Land of the Lost appears in an aspect ratio of approximately 1.85:1 on this Blu-Ray Disc. Though generally good, some inconsistencies affected the presentation.
Sharpness provided some lackluster moments. While the vast majority of the flick displayed solid clarity and accuracy, some exceptions occurred; occasional wide shots looked a bit soft and iffy. Nonetheless, those were infrequent. I noticed no issues with jagged edges or shimmering, and the flick lacked edge enhancement. As for source flaws, the movie was grainier than usual at times, but otherwise it failed to display and defects.
Colors tended to be warm and a bit oversaturated to fit the desert setting. The palette gave the film a hot feeling that was appropriate; the hues looked positive given the stylistic choices. Blacks were dark and tight, while shadows showed nice clarity and delineation. Some minor issues made this a “B” transfer, but it remained satisfying.
Though it also never excelled, the DTS-HD MA 5.1 soundtrack of Lost was very good. With all its action scenes, the movie boasted plenty of opportunities for involving information. It did well with these, but don’t expect Jurassic Park level dazzle. The track used all five speakers nicely and provided a fairly engrossing setting.
However, the audio didn’t quite live up to expectations. The track created a good sense of action and movement, but it lacked the sizzle that I felt should come with a flick of this sort. It’s good but not great in terms of soundscape.
Audio quality seemed pleasing. A few lines suffered from some edginess, but most dialogue remained natural and distinctive. Music showed good range and breadth, while effects offered accurate, dynamic material. Low-end response packed a nice punch when appropriate. Though not a killed soundtrack, Lost was worth a “B+”.
When we head to the set’s extras, we open with an audio commentary from director Brad Silberling. He provides a running, screen-specific look at his experiences with the original TV series and its influence on him, adapting the show and changes made for the movie, cast and performances, story and characters, sets and locations, effects and production design, music, influences, and a few other areas.
He may have directed a forgettable movie, but Silberling offers a terrific commentary here. He proves chatty from start to finish and digs into the film with gusto. How many other directors of “A”-list summer films will mention that “2 Girls, 1 Cup” influenced their movie? Probably none – except for Silberling. This is a fine commentary that’s considerably more interesting than the film itself.
10 Deleted Scenes run a total of 20 minutes, 23 seconds. In truth, I’d classify these more as alternate scenes instead of actual deleted sequences. We get different introductions to the main characters and some alterations to segments that show up in the final cut. We also find a less satisfying ending. It’s nice to see Bob Balaban as Rick’s boss – he’s totally absent from the released movie – and some of the bits are entertaining, but nothing here qualifies as lost gold.
We can watch these with or without commentary from Silberling. Once again he offers high-quality information. Silberling gives us good background about the scenes and lets us know why he cut them.
Next comes Dr. Marshall’s Food Diaries. In this five-minute and 49-second piece, we see shots of Rick Marshall as he chats to a video camera about his food obsession. It’s an odd runner that offers moderate amusement.
We can watch the “Diaries” with or without more commentary from Silberling. He gives us a little more info about the segments but doesn’t add much; his remarks conclude about 90 seconds into the piece.
For something unusual, we head to the six-minute, 49-second Devil’s Canyon Gift Shop Commercial and Tour. This provides a cheap-looking fake ad for the business run by the movie’s Will Stanton character followed by a guided tour. Danny McBride riffs his way through the tour; he also meets up with Ferrell, and they make it entertaining.
Three programs follow. A Day in the Life of a Big-Time Movie Star lasts 11 minutes, 12 seconds and follows McBride around the set. It’s decidedly tongue in cheek, as McBride plays the buffoon as usual. It’s not a comedy classic, but it’s amusing.
The three-part documentary This Is Not a Routine Expedition: Making Land of the Lost fills one hour, 23 minutes and 31 seconds. We find notes from Silberling, McBride, Ferrell, producers/original series creators Sid and Marty Krofft, executive producer Julie Wixson Darmody, screenwriters Dennis McNicholas and Chris Henchy, tachyon meter fabricator Rick Gamez, production designer Bo Welch, special effects coordinator Michael Lantieri, makeup production supervisor Brian Walsh, creature and makeup effects designer Mike Elizalde, director of photography Dion Beebe, stunt coordinator Doug Coleman, Bureau of Land Management realty specialist Elaine Hanson, Rhythm and Hues visual effects supervisor Bill Westenhofer, costume designer Mark Bridges, Enik mechanical department Mark Setrakian, and actors Anna Friel and Jorma Taccone.
The show offers some reflections about the original TV series and its adaptation, script/story/character issues, cast and performances, props, costumes and sets, various effects and makeup, cinematography and locations, and stunts. “Routine” offers a solid look at the production. With so much time at its disposal, it gets to explore its topics in a thorough manner, and its combination of interviews and footage from the set mixes together well. When I went into “Routine”, I expected a simple puff piece, but it delivers a whole lot more than that.
Finally, we go to Bradley, Sid and Marty: A Conversation with the Kroffts. It runs 23 minutes, 21 seconds and provides an interview with Sid and Marty Krofft conducted by Silberling. They discuss aspects of the original TV series. We get a little of this info elsewhere, but it’s usually an interesting look at the program.
Arguably the summer’s biggest box office disappointment, Land of the Lost isn’t as bad as anticipated. However, that doesn’t mean it’s good, either. The movie provides sporadic entertainment but it’s too much of a mess to succeed. The Blu-ray offers good picture and audio along with a terrific roster of supplements. Though not much of a movie, this is a fine Blu-ray.
