Lost in Space (1998)...Your Views?

[Moviefan2k4]

I honestly don't get why so many seem to hate this movie. I saw it when it first came out, and I've re-watched it many, many times in the 13 years since. I think one of the biggest reasons it failed was because expectations were so high, and you can't please everyone. Plus, it was the first film of that year to knock "Titanic" off its pedestal, so folks dubbed it "The Iceberg" as a result.

Personally, I love this film, and I recently bought it on Blu-Ray. It still holds up, after all these years. The action, characters, effects, storyline...the whole thing is incredible to me. Cameos from some of the original '60s cast was a nice touch as well. Here's some of my favorite lines...

Maj. West: "All right, last one to kill a bad guy buys the beer."

Dr. Smith: "Major West, I highly recommend you never breed...and that, by the way, is my medical opinion."

Robot: "Will Robinson, i will tell you a joke. Why did the robot cross the road? Because it was carbon-bonded to the chicken!"
Will: "We have a lot of work to do."

John: "My father once said, evil always finds its true form."
Spider Smith: "You should have killed me when you had the chance."
John: "You know, you were right; i couldn't kill the man. But I can kill the monster! You've got all of the time you want to die!"

Maureen: "How can we bring civilization to the stars, if we can't remain civilized?"
John: "Have you noticed you take the opposite position to whatever I say?"
Maureen: "Of course I do; we're married."

Penny: "Let's see: do I spend my last night on Earth watching Mom and Dad pretend not to be fighting again...or blow tern years' worth of allowance at the mall? You do the math."
Will: "Mom's gonna go thermal."
Penny: "What's she gonna do, ground me?"

Maj. West: "That's one cool fish I'd love to thaw."
Judy: "I'm not gonna make it home for dinner tonight, Dad."
Maj. West: "..........it's gonna be a long flight."

So, let's have it...what's your thoughts?

[Cowboy]

One Word....William Hurt was miscast as Dr. John Robinson and I thought the overall story could have been better. Oldman was brilliantly cast and the specail effects were pretty good.

This was my favorite show as a kid when I would watch them in syndication in the very early 70's. The first season was really good but when they turned Dr. Smith into a bafoon in season 2 it was all down hill.

[L-Rouge]

Actually I couldn't get past Mr Le Blanc, and I wasn't a fan Lacey Chabert, I rebelled against Party of Five even though she is hella stunning now, It was just the mindset of an 18 yo at the time .

I too had memories of the original and I much preffer the cast of the original series. My dis liking so to speak is more to do with the hit and miss nature of the movie, non of it felt right to me.

I was quite intrigued with the visual effects however the miniature and CG effects were very nice.

Ultimately Dark and Shallow would be the way to describe it. good for a couple of visits, but it grew old on me quickly. I actually prefer the tele-movie "Earth Star Voyager".

I voted that you should at least see it once, because my opinions were tainted with nostalgia .

[tommyboy81]

I'm suprised it hasn't been remade 5 times already. J.J. Abrams, get on it!

[Lemmy Lugosi]

I hated everything about it. It was Lost In Space in name only, just like the American Godzilla film was Godzilla in name only. In fact, fans of the real Godzilla often refer to the American G as the acronym GINO.

Then again, I'm old enough to remember first-run eps of the show, which I loved as a kid (and I still like it).

[AYColumbia]

I loved the TV show as a kid and the movie was definitely different. I think the casting could have been better. I still enjoyed the movie more than I thought in spite of LeBlanc. I thought William Hurt was miscast as well.

My disappointment is with the BD release. It's been several months since I've watched it but I still remember my disappointment in the audio mix. It just sounded like they spent no time on the remix to make it better and have a more "open" stage (I felt the same way about Galaxy Quest) as well as improving surround. It's a shame too because there are some great scenes where the HD audio could have made a bigger impact on the presentation.

I'd love to see a sequel with a different cast. I don't want to see a remake telling the same "beginnings" story. We all know the story so let's start with them lost already eh?

[pab1219]

I liked this,but not at current prices.

[Aerodude73]

Originally Posted by AYColumbia

I loved the TV show as a kid and the movie was definitely different. I think the casting could have been better. I still enjoyed the movie more than I thought in spite of LeBlanc. I thought William Hurt was miscast as well.

My disappointment is with the BD release. It's been several months since I've watched it but I still remember my disappointment in the audio mix. It just sounded like they spent no time on the remix to make it better and have a more "open" stage (I felt the same way about Galaxy Quest) as well as improving surround. It's a shame too because there are some great scenes where the HD audio could have made a bigger impact on the presentation.

I'd love to see a sequel with a different cast. I don't want to see a remake telling the same "beginnings" story. We all know the story so let's start with them lost already eh?

I'll prob order this soon as it's just $9.99/Amazon currently. The movie was alright, & yes, W. Hurt "was" miscast IMO as well.

As for the Audio, that's surprising to hear,

[Show spoiler](<---no pun intended)

, as the review gave it 4.5 of 5 Stars:

Lost in Space features a high-octane DTS-HD MA 5.1 lossless soundtrack that's incredibly aggressive and wholly satisfying. Lost in Space's Dolby Digital DVD track was one of the better of its era that often found use as demo-quality material, and the Blu-ray's lossless mix retains the same surround-heavy and bass-happy sound effects while adding in superior clarity into the equation. Indeed, the track is packed with an almost nonstop barrage of clean and accurate surround information. Whether discrete effects or whooshing spaceships and laserblasts that traverse the soundstage, there's no lack of exciting and perfectly-integrated sound effects anywhere in the track. Lost in Space also delivers a large, spacious, and wonderfully clear musical presentation that makes use of every speaker in the configuration, centered across a wide front soundstage but supported by a strong but not overwhelming surround structure. Bass is tight and precise; whether Jupiter Two's blast-off from Earth or the robot's bass-y voice, the subwoofer gets a heavy workout throughout the movie. The only real problem of note is dialogue that occasionally sounds a bit shallow, but otherwise, this track borders on perfection. Lost in Space delivers an appropriately aggressive and exciting soundtrack that's the perfect compliment to the movie.

[Moviefan2k4]

I actually like Matt LeBlanc as Don West; it was nice to see him in a role that didn't require him to be an idiot. I thought he played really well with both Heather Graham and William Hurt.

[LordCrumb]

I liked it, the special effects were pretty good, and the audio is awesome on Blu-Ray. Not much I can say really.. yes, could have been better, but who really cares?

[AYColumbia]

Originally Posted by Aerodude73

...As for the Audio, that's surprising to hear,

[Show spoiler](<---no pun intended)

, as the review gave it 4.5 of 5 Stars:

Now I'm going to have to rewatch the movie again next weekend. Let's see if I wind up revising my comments regarding this.

[Tcan21]

I saw this when it came out in the theaters, don't think I have watched it all the way through. It was ok, nothing special enough about it to make me go out and rent it.

[arcadeforest]

I liked it. I think several people in this thread already hit the nail on the head of why many did not like it outside of an individual actor's performance, nostalga for the original series. Just like the movie Wild Wild West many are very fond of the original show and it would be very difficult to meet an expectation.

[Moviefan2k4]

Originally Posted by arcadeforest

I think several people in this thread already hit the nail on the head of why many did not like it, outside of an individual actor's performance: nostalga for the original series.

Maybe that's one reason why I enjoy it: I've never seen the original show, so I don't carry that kind of "baggage" around. The same could be said of the Matthew Broderick "Godzilla" film as well, since I'm not a fan of those films (and apparently, neither was director Roland Emmerich, who only took the job after being told he could do anything he wanted with it).

[ZoetMB]

I was too old to enjoy the original series much and I thought the movie was really poor in spite of the cast. Even if this were for sale on BD for $8, I doubt that I'd ever buy it.

[Aerodude73]

Originally Posted by ZoetMB

I was too old to enjoy the original series much and I thought the movie was really poor in spite of the cast. Even if this were for sale on BD for $8, I doubt that I'd ever buy it.

how about $6-7, still a no-go?

I thought this movie was alright. As one noted already, seeing LeBlanc play a non-buffoon was a welcome change. Plus, Heather Graham was still in her prime "Hottie" era then.

[EricJ]

Originally Posted by Moviefan2k4

Here's some of my favorite lines...

Y'know, I remember when we all first blamed "Batman & Robin" as "all" Joel Schumacher's fault--

Then, seven months later--if it'd been more than a year, we wouldn't have suspected--another movie came out from the same screenwriter, and was dopey in the suspiciously EXACT SAME goofball pop-quoting way, and that was how we first all learned the name of Akiva Goldsman...
It was the second movie that created The Legend.

[Offender_Mullet]

Gary Oldman = the only reason to watch this disaster.

[Moviefan2k4]

Originally Posted by EricJ

Y'know, I remember when we all first blamed "Batman & Robin" as "all" Joel Schumacher's fault--

Yeah, many people conveniently forget that Schumacher also directed "Batman Forever", which was more successful than "Batman Returns" had been. The whole "campy" mentality which infested "Batman & Robin" was largely the studio's fault, since they demanded less of a film and more of a toy commercial. This ultimately led to Schumacher often telling the whole production, "Remember, people - it's a cartoon!"

The only thing I really liked about the fourth one was Mr. Freeze, Alfred, and the scenes between Robin & Batgirl. Clooney & Thurman really wrecked that one for me.

[500_Days_of_Night]

Don't think I've watched it since it hit theaters. Don't remember too much about it, but I do remember that it was the first movie to dethrone Titanic at the box office.... then Titanic took right back over the next week.