Lost in Space

[Mr. Spook]

I'm also one of the very few people who actually liked the 1998 movie. I felt it was a respectful tribute/update of the concept. The issue I felt was they they were trying to serve too many masters. It was serious, exciting, nonsensical, funny, scary and campy. Everything the original series was but instead of it being spread out over the course of 83 episode, this tone was applied to a 2 hour film. It didn't really know what it wanted to be.

But they did recreate some lovely LIS moments. The launch was gorgeous, they did "The Derelict" and then a "Wild Adventure" styled escape-the-sun routine, and then the crash landing from the pilot/Island in the Sky. Except for the Blarp, which was a last minute CGI replacement for a physical puppet, the effects were great and the finale - where they escape through the planet - is absurd...but so freaking exciting. Bruce Broughton's score is insanely good.

Where it was let down was the casting. William Hurt was particularly miscast (he would have been better as Jonny Quest's dad), and Jack Johnson was too bland for Will. Will Robinson was really the heart of LIS - you don't kiss off that character with an inexperienced kid actor. Haley Joel Osment would have been a great contemporary choice. Matt LeBlanc was fine, as were Lacey Chabert (despite her being written as annoying), Heather Graham and Mimi Rogers. But it was Gary Oldman who seemed to be having the most fun and he was - as usual - fantastic as Smith. Having Dick Tufeld return as the robot's voice was a joy and I enjoyed the cameos of the original cast.

Now, I get it: fans wanted Bill Mumy to play older Will. But the excuse they gave him, that people would be pulled out of the film, was valid IMO. It's one thing to thrown him in as a cameo at the start, but to put him in a pivotal role in the climax would have risked losing the focus of the plot. Besides, none of the other OG cast were playing versions of their old characters. So I was fine with Jared Harris (dubbed by another actor). I would have enjoyed Jonathan Harris as the person giving Nu Smith his marching orders, it would have been a lovely touch. But nope, "I play Smith or I don't play!"
So yep, I really liked it, saw it about 7 times in the theater and was giddy when it toppled Titanic from the top box office spot.

But then again, I also enjoy Alien 3 and Terminator 3 a lot more than most people. So what do I know?

 

[Christopher]

I thought the reason Bill Mumy wasn't in the LiS movie was because his Babylon 5 schedule wouldn't allow it.

I didn't care for the movie much; I didn't think it got the characters or the concept right at all. The Robinsons should not be a dysfunctional family. (Well, they started out that way in the Netflix series, but that one was more nuanced about it and made it work.) And Smith doesn't consider himself evil. Also, why does something called Lost in Space end up being mostly about getting lost in time? That whole element was driven by the desire to get Mumy in there as adult Will, so once that didn't happen, it just felt gratuitous.

For me, the high point was Lacey Chabert, who totally stole every scene she was in even though she sounded like a chipmunk.

 

[Mr. Spook]

I thought the reason Bill Mumy wasn't in the LiS movie was because his Babylon 5 schedule wouldn't allow it.

From what I've read (and forgive me for not having a source other than the Lost in Space Wiki but I had also read it in print), it was about audience recognition - the director was worried about it. Mummy wanted to be part of it. JMS probably would have worked with Mumy if able since Lennier wasn't in every episode.

I didn't care for the movie much; I didn't think it got the characters or the concept right at all. The Robinsons should not be a dysfunctional family. (Well, they started out that way in the Netflix series, but that one was more nuanced about it and made it work.)

Yeah a lot of fans hated the family dynamic, but I appreciated the journey to get to the Robinson Family we all recognized. And as a relatively new step-father myself at the time, John's arc resonated with me. The film had a lot of heart and by the finale, everyone was in place.

And Smith doesn't consider himself evil.

Agreed, that felt off at the time. Even if he did, voicing it was awkward. I get they were probably trying to distance him from the over the top Smith of the 60's but then they put the classic lines in his mouth. Oldman did a lot of heavy lifting to make him work and I wound up enjoying his performance.

That whole element was driven by the desire to get Mumy in there as adult Will, so once that didn't happen, it just felt gratuitous.

If the quote about Hopkins not wanting Mumy there is true, I guess it's even more pointless. But I imagine when Akiva Goldsman was writing it, he may have wanted that to happen. It was an odd story choice, but this was supposed to be a kickoff film for a franchise that never happened and they were still out of their own time at the end. The commentary goes into plans for the next film. Which sounded terrible, so I'm happy with what we got.

For me, the high point was Lacey Chabert, who totally stole every scene she was in even though she sounded like a chipmunk.

She was very good, I just felt the "Penny Cam" was a little grating. Her melodrama was also a little over the top, but that's teen angst for you.

I don't disagree with the issues the film had, but I love it. I was very happy to see it get a 4K deluxe release along with Krull, another film I adore that nobody else seems to really like much.

 

[Forbin]

Loved it as a kid, but as an adult I realize it was FOR kids, and I have real trouble trying to watch it nowadays. But being a tech-head, I'm still a huge fan of the vehicles and the robot.
And Marta Kristen was and is still just. so. beautiful.

 

[Christopher]

But I imagine when Akiva Goldsman was writing it, he may have wanted that to happen.

Given that it's Akiva Goldsman, that seems likely.

I don't disagree with the issues the film had, but I love it. I was very happy to see it get a 4K deluxe release along with Krull, another film I adore that nobody else seems to really like much.

I think Krull is fairly good, though it has its weaknesses.

 

[Rowdy Roddy McDowall]

Then season two was when things started to get campy, and the storylines predominantly revolving around Smith and Will Robinson, to the detriment of the other cast. And the suspension of disbelief as to why the Robinsons constantly put up with Smith's antics (many of which almost got the family killed) was just ridiculously silly. But season three was the worst, with the focus on making the show some half-assed action-oriented thing while still pounding on the camp. And Smith's over-the-top characterization became too much to handle. It was hard enough to get through season two, but I stopped halfway through season 3 because I knew things were just not going to get any better.

I will say this, though: the Robot was the real star of that show.

A little Smith goes way-stale before long. But you can never have enough Robot....especially with Dick Tufeld's voice.

As for the WILL PENNY movie, that was an unrelated Western film starring Chuck Heston. But now that Wednesday Addams is blessed with her own series, I'd love to see PennRob get the same treatment, whoever might play her....except for the infant version in John Woo's forgettable pilot. How about making WILL the frigging infant, and killing Smith off in the first five minutes?

And Smith doesn't consider himself evil.

I'd wager the majority of the truly evil ones in this world lack that self-awareness. That way leads to potential redemption. Which gives Smith a snowball's chance in hell.

 

[the G-man]

Now, I get it: fans wanted Bill Mumy to play older Will. But the excuse they gave him, that people would be pulled out of the film, was valid IMO. It's one thing to thrown him in as a cameo at the start, but to put him in a pivotal role in the climax would have risked losing the focus of the plot. Besides, none of the other OG cast were playing versions of their old characters. So I was fine with Jared Harris (dubbed by another actor).

It pulled me right out not to have Mumy and, at the time I thought Jared Harris was Jonathan, not Richard's, son so I was doubly pulled out at what I thought was a different stunt casting that made no sense.

 

[Mr. Spook]

It pulled me right out not to have Mumy and, at the time I thought Jared Harris was Jonathan, not Richard's, son so I was doubly pulled out at what I thought was a different stunt casting that made no sense.

Well I had no idea who the actor was, so I didn't have that issue. Since none of the other original cast played versions of the OG characters, I never gave it a thought during the initial viewing.

However I did note at various times, "hey that's June Lockhart!" "Cool Mark Goddard!" I'm just as glad I didn't have to say "all right Bull MUMY!" during a dramatic moment.

 

[tomalak301]

I like the recent remake a lot more than the original.

I never saw the original but I really liked the remake. One of the first Netflix shows I remember really enjoying all the way through. It feels like so long ago it was airing.

 

[camdudetenger2018]

i have seen the 1998 movie and the 2020 netflix tv show

 

[Forbin]

IIRC, Johnathan Harris said, when he started going over-the-top campy, Irwin Allen told him "More More!"

 

[Rowdy Roddy McDowall]

IIRC, Johnathan Harris said, when he started going over-the-top campy, Irwin Allen told him "More More!"

The bland leading the tiresome.