Cinema Tuesdays Review

Get "Lost"
By Nathan Cone

The first season of ABC's hit show "Lost" begins and ends with scenes of heartbreak. In the two-hour pilot episode, we witness the aftermath of a horrible plane crash on a remote island, and in the finale, hope is turned into fear and loss within the span of a few seconds. In between are 20 episodes of some of the best television being produced today. In fact, I kept nudging my wife on the sofa each Wednesday night as we watched, remarking, "This is soooooo good."

"Lost" does what few shows have been able to do. It is a mystery with as many twists and turns as "Twin Peaks," but unlike that series that was all gloss and no heart, "Lost" features characters you care about, and throughout the series, there are some genuine emotional moments.

That is hard to do when you have 14 regular cast members and a handful of semi-regulars. Credit J.J. Abrams and the other series creators for their efforts. On one of the DVD extras included on this seven-disc set of "Lost: The Complete First Season," the show's writers casually mention they have the first five seasons planned out. It is likely they're able to do this because most episodes don't feature all 14 characters, but instead focus on the travails of three or four characters. Sometimes the primary action takes place on the island, and sometimes the episode is more interesting because of the flashbacks that reveal information about the survivors' lives before the crash, and how they intertwine, oftentimes without their knowledge.

Each of the characters stuck on this mysterious island seems to harbor secrets. Jack (Matthew Fox) had to deal with his alcoholic father, Kate (Evangeline Lilly) is a wanted criminal, Michael (Harold Perrineau) was denied access to his son (Malcolm David Kelley) for years, Charlie (Dominic Monaghan) is a junkie, Mr. Locke (Terry O'Quinn) finds a new freedom on the island, and Hurley (Jorge Garcia) may just have been the person who put this whole adventure into motion with a lucky lotto win.

"Lost" also cleverly makes the island itself into a character. Black smoke ominously rises from the distance, wild boar and other monstrous creatures haunt the jungle, and there is talk of "the others," as the survivors discover they may not be alone. The characters in "Lost" have to deal with the island and its elements, as well as each other.

Of course, doom and conflict cannot rule forever, and "Lost" tosses its viewers a few funny bones, with a couple of characters pairing off Laurel & Hardy style to catch fish, and smaller moments of humor interspersed throughout the season. The writers even wink at the audience a bit when Leslie Arzt (Daniel Roebuck), a high school teacher stranded on the island, reminds Hurley there are 40 survivors of the crash, saying "I know a clique when I see one. You guys think you're the only people on this island!"

Technically, the DVD editions of "Lost" measure up quite well compared to my memory of watching the same episodes in high-definition as they aired. The picture is sharp, and the surround-sound mix is actually much better than the one that was broadcast on ABC. Sound effects are spread to the rear surround channels much more often when appropriate.

Audio commentaries with the writers and actors are featured on four of the episodes. The seventh disc of this set is devoted to special features, and includes behind-the-scenes looks at the series and interviews with the cast members. There's also a nearly complete gallery of audition tapes, offering a nifty glimpse at the cast members "Before They Were Lost." I also found the "Designing a Disaster" featurette interesting. In this short segment, the production crew explains how they recreated the wreckage of a plane crash by… tearing apart a retired Lockheed L-1011 and shipping it to Hawaii. It was then that I realized that the two-hour pilot of "Lost" may be one of the most expensive ones ever created, but every penny is up there on the screen. "Lost" looks fantastic.

One other little thing to note about the series, and this is something that is unfortunately not addressed in any of the extra features in this set, but "Lost" uses an original score, played by a studio orchestra, for each episode. It's not the cheapest way to score a TV show, but it's much more effective.

"Lost" is now appointment viewing for me every Wednesday night. I don't like to throw around phrases like this, but "Lost" is the best thing I've seen on television in years. Among all the "CSI," "Law & Order" and "Friends" knock-offs, "Lost" stands out as an engaging, thrilling ride. And "Lost: The Complete First Season" is well worth your time. The new season begins September 21. Grab these discs, and catch up. You'll thank me.

9/17/05

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