AVS Discussions
Movie and TV Discussion => Movie reviews => Topic started by: David Vaughn on August 20, 2025, 08:06:31 PM
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(https://i.imgur.com/XCILbU1.jpeg)
Studio: Arrow Video
Release Date: September 2, 2025
Rating: PG-13
Film: 3/5
Plot
The year is 2058. With Earth on the brink of collapse, the Robinson family is chosen to lead a critical mission to colonize a distant planet aboard the Jupiter 2 spacecraft. But the mission is sabotaged by the traitorous Dr. Zachary Smith, and the ship veers off course and plunges through a rift in space-time, leaving the Robinsons stranded in an unknown universe. Now lost in a hostile alien galaxy, the family must trek through treacherous environments, battle deadly creatures, and avoid Smith's unpredictable schemes.
My Thoughts
The film starts rough, with clunky dialogue and a tonal mismatch between the TV show’s camp and a grittier sci-fi vibe. Matt LeBlanc struggles to shed his Friends character Joey Tribbiani, his smirking delivery and cheesy one-liners (like hitting on Judy in front of her father) feeling more sitcom than space hero. However, the story gains traction as it develops, particularly in the second half, where family dynamics and survival stakes deepen, bolstered by Gary Oldman’s delightfully sinister Smith. The CGI, like the infamous Blarp and Spider-Smith, looks dated and rough—par for the course in 1998, when digital effects were the shiny new toy in filmmaking. Practical effects, like the Jupiter 2’s design, fare better. Fans of classic sci-fi may catch nods to The Swiss Family Robinson or Forbidden Planet in the setup. While flawed, the film’s latter half delivers enough action and heart to make it a nostalgic, if uneven, ride.
Arrow Video’s 4K UHD release, sourced from a 4K restoration of the original camera negative, presents a 2160p transfer in 2.39:1 with Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible). The video quality is good, with crisp detail in costumes, production design, and practical sets—facial textures and the Jupiter 2’s sleek interiors pop vividly. Colors are richly saturated, especially in space scenes, and the image maintains a clean, filmic look with well-managed grain. However, the poor CGI stands out starkly in 4K, a reminder of the technological limitations in 1998.
The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track (with a lossless stereo option) is solid but not as dynamic as I recalled from the original DVD release, which was a reference disc for its time. Dialogue is clear, and Bruce Broughton’s electronic score carries decent energy, but the dynamic range feels somewhat restrained compared to memory. Explosions and space battles lack the punchy low-end impact expected from a modern sci-fi mix, and surround effects, while active during action scenes, don’t fully envelop the listener. It’s a serviceable presentation that captures the film’s sound design but falls short of the robust, immersive experience hoped for in a 4K release.
Video 9/10
Audio 8.5/10 (DTS-HD MA 5.1)
Special Features:
- Archive audio commentary with director Stephen Hopkins and screenwriter Akiva Goldsman
- Archive audio commentary with visual effects supervisors Angus Bickerton and Lauren Ritchie, director of photography Peter Levy, editor Ray Lovejoy, and producer Carla Fry
- A Space Odyssey, a newly filmed interview with director Stephen Hopkins
- Lights in the Sky, a newly filmed interview with director of photography Peter Levy
- A Journey Through Time, a newly filmed interview with producer and screenwriter Akiva Goldsman
- Art of Space, a newly filmed interview with supervising art director Keith Pain
- Crafting Reality, a newly filmed interview with Kenny Wilson, former mould shop supervisor at Jim Henson’s Creature Shop
- Sound of Space, a newly filmed interview with sound mixer Simon Kaye and re-recording mixer Robin O’Donohue
- Lost But Not Forgotten in Space, a new video essay by film critic Matt Donato
- Deleted scenes
- Building the Special Effects, an archival featurette with visual effects supervisor Angus Bickerton and animatics supervisor Mac Wilson
- The Future of Space Travel, an archival featurette exploring the film's vision of the future
- TV Years, a Q&A with the original cast of the TV series
- Bloopers
- Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Pye Parr
- Illustrated collector’s booklet featuring new writing by critic Neil Sinyard, articles from American Cinematographer and an excerpt from the original production notes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tsmacmhdrUs (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tsmacmhdrUs)
Conclusion
Arrow Video’s Lost in Space 4K UHD delivers a visually impressive presentation that highlights the film’s practical strengths, though dated CGI remains a weak point. The audio is acceptable but lacks the dynamic range of top-tier sci-fi releases. The movie itself is a mixed bag—a rough start gives way to better story development, with Oldman stealing scenes and LeBlanc stuck in Joey mode. Generous extras make this a worthy pickup for fans and ‘90s sci-fi enthusiasts, but its flaws keep it from greatness.
Reference Review System:
JVC DLA-RS3100 4K Ultra High-Definition Front Projector
(Calibrated with Portrait Displays CalMAN color calibration software & C6-HDR Meter from Portrait Displays)
Stewart Filmscreen - Firehawk 110” 2.35:1 Screen
Trinnov Altitude 16 Audio/Video Processor
ATI AT527NC Powering Bed Channels
ATI AT524NC Powering Atmos Speakers
Kaleidescape Strato + Server
Panasonic DP-UB820 Ultra HD Blu-ray Player
System Controller: URC MX-990
M&K S-150 THX Ultra (R-C-L Speakers)
M&K SS-150 x4 (Surround Speakers)
Atlantic Technology IC6-OBA x 4 Overhead Speakers
Dual Rythmik FV15HP2
Mini DSP HD controlling all subwoofers
Audioquest and Monoprice - Audio/Video/Speaker Cabling
PureAV PF60 Power Conditioner
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Arrow has been putting together some great packages lately. The love and care are evident from the 4K quality to the abundance of extra material. I've found that even for some of the lesser movies, the supplemental shorts and featurettes are even more engrossing than the main feature.
I haven't watched it since it first came out, but your review matches my memory of the movie. This is a hard property to remake, since the show leaned heavily into camp, but that approach isn't as well received these days. To turn it into something completely serious could work, but then casting LeBlanc was an odd choice. Especially considering that Don West was one of the sternest of the characters; that role really needed to be played straight without even a hint of comedy.
Thanks for reviewing this one.
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Arrow has been putting together some great packages lately. The love and care are evident from the 4K quality to the abundance of extra material. I've found that even for some of the lesser movies, the supplemental shorts and featurettes are even more engrossing than the main feature.
I haven't watched it since it first came out, but your review matches my memory of the movie. This is a hard property to remake, since the show leaned heavily into camp, but that approach isn't as well received these days. To turn it into something completely serious could work, but then casting LeBlanc was an odd choice. Especially considering that Don West was one of the sternest of the characters; that role really needed to be played straight without even a hint of comedy.
Thanks for reviewing this one.
I really think LeBlanc was miscast. What doesn't help is my wife and I have been rewatching Friends and only have 5 episodes left, so we've been seeing Joey every night for a few months. It was hard not thinking of that while watching the film.
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Thanks for the review!