How are you Spending your ‘Lost’ Vacation?
It’s a tough time, right now in particular. My biological clock is saying Lost will be returning soon, but the reality is we still have approximately six months to go before Lost returns to the air. Those who don’t understand our sickness keep telling me that this is a perfect time to "Get a Life." Yeah right.
I’ve given that a little thought and have found a few topics, movies, and TV shows that do satiate the lost thirst. Before I get started, this just in from the voices in my head that claim to be transmitting from the isle of Oahu: "…iteration 4815162342… August 20…" Don’t know what that means, but it might be important.Yes
So, getting the Lost ‘feeling’ isn’t that hard if you try, and sometimes you can find it in the weirdest places. If your up for a whirl, you can try some of my old standbys:
Books
The Holographic Universe - Michael Talbot. David Bohm was a theoretical physicist whose work on creating text books and other teaching texts for Quantum Theory was considered top notch. Along the ways, though, he got some ideas of his own. The Holographic Universe explores Bohm’s concepts of ‘Quantum Potential,’ ‘Non Locality,’ and the implicate and explicate orders of reality. More importantly, it’s a theory that fits damn well with some of the ‘magic’ that is happening on lost.
Parallel Worlds - Michio Kaku. Looking for some ammunition for your alternate time-line theory? You’ll find more than enough in this book. Afraid it might be over your head? They don’t call this guy the Carl Sagan of Physics for nothing.
Television
The Prisoner - Don’t let the fact that it was made in the 60’s turn you off, The Prisoner was way ahead of its time! A surreal drama with an underlying imperative just like Lost, and an ending that will bring back memories of The Sopranos.
Nowhere Man - Thomas Veil goes into a bathroom and comes out to find out he no longer exists. Nowhere Man ran for one season and was fortunate enough to wrap up its story.
Movies
The Night Listener - Wow. Robin Williams as a writer with a radio show. One of his listeners is a fourteen year old boy who has written a book on his sexual assault. As the movie goes on, we come to wonder if the boy even exists. The end just haunts you.
Seconds - Yes, it’s in black and white, and it is totally freaking awesome. A service which essentially allows you fake your death, get a hot new face and bod, and live the life you always dreamed. But what happens when your yearnings for your old life become too much too handle?
Return In Red - Those of you who actually dig up this indie will come back and physically assault me, guaranteed. Shot on 16mm, the film looks about twenty years older than it is, which somehow justifies the bad acting. The film is slow as hell, but if you let the setup work it pays off in a very unsettling way. Only recommended if at some point in your life you thought "Let’s Scare Jessica to Death" was a technical masterwork.
I found Return in Red on Netflix. I’m kinda excited. Not that you gave it a glowing review or anything…^_^
Comment by TrillianM — August 14, 2007 @ 1:00 pm
I have been slowly rewatching the episodes from Season 3. I watched each of them twice the first time around and now I’m watching about 1 every couple of weeks. I’m almost done with them so I’ll end up with a couple of months with nothing to watch.
They really should release little tidbits like the Orchid video regularly to keep people engaged. Last summer we had the Lost Experience, and now we have radio silence. Big difference, especially with the much longer gap this year.
Comment by Eric — August 14, 2007 @ 1:14 pm
Hi Doc,
The Holographic Universe as we’ve discussed before is one of my favourite non-fiction books. Highly recommended it to anyone who enjoys looking at things from a slightly different perspective.
Glad to see you bring it up
…and yes… this is a long hiatus !
Comment by DarkUFO — August 14, 2007 @ 1:19 pm
me and a few friends have just been watching every episode from the beginning but this time through a projector on a huge screen!
Comment by bootselectric — August 14, 2007 @ 6:07 pm
Wow, DarkUFO comments on Tailsection?! I think I’m seriously gonna tear up.
Group hug!
Oh, and I took a class called: “Screen Writing for Feature Film” and the main objective of the class was to take an original idea and turn it into a full length screenplay. Well, I thought “Man, it would be so cool if a guy were to wake up in a cell with no idea how he got there. And people would interrogate him about something he did in his past, and he wouldn’t tell them. And it would be crazy.”
So I wrote it. Only to find out at the end of the semester that the basic idea was already out there, and it was called The Prisoner. Ever since then I have cursed it. Cursed!
Comment by Steve — August 14, 2007 @ 6:22 pm
Anyone looking for a good book to pass the time? An old tried and true book for me is ‘Survivor’ by Chuck Palahniuk. It’s the only book I’ve ever read with a hidden ending. I’ve read it twice and like it more each time I read it.
Comment by Jimmy Legs — August 15, 2007 @ 3:29 am
I’d recommend watching the re-imagined Battlestar Galactica, if you haven’t already.
Comment by Eric — August 15, 2007 @ 8:48 am
Thanks for the ‘Survivor’ recommendation. I’ll have to see if my library has it.
Everyone else go get Life of Pi if you haven’t read it yet. The audio book is especially fab.
Comment by TrillianM — August 15, 2007 @ 8:53 am
Every Wed night, we watch Lost. We actually went to the beginning and watch 2 episodes every week. I figure by the time we get to the end, Season 4 will be starting (yes I kept all Season 3 on the DVR). I am amazed at the rewatchability still and that there are so many layers and nuances that you just can’t get in one watching as well as the constant foreshadowing that permeates all of the episodes.
I have been watching and getting into a few series on TV/DVD like The 4400, which I am addicted to. I also have started watching the cancelled, yet great TV series Firefly and have been watching NoWhere Man DVD that I bought a while ago, but haven’t found the time to watch just yet. I forgot how good that show was.
My subscription to the Lost Magazine is also a great way to get my fix.
Comment by downthehatch — August 15, 2007 @ 9:31 am
These books and shows that you have recommended all sound excellent but im a bit more excited what the Doc has in store for us on the 20th, i really hope its something like the lost experience maybe that “dharma sutra” thing that was mentioned a few weeks ago.
Jp
Comment by Jp — August 15, 2007 @ 11:39 am
John From Cincinnati my friends, John From Cincinnati.
People call it the new Tin Peaks, but those people are morons. It’s actually just how tv should be, not dumbed down and spoonfeedy. The story, symbolism, and performances are the best thing you’ll see until lost and BSG come back. Also it co-stars Ed O’Neil, who is completely amazing as an ex-cop who owns a parrot with which he communicates telepathically. Also the parrot can apparently raise the dead.
Comment by jimmy zer00 — August 15, 2007 @ 6:02 pm
Yeah, try watching the reimagined Battlestar Galactica. Big ensemble cast, lots of mystery. Great show just like Lost. Especially after its very Lostesque season 3 finale.
Comment by Adam — August 16, 2007 @ 12:43 am
Dexter, people…Dexter.
Comment by midgetsaspets — August 18, 2007 @ 4:27 am
Yes, I’d second watching Dexter. Great series.
Comment by Eric — August 19, 2007 @ 5:57 am
jimmyzero, you called it! i love t hat show as well!! john from cincy is a gtreat show, even though i had no idea what was going on haha i hear it may not be picked up again..whata shame if so, i def wanna know whats going on… but nothing beats my lost..
good read is "The Black Order" it has some quantam theory, nazi’s, real history and all that.. a great book, and i highly ecommend.. it stats slow(not too slow though) and PICKS up and it is a blast! i could not puit it down, also tryt "The Book of Fate" both are NY times bestsellers.. cant go wrong w/either one
Comment by themachine — August 28, 2007 @ 10:12 pm