MovieChat Forums > The Lost World (1999) Discussion > Does anyone have the proper episodes?

Does anyone have the proper episodes?

posted 13 years ago by thecatswhiskers01
3 replies | jump to latest

I apologise if this question has been asked before. For quite some time I have been trying to obtain this series on DVD - but I want the proper episodes, the original unedited run shown on DirecTV and then cable before it was syndicated. I know all three seasons are available on DVD, but I resent being charged money for what are not the proper episodes. When they did the DVD release they should have used the original run, not the versions that were cut down to allow room for, let's be honest, more adverts. Since there seems little prospect of the network doing the job properly and releasing a "director's cut"/special edition of the series with the proper episodes restored, I am hoping that some quick-witted, forward-thinking fan had the wherewithal to record the series from DirecTV and might be willing to do a copy for me?
As a writer and Sir ACD fan, I really enjoyed this series - yes, the plots differ seriously from the book, but as has been said, are completely in line with ACD's 'escapism' writing, and I think, benefit from being moved from the original time period to the 1920s post war setting. I have despaired of every adaptation of the book ever done, as a 'love-interest' for Malone is always forced in and poor Lord John Roxton, thanks to the bigotry that is Political Correctness, is inevitably changed from the muscular christian hero to a baddie (I am thinking of one execrable BBC adaptation which portrayed him as a slovenly, cowardly American big game hunter!). But this series stayed true to the characterisation of ACD, and made the "love interests" not just plausible but likeable. Marguerite Krux and John Roxton are a perfect match (ACD couldn't have come up with better) and David Orth as Malone was spot on. I always considered only Brian Blessed as Challenger, but MaCauley was spot on. Will Snow also excelled as Roxton. It is a great pity that the Australian tax authorities thought it was a good idea to effectively sabotage the series during season 3, as if not mucked about with it could easily have gone to season 5. If anyone can help me with the proper episodes, please let me know.

[–] flint19492001 13 years ago

thecatswhiskers01 hello. Glad to see another fan of SACD The Lost World TV series.

The proper episodes are the ones w/o the extraneous nudity scenes. The idea for the few Direct TV episodes being made that did include those scenes was to draw in the 18-25 male demographic. The extra scenes did nothing to advance the storyline (nor the ratings)

What you should be looking for are the first season episodes put out by Liberty Entertainment. They are titled "The Collectors Edition" (and hard to find). Some of the pluses...the opening sequence is longer. And some scenes are extended by a beat or two. the extra's are wonderful. Third Season bloopers and footage from the very first TLW convention with wonderful guest stars: Jennifer O'Dell, David Orth and Will Snow, plus the writers of the 2nd and 3rd season: Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens.

Let me know if I can be of further help?

[–] thecatswhiskers01 13 years ago

Thanks to flint19492001 for providing clarity - I did sometimes get the impression people were meaning 2 different things when they talked about the uncut/unedited episodes.
Gratuitous nudity I already see quite enough of for free in the UK - lurid and distasteful is on every celeb-endorsed bus stop poster.
However, the extended scenes sound like what I'm after - sometimes all you need is a scene to go on just a few extra seconds for it to be much more meaningful - I've got all the Stargate DVDs and I'm hoping eventually that will be brought out in a Collectors Edition with extended scenes - it's one of my soapbox things - I think any TV show, when it is sold as the DVD boxset, should include each "whole" episode including the scenes they had to cut to fit in adverts, because, hey, DVDs don't have adverts.
That could be one way commercial companies can maintain - and justify - the costs of the fancy packaging, because people will pay for stuff they never got to see on screen.
So, to slightly change my question - has anyone got the The Collectors Edition episodes by Liberty Entertainment?

[–] flint19492001 13 years ago

Morning, thecatswhiskers01

Glad to know I helped (a little). Since you are from the UK here is a link to the Amazon.co.uk site that hosted (for a brief time) the Collectors Edition:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lost-World-Season-Region-NTSC/dp/B0000DC138/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&qid=1318422736&sr=8-13

I have another link for you about the DVD's.

http://www.thelostworldfanforum.com/post18010.html?hilit=The Lost World DVD's#p18010

and the information on the release of the Collectors Edition to the UK

http://www.thelostworldfanforum.com/to-uk-fans-tlw-third-season-to-be-released-march-3-2008-t406.html

The episodes currently airing in the UK (believe you are up to the third season) on the horror channel are basically what was put out by Newline (region one only).

If you have any questions about the show, feel free to ask. I can probably answer or find a link where the question was answered on The Lost World Fan Forum.

P.S Your best bet to find the Collectors Edition is to canvas "ebay". And make sure you ask the seller about the contents (for some reason the bonus disk is not included all the time, no reason is given)