Lost in Space (1998)
Thursday, June 13 FOX, 8 to 10 p.m. ET
A futuristic family drama lies at the core of this visually spectacular update of the '60s TV series, but writer-producer Akiva Goldsman (whose bombastic output includes the last two "Batman" pictures) couldn't dig the story's soul out with a nuclear deep-core shovel. In 2058, the Robinson family embarks on a suspended-animation voyage to a distant planet, where professor John Robinson (William Hurt) will head up construction of a Stargate -- oops! We mean "hyperspace gate"! Dr. Zachary Smith (Gary Oldman) sabotages the Robinsons' spaceship but is double-crossed and left aboard to die. Director Stephen Hopkins mounts some exciting action sequences initially, but a half-dozen fascinating plot possibilities all get raised, only to be blithely dropped. And while most of the actors, even the kids, have their parts down cold, Matt LeBlanc's Maj. West comes off like "Friends'" Joey with a higher IQ -- and Oldman's effete Dr. Smith is about as threatening as tapioca. Great sets and effects, though. Mimi Rogers, Heather Graham and Lacey Chabert also star; June Lockhart, Mark Goddard, Marta Kristen and Angela Cartwright from the original series have cameos.--Frank Lovece |
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