Lost in Space (1998)

Director:

Stephen Hopkins

Writers (WGA):

Irwin Allen (television series)
Akiva Goldsman (written by)

Release Date:

3 April 1998 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

Danger Will Robinson!

Plot:

The Robinson family was going into space to fight for a chance for humanity. Now they are fighting to live long enough to find a way home.

Plot Keywords:

Father Son Relationship | Space | Time Travel | Spacecraft | Family

Awards:

1 win & 11 nominations

Cast

William Hurt	...	Prof. John Robinson
Mimi Rogers	...	Dr. Maureen Robinson
Heather Graham	...	Dr. Judy Robinson
Lacey Chabert	...	Penny Robinson
Jack Johnson	...	Will Robinson
Gary Oldman	...	Spider Smith
Matt LeBlanc	...	Maj. Don West
Jared Harris	...	Older Will Robinson
Mark Goddard	...	General
Lennie James	...	Jeb Walker
Marta Kristen	...	Reporter #1
June Lockhart	...	Principal Cartwright
Edward Fox	...	Businessman
Adam Sims	...	Lab Technician
Angela Cartwright	...	Reporter #2

Also Known As:

LS (USA) (promotional abbreviation)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for some intense sci-fi action.

Runtime:

130 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour (Rankcolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Iceland:L | USA:PG-13 (certificate #35916) | Argentina:Atp | Australia:PG | Belgium:KT | Finland:K-8 | France:U | Germany:12 | Mexico:A | Netherlands:12 | Norway:11 | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:PG | South Korea:All | Sweden:11 | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | UK:PG | Canada:PG

Filming Locations:

London, England, UK

Company:

New Line Cinema

Trivia:

Originally, all surviving cast members of the TV show were meant to have cameo appearances. Mark Goddard, the original Major Don West, plays the General. June Lockhart, the original Maureen Robinson, plays Will Robinson's principal. Marta Kristen and Angela Cartwright, the original Robinson girls, play reporters. Ironically, Bill Mumy and Jonathan Harris, the two actors most supportive of the idea of a new movie (as well as the two most popular characters on the show), did not appear in it. Mumy wanted to play the older Will Robinson but the director thought it would be too distracting from the plot to have the original Will play the older Will. Harris was to have played the man who hired, then betrayed, Dr. Smith. In an interview for "TV Guide" prior to the film's release, it was mentioned that Jonathan Harris bluntly stated, "I will have you know I have never done a walk-on or bit part in my life! And I do not intend to start." He announced that if he could not play his own role in the movie, he wanted nothing to do with it. He did return as Dr. Smith in a one-hour TV special Lost in Space Forever (1998) (TV).

Goofs:

Continuity: When Dr Robinson analyzes the spider, only its image appears on the screen, but she already knows its a silicone-based life form, even though this information does not show on the monitor yet.

Quotes:

Dr. Zachary Smith: You can't do it can you? You can't kill the man without becoming the monster.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Matrix (1999)

Soundtrack:

Busy Child

The title says it all.

Rating: * out of ****

Based off the old 60's television series, Lost in Space certainly had the opportunity to be a suspenseful and imaginative sci-fi adventure, but it ends up feeling like little more than an overlong pilot episode for a failed television series. What the movie does have going for it are some occasionally nifty special effects and a fairly tense scene set on board an abandoned spacecraft packed full of hungry giant spiders.

What the movie has going against it is generally everything else. The cast is thoroughly unconvincing (even William Hurt and Gary Oldman), a good portion of the special effects are second-rate, and the subplot involving time rips and time "bubbles" feels tacked-on and pointless. This is a silly adventure film that lacks tension and fun, or even competent film-making and writing. I'm certain kids will probably enjoy the movie, but most everyone else will probably feel mentally adrift by the time the end credits roll.