November ’15 Movie of the Month: FORBIDDEN PLANET (1956)

Forbidden Planet (1956)

This is a really engaging and brilliantly smart classic sci-fi film that inventively exposes what could possibly be human's greatest ultimate intrinsic tragedy.



The film's Freudian theme is very cleverly metaphorized through thoughtful, seemingly unimportant details (the cook's lust for drinking, the men's lust for the daughter, etc.) and more obvious representations (the tiger jumping at the commander and the daughter, the robot being the most likable and flawless character in the whole movie, the invisible monster, etc.) during the whole film. It's really amazing how well thought out this film is. Every single aspect of it can be given meaning in the context of the film's main theme.

Even though the story very much (almost exclusively) focuses on the specific observation that's being made about human nature, the film still feels very rich, because of the high ambition that was obviously at the basis of the film's sci-fi context.
- First of all, the technical aspect of the film perfectly works, the locations look really good (especially by the standards of that time) and it's just a joy to watch it.
- Secondly, the ideas in this story are BIG and the film cleverly takes its time to explicate the film's story and environment. We really get to know and explore this film's sci-fi universe. I love that!



The film kind of made me think of Stalker in a certain (far-fetched) way. Stylistically, the films couldn't be further apart, but both movies touch on very similar topical issues, in my opinion. So, don't expect this picture to be a high level philosophical film or anything like that. It just tells an exciting sci-fi adventure that happens to have very interesting substantial aspects to it when studied more intensively. It's said to be loosely inspired by Shakespeare's 'The Tempest'.

Back to the small comparison I wanted to make between both films.
In Forbidden Planet, we witness why extremely developed technology in the hands of mankind can be dangerous (it's told in a very symbolic manner, but the argument the film's making is very clear) and in Stalker, we basically get a meditation on why the existence of the "supernatural" (a sort of "wishing room" in this case) could be more dangerous than positive, when it can be manipulated by men.
In other words, two of mankind's biggest wishes are fulfilled, but ultimately seem to have unforeseen negative side effects, because there seems to be something wrong with us!

Both films basically talk about the tragic unreliability of humanity. We can't trust other people and we can't even trust ourselves, because we never fully have control over neither of the two. There's a potential monster in all of us, even if there aren't any bad intentions... The point is not to be scared, but to be aware of the 'Id'-aspect of your nature. Don't deny its existence and don't be blind for its possible consequences.

"It will remind us that we are, after all, not God."

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In my opinion 50s sic-fi is one of the most interesting and fun genres to watch. The ideas were new and fresh, and they all had that B-movie low budget charm that I have come to love, and Forbidden Planet is the crθme de la crθme.

This was one of the first films of its time to send humans to space instead of aliens to earth, and it was done incredibly well. Most of the reason this was done so well was because of the incredible set design and special effects, most of witch even hold up today. The film follows a spacecraft travels to the distant planet Altair IV to discover the fate of a group of scientists sent there decades earlier. They find the brilliant Dr. Morbius, his daughter, and their helpful and lovable robot Robbie. A great part of this film is how well done the "science mumbo-jumbo" talk is used. I completely understood everything that was going on, instead of other sic-fi movies where I have no clue.

The thing I loved most about the film were the aforementioned sets, props, and SFX. The technology looked like something that would pass in modern sic-fi movies, and all of the scene with the monster were done perfectly. The only real problem I had was with the stiff action, especially from Leslie Neilson, but it was still fun to see one of my favorite comedic actors so much younger. The script was put together very well, and the story was fun and entertaining throughout.

Forbidden Planet is one of the greatest sic-fi movies of all time, let alone the 1950s. The movie was unique, fun, beautiful, and it defiantly paved the way for science fiction films in the future.

Not my cup of tea. I can see the validity in the points that are made, but it was not entertaining. There is merit to being able to appreciate something because it is groundbreaking, but I don't choose to watch movies for that reason. The acting comes across very stilted and the film is like a play moving from set piece to set piece. In addition, the sound effects were unbearable at times.

It's great that this movie is significant, just not significantly enjoyable to me.

I was going to ask what you thought of the "soundtrack."

It was just too much. I don't know the history of the movie, but it's like an amateur guitar player that discovers a new effect and uses it for everything. Does it really fit? No. But I'm using it for everything regardless.

I gave it the ol' college try, December will be here in no time.