Forbidden Planet (1956)

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  September 16, 2011

  kenstachnik

  Come for the awesome production design, stay for a young Leslie Nielsen and Robbie the Robot!

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  July 6, 2011

  FrizzDrop

  Forbidden Planet is revolutionary for its time, a cinematic innovator for decades of sci-fi, and one of the funniest films I've seen lately. The humor is broad, most diegetic dialogue amongst the crew, but there are scenes that may be unintentionally funny on Nielsen's part. Perh... read moreaps if the casting were different I wouldn't he haw every time Nielsen delivers certain lines, but the facial expressions and mock seriousness get me every time. The effects are incredible, and not just for the time. Footprints without a body attached to them are filmed in one shot, sinking into the planet's exterior as if they were tissue paper. The plot is simple: a crew of men check in with an older crew to chart their progress on the Earth-like Altair-4, but when they arrive only two have survived, cultivating their own form of civilization for the past twenty years. The cast is few and far between, but features the iconic Robby the Robot, who doesn't seem kitschy, but instead a badass drone, capable of almost anything except violence towards humans. There are scenes of hysterical proportions, danger, and romantic entanglements, all the while highlighted by the first score to be completely electronic, tones we're familiar with through old Star Trek episodes and spaceship controls. The two remaining crew members can be summed up as mad scientist and sexy distraction, making the film raunchy for its time. Even the monster that hunts down the crew (the murderer of the previous crew) is imaginative, evocative, and thrilling, using special effects to showcase sci-fi at its best, along with a back-story of a superior race wiped out by some unknown disaster, brilliant when it could easily have been a cheesy B-movie. Still as cool as Robby's ice trays, this is the Forbidden Planet.

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  May 5, 2011

  blkbomb

  This is one of the best sci-fi films of all time, and definitely my favorite. It's so much fun to watch, and Robby the robot is the best robot of all time. The plot, although somewhat slow at the start picks up and begins to be very interesting.

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  March 8, 2011

  lewiskendell

  "Anywhere in the galaxy this is a nightmare."
  
  Forbidden Planet is a science fiction movie from the 50's, involving a spaceship crew that encounters danger after journeying to a far planet to search for an expedition that disappeared there twenty years ago.
  
  It largely stays awa... read morey from cheesiness that categorizes the 50's era of sci-fi (other than Robby the Robot and a hilarious looking "creature"). It's also lacking some of the charm that my favorite movies from that era have. It's very slow-paced at times, and there's a constant and unrelenting stream of exposition that only rarely is broken up by something actually happening.
  
  Forbidden Planet is an impressive technical achievement for its time, but I can't really recommend it for its entertainment value. People who prefer serious efforts over the more (intentionally or unintentionally) comical movies that were made around this time, may enjoy Forbidden Planet more than I did.

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  December 9, 2010

  cancercapricorn2002

  It's the year 2200 AD and a spaceship has been dispatched to the planet Altair 4 to find out how the mission that were assigned to colony of scientists is going. Led by Commander John Adams, the crew find out that there are only two survivors and that being Dr. Morbius and his di... read morevine daughter Altaia. Plus also there is multi-task robot Robbie. After being forced to stay on the planet for a little while longer Adam learns from Morbius that the planet was run by a superior race that wiped itself overnight and they left behind some amazing technology. Everything is not all that peaceful, while on this planet an invisible monster is terrorizing Adams' crew. Is there a relation between the monster and Morbius, now that's the question?
  
  Now, this is what you call a tremendous Sci-fi fantasy! Influentially groundbreaking Sci-fi with a deeply thoughtful story to wrap around its visceral goldmine. Yep, I'm not lying! As a youngster this was one of my favorite movies, sure I didn't entirely grasp the context, but the images it packed was a stunning sight and how could you not get a kick out of Robbie the Robot. No matter when your born, it's hard not to appreciate the skillfulness of the production compared with many amongst that period. So, it was a good treat to revisit it after not seeing it in quite awhile. What really amazes me that it was released in 1958 and even today the film designs and F/X still look pristine in shape! The film's edgy exterior is colorful, rich and detailed across the board, which mostly everything holds up to scratch. There are artistically stylish impressions evident and the backdrop is pretty much an oil painting. Throw in the usual snazzy gizmos' and gadgets to make you go "Wow, we're in the future!" Though, this visual touch does provide a very atmospheric creator, where everything seems bigger than its actually is. What also gave it a spectral feel was the bellowing electronic score that captures the barren feel with its range of bizarre and alienating sounds.
  
  The stimulating plot asserts a Shakespearean theme lifted right out of "The Tempest" with many scientific and human psyche complexities weaved into the spirited story. Plus throw in a love triangle sub-plot that's there to show Altaia sexual awaking. Just like other reviewers have mention it's a thinking man's (or woman's) story. Throughout the script where given thorough and metaphorical messages that are uniquely clever in its final revelation. These added additions seem to skyrocket it above the usually simple Sci-fi jib of its time and actually, the story doesn't feel that forced, or dated by today. The very talky script was pretty observant and it chucked in some humor to lighten it up, though dialog did get some leaden treatment at times. The film is pretty much a real slow grinder that exercises the suspense in many rigid stages in the dying half-an-hour, where the real terror begins. The moment we see the invisible beast in pure form, it's a purely great light-show and one of the more excellent scenes in the film. The minimal violence dabs in a bit of suggestiveness, but also provides an ounce of mayhem in one certain attack. The performances are all but sound with likes of Walter Pigeon as the stubborn Dr. Morbius and Robbie the charismatic robot making the more impressionable and convincing portrayals. Leslie Nielsen and Anne Francis as John Adams and Altaia were very good as well. Too bad Nielsen never got to do more roles like this one.
  
  Simply a reflective classic genre piece in every way. Worth checking out

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  November 11, 2010

  ajv2688

  This is one of the greatest sci-fi movies ever in my opinion. If you love sci-fi you need to see this movie. It's exciting and there is a robot and a monster, and the story is brilliant for a space drama. I love it.

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  October 25, 2010

  TheMachinist

  "In the final decade of the 21st Century, men and women in rocket-ships landed on the Moon. By 2200 AD, they had reached the other planets of our solar system. Almost at once, there followed the discovery of Hyper-Drive, through which the speed of light was first attained, and la... read moreter greatly surpassed. And so at last, mankind began the conquest and colonization of deep space."
  
  'Forbidden Planet' is what one might call a scifi classic, a camp/cult movie. This was the first time I saw it and I review this solely on how it affected me now. The fact that it is over 50 years old has nothing to do with the overall rating.
  
  United Planets Starcruiser C-57D, captained by J.J Abrams, is sent to investigate what happened to the crew of Bellerophon, a ship that was sent to explore the Alpha Aquilae solar system. They disappeared 20 years ago, so I guess that the United Planets is as effective as our UN... But anywho... When the ship enters the planet of Altair IV, the captain is contacted from the surface by Morbius, a doctor of the missing crew. He insists that Abrams should not land because of their own safety and continue their ways. Abrams refuses and demands that Morbius gives him the grids for the landing spot. On the surface, the crew is greeted by Robby, a highly advanced robot, that takes the captain to Morbius. Abrams finds out that the crew of Bellerophon had died years ago. Morbius has spent the last two decades researching the advanced technology and culture of an ancient civilization created by a race called the Krell. Morbius has a 18 year old daughter that becomes interested of the younger men. At the same time that Morbius becomes afraid that his daughter would leave for Earth, the crew of C-57D are attacked by an unexplained force. What is the connection and can Abrams uncover the secrets that lie with Morbius and the Krell technology?
  
  'Forbidden Planet' is a good film but it's a bit too slow for my taste. The action is almost limited to none and the film is also quite dialogue based. Most of the secrets are revealed thru long dialogues, leaving Captain Adams just listening without himself finding out the mysteries. Some scenes are very boring and left kinda in the open. The comic relief scenes with the crews cook getting some good ol' booze from the robot are also pretty lame.
  
  First I thought that the film was a kids movie. The opening scene when you're looking at the actors, it feels as if they're holding their laughter. I was like "Ok, not to be taken seriously then." And then when they landed on the the planet, Robby the robot is greeting them. I found out that this "advanced" robot became quite popular later on in other movies and series. But when the mystery of the Krell starts coming out, the script goes all Freud and subconscious on you. It suddenly becomes intelligent and needs your full attention. In my opinion, the kids are already gone out playing with their toys and the grownups are thinking that this is kinda far fetched. I just didn't buy it. 80 minutes of the movie, it's all slowly developing and then in 5 minutes EVERYTHING is revealed. If I would've concentrated on the film more (I admit, I was noding of at one point), the mystery wouldn't have been such a mystery.
  
  On a technical point of view, 'Forbidden Planet' is pretty functional. The matte paintings, set design are all good looking. The few special effects are, what I found out, made by Disney animators. The scenes set out in space are in my opinion one of the best looking in a film this old.
  
  'Forbidden Planet' features an electronical score that nearly gave me a headache. It's just plain awful! I know that electronical "music" was a new thing back in the fifties but my oh my... Listen and be ready to cut yours ears off.
  
  One dimensional characters (except Morbius), an awful score and a script that doesn't really know how to do it right. Three factors that result in me not liking it that much. But the fact that this film has influenced several other moviemakers and scifi creators, my hat goes off to the makers of 'Forbidden Planet'. Would've there been a 'Star Trek' series without this movie. Gene Roddenberry has said that this film influenced him quite a bit.
  
  But to go back to the quote in the beginning of the movie. This film was released in 56, the Soviets launched a year later Sputnik on Earth's orbit and 13 years later Armstrong was presumably on the moon. If my calculations are correct, we should have had people on our outer planets.. yesterday? But to take the lame joke asside, the screenwriters had a good imagination on the hole thing. Space will be ours someday and these kind of films give our intelligent engineers ideas and spark to reach their dreams for the domination of the stars!
  
  I'm out. Seriously. Out of ideas... And I think it's better for all of you.

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  July 3, 2010

  ythelastman89

  While i'm definitely aware of the significance of this movie in terms of science fiction, I just don't really find it all that great. Unlike The Day the Earth Stood Still, this isn't all that intelligent or well written. The characters and acting are just nowhere near good, the g... read morereatest character is Robby the Robot. Aside from the special effects of the time and the look, it's really not an above average movie.

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  March 27, 2010

  FilmFanatik

  A wonderfully smart sci-fi classic with just a slice of cheese.

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  February 20, 2010

  webalina

  This classic sci-fi film, loosely based on Shakespeare's The Tempest, is a sight to behold, and the film that dragged sci-fi out of the B-movie palaces and into respectable cinemas. Stars a very young, very serious Leslie Nielson before he discovered he was a comedian, a gorgeous... read more Anne Francis, and Walter Pidgeon as the scientist with a deadly secret even HE isn't aware of. Great special effects and set design -- especially the Krell generators and Robby the Robot -- and even something to stimulate your brain cells afterwards. I've seen this thing a dozen times (2 dozen?) and it never gets old. Yeah, the effects and the sensibilities are a little dated now, but that doesn't bother me one iota. A first-class film, and right up there with The Thing From Another World, Them! and War of the Worlds as my fave 1950's sci-fi films. Don't miss it.

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• Walter Pidgeon as Dr. Edward Morbius
• Anne Francis as Alta Morbius
• Leslie Nielsen as Commander John J. Adams
• Warren Stevens as Lt. "Doc" Ostrow
• Jack Kelly as Lt. Farman
• Richard Anderson as Chief Quinn
• Earl Holliman as Cook
• George Wallace I as Bosun
• Bob Dix as Grey

Click a thumb to vote on that suggestion, or add your own suggestions.

• 
  The Day the Earth Stood Still (95%)
• 
  Star Trek: The Motion Picture (95%)
• 
  Pitch Black (80%)
• 
  Terrore nello spazio (Planet of the Vampires) (77%)

• • Commander John J. Adams: Which makes it a guilt edged priority we get into that Krell lab and take that brain boost.
• • Commander John J. Adams: That sounded like an ultimatum.
• • Robby the Robot: I was giving myself a lube job.
• • Robby: Morbius, something is approaching from the southwest.
• • Lt. "Doc" Ostrow: Anywhere in the universe, this thing is a nightmare.
• • Robby the Robot: Star sapphires take a week to crystallize properly. Would diamonds or emeralds do?

• What do the following movies have in common? 10 Things I Hate About You Forbidden Planet O She's The Man West Side Story   Answer »
• "Forbidden Planet" was inspired by which Shakespeare play?  Answer »
• I was a captain of: a starship on some forbidden planet and an ocean liner that capsized, I quit that and became a doctor on a whacky flight where people got poisoned "Don't call me Shirley" and finally I decided to become a detective with a naked gun. Who am I?  Answer »
• What Movie first used the rules that a robot must never harm a person? like those in the movie I Robot.  Answer »

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