Lost in Space (1998)

Directed by Stephen Hopkins
Written by Akiva Goldsman, based on the classic Irwin Allen TV series
Starring William Hurt, Gary Oldman, Matt LeBlanc, Heather Graham, Mimi Rogers

My Advice: Matinee.

Gone are the days when you could see the zipper or where the Alien of the Week was busy on the Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea set and would be over shortly.  That's a really good thing since it's the FX that really carry this show, but I'll be damned if they don't carry it well.  There's no seeming end to the ones they roll out, from CGI spiders-on-crack to freeze-drying cryochambers to holographic interfaces.  See, it doesn't even matter that Matt LeBlanc actually succeeds in being a commanding Don West (despite some really bad dialogue).  It doesn't matter that Mimi Rogers is a Maureen Robinson that takes no crap.  It doesn't even matter that Official Villain of Hollywood Gary "This is Not Your Father's Dr. Smith" Oldman pulls off yet another convincing baddie without repeating one of his previous roles.  The reason why is that the FX rules this stage and unfortunately the people behind the movie knew that as well.  They counted on it to fix the cracks in their little story.  For the most part, their gambit works because as a roller coaster ride, the film is quite effective and enjoyable despite a somewhat slower second half and a couple of huge plot holes.  It's a ride, nothing more--a nice ride that doesn't have you worrying about what killed the people on some boat, that's for sure.