Lost in Space Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.0

Lost in Space Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf April 10, 2024

1998’s “Lost in Space” is primarily known for two reasons, with the first being its status as a big-budget adaptation of a popular Irwin Allen television show from the 1960s that ran for three seasons, collecting a sizable cult following after its cancelation. The second concerns the incredible run 1997’s “Titanic” had at the box office, dominating the top spot for 15 weeks, drowning all the competition. The streak eventually ended, with “Lost in Space” finally dethroning the disaster film, offering ticket-buyers a high-tech sci-fi/fantasy presentation of escapism, and, for one weekend, it was the most popular release in America. It’s a good piece of movie trivia, but it’s not always the most engaging blockbuster. Director Stephen Hopkins certainly puts in an effort to make the endeavor shiny and splashy, giving it a good gallop at times, even with the defined limits of CGI artistry. It’s screenwriter Akiva Goldsman who holds the whole thing back, with the man behind ”Batman & Robin” and “A Beautiful Mind” trying to be quippy and mind-bending with the roller coaster ride, which is often bogged down by the weight of a needlessly elaborate story.

Earth is dying, with scientist John Robinson (William Hurt) volunteering his family to travel across space, reaching a new planet, beginning colonization work to save humanity. There are terrorist forces in play looking to beat the competition, as Dr. Smith (Gary Oldman) is recruited to sabotage the Jupiter 2 mission, with a massive ship bringing John, his wife Maureen (Mimi Rogers), and children Judy (Heather Graham), Penny (Lacey Chabert), and Will (Jack Johnson) to the other side of the galaxy. Military hero Don (Matt LeBlanc) is hired as the captain, at odds with the journey, but the gang joins forces once Dr. Smith, an accidental stowaway, attempts to murder them and blow-up Jupiter 2. With navigational systems destroyed, the family is now lost in space, encountering alien life that’s not always friendly and the mysteries of time, putting pressure on John and his loved ones to restore all that’s been lost.

The premise is sound. There’s a family in a spaceship and they don’t know where they are, experiencing alien events and domestic issues while attempting to return home. Goldsman doesn’t trust such simplicity for the big screen, creating a dystopian world pulled apart by rival forces, with Dr. Smith an agent of chaos, trying to kill the Robinson family, tampering with Robot, Jupiter 2’s mechanical help. It’s a dreary story, but it does get the movie going with space battles, including Don’s opening attempt to thwart a terrorist attack. What’s immediately wrong with “Lost in Space” is Goldsman’s efforts to get cutesy with the characters and especially his dialogue, which goes against the darkness of the material as everyone shares dreadful lines of comedy and banter. All one-liners die an instant death, along with the screenplay’s push to keep Dr. Smith a campy presence in the picture, and romantic tingles between Don and Judy are played all wrong, finding the military man basically harassing the young scientist into submission.

Weird creative choices are all over “Lost in Space,” including an overreliance on CGI to realize space travel…and just about everything else, outside of a few sets and Robot, who’s an impressive creation. Hopkins pushes visuals too far, with much of the endeavor looking crude, borderline unfinished, including Blawp, a monkey-like alien discovery who’s meant to bring some adorable kid-level comedy to the feature (and sell some toys). “Lost in Space” also visits robotic spiders and deals with even stranger evolutionary developments. The production can’t keep up, biting off way more than it can chew in terms of believable visuals. Digital overkill holds the endeavor back, but practical additions are compelling, including terrific costumes and production design, and a brief look at pre-“Matrix” bullet-time cinematographic trickery is fun, hinting at a spareness of razzle dazzle that’s more effective than the CGI overload of the final cut.

Lost in Space Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

"Lost in Space" was previously issued on Blu-ray in 2010. Shout Factory returns to the title in 2024 with a "new 2K scan of the interpositive," hoping to give fans a refreshed look at the feature. The viewing experience retains a good amount of detail, doing well with skin surfaces and costuming, with space suits remaining textured. Sets are open for exploration, offering depth and preserving decoration, touring ship rooms and alien landscapes. CGI work is also up for analysis, really showing off the limitations of late-90s technology. Colors are sharp, with the cooler blues of the palette dominating. Alien life and ship lighting brings out more varied hues, joined by sun-blasted oranges and Blawp-y yellows. Skin tones are natural. Delineation is acceptable, doing well with the endeavor's shadowy lighting. Grain is acceptably resolved. Source is in good shape.

Lost in Space Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 5.1 DTS-HD MA mix brings "Lost in Space" to life, handling sharp dialogue exchanges from the performers. Accents are defined, along with Penny's chirpiness. Scoring delivers crisp instrumentation and dramatic support. Musical moods do push out into the surrounds for greater emphasis at times. Circular activity is also immersive with Jupiter 2 space action as it dodges trouble, including the metallic movement of the spiders. Panning effects are appreciable, and low-end delivers some rumble with ship engines and explosions. Atmospherics are engaging with changes in environments, and sound effects are snappy.

Lost in Space Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary #1 features director Stephen Hopkins and screenwriter Akiva Goldsman.

• Commentary #2 features visual effects supervisors Angus Bickerton and Lauren Ritchie, cinematographer Peter Levy, editor Ray Lovejoy, and producer Carla Fry.

• "We're Lost, Aren't We?" (28:44, HD) is a making-of for "Lost in Space," featuring interviews with director Stephen Hopkins and screenwriter Akiva Goldsman, who professes a profound love for the original television series. The production adventure is recalled, including the casting experience, with William Hurt a fan of science fiction, eager to participate. Gary Oldman's commitment to the project is less enthusiastic, basically collecting a paycheck while trying to steer clear of ex-wife Uma Thurman. The interviewees identify Jared Harris's struggle with an American accent, with his performance eventually dubbed by others. Moving into Shepperton Studios, the team created massive sets and deep environments, providing major technical challenges during the shoot. The saga of Blawp is detailed, with a puppet used on-set, replaced by a digital creation. CGI complexity is also analyzed, putting pressure on Hopkins to manage the enormity of the picture. Post-production achievements are highlighted, with the team burning through composers, and the effort's cool critical reception is identified, with Goldsman generally happy it eventually found a fanbase.

• Deleted Scenes (11:48, SD) are offered, presented in an unfinished state. Most reflect editorial changes to the end of the feature, including a visit to "Big Blawp," which is actually a practical creature.

• "The Future of Space Travel" (9:49, SD) collects interviews with environmental and science experts to examine the realities found in the sci-fi of "Lost in Space."

• "Building the Special Effects" (15:56, SD) details the assembly of "Lost in Space," offering interviews with production staff, who celebrate technical achievements, showcase early animatics, and walk through the digital animation processes required to build a few of the CGI creations.

• Q&A (7:35, SD) is a discussion of "Lost in Space" with original television series stars June Lockhart, Angela Cartwright, and Marta Kristen. The actresses examine the popularity of the show and its production limitations, also answering questions about certain episodes, potential plots, and technical achievements.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (2:35, HD) is included.

Lost in Space Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Lost in Space" has an appealing cast, with Hurt a strong, concerned John (he plays parental guilt beautifully), and Chabert really captures young teen irritability, adding some spunkiness to the movie. And Hopkins gets the film up and running with welcome pacing, establishing a grand adventure to come. There's defined entertainment value in the opening hour of the feature, but Goldsman elects to concoct a time travel element to the story, and it plays like a slow suffocation of screen energy. The final 50 minutes of "Lost in Space" is labored and anticlimactic, with the writing going for a Big Idea without thinking it through. Whatever fun is present in the picture during its early moments is gone by the end, with this periodically thrilling take on '60s television in desperate need of more adventure and less plot.