Lost: The Complete Sixth Season Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.5

Lost: The Complete Sixth Season Blu-ray Movie Review

A moving end to a thrilling series, a perfect AV presentation, a must-own release...

Reviewed by Kenneth Brown August 20, 2010

Finales are divisive by their very nature. Fans, be they comic geeks, film aficionados or television junkies, invest so much of themselves, so much anticipation and expectation into a sprawling tale that pleasing everyone becomes an impossible proposition. But Lost? For some, creator Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse's labyrinthine drama had an even steeper uphill battle to fight. It didn't matter how compelling the characters were or how arresting the storylines became. It didn't matter how shocking the series' twists and turns proved to be, or how brilliantly its mysteries unraveled. Some viewers had drafted a gluttonous checklist; a point-by-point, do-or-die ransom note that listed all the questions they needed answered and all the mysteries they wanted wrapped up and hand delivered in a neat, tidy little bow. Not me. I chained myself to Lost long ago, and swore I'd follow no matter where Lindelof and Cuse led. When their sixth season returned the series' focus to their characters, I was overjoyed. When the answers that came were both organic and refreshingly simple, I cheered. Their endgame could have been a densely plotted monstrosity; an unwieldy beast of exposition and explanation everyone would have despised. Instead, it struck with emotional precision and thematic intensity, offering welcome catharsis over tiresome analysis, touching character arcs over rote connect-the-dot minutia, and heartfelt resonance over lengthy mumbo jumbo. Like every season of Lost, Lindelof and Cuse's final season wasn't at all what I expected. And for that, I walked away satisfied and grateful.

Origins wrapped within origins...

Okay, so Lost isn't for everyone. I'll be the first to admit it. It never has been. But the one thing Lindelof and Cuse's final hurrah does better than any previous season to date is separate the journeymen from the faithless. Lost is Jack's story, lest ye forget, and six seasons of mounting madness are suddenly his to bear again. Matthew Fox has always faced stiff competition from an incredibly talented ensemble, but his performance -- haggard and fractured as his single-minded doc has become at times -- has weathered the storm, transforming his resurgence as series everyman into a smartly concocted return to form. Try to retain your composure when Jack breaks down on a moonlit beach after losing two dear friends, or when he finally relents and considers, even for a moment, that Locke, in all his zealotry, had it figured out all along. In a way, we're introduced to a new Jack and a new Fox; a humbled hero and a seasoned actor re-energized with a renewed sense of purpose. Even when Island tetrarch Jacob (a poised and beguiling Mark Pellegrino) reveals "What They Died For," a metaphysical good-vs-evil macguffin if there ever was one, Fox masterfully shoulders the bulk of Lost's mythology, granting his fellow actors -- series heart and soul Jorge Garcia, temperamental muscle Josh Holloway, and wavering conscience Evangeline Lilly among them -- ample opportunity to flesh out their characters, tackle some meaty dramatic material all their own, and prepare for a two-pronged, nail-biting denouement that spans two drastically different timelines.

But as Lindelof and Cuse's dutiful Man of Science becomes Jacob's newly converted Man of Faith, the mysterious, centuries-old Man in Black -- having taken on the guise of the recently deceased John Locke -- makes his intentions clear. Like Jack and the other castaways, he just wants to leave the Island. It sounds simple enough, but it sets off a string of events that threaten to... well, you'll just have to watch. Terry O'Quinn, shifting his entire persona yet again, crafts a fascinating counterforce as the series' potential baddie. Even so, his performance is so subtle, so exact, that I found myself wondering if the Man in Black was really a villain, as Jacob so adamantly insists, or merely another victim of the seemingly inescapable Island. Answers come, mind you, but trying to figure out whether or not the Man in Black is manipulating the castaways for good or evil is engrossing. Pellegrino helps of course, injecting just enough ambiguity into his supposed savior to make his motivations suspect, as do other mainstays whose characters come into contact with the Man in Black (Naveen Andrews, Michael Emerson, and Nestor Carbonell deliver their finest performances yet). Yes, the backstory Lindelof and Cuse attach to the Man in Black raises a few more questions than it answers -- late in the game too, when introducing new mysteries feels a wee bit mean-spirited -- and yes, questions about who or what the Man in Black is still linger after the credits roll on the final episode, but tying up every loose end would have felt oddly contrived and decidedly un-Lost.

Still, the biggest point of contention in Lost's final season lies buried in its Sideways world; a parallel reality in which Oceanic flight 815 never crashed. Jack and the castaways are left to live out their lives, all the while sensing something isn't quite right. Fleeting memories, strange coincidences, chance encounters, and familiar emotions seem to bring them together again and again. The crux of this alternate timeline left some crying foul, others shrugging their shoulders, and still others weeping like children. I, for one, was left choking back tears as Fox, Holloway, Andrews, Lilly, Garcia, Daniel Dae Kim, Henry Ian Cusick, and Yunjin Kim, as well as returning cast members like Dominic Monaghan and Emilie de Ravin put fresh, gripping spins on old favorites. Far from inconsequential, the Sideways world strips Lost of the Island and, for a few short minutes per episode, allows the characters to reunite under different circumstances. The resulting interpersonal revelations aren't just paramount to the thrust of the season and series, they're integral to the character arcs Lindelof, Cuse and the cast have been constructing since the earliest episodes of season one. Watching the sixth season unfold again, this time with a complete understanding of the Sideways world, I was struck (even harder) by the emotional undercurrent of it all, the impact of each reunion, the significance of every relationship, and the soul-shaking wallop of the final, heart-aching reveal. Detractors be damned: the convergence of so many stirring storylines and redemptive arcs left me entranced, overwhelmed, enraptured and ecstatic. (Much to my surprise, the reaction I had upon viewing the entire season a second time was even stronger.)

Missteps? Despite my adoration, I have a few quibbles. De Ravin's crazy-Claire is a bit too off her rocker (faux-Aaron still freaks me out), the Temple patrons are a bizarre blend of reclusive philosophers and Apocalypse Now hippies, Allison Janney's casting is puzzling to say the least, and Desmond's ultimate role on the Island leads to one of the sixth season's only semi-hokey scenes (involving an overly simplistic... erm, device of sorts that's as baffling as it is ludicrous). But even the most distracting creative decisions fail to derail season six or the series as a whole. I know many devotees were disappointed with Lost's final episodes, but just as many were enamored with its every riddle, reveal and climax. Lindelof and Cuse don't answer every question, nor should they (although they come pretty close). Take any mystery left standing and insert any answer you can imagine. Would additional specifics really make the finale any better? Would any number of minor details contribute anything of substance to the characters and their plights? Personally, I'm glad Lindelof and Cuse focused on the story at large and the people we've grown to love for six seasons. Jack and the castaways, their struggles and turmoil... that's what I invested in, and that's why I was so pleased with the payoff. The origin of the Island? The source of its life? The ingredients that go into a spicy batch of Black Smoke? Meh. Interesting, but far from crucial; trivialities compared to all the other elements that have made Lost one of the best television series of the decade.

Lost: The Complete Sixth Season Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Even after witnessing the visual wonders of Disney's previous Lost releases, I was taken aback by The Complete Sixth and Final Season's gorgeous 1080p/AVC-encoded presentation. John Bartley and Stephen St. John's photography -- their sun-streaked beaches, sand-swept ruins, inviting alternate reality interiors, lush jungle canopies, stormy oceanside precipices, and murky underwater expanses -- is presented with the utmost care. Not only has the image's graininess been meticulously preserved, skintones are beautifully saturated, primaries are organic and lifelike, and blacks are rich and inky. (A few nighttime sequences struggle with middling black levels, but it's always a product of the original photography, not Disney's efforts.) And detail? Note the clarity of the closeups; the wonderfully refined edges and exceedingly well-resolved fine textures that grace Jack's every grimace and the Man in Black's every sneer. The polish of the series' backdrops; the weathered stonework of an ancient temple, the dilapidated bowels of a centuries-old ship, the rusty hull of a Dharma submarine, and the seemingly endless expanse of the island's jungles. The way Bartley and St. John's shadows wash over the castaways without stamping out precious detail or hindering the integrity of the image. From episode to episode, it's absolutely breathtaking. Yes, some softness and noise sneak into the proceedings, but never as a result of the studio's exceptional transfer. Significant artifacting, banding, smearing, crush, ringing and other unsightly nuisances are held at bay, and the presentation, spread across five roomy discs, has been given all the space it needs. Suffice to say, fans will be thrilled with the sixth season's extremely faithful presentation.

Lost: The Complete Sixth Season Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Lost: The Complete Sixth and Final Season crashes onto Blu-ray with a magnificent DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track; a fierce and agile lossless monster sure to raise the hair on the back of the most hardened Lostie's neck. LFE output is pitch perfect, pulsing with ferocity and power, and amping up the intensity of every cataclysmic event. It shakes the very ground, attacking every explosion, earthquake and collapsing rockface with precision and prowess. And when Smokey erupts from the depths of the jungle... oh, dear readers, prepare yourself. The incorporeal creature's guttural howls assault the soundscape while the ungodly iron-insect skittering that accompanies its arrival snakes from channel to channel, stalking the listener with eerie realism. Rear speaker activity is aggressive and engrossing, effortlessly bolstering the track's wholly immersive soundfield. Moreover, directionality is flawless, pans are frighteningly smooth, and both dynamics and separation are utterly fantastic. All the while, dialogue is crisp, clean and neatly prioritized. Voices are never drowned by surging waters, buried under temple rubble or overwhelmed by the insanity that ensues, nor do they ever sound artificial or tinny. Every cry reverberates naturally, be it in a cave or submarine. Every whisper is intelligible, be it in a quiet hospital or crowded gala. Every declaration is crystal clear, be it in a thick jungle or at the edge of the roaring sea. Simply put, the Blu-ray edition of Lost's final hurrah delivers one of the finest lossless audio experiences of any television release to date.

Lost: The Complete Sixth Season Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The Blu-ray edition of Lost: The Complete Sixth and Final Season serves up a bounty of satisfying special features (including a second "Lost University" BD-Live portal, which turned out to be a never-ending source of supplemental joy the last time around). My only two complaints? One, to get your hands on everything Lindelof and Cuse have put together, you'll have to pony up and purchase The Complete Collection box set as it includes an exclusive bonus disc with additional documentaries and featurettes. Two, the sixth season only offers four audio commentaries, which strikes me as a bit of a disappointment. Regardless, fans who pick up this 5-disc release will have plenty of content to plow through, particularly if the latest incarnation of the "Lost University" is as elaborate and expansive as before.

• Audio Commentaries (Discs 1-4): Four commentaries are available on key, mythos-centric episodes. Co-creators/executive producers Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse carefully dissect both "LA X" and "Across the Sea," candidly discussing their master-plan for the series, copping to changes and adjustments they made along the way, commenting on the reaction to the finale and other sixth season developments, and making a few jokes at their own expenses. Through it all, they provide an exciting glimpse into the production and don't pull any punches. If you fancy yourself a Lost fanatic, their tracks are not to be missed. Writers/executive producers Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz and actor Michael Emerson deliver an equally interesting commentary on "Dr. Linus," digging into the character, the performances, and the tireless work that goes into producing an episode of Lost. Writers Melinda Hsu Taylor and Gregory Nations and actor Nestor Carbonell follow suit on "Ab Aeterno," and try to identify the characteristics and qualities that link the series' best episodes. All in all, the commentaries are a welcome addition to this release... I just wish there were more.
• Lost in 8:15 - A Crash Course (Disc 1, HD, 8 minutes): An amusing, matter-of-fact, rapidfire recap of the series (without a doubt inspired by the self-deprecating "What the Frak is Going on with Battlestar Galactica" short found on disc 18 of the BSG box set).
• Lost University - Master's Program (Disc 5): BD-Live features usually don't slap a grin on my face, but The Complete Fifth Season's "Lost University" was a blast; one that offered access to hours and hours of featurettes, intriguing lectures and other goodies. Disney's "Master's Program" is set to deliver a similar experience, and I'm anticipating a captivating examination of the themes, science, symbols, history and artistry that graces the series' sixth season.
• The New Man in Charge (Disc 5, HD, 12 minutes): Here it is. The one you've all been waiting for. The 12-minute Lost epilogue Lindelof, Cuse and the cast have been promoting since the series' finale divided audiences and left some of us in tears. I'd share my impressions, but I promised my wife I wouldn't watch it without her. Romance is alive and well, fellas.
• Crafting a Final Season (Disc 5, HD, 39 minutes): This excellent, thoroughly engrossing production documentary begins as the finale script is being printed for the cast and crew, and pairs the sometimes emotional shoot that follows with numerous interviews (including some with the creators of other popular series that struggled to deliver a fitting ending to their shows), behind-the-scenes footage and more.
• Lost on Location (Disc 5, HD, 29 minutes): Another round of episode-specific "Making Of" featurettes for "LA X," "The Substitute," "Recon," "Ab Aeterno," "Happily Ever After," and "The Candidate."
• A Hero's Journey (Disc 5, HD, 9 minutes): A look at the story, characters and evolution of Lost over the course of its six seasons.
• See You in Another Life, Brotha (Disc 5, HD, 9 minutes): Explore the Sideways universe with key members of the cast and crew.
• Deleted Scenes and Lost Bloopers (Disc 5, SD/HD, 14 minutes): Nine deleted scenes and four minutes of bloopers round out the package.
• Season Play (All Discs): An nifty exclusive that helps viewers keep track of their progress as they work through the season. Users can even create and save separate profiles.

Lost: The Complete Sixth Season Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Unless you've been holding off for the inevitable Complete Collection box set, loathed Lost's finale, or decided to disown one of the best series on television, nabbing a copy of The Complete Sixth and Final Season is a no-brainer. Choosing between Blu-ray and DVD is even easier. Disney's value-packed Blu-ray release obliterates its standard definition counterpart, offering fans a stunning, dare I say perfect video transfer, a powerful DTS-HD Master Audio track, and a solid selection of remarkable special features (including another round of the studio's clever "Lost University" classes). Personally, I consider the sixth season a series masterstroke, with only a few snags along the way, making Disney's outstanding Blu-ray release a godsend.