Forbidden Planet [Import]

Like all good film science fiction, "Forbidden Planet" keeps its concepts simple but their ramifications grand, which is just one of the reasons it is a timeless classic. Made at a time when sci-fi was the junk that kept restless kids in theater seats on Saturday afternoons, this ambitious take on Shakespeare's "The Tempest" nonetheless also aims for adults that grew up on the pulp fiction of the 1920s and 30s. (Its delightful production design is a seamless mix of colors, forms, and shapes familiar from those imaginative magazine covers.) The premise is Star Trek a decade before Star Trek, as a military cruiser commanded by the hard-nosed but humane J.J. Adams (Leslie Nielsen doing an effective melodramatic turn) visits a world populated by a secretive scholar (a wonderful Walter Pidgeon), his curious daughter (a sometimes grating Ann Francis), their robot butler (the epitome of mechanical men) and a mostly unseen terror (illustrated by topnotch Disney animators). Beyond great special effects and an innovative musical score, the film also engages a firm--if now familiar--science fiction plot, unlike so many of the noisy and expensive but ultimately overwrought and empty-headed sci-fi movies of today.

This is an absolutely brilliant cult classic movie featuring a very young Leslie Nielsen. It is light-years ahead of its time, well made, highly watchable and definitely one for any sci-fi buff's movie collection.

Now, sure, these days we have CGI and all that good bananas, so you have to remember that this was made nearly sixty years ago and, yes, it looks like it. But considering the technical limitations that they had to struggle with, it's a bloody masterpiece! Seriously, I can't believe they were doing effects work like it then and clearly these pioneering boys blazed the trail for Jurassic Park's digital dinos, Gollum, Avatar and so on that we enjoy today.

Story-wise, it's a kinda riff on Shakespeare's 'The Tempest' and Walter Pidgeon turns in a very solid performance as the main antagonist (even if subconsciously) notwithstanding the fact that the script—and his character in particular—seems to spend the time over-explaining stuff. But it's nonetheless highly watchable and an enjoyable ride.

I should point out that Forbidden Planet is not a restored version like the *superb* recent Jaws or slightly less jaw-dropping Lawrence of Arabia, but the image quality on Blu-Ray is very good nonetheless and the colors are pleasingly vibrant. Also, the disc contains a bunch of special features including deleted and lost footage, documentary material and a couple of additional Robby The Robot flicks, bringing good value to the package.

If you love movies, sci-fi, filmaking or man-in-suit robots, this movie is a must have. Highly recommended, add to cart. :-)

There were many science fiction films and they all seem to spring up like the new saeson's grass during the 50's? What caused the advent of science fiction which although there were a few in the 30's well received like the Invisible man Island of LOst Souls and Shelley's Frankenstein series(I recall seeing all these films as a kid). However it wasnt until the 50's with Rocketship X_M War of the Worlds(which alfred hitchcock was not given rights to produce as well as being refused Our Man iN Havana books written in his own country)The Thing and many low budget films. Many of them especially given the lacklustre special effects (George Lucas really made special effects an industry in hollywood and changed the nature of filmmaking and the visual process of films whether you like it or not. It became a more visual experience and stress was emphasized in that dimension of the viewing process. We had special effects and often secondarily a story built around the special effects, and when I see a film this is very much a strong part of the viewing of a film, although there's no reason a strong story can not complement the experience. Practice makes perfect..and thats the idea of this film. Its origins lie in a fragment of Shakespeare's the Tempest his last play although he did later collaborate and come out of retirement to write with john fletcher(The two noble kinsman, parts of henry 8?). The film also includes some freudian psychology of his idea of the perfecting of people, I stress that not all agree. MGM is proud they made this film and it has a great reputation as a sci fi film breaking through into the mainstream and only the greatest of sci fi films or writers can say this about their product. The studio has issued a booklet describing the film and the special effects are ok given the time it was produced and it works in a few ways. The females are different, they appear like the character number 1
in Roddenberry's early jerome hunter star trek..which NBC said they didnt like and was shelved. They are intellectual artistic like someone who read the volumes of PLato..and the males are typical males and there is this fun part of the script in which the males try to engage females who cant be aroused..a cas.. type experience. Although the film is slow moving it deals with a father who dotes on his daughter like the Tempest and thats the only part of the play recreated the most NOBLE part of the play as in Kinsmen. The play by the way is also about kings and brigands and the rivalry between the cities of Milan and Naples. The ancient world a complex piece of writitng. Are there any Calibans? What is a film without a bad person here in this unified world of the far future(like STar TRek also) who are the antagonists? The antagonists are within the id the destructive and violent parts within which cause destruction here projected as a hostile force on the attack? I wont spoil it further this is a genre of filmmaking i enjoy and how film makling and the experience has changed..George LUcas love him or hate him..special effects often are so much of some film's success not much time or industry is given to writing or its scamped..not up to the high levels or expense it was given in the past? There are also many industries all over california specializing in special effects it is a growth industry many jobs and good jobs..and I dont wan tto say too much since these are very talented people..the problem often lies with producers who at times have gargantuan budgets great special effects but cardboard characters, stereotyped situations and climaxes and nothing original..like frank gorshin's copycats? Is there anyone more inventive than this little known character..here the special effects are passable and the film story complements what we see and story and special effects and all
visuals are of the same value..noble