Forbidden Planet

Rating:
Summary: I Was Right!
Review: As soon as I heard the "electronic tonalities" accompanying the opening credits, I knew this was going to be a great movie. I still enjoy listening to that strange sound that perfectly set the mood for a futuristic adventure, there has never been any better.

It's often said that the script was based on Shakespeare's "The Tempest," well maybe...but very loosely. But it was certainly a tightly written and logical story. As a nine-year old I didn't understand what became of the monster, but that just made it more interesting when I saw it again many years later.

The special effects were good for the time and still hold up OK today. But I dread going to see the remake. Somehow I suspect that so much will have to be changed to fit in with today's ideals. Such as: Altaira will have to be more of a "Zena the Warrior Princess" type and not a sex object, so as not to offend the femminists. The remake would probably also contain dark conspiracies and lots of gratuitous sex and violence. Of course Robby would have to be black.

I know why this movie became such a classic for me: To own my own planet, complete with ancient civilization to explore, and a robot companion--what more could any nine-year old boy ask for? That leaves Altaira. I didn't know why, but even back then I thought it would be nice to keep her around. I was certainly right about that!

Rating:
Summary: A milestone
Review: Don't miss this 1956 classic. Back in undergraduate film class, circa 1979, I wrote a paper opining this film is one of sci-fi's innovative milestones, along with THE THING, 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY and ALIEN--because of its ambition, intelligence (well, it's based on Shakespeare's The Tempest) and gorgeous special effects (in color). I stand by that today...and wish I could take Robby the Robot home with me!


Rating:
Summary: A little this, a little that, adds up to wonderful
Review: "Forbidden Planet" was a creative leap that worked. Shakespeare's "The Tempest" is transposed to the stars, with the island becoming a planet. Walter Pidgeon plays a reclusive scientist tucked away on a distant planet, with his lovely daughter and a fanatically loyal robot (presaging the robot of "Lost in Space"). Along come a group of traditional-style space explorers (mixture of NASA and "Star Trek"), who want to . . . well, explore. Except, the planet is possibly, probably dangerous, as the extinct former inhabitants aren't so extinct after all, or have very strong ghosts. This description makes the movie sound a little silly, but the result is actually creepy, mysterious, convoluted, and a bit nightmarish, but very creative, enjoyable, and memorable.