Sep 10, 2001 12:07 AM
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This is the big-screen, big-budget version of the Irwin Allen TV classic of the sixties now afforded cult status, which was shown on TV very recently. A bit of what goes around, comes around.
Directed by Stephen Hopkins this film never reached the heights that it could have done because it seemed to me that the director was absent most of the time. The editing left quite a bit to be desired but that may well have been for TV viewing purposes in order to shovel the film into two hours air time.
Many of the special effects were special and effective, particularly the opening scene in space where good guys and bad guys battle it out to prevent the space station from being destroyed. This sequence, however, was only to introduce to the viewer to Don West played by Matt LeBlanc as a super hero and to establish that there were forces on Earth not keen on the idea of a hypergate to the stars.
Set in 2058 (not long now) the earth is almost out of natural resources like carbon fuels and the ozone layer is only 40% of its original size and density leaving the planet with a mere 20 years before becoming uninhabitable. The Robinson family have been chosen to head off into space on a ten years voyage to set up another hypergate at their destination so that Earthlings can transport swiftly to a new life. Unknown to our intrepid band there is a faction on Earth that do not want the scheme to succeed and a Dr Smith (Gary Oldman) is charged with the task of making sure that the mission is a failure. He re-programmes the on board robot to kill the Robinsons and destroy the spacecraft. Much to his chagrin, having completed the nefarious task, the bad doctor is rendered unconscious by the now malfunctioning gadget that he re-programmed the robot with and leaves with the flight, thus following the original plot of the TV series. His dilemma when he discovers his fate is obvious.
Professor John Robinson’s (William Hurt) acting ability left a lot to be desired as did the rest of his family although his wife Maureen (Mimi Rogers) did seem to put some effort into her portrayal.
If watching this film, forget the science and just enjoy it for what it is. A film with a good story, very good effects, mediocre acting, poor directing and editing that interfered with the flow. The alternatives on the other four terrestrial channels at that time meant that this film was the lesser of five evils.
It was worth one viewing and even though I like science fiction stories and films this is one film that I will give a miss if there is a second time around.
