Forbidden Planet [Blu-ray] [1956] [Region Free]

Few sci-fi movies capture ordinariness in the strange and wonderful worlds that they create but The Forbidden Planet does so in a masterly fashion. This is a great film and a game-changer in the history of sci-fi. When you watch sci-fi and think "those are great special effects" then that is a sure sign that the film has failed because if it was a good film then you would not be looking at the technicalities you would be engrossed in the characterisations and the plot. The Forbidden Planet has a superb plot so the effects are just a part of staging the story. Having said that the effects here are primitive by today's standards - the dust cloud left by the speeding vehicle being perhaps the least convincing. Yet at the same time the animations used for the monsters and the portrayal of the underground world can stand alongside what could be done today. When they edited this film they realised that, given their limitations, the effects should not be pushed too far and so the whole piece benefited from understatement forced by the basic contemporary working methods. So many modern films could so learn from that same tempered approach. The creators of Forbidden Planet got pretty much the right balance between delivering you to another world and keeping your feet firmly planted in the basics of life, love and ambition. Also; luckily for us looking back from the second decade of the 21st century Forbidden Planet was made in colour.In terms of portraying an extraordinary world in ordinary terms Forbidden Planet was not equalled until Star Wars in 1977; 21 years later. However where the Forbidden Planet scores over Star Wars and the best of the genre, but also by some huge distance over lesser sci-fi, is in the sophistication of the plot. In one of my favourite scenes the writers find the most imaginative way of portraying the enormity of the available power that the vast underground machine can deliver. Sci-fi films, like action movies, too often fall into the trap of straightforward goodies where everything about them is super-wholesome and worthy pitched against baddies that are completely evil. The main plot here is so much more interesting and real than this classic reduction. OK; so there is not enough dialogue to really explore the ideas properly but in terms of direction it is spot on. The characterisations are also somewhat one-dimensional because they have to share the film with this wonderful plot and with all the explanation necessary in any sci-fi. However this helps make this an easy watchable film. It may be based on Shakespeare but it does not demand the endurance that the great bard's work often can.As for the packaging here on the Blu-ray; you get a very good rendition of the film in HD alongside a good set of extras. A couple of documentaries rub shoulders with pretty much all of the work Robby the Robot ever did (I think). The other Robby vehicles are eclipsed by the main feature of course and no more than a curiosity for me but the documentaries are great at reminding you of the context of the film and giving some insight into its creation. For the Robby stuff; contrast "let's write a film that explores man's inner struggle from the primitive and the power of the mind" with "can we do something with this darn robot - after all it cost a fortune to build". Outtakes feature too and this all adds up to give you a reasonable backdrop - the kind of material you want to see as extras on the Blu-ray or DVD release.Anyway; that is my humble opinion on what I consider a must-have addition to my collection.

Forbidden Planet is a Classic Science Fiction Movie from 1956. The Forbidden Planet is often described as the Granddaddy of Science Fiction Movies.And certainly you can see the influence this film had on later Science Fiction film creations. In fact the film has a lot going for it. It is set in the future where space travel is possible with incredibly fast speed. (like Warp drive in Star Trek) There is a great electronic futuristic soundtrack. The crew of the space ship are like the explorers of Star Trek. Despite being warned off, the space ship Altair 4 land on a planet that is home to Dr Morbius and his daughter. Also on the planet is an invisible force that is out to kill them. Dr Morbius has a robot servant called Robbie The Robot. Nine years after this film Irwin Allen produced a TV series called Lost in Space which had a Robot simply known as Robot aboard the Jupiter II space ship. That Robot was very similar to Robbie, but not the same.The film story is based on Shakespeare’s The Tempest.The film has a good solid story. It isn’t a film of great action but it is a great film all the same. The sets are impressive as well.The new Blu Ray HD version is fabulous. The picture is very sharp and clear and the colour and light are glorious. In fact the HD image gives the film a new lease of life. It is stunning. It really shows how great the film was for its time.The special features include a black and white film that was the sequel to Forbidden Planet. This is called The invisible boy. It is set in the present (1957) A scientist has been putting together a computer that has travelled back in time from the future and Dr Morbius. The scientist’s son gets lessons from the computer to boost his poor school record. In fact with the help of the computer he is able to repair Robbie the Robot. In effect the boy and Robbie are being controlled by the computer for sinister reasons. This film may have been the sequel to Forbidden Planet but its no where near as good. In fact it is a bit tacky and cheesy. However it is interesting to have it added on as a special feature.

Without CGI, modern cinematography this film is a marvel. Apparently the story is based on William Shakespeare's "the Tempest", its an intriguing adaptation, extraordinary special affects. 70 years on and its still worth watching.

This is a classic sci-fi film ,and one of the best examples of the genre.I have watched it many times over the years and it's still a great watch.However I have to take 1 star off as the ending is not the one I originally remembered and after doing research I have found that they changed it before release because of test audiences,but years ago broadcasters had somehow been given the original ending ,which I saw multiple times as a kid growing up.So yeah a great film just a little disappointed it's not the one I remember from my childhood.

Classic science fiction from the 1950s.Not checked the extras but watched the film and saw a very young Leslie Nielsen playing a dramatic character and was so different to what I grew up watching him in as so used to him having white hair and being older.Must get if fan of films from the 1950s.

You might cringe at the old-fashioned depiction of the only woman in the movie, but that's the way the world was in 1956. It's still a great movie and considering when it was made the special effects stand up remarkably well. A cautionary tale loosely based on a Shakespeare play, it extols the perils of being given whatever you want with no restrictions at all. Great fun, an adventure with some classic comic moments, some admittedly unintentional. It contains one of the very first decent movie depictions of a robot, and Robby became a hit right away.If you enjoyed Star Trek or Star Wars then you will almost certainly love this, one of their ancient ancestors.