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January 14th 2004 is another date, like October 16th 1997, that will go down in L.I.S history as a momentous one. On this date, in the U.S, L.I.S fans were treated to the release of the first Season of Lost In Space on DVD. This was a boxed set featuring the entire first season of the show. The Box Set is handsome to say the least as are the individual DVD cases. Each one features a different cast member on the front cover and a very brief episode synopsis on the back. Each disc has the same planet-scape picture on it but in a different colour to match the front picture. The set comes with very little in the way of extras and features the original unaired pilot ‘No Place to Hide’ as well as a 15-minute promotional reel.
So what is the set actually like? Reports vary with some saying that the quality is great while others say that it is just okay. Prior to the release the big question and concern was over what extras would be included (if at all) now the focus has shifted onto the ‘purity’ of the episodes themselves. While the reproduction quality appears to be satisfactory to all, some have raised concerns over the episodes being taken from edited prints but it appears that Fox (U.S.) may have used the same prints as those used for Columbia House Video Release. Chief among the many concerns and worries expressed by fans was the picture and sound quality. Many fans had already collected the series on VHS and were unhappy with the quality of the episodes. As Fox was going to use the same masters as the video release, concern was raised that the quality would be as bad, if not worse than that of video. As it turns out, fans should not have been worried. Long time and well known L.I.S Fan Ron Gross submitted these screen grabs to Dave and Janette B’s toyslostinspaceandtime-subscribe@yahoogroups.com and they are great. There has been minimum tweaking (using Paint Shop Pro 7) so these grabs are pretty much as is. About the only thing that has been done is a reduction in size. The grabs are taken from the first Season episodes ‘Wish Upon a Star’ and ‘Invaders from the 5th Dimension’.
Many complaints and questions have centred on small missing scenes from individual episodes (“Return from Outer Space’ being the most mentioned) while the biggest difference for Australian Fans will be in the cliffhanger attached to ‘Follow The Leader’. On the DVD it is for the colour episode, ‘Blast Off into Space’ while the Australian Video release contained the cliffhanger from ‘Attack of the Monster Plants.’ Discussion on the set has been the talk on the Internet for sometime and it is hoped that the Exec’s at Fox are listening and taking note of the fan’s ‘wish lists’. All in all this is a good move for L.I.S fans and good sales should herald the way for further releases. A March Release date for a European release date has been rumoured but like always we will just have to wait and see about an Australian Release. Hopefully it wont be too long.
Thanks to Dave and Jeanette B. for the scans of the DVD covers, Dave G. (www.martakristen.com) for the scan of the advert for the Box Set and Ron Gross for the Screen Grabs. Thanks also to the members of the various internet lists who voiced their opinions, for and against, on the set.
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