Forbidden PlanetIn space, no one can hear you dream. The feelings that are a part of every sentient being--the conscious and subconscious desires that make us who and what we are--these are the reasons for our actions, intended or not. From the earliest days when humanity crawled up out of the primordial ooze, we began to temper our feelings in the interest of self-preservation; society: the culmination of our collective needs and wants, the onset of civilization. But those lurking desires--the id of our personalities--never really goes away; it stays, it moves us to act, and sometimes it acts on our behalf, like it or not.
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Forbidden Planet was a watershed moment for science fiction movies when it debuted in 1956, for more than just special effects which--while astonishing for the time--can't help but appear somewhat quaint by today's standards. Forbidden Planet is a story about space travel, about an alien, progenitor race called the "Krell" by Dr. Edward Morbius (Walter Pidgeon), the last surviving member of a previous space voyage to Altair IV in the ill-fated Bellerophon. The planet and its wonders are astonishing and marvelous, with underground power complexes spanning miles deep and wide beneath the planet's surface, as well as the constructed robot, Robby (as himself, voiced by Marvin Miller), who is able to work wonders for his master, Morbius, and his beautiful--if naive--daughter, Altaira (Anne Francis). Although our trained eyes now see the elements of artistry in the production of this film, there is a bold, giant quality of the world, a vastness and sense of wonder about this future point of exploration in the 23rd century. Our introduction to this alien world comes with the arrival of the starship C-57D--which resembles nothing less than the quintessential flying saucer--helmed by the bold and courageous Commander John "J.J." Adams (Leslie Nielsen), in the company of what he calls a collection of "competitively selected super-perfect physical specimens". His crew is intelligent and capable, but they do have their own vices, like any men do. In fact, when the commander and a couple of his aides first meet Altaira--who goes by "Alta"--most of them suddenly descend into the equivalent of a group of sex-hungry teenagers. Members of the crew make advances--and take liberties--with the beautiful woman, who clearly has no understanding of sexuality; but while the fraternity of space soldiers ogle the lovely lady, her father remains a steadfast bastion of emotional control, almost aloof and exercising a consistent level of composure. What makes this interesting is when we begin to talk about the "monsters from the id", something declared in the climax of Forbidden Planet, the explanation for the mysterious manifestations of horror in this other world. In this technologically sophisticated other world, the men display their puerile, boyish sexism toward Alta, the ship's cook, "Cookie" (Earl Holliman) recruits Robby to produce for him sixty gallons of "Kansas City" bourbon; these men manifest their base desires without nearly as much restraint as Morbius--who represses his desires--although these manifest in an altogether different way.
Numerous comparisons have been made between Forbidden Planet and William Shakespeare's "The Tempest"; both feature similar plots and characters, with Morbius acting as Prospero, the wizard of the piece. When Commander Adams and his aide, Lt. "Doc" Ostrow (Warren Stevens) visit Morbius for the first time--against his wishes, and alongside the "space wolf", Lt. Jerry Farman (Jack Kelly)--Morbius dazzles them with a few displays of the wonders Altair IV has benefited his lifestyle with, like his instantaneous steel shutters, his disintegration "garbage disposal", and even Robby, by showing how the advanced automaton cannot attack another person. All of these demonstrations carry with them a hostile touch, and it is clear that Morbius wants these men off his planet, even if he has to resort to veiled threats. But this is all part of the complex character of Morbius, who wants his solitude, who believes the secrets of the Krell are not the kind of power mankind is ready for...but also an inner desire to share with men who can appreciate the value of his discovery. Morbius has been alone for a long time; his daughter, while sweet, is hardly a scientific colleague of his level, his intelligence having been artificially "boosted" by a Krell mind-amplifying device. When Adams and Doc revisit Morbius later, he shows them the hidden power plant buried deep in the planet's surface; he also shows them piece after piece of highly sophisticated technology. The extended stretch of Morbius' revelations of Krell advancement to the men from Earth is akin to a science film which might be played in schools, an expose of the mysteries of another world, in a documentarian style. From a strict narrative standpoint, this might almost be boring; but what makes Forbidden Planet so fascinating here is that the content carries the weight as though they were discoveries which Morbius is trying to convince us of its existence and relevance, through Doc and Adams. For any attention devoted to the romantic sub-plot between Adams and Alta, the real interesting part of the story in Forbidden Planet has to do with Morbius, and his psychology, complicated by his passion for the Krell and his own psychological shortcomings. He speaks obliquely to the visitors about the "planetary force" which destroyed his previous crew of the Bellerophon, and now haunts the surface of Altair IV yet again, but talks about how safe the world is for him and Alta. He showcases the wonders of Altair IV, but becomes resolute against the idea of sharing this technology with humanity at large. Morbius is combating some inner demons which makes the great reveal of Forbidden Planet so satisfying and justifiable.
Recommended for: Fans of one of the seminal science fiction classics of film, a grand, exciting production of spaceships, alien worlds, and even monsters which defy rational thought, anachronisms and aged special effects be darned. Also a rare treat for those who may have known Leslie Nielsen from his parade of parodies following his career as a dramatic actor.
Numerous comparisons have been made between Forbidden Planet and William Shakespeare's "The Tempest"; both feature similar plots and characters, with Morbius acting as Prospero, the wizard of the piece. When Commander Adams and his aide, Lt. "Doc" Ostrow (Warren Stevens) visit Morbius for the first time--against his wishes, and alongside the "space wolf", Lt. Jerry Farman (Jack Kelly)--Morbius dazzles them with a few displays of the wonders Altair IV has benefited his lifestyle with, like his instantaneous steel shutters, his disintegration "garbage disposal", and even Robby, by showing how the advanced automaton cannot attack another person. All of these demonstrations carry with them a hostile touch, and it is clear that Morbius wants these men off his planet, even if he has to resort to veiled threats. But this is all part of the complex character of Morbius, who wants his solitude, who believes the secrets of the Krell are not the kind of power mankind is ready for...but also an inner desire to share with men who can appreciate the value of his discovery. Morbius has been alone for a long time; his daughter, while sweet, is hardly a scientific colleague of his level, his intelligence having been artificially "boosted" by a Krell mind-amplifying device. When Adams and Doc revisit Morbius later, he shows them the hidden power plant buried deep in the planet's surface; he also shows them piece after piece of highly sophisticated technology. The extended stretch of Morbius' revelations of Krell advancement to the men from Earth is akin to a science film which might be played in schools, an expose of the mysteries of another world, in a documentarian style. From a strict narrative standpoint, this might almost be boring; but what makes Forbidden Planet so fascinating here is that the content carries the weight as though they were discoveries which Morbius is trying to convince us of its existence and relevance, through Doc and Adams. For any attention devoted to the romantic sub-plot between Adams and Alta, the real interesting part of the story in Forbidden Planet has to do with Morbius, and his psychology, complicated by his passion for the Krell and his own psychological shortcomings. He speaks obliquely to the visitors about the "planetary force" which destroyed his previous crew of the Bellerophon, and now haunts the surface of Altair IV yet again, but talks about how safe the world is for him and Alta. He showcases the wonders of Altair IV, but becomes resolute against the idea of sharing this technology with humanity at large. Morbius is combating some inner demons which makes the great reveal of Forbidden Planet so satisfying and justifiable.
Recommended for: Fans of one of the seminal science fiction classics of film, a grand, exciting production of spaceships, alien worlds, and even monsters which defy rational thought, anachronisms and aged special effects be darned. Also a rare treat for those who may have known Leslie Nielsen from his parade of parodies following his career as a dramatic actor.