Forbidden Planet 4K 1956

I’ll say right off the bat that I enjoyed watching this movie. Of course, it has certain flaws that stem from its age, but after watching it, the positives are what stick with me most—and that’s what matters.

It’s true sci-fi, a classic example of that era’s hard sci-fi. After all, the point of science fiction isn’t realism, but rather an explanation of the nature or cause of a particular phenomenon or object, straddling the line between science and fiction. In this regard, *Forbidden Planet* gets it right, unlike many modern “sci-fi” productions. In this regard, I would compare *Forbidden Planet* to the *Star Trek* series, especially the very first episode, “The Menagerie,” which shares a great deal in terms of spirit and atmosphere. Undoubtedly, this film set the tone for science fiction of that time; it’s possible that Gene Roddenberry was influenced by *Forbidden Planet* itself.

As for its flaws, they’re typical of films from that era. Naivety, cheesiness, and a slow-moving plot—these were also present in *Star Trek*. But with a clever plot and quite impressive handcrafted special effects, this is, after all, hard science fiction! For that reason alone, it’s worth watching for fans of sci-fi and good old-fashioned movies.

And a few words about the actors. I wouldn’t say they shine; Leslie Nielsen is more preoccupied with self-admiration, quite in the spirit of the heroes of that era. Walter Pidgeon is decent at first but becomes too over-the-top toward the end; his daughter is beautiful, and that’s all that was required of her. Still, the acting is decent—you just have to take into account the era in which it was filmed.

All in all, it’s a good movie—a must-see for all fans of “vintage” sci-fi. The younger generation might find it funny and drawn-out, but it comes highly recommended for true geeks and nerds.