BLU-RAY REVIEW

LOST: The Complete Fourth Season

Featured In Issue 138, January/February 2009

Picture4.5
SoundNR
WSR Score4
Basic Information on new release titles is posted as soon as titles are announced. Once reviewed, additional data is added to the database.
(Studio/Distributor):
Buena Vista Home Entertainment
(Catalog Number):
57851
(MPAA Rating):
Not Rated
(Rating Reason):
(Retail Price):
$96.99
(Disc Type):
5 Disc Set: 5 BD-50's
(Widescreen Edition):
Yes
(Full Screen Edition):
No
(Running Time In Minutes):
991
(Color Type):
Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access):
Yes
(Closed Captioned):
Yes
(Regional Coding):
A
(Theatrical Year):
2008
(Theatrical Release):
No
(Direct-To-Video Release):
Yes
(Disc Release Date):
12/09/08
(THX® Digitally Mastered):
No
(Director):
Jack Bender, Steven Williams, Eric Laneuville & Stephen Semel
(Screenplay/Written By):
(Story):
(Music):
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer):
(Visual Effects):
(Costume Designer):
(Editor):
(Supervising Sound Editors):
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers):
(Co-Producers):
(Producers):
(Academy Awards):
(Principal Photography):
(Theatrical Aspect Ratio):
(Measured Disc Aspect Ratio):
(Disc Soundtrack):
Dolby Digital 5.1, Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo
(Theatrical Sound):
(Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
(DTS Bit Rate):
(Dolby Digital Bit Rate):
(Additional Languages):
(French Language):
(Spanish Language):
(Chinese Language):
(Subtitles):
(Cantonese Language):
(Mandarin Language):
(Japanese Language):
(Italian Language):
(German Language):
(Portuguese Language):

The castaways are still LOST on the island, and they discover that the only thing more dangerous than the island might be the people who have come to rescue them in The Complete Fourth Season of ABC's hit television show. Leading up to another climactic season finale, one is left to wonder where the series will go from here. Disc One episodes are "The Beginning Of The End" (43:08), "Confirmed Dead" (43:09), and The Economist" (43:05). Disc Two episodes are "Eggtown" (43:04), 'The Constant" (43:08), "The Other Woman" (43:00), and "Ji Yean" (42:46). Disc Three episodes are "Meet Kevin Johnson" (43:08), "The Shape Of Things To Come" (42:46), "Something Nice Back Home" (43:08) and "Cabin Fever" (43:08). And finally Disc Four episodes are "There's No Place Like Home" Part 1 (42:57) and Part 2 (84:01). (Tricia Spears)

Special features on Disc One include audio
commentary entitled: The Beginning Of The End and LOST In 8:15, a recap. Disc Two special features include two audio commentaries entitled: The Constant and Ji Yeon. Disc Four special features include audio commentary by Executive Producers Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse. Disc Five special features include the featurettes LOST: On Location, which can be watched in eight separate sequences or all together (HD 41:54); The Island Backlot: Lost In Hawaii featurette (HD 17:53); The Right To Bear Arms, the guns of Lost (SD 11:15); Soundtrack Of Survival: Composing For Character, Conflict & The Crash, a live performance of the score by the Honolulu Symphony Pops (HD 42:28); bloopers (SD 3:22); nine deleted scenes (HD 9:11); Course Of The Future The Definitive, Interactive Flash Forwards challenge: insider information, including script pages and an introduction by the show's executive producers; The Oceanic Six: A Conspiracy Of Lies documentary (HD 21:16); The Freighter Folk (HD 12:40); Offshore Shoot of the building and shooting of the freighter set (HD 7:50); LOST: Missing Pieces (13 Mobisodes) (HD 31:22); LOST On Location behind-the-scenes with the cast and crew (HD 41:54); plus an Oceanic Airlines "For Your Safety" booklet; and more.

The 1080p AVC 1.78:1 picture is generally consistent throughout the season series, with each episode having its own inconsistencies in picture quality. At times resolution is superb, with fine facial and texture detail nicely resolved, and at other times there is a roughness to the imagery, which can look smeared. In the darker scenes, noise is, at times, noticeable. Fleshtones vary depending on scenes, often with a reddish appearance (although with, presumably, little in the way of suntan lotion, this could be done on purpose). Colors are lush and natural throughout, without over-saturation. Blacks are nicely resolved, as are shadow details, with a superb depth of field. Overall, LOST exhibits a pleasing image throughout the series episodes. (Gary Reber)

The uncompressed PCM 5.1-channel soundtrack features a well-designed mix and good, if inconsistent, fidelity. Each of the full-range channels is incorporated into the mix nicely, especially with the atmospheric effects of the jungle, which are delivered in a way that creates a believably immersive soundfield. Music is mixed well into the soundtrack, with good fidelity and a full presence. Dialogue sounds natural for the most part, but there are times when it can sound forward and muddy, with a lack of good spatial integration. Music and effects fidelity is pristine though, which is definitely the standout of this release. Dialogue levels seem to be over-pumped as well, which can drown out the subtleties of the soundtrack. (Danny Richelieu/Gary Reber)