Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wow, This was an unexpected Treat : Five Stars, September 30, 2007
First of all, I am a huge fan of anything sci-fi. That said, chances are that if you liked "Serenity" and "Firefly", and if you could imagine those movies/shows with a lot more humor and camp, then "Lost in Space" is the movie for you. I had never seen the TV Series as I wasn't born then, but the film is a delightful confection, one that you will surprisingly keep remembering days after you've seen it. This one is a panned film, with negative reviews all around, but for me it succeeded as pure sci-fi escapism and entertainment, and it surpassed my wildest imagination.
William Hurt is good in anything, and he was great here as the father who loves his work more than his family. The dialogue, which most people found inane and juvenile, is certainly nothing to write home about, but its servicable. I would say that if they had a better screenwriter the film would have probably done better business all around.
My only 'problem' with this film is the monkey-like alien that they suddenly introduced. They get this off a deserted space station in a hyper universe. The moneky names itself Blarp. Yes, you heard that right. The CGI on this is especially bad as it looks like it belongs in a much different, much less sophisticated film. If the monkey were removed, this would have been an even better film.
Matt LeBlanc was 31 years old when he made this, and he has never looked better either before or since. I was quite surprised that Joey looked 'this good' because frankly looking at him today is a task. The same cannot be said of Heather Graham who has a very weakly written role. Mimi Rogers has the worst lines, as some sort of neglected housewife who just happens to be a pro at interplanetary travel. Whatever. This all worked for me, no matter how convoluted it sounds.
The best way to watch this treat is to leave your brain at the door and take it for what it is. This is a fine slice of sci fi heaven, and definitely better than other more serious films of the genre like 'Red Planet'. And since this DVD is full of features, I'd suggest buying this as soon as you can (it went out of print officially in early 2007 - no idea when its going to be back).
Five Stars. HUGELY entertaining, and I could watch this over and over.
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9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of the most under-rated movies of the '90's., April 11, 2000
As a dedicated fan of the Lost In Space TV series since my childhood in the 60's I approached New Line's big-screen version with a mixture of anticipation and trepidation on its release in '98. I'd heard about the initial reviews and was ready to be severely let-down. Imagine my surprise to emerge from the cinema feeling as though it was one of the best times I've had at the movies.The amazing effects "blew me away" (leaving me somewhat exhausted by my responses to them)but unlike so many recent sci-fi extravaganzas I found myself entertained by a complex and witty screenplay which also unexpectedly moved me with its restrained use of sentiment.I applaud the efforts of Akiva Goldsman and Stephen Hopkins to recapture the tone of the early black and white episodes of the TV series (before the show descended into camp, never to fully recover)and found the 90's modifications to the concept (eg. dysfunctional family issues etc) intriguing. Fans of the show were given clever references to well-known episodes and lines of dialogue (the first two-thirds of the film stuck very close to the pilot episode and the following one entitled THE DERELICT) and the cameos by original cast-members were great.June Lockhart in particular showed herself to be an actress with a bold sense of humour about her TV image! The film cast couldn't have been better chosen (Gary Oldman is particularly outstanding as the vain, villianous Dr. Smith), all adding the kind of depth we don't see too often in films of this genre.Bruce Broughton's score (the great John Williams was unable to redo his classic TV score due to other commitments) is excellent (see the reviews of the full score CD at Amazon.com) and a worthy successor to its "forbear". Although moved by the ending (involving the saving of John Robinson's life by an older version of his son Will, who in effect sacrifices himself for him) I originally found the last portion of the narrative difficult to grasp and sensed that editing had played a hand in this. The DVD's commentaries and deleted scenes confirmed my theories(the "time bubble" sequence originally had many "bubbles" and dialogue had to be cut when confused preview audiences led the makers to shred this sequence down).Nevertheless, repeated viewings have made even this section more enjoyable and easier to grasp (time warp sequences are usually a bit hard to fully work out at the best of times- eg. BACK TO THE FUTURE II).My only carp is that, despite Jared Harris' good performance, I wish that Bill Mumy (who played Will in the series) had been given the opportunity to portray the older version of Will (he tested for the role and reportedly believed it was his for a time- his disappointment at losing it apparently played a major part in his decision to have no part in the production).Harris (the son of Richard Harris) apparently had his dialogue looped by an American actor.Nonethless, I happily cannot understand the tirade of criticism levelled against this film and believe that time will be kinder to it than many other movies which were well received critically at the same time.One Melbourne critic (Jim Schembri, of The Age, called it "an undeniably entertaining extravaganza based on the modest '60's TV series").It is incomprehensible to me that there were no Oscar nominations forthcoming for Visual Effects, Sound Effects Editing, Dramatic Score and Art Direction-Set Decoration. I have yet to play the (excellently produced) DVD to anyone who has not been entertained and moved by it. A planned sequel is reportedly unlikely to be made now due to box-office figures- a tremendous pity which I hope will be turned around before cast contracts expire etc.. I cannot recommend this film highly enough- even to those who may not be sci-fi buffs.
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15 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent Study In Modern Filmmaking, December 19, 2005
Don't laugh at the title of this review. "Lost In Space" is the perfect film to watch if you'd like a handle on how most motion pictures are made these days. Take an old TV series, slick it with gee-whiz special effects, toss out the plot, and let folks munch on popcorn as they "ooohh" and "ahhh" at the wonders on the screen. That's all that this film really is. Has Hollywood run out of good, original ideas? From the "Beverly Hillbillies" to "Dukes of Hazzard" to "Starsky and Hutch," we've been brutalized by the moviemakers with one TV rehash after another. I've also seen a trailer for the new "Miami Vice" film. What's next, the "Square Pegs" movie?
Anyway, back to "Lost In Space." The story sounds like a really good one. Using environmental destruction as the motivator in this flick, work-consumed William Hurt and his Robinson family are jettisoned off to Alpha Prime in order to design the Hypergate, which will allow humans to leave Earth at rapid speed to Alpha Prime, which is an inhabitable planet. Of course, things go awry when Dr. Smith, sinisterly played by Gary Oldman, sabotages the mission and the family is forced to use their hyperdrive before the gate can be designed and they hurtle into unknown expanses of space and time. This gives the family a bottomless pit of adventure to be thrown into. Instead, we get ho-hum adventure that looks really cool on the screen but, in the end, is relatively nothing but fluff. The ending leaves the film wide open for a sequel, though that will probably never come to fruition.
The acting in this film is pretty good. The best performances in this film are by Hurt, Oldman, and Mimi Rogers, who plays the mother of the family Robinson. Matt Leblanc is very good as Major West, though you can't help but see dumb Joey from "Friends" in every scene that he's in. I kept waiting for Ross or Chandler to come popping out of the scenery to bring Leblanc back to the ol' coffee shop. Heather Graham plays Judy Robinson respectfully, but there's not a lot for her to work with. The younger Robinsons, Will and Penny, are rather annoying at times. Jack Johnson plays the forgotten young Will and Lacey Chabert scowls and hisses her way through puberty as Penny.
This film is brilliant as far as visuals go. The mere expanse of space in this film looked so great on the big screen when this originally came out that I often caught myself watching the scenery more than the actors. The special effects were top-notch back in the 90's and they still hold up wonderfully today. The Robinson family's spaceship, Jupiter 2, is designed beautifully. The landscapes and even the famed robotic spiders are nicely rendered as well.
The problems with this film are abundant, but if you can sit through trainwrecks like "Hulk" or visual buffets like "Independence Day" and still like yourself the next morning, "Lost In Space" will not be a total lost cause. Like I said before, the plot is almost non-existent, but the special effects are some of the best in the business. Unfortunately it seems that too much time was put into the effects and nothing else, just like most modern action yarns.
In closing, I have to admit that I bought this film fully knowing what I was getting into. The film just has too many cool whiz-bang effects to be ignored. If you're looking for depth and character development, steer clear of this film. But if you just want something to watch while your pounding nachos or popcorn into your face, this movie fits the bill.
Lightly recommended to fans of sci-fi. Fans of the original will notice a few nice cameos but will probably hate this film. If you love films just for the effects, then this is one of the best flicks you can ever watch.
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