‘Lost In Space’ (1998) Collector’s Edition Blu-Ray Review – Big-Screen Adaptation Gets Set Adrift

The family Robinson is in hiber-sleep, soaring into deep space. Their mission: establish a colony that will become home for a dying Earth’s inhabitants. But sabotage jolts the Robinsons awake, sending them — and an often troublesome robot — off course and into amazing adventures where the question is not just where they are, but also when. A fine cast (Gary Oldman, Mimi Rogers, William Hurt, Matt LeBlanc, Heather Graham, and more) sets just the right tone of heroism and fun in an imaginative sci-fi voyage based on the ’60s TV series and featuring cameos by some of the original TV stars.

For thoughts on Lost In Space (1998), please check out my thoughts on No Streaming Required:

Video Quality

Lost In Space comes to Blu-Ray via Scream Factory with a 1080p transfer that is derived from a new 2K scan of the Interpositive. This film was first released on Blu-Ray in 2010 courtesy of Warner Bros. Unfortunately, we don’t have that disc, making comparisons impossible at this time. From what we have read, that release was impressive for the time, but it was during the era of the weaker VC-1 codec and things likely look a bit creaky almost 15 years later. Outside of this speculation, this new transfer is a formidable representation of the feature with a naturally filmic presentation. Nevertheless, it is surprising that this title didn’t receive a 4K UHD Blu-Ray release with this revisit. We can almost guarantee some level of improvement here, but the lack of a 4K upgrade will probably make some fans a bit hesitant.

The transfer comes through when it comes to showcasing intricate detail as subtle textures emerge from the costumes, production design, and other elements of the background. The only thing that does not look excellent is the dated CGI, but this is inherent to the source and not an issue with the transfer. Any previous print damage has been eliminated for a clean and consistent viewing experience. The transfer does not succumb to any density fluctuation or other unwanted anomalies. The color palette is natural with a pleasing depth when it comes to lighting, fire, and certain special effects. Black levels provide a strong amount of depth and detail. Highlights never fall victim to blooming even in the most challenging instances. The lack of a 4K UHD Blu-Ray feels like a missed opportunity, but this new Blu-Ray release is still a great release that fans should enjoy. 

Audio Quality

The Blu-Ray disc comes with a DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track that brings great power to this rollicking adventure. The previous Warner Bros. Blu-Ray sported the same track, so any enhancements are likely minimal at most. Dialogue comes through perfectly clearly even in the most chaotic moments. From the bombastic opening battle with Don to the gentle moments with the family, this track executes every situation with great care. The low end provides excellent texture that expands the world without being overly aggressive. Environmental noises are very active in making this world feel alive. The rousing score flows through without any hint of damage or distortion. Scream Factory has provided a robust audio experience that handles this one well. English SDH subtitles are provided for those who want them.

Special Features

• Audio Commentaries: This disc provides two archival commentary tracks from the creative team that tackle the film from a broad and more specialized level. Throughout these two tracks, you get some background information on the production, the challenges of the adaptation, the themes, the casting process, the special effects process, and more. 

• • Audio Commentary #1: Director Stephen Hopkins and screenwriter Akiva Goldsman

• • Audio Commentary #2: Visual Effects Supervisors Angus Bickerton and Lauren Ritchie, Director Of Photography Peter Levy, Editor Ray Lovejoy, and Producer Carla Fry

• “We’re Lost Aren’t We?” – A Look Back at Lost In Space: A new 29-minute piece in which Stephen Hopkins and Akiva Goldsman reflect on the creation of this movie with some interesting insights into the pitching of the project, the casting of the performers, how the actors felt about appearing in the film, the decision to dub the voice of Jared Harris, the appearance of the original cast, working with the robot, the challenges of the production, and more. 

• Deleted Scenes: A 12-minute collection of unused material is provided in standard definition and with some unfinished special effects. 

• Building the Special Effects: A 16-minute archival piece that takes you through the creation of the digital effects in the film.

• The Future of Space Travel: A ten-minute archival featurette in which scientists and environmentalists discuss the realities imagined in the film and how likely they are to come to fruition.  

• Q&A with the Original Cast – TV Years: A brief eight-minute interview with original television series stars June Lockhart, Angela Cartwright, and Marta Kristen who discuss the creation of the original series, its enduring popularity, and more. 

• Original Theatrical Trailer: The two-and-a-half-minute trailer is provided here.  

Final Thoughts

Lost In Space starts out as decent sci-fi adventure entertainment, but things become overly convoluted and hollow as you embark upon the latter half of the story. The movie attempts to offer some deeply emotional situations, but it never really feels earned or effective in the way it needs to be. The best part of the film is the impressive practical effects work and production design that aids in transporting you to this world. This is unfortunately somewhat undone by the horrendously dated CGI creations that look worse with every year that passes. The performances are mostly broad and not in line with what these performers could achieve with better material. Scream Factory has provided the film with a new Blu-Ray release that delivers a strong A/V presentation and a nice amount of special features. If you like the film, this is the best way to own it. 

Lost In Space (Collector’s Edition) is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray. 

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Scream Factory has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.