Lost In Space (1998)

Lost In Space is a 1998 Sci-fi remake of the 1960s series about the Robinson family who’s galactic mission goes off course, leaving them stranded in the unknown. Based on an 1812 book by Johann David Wyss, it was negatively received and was nominated for ‘Worst Remake or Sequel’ at the Golden Raspberry Awards, despite debuting at number one at the US box office on opening week and surpassing its budget in sales.

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It begins with a battle sequence in space as Major Don West and Jeb Walker, played by Matt LeBlanc and Lennie James, fight off enemy forces. Jeb gets into trouble, but Don comes to the rescue and they make it back to flight deck safely. The action in this sequence isn’t the most inspiring, but it introduces us to the incredible graphics which are the true selling point for the movie. Lost In Space was made within a 6 month time frame, so what was able to be achieved visually is staggering.

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The year is 2058, and Earth is becoming uninhabitable, prompting a mission to preserve life by sending a group of humans out into the universe. We meet the Robinson family, as the youngest of the bunch hides in a cupboard, altering a hologram sent by his headteacher to make her look funny. She’s concerned with his performance at school, as Will is a talented student but lacks focus, and his mother struggles to keep a straight face as this information is relayed by a woman in various disguises.

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Meanwhile, patriarch of the family John gives a press screening on the Jupiter II mission, as his family have been selected to prepare planet Alpha Prime as a new home for their race. The pilot for the ship is assassinated by mutant terrorist group Global Sedition, and Don is selected as a replacement because of his performance in the line of duty, much to the distaste of John. The family physician Dr Zachary Smith intends to sabotage the expedition, working with the opposition to undermine United Global Space Force.

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We also meet Penny Robinson, who keeps a video diary named ‘Penny Vision’ and whom is against leaving her life behind on Earth, breaking curfew in rebellion. Will feels neglected, as his father is so focused on the mission he doesn’t acknowledge the prize-winning science experiment he’s been working on. The family do board Jupiter II, joined by daughter Judy who becomes a love interest for West. All onboard are cryogenically frozen, as the vessel is set on its course across the galaxy.

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Zachary gets trapped on board while programming the fleet’s robot to destroy the mainframe, and didn’t expect other people to be inside the ship when he carried out his plan, so he helps free the Robinson family and Don from their cryochambers. Will manages to disarm the bot remotely, while the others struggle to steer the ships failing navigational system, and Don grapples with Smith until he pleads he’s the only one who can help Penny, who’s cryotube hasn’t disengaged.

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After spending too much time in the freezing capsule, Penny has to receive medical attention, and it’s really cool to see how the film envisions what future advances in technology might look like. Alas, good old fashion techniques are still required, as Zachary uses CPR to revive her, still trying to convince them he’s useful to keep around.

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While all this has been happening, no one has realised they’ve been pulled into the sun’s orbit by it’s gravitational mass - whilst the ship is built to withstand extreme temperatures, it’s proximity to the massive star does pose a threat and there’s no escaping it. West proves his capabilities to John though, suggesting they go through the sun using hyperdrive to move faster than light.

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They soon realise they’re lost in galaxies they don’t recognise, but then stumble across another ship. John warns Don to hold back, but he disobeys orders to get a closer look, and they manage to dock on the other vessel as it becomes apparent it’s one of their own. They do spot an alien ship nearby too, but still choose to board the Proteus, checking for human life onboard. Once inside, they’re able to find navigational information for Alpha Prime, learning that the Proteus is from the future and was used for a recovery mission of the Robinsons.

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Upon boarding the ship, they noticed what appeared to be egg sachs attached to the walls - and are soon ambushed by spider-like creatures, as Smith is infected by one. They also come across an alien creature that can camouflage, which Penny names ‘Blarp’, and they take him with them as they’re forced to flee. The robot is damaged as Will remotely uses it to fight off their attackers, but he is able to preserve its intelligence before West blows the Proteus up, destroying all life inside.

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This event causes them to crash land on a nearby planet, as Don and John continue debating who has command over the ship. Radioactive material needed to repair the vessel is within a bubble in the distance, which is determined to be a time anomaly, though Will is dismissed again by his father when he suggests it might be manufactured rather than a natural occurrence. John ventures out with Don to investigate, and Will shortly follows, persuaded by Smith to let him tag along for protection.

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John and the Major come across ruins of the Jupiter 2 in the time rift, before being ambushed by a futuristic version of Will’s robot, knocking them unconscious. The boy and Zachary both enter the anomaly too, where the doctor sees gravestones for the Robinson family and Penny’s ‘Pennyvision’ bracelet. John wakes up to find he’s been captured by a stranger, soon to be revealed as a future version of Will Robinson.

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It comes to light that in this alternate timeline Will Robinson was left to fend for himself, as his family were killed by alien spiders that survived the explosion of the Proteus. With Dr Smith by his side, who has fully transformed into a monster after his bug bite, adult Will has been able to create the time portal he’d always dreamed about. This is only a manipulation by Zachary though, as he murdered the Robinson’s and kept Will alive so he could use the machine to populate earth with spiders.

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The future doctor rips off his disguise, revealing his insect physique beneath, and John is able to injure him. He then damages Smith’s egg sac, remembering that the spiders eat their wounded, and his own species tear him apart. The planet becomes more unstable and the Robinson family attempt to flee without their patriarch, but as the Jupiter II is still damaged it can’t reach velocity and explodes mid-air.

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Witnessing his loved ones perish, future Will realises how much John cares for his family, and allows his father to use the portal to travel back to when they were alive again. There’s only enough energy for one trip, so he sacrifices his own life knowing his future will be better than the one he’s been living. John is transported to the moment before the rest of the Robinson clan died, and suggests using the planet’s gravitational pull to propel them forward. This works as the rock implodes on itself to become a black hole, and the ship is set to navigate towards Alpha Prime, as the family look onwards to their new life.

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The special features includes a short film about the effects used on the movie, alongside cast and creative profiles, music videos for “Lost in Space - Theme” by Apollo 440 and “Busy Child” by The Crystal Method, trailers and deleted scenes, which reveal we missed out on seeing an adult version of Blarp. It’s taken me longer than I’d like to admit to pull this review together, and besides life getting in the way I think I just haven’t been invested in this adaptation of Lost In Space. Visually it’s spectacular, but the acting and direction fall flat.