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TECH FICTION
Take the latest technologies.
Stir in drama. Rinse. Repeat.
Short Shorts
Tech Fiction with an expiration date: Ultra-short stories about technology news-of-the-day
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Moving Pictures ('05)
A band of Garage CGI Spielbergs, a Machinima movie and Hollywood's establishment
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Trojan Horses ('03)
P2P networks, portable digital media, the MPAA, Brooklyn Technical High School, the US government and terrorism
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Packet Switched Press
The Art of the Possible. Commentary. Writing. Miscellany.
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- - - - - - - - - - - -=[ Thursday, September 23, 2004 ]=- - - - - - - - - - - -
MINI-REVIEW: ABC's Lost
 In a world of television dominated by "Reality" and the n-th spin-off of Law & Order and CSI, it's notable when a freshman scripted drama pulls in 18.7M viewers for its pilot.
Lost, J.J. Abrams' (Alias) latest effort on ABC is off to such a beginning, and with good reason. It is, if nothing else, well-made, compelling television.
With near film-quality visual delivery the pilot gets this plane-crash-survivors-on-tropical-island story off to a not-all-things-are-as-they-seem start. Although not completely original (tinges of Jurassic Park, Alias, Predator and a variety of other genetic forerunners are clearly evident), it feels plenty fresh compared to most other fare. And the not-completely-biological-sounding unseen thing that knocks down the palm trees is Sci-Fi reason enough to watch the 2nd episode, which will apparently also offer a completely out-of-place large animal that terrorizes the assembled masses.
Acting is decent enough, as Matthew Fox almost has us forgetting his Party of Five character and newcomer Evangeline Lilly delivers enough to not kill interest in next week's show. Assorted supporting cast (and there are plenty to allow for several to be killed off during the first season), especially familiar faces from Alias, keep things nicely afloat.
BOTTOM LINE: If you have any interest left in scripted television, give this one a TiVo Season Pass.
ps: If you'd like to ruin the surprise of the mystery animal in the 2nd episode, google [ Ed. note: when it's a verb, do you still capitalize it? ] SJ Mercury News TV critic Charlie McCollum's recent review of Lost (OK, OK, it's here), where he reveals the identify of the animal.
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