let's describe the DVD. I had recorded the complete series, but enjoyed it so much I decided to spring for the DVD. Now you would assume that the manufacturer would take the time to insure all the features, menu options, etc. worked as displayed on the screen. You would however be wrong. I knew I was in trouble when removing the security stickers. There is so much glue on them that you get a thick layer of sticky goo on the top and bottom of the DVD case. Great start. When you load Disc 1, you get some previews for some other Lionsgate productions. A Bermuda Triangle (another Sci Fi miniseries) preview is included and the transfer looks like it came from a VCR. Anyway, you get though this stuff (the menu button is disabled) and are presented with THE LOST ROOM. There are 4 "episode" radio buttons and a Play All radio button. As you step through these, you will note that the "highlight" doesn't match the radio button. (but surprisingly, go to an episode and back and it does) As noted in another review, the Play All button does not work and takes you back to the previews. Really frustrating. However, the worst part, is that the video transfer quality is horrendous. I am so disappointed, I haven't even bothered with disc 2. So be warned, if you buying this because you enjoyed "The Lost Room", you will be really disappointed in lack of effort Lionsgate put into this DVD. Review: Miniseries 5 stars - DVD 1 star = Average 2.5 stars (rounded up).

LOST ROOM is an intriguing, thought-provoking science fiction mini-series which was shown on the Sci-Fi Channel from December 11th to the 13th in three parts: "The Key and the Clock," "The Comb and the Box," & "The Eye and the Prime Object." This show offers up a neat-concept, sci-fi mystery that'll keep you guessing and glued to the set; and the good news, so far, is that there's nary a mention of that played-out plot about space aliens conducting experiments on unsuspecting Earthlings, a card which I was half-expecting this show to play.

Here we go now with TONS OF SPOILERS: In the 1960s, a mysterious event transpires at the Sunshine Motel in Gallup, New Mexico, off the famous Route 66. Since then, various everyday objects that had been in Room 10 of that motel - objects numbering around a hundred and now scattered to the winds - seem to have inexplicably gained vast and wondrous powers (a comb that freezes time for 10 seconds when run thru one's hair, a pen that, when clicked, microwaves your enemies, a radio which, when tuned to the right station, grants 3 inches of height, a deck of cards which will disable onlookers, a nail file which induces sleep, etc.). A belief circulating underground is that a grouping of these objects will cause them to exhibit new properties and grant their owner god-like powers, even possibly allowing the owner access to the mind of God... Inevitably, over the past decades, disparate groups have sought these objects for their own varying purposes. Which then brings us to the show's protagonist: Joe Miller.

In the course of investigating a baffling case involving two men found burned to a crispy death in a pawn shop, Pittsburg homicide detective and single dad Joe Miller (Peter Krause, SPORTS NIGHT, SIX FEET UNDER) comes upon a magical motel room key which, when used on any convenient door, gives him access to an eternally sun-drenched motel room frozen in time since the 1960s. Miller discovers that, from this motel room, he can reach any destination he calls to mind. He learns of another odd quirk of the room: no matter what he does to it or in it, the room resets itself to its original composition the next time he enters.

His digging of clues leads him to an eccentric named Wally (Peter Jacobson), who owns a bus ticket which teleports whosoever is smacked on the head with it. Wally proceeds to unload pertinent info on Miller regarding the motel room and the amazing objects which had been occupying it. Wally further informs Miller that these indestructible artifacts are drawn to each other, then warns him that people will soon come looking for him - "bad people" who are desperate to possess the key. Rapidly after, Miller's quest for truth finds focus tragically close to home when his charming, young daughter, Anna (Elle Fanning, Dakota's younger sis), vanishes in the mysterious Room 10.

In his efforts to find his daughter, Miller becomes hunted by his fellow police, who come to believe that he has kidnapped Anna; he also runs afoul of other organizations - various shadowy cabals, some of them despicable and ruthless, bent on collecting the items to gain incalculable powers (such as the determined Karl Kreutzfeld's group) or to talk to God (such as the nutjob Order of Reunification) and the Legion, a supposedly more benevolent group who seeks to protect humanity by destroying these items. Miller must evade the clutches of the cabals and remain vigilant against the Legion as he drastically attempts to unearth the history of the enigmatic Room 10 and the Sunshine Motel. Things get more chancy as it seems the only way to retrieve his daughter is to ferret out the Primal Object, the controlling item which holds dominion over all the other items. But which one is it? Can the aid of several quirky characters and the beautiful Jennifer Bloom (Julianna Margulies, ER), who seems to have secrets of her own, be enough for Miller to survive and gain back his daughter? Well, with the possibility of an ongoing series on the Sci-Fi Channel, I'd bet on it.

Viewers seeking a quick and easy resolution to the mystery will be disappointed here as the mini-series concludes with plenty of questions left unanswered. In fact, the last half hour of Part 3 engages more in launching new plotlines than in closing the book on existing ones... again, paving the way for a regular series. The cast is pretty darn good. Peter Krause as the desperate Joe Miller plays up just the right amounts of panicky fatherhood and resourceful detective and does it with a relatable, down-to-earth panache. Kevin Pollak plays the cold and deadly, mob-type boss, Karl Kreutzfeld, with charm and civilized vindictiveness. Pollak, a comedian turned very capable actor, makes you actually feel compassion for his character once you find out his real motivation. Sleazy operator Howard "the Weasel" Montague is played with zest by Roger Bart, while Elle Fanning (Dakota's younger sis) is okay as Miller's cute kid. I do feel that Julianna Margulies could've done more with her part; she seemed quite disinterested in the goings-on, but I acknowledge that her role was pretty thankless.

The powers-that-be made a good decision in allowing the involving story to become the star of the show, as opposed to bludgeoning us with multiple, flashy special effects. As it is, the effects that do pop up are nicely executed and are perfectly in tune with the story. The budget must've been nice.

As I've mentioned, this mini-series is intriguing, and part of the intrigue is that it deliberately chooses to leaves holes in its storyline. Part of whether the viewer ultimately sees this show in a positive light will depend on his or her reaction to the barrage of questions that are left unanswered. The series is wagering that the audience will be so caught up in the mystery that it ultimately chooses to support it. LOST ROOM will have those inclined thinking in philosophical and metaphysical terms, and there might be a bit of quantum physics thrown in that mix, too. And for we lesser mortals - who just aren't built towards intellectual ponderings - fear not; there is enough steady infusion of uneasy alliances, betrayals, plot twists, action, and cool f/x to satisfy our craving for low-brow entertainment. Now, I don't know how well this premise would work as a regular television series; there's a danger that things might get too predictable and stale after a few showings. I'm assuming that each episode would involve the hunt for an empowered object, and really, how many curve balls can you throw to make that consistently interesting? But wouldn't it be nifty to find out?

I don't disagree with the previous reviews, but I think the unresolved mystery at the heart of the show is best left that way. The joy is in the journey. The peculiar characteristics of the objects have a surreal quality, an exercise of pure imagination, that is very engaging (Andre Breton would probably have loved this story). The really compelling aspect of Lost Room, I think, is the variety of reactions to these objects. People band together to collect them, worship them, or suppress them; individuals seek them as personal talismans, weapons, valuables, or just to enhance their own self-worth. It gives the story depth, and lifts it into the realm of intelligent SF. Fans of PK Dick, Star Trek, Firefly, and the golden age of SF would probably all enjoy this show. I don't usually watch the SF channel, but this show was simply too good to dismiss. Recommended.

This mini-series really stuck with me. I rarely recommend shows to anyone, but this one I did to many people. There are some unnecessary plot points which seemed to be setting up a future series, but other than that- great cast, intelligent and creative writing, cool locations, and more.

Hopefully this is released widescreen as well, a cropped version would not do it justice.

When SciFi was blasting promo after promo of this show from TV to the sides of city buses, I thought it was going to be another SciFi Original Piece of crap, but within the first half hour, I was hooked. I watched the entire series on my DVR in a row and had to call out sick from work. Awesome premise and the perfect cast for each role. If I have to find one fault, is that the ending was left wide open -- too open. They could have made a full season out of this, maybe more. Either way, get it. I was surprised they didn't have this in my OnDemand list.

Taking the idea of an old "Twilight Zone" episode "Little Girl Lost" one step further, "The Lost Room" is a top notch bit of entertainment with great performances.

SPOILERS AHEAD:

A cosmic event occurred in a motel room in 1961 that altered time and space forever. All the objects in the room suddenly have mysterious, weird powers attributed to them. When police officer Joe Miller(Peter Krause)accidently comes into possession of a key to room 10 where the "event" happened, he finds that the key when used can teleport him anywhere he has been before. More importantly is the place that he has to go before being teleported--a room from that motel that no longer exists. When Joe's daughter uses the key to escape from thugs intend on taking the key from Joe she disappears. Suddenly Joe is thrust into a world full of conspiracy as he discovers multiple warring groups--the Legion a group dedicated to eliminating the objects, a group that worships the objects and believes they will provide them with access to God and a wealthy man (Kevin Pollack) who wants the key and objects for his own reasons.

END OF SPOILERS:

Featuring a top notch cast including Roger Bart, Dennis Christopher, Julianna Margulies and Margaret Cho "The Lost Room" never stays past check out time. The mini-series does leave some dangling loose ends that could be followed up in a sequel or TV series but the main story is self contained with a solid resolution. Although the main question doesn't get answered (what occurred? Who caused it to occur and why?) like many magicians tricks knowing how something was done doesn't necessarily improve the trick itself and could diminish its impact.

Although some of the characters could have been fleshed out a bit more and we had a number of lingering mysteries, the show still managed to be engaging, intelligent and fun to watch. The show isn't overwhelmed by CGI effects which gives the focus over to the drama where it belongs.

The show looks so-so. It's poorly authored and has edge enhancement, aliasing and a whole lot of digital artifacts. The only extra we get is a 18 minute featurette but its pretty comprehensive; we hear about the inspiration for the mini-series through to the casting process and production. While I would have liked some commentary tracks, this two disc set won't disappoint those who saw the show during its original run on Sci-Fi Channel and newbies.

One of the best sci-fi/fantasy shows of the year, "The Lost Room" has some dazzling performances, well written scripts and sharp direction that make checking out of this motel difficult at the very end.

The Lost Room was a miniseries that aired in December of '06. The series consisted of six 1-Hour episodes, but airs as three 2-Hour episodes (The Key and The Clock, The Comb and the Box, and The Eye and the Prime Object). The show itself is about a mysterious room that because of a mysterious even has disappeared from the world , born inside the room itself some 100 objects have been created each with their own unique power, some of the powers are pretty lame and some of the powers are extremely dangerous.

Unfortunately, for one cop (Detective Joe Miller), The Lost Room takes his greatest treasure, his young daughter. After finding The Key, an object that has the ability to open any door and take the user to wherever they want (as long as there is a door). After an encounter with the man in possession of The Pen, Joe Miller's daughter ends up in the room and is lost to Joe. Now, Joe must make alliances to try to find the right objects that he needs to bring his daughter back.

Now, I will give a quick preview of the "3" episodes and will list the objects that are seen within them.

The Key and The Clock - Detective Joe Miller is investigating a crime scene in which two men have been burned to death. After the sole survivor of the shop is fatally wounded, he passes the mysterious Key onto Joe Miller who quickly discovers the power that the key possesses. The man who murdered the two men kidnaps Joe's daughter and demands that Joe trade the Key for his daughter, but after the deal goes bad, Joe's daughter ends up lost in the room. But this isn't the only trouble in Joe's life, as his daughter disappears, as Joe is going through a divorce & custody battle his daughter disappears and on top of all that Joe is then blamed for the murder of his partner. Now, Joe must evade capture while he searches for the objects to bring his daughter back.

In this episode we are introduced to: The Motel Key, The Bus Ticket, The Pen, The Clock, The Nail File, The Pencil, The Watch, and the Radio.

The Comb and The Box - As Joe runs from the police, he joins up with a member of a mysterious group known as The Legion who collects the objects from the room. As the two travel from place to place, learning about the objects and their mysterious power, the real murder of Joe's partner because to hunt for an object that will gain him membership into another mysterious group known as The Order of the Reunification who believe that reuniting the objects will allow them to speak to God.

In this episode we are introduced to: The Deck of Cards, The Comb, The Overcoat, and The Clockbox.

The Eye and The Prime Object - Joe now believes that he knowns of the object that will bring his daughter back to him, The Prime Object. Now Joe is partnered up with Karl Kreutzfeld as the two search for a vault that contains several valuable items that were gathered up by the first group to collect the objects known as The Collectors. However, Joe's new "partner" has pans of his own as he searches for The Glass Eye, the object that can destroy or rebuild flesh. But, alliances must be broken as Joe doesn't seem to agree with Kreutzfeld's plans. As Kreutzfeld runs off to complete his own plans, Joe searches for the Prime Obeject who is also known as The Occupant, the man who was in Room 10 before and during the events that caused it to disappear and to create the objects.

In this episode, we are introduced to: The Quarter, The Scissors, The Flask, The Cufflink, The Glass Eye, The Portrait, and The Prime Object (there are several other objects viewed in the vault, but most are just quick glances).

I can't give away any more details without giving away some of the most important parts of the storyline, but trust me, the ending will probably upset most of you, at least anyone who dislikes "open endings". However, the minds behind the show are hoping to tie up all of the loose ends in the show in a continuation somewhere down the road.

As for the show, itself, it's awesome, the objects, the actors, the story, it's all great. This has to be one of the best original creations to come out of SciFi in a very long time. The story is something that is in a genre all its own (at least it's not oversized insects, deadly flocks of birds, and earthquakes that'll destroy the world). This is a great mini-series, nearly 5 hours (would be 6 hours if it had all the commercials and such with each episode) and for only $15 it's a steal for such a great series.

Here in the UK, we are currently watching this fascinating mini-series.

The story is original and the parts are well played.

It's Science Fiction but, because of the contemporary setting and the restrictions governing each 'object', it doesn't feel like sci-fi. Yes, there are objects with incredulous power, however, it is the characters that drive the story and not the objects.

Personally, I'd like to see this as a regular series on TV but I get the impression as another poster has already stated, that story-lines would quickly become stale tracking down the objects each week.

It may be an idea for the producers to periodically release a two-hour special that would keep our interest and yet not dilute the show. That way, more money could be ploughed into the writing and production, rather than spreading it thinly across 6, 13 or even 20 episodes.

I've no doubt that a series would be popular and yet less would definitely be more.

This is my first movie review on Amazon but after seeing this series last night (thats right I watched all 5 hours in one sitting) I had to write something about it.
I'm a total horror/Scifi/fantasy fan when it comes to books and movies and believe me I probably have seen way to many movies. I guess thats why you can say this series was such a pleasant surprise. It had a total Steve King like charm about it and I didnt get that typical deja vu feeling I always get when watching anything.You know the whole oh god this movie/show is so predictable I can tell you the whole plot from watchign the first 5 seconds. It was so refreshing to watch something different for a change. When we got to the last episode I was actually pretty sad it was over because I wanted more.
Anyhow this series is definitly worth the watch.

This mini series was completely entertaining! I absolutely loved it. Hopefully they'll make it into a continuing series.
Although, the plot is pretty simple the story line is unique and fantasic. I've watched it three times already. Once with friends all the way through in one sitting. Outstanding.