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Forbidden Planet - 50th Anniversary 2 Disc Special Edition [1956]


RRP: £15.99
Our Price: £45.50 (subject to change)

Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review

Ahead of its time in many, many ways, Forbidden Planet has been cemented in its role as a science fiction classic over the past few decades, to the point where its 50th birthday is being marked with this special DVD release.

What’s more, the iconic film has never looked better. The print of Forbidden Planet has been buffed up to a terrific standard, and while it’s a cliché to report that it’s never looked better, we challenge anyone to disagree.

The film too is just as compelling. Set in the 23rd century, on a far and distant star Professor Morbius, his daughter and Robby the Robot are seemingly alone, until a space craft from Earth arrives. This sets events in motion that bring a real human core to a genre where such a factor, right to this day, is often lacking.

But it’s not just that which makes Forbidden Planet continually worthy of attention. The special effects, for instance, are astounding given the era in which the film was made, while the ideas and ambition that underpin the production are equally of merit. At heart, though, it was and is an utterly compelling movie, which has had a long and profound influence on the genre as a whole.

This 50th anniversary edition also comes armed with extra features, notably several documentaries. But after all these years, it’s still the film that’s the star, and you simply wouldn’t wager against it enduring for another 50 years after this. --Jon Foster


Shakespeare in space. No, really!
Review date: 2008-08-13 Rating: 10 out of 10

Long before CGI, long before Vangelis, we have Forbidden Planet. A film seriously ahead of its time, with a finely crafted plot, small cast, sparce special effects, and a soundtrack that simply adds to the atmosphere without getting in its way.

Oh, Shakespeare? Yes. The Tempest. The plot is loosely based on it. Island switched for planet, spirit switched for nasty 'thing', etc.
Its when you add in the simple plot twist, when you discover what the 'ID' actually is, and the hard-to-match attack sequence, that you get the quality of the production.

You really don't have to be a sci-fi fan to appreciate this film, and its a shame it hasn't been on TV in years.

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Reviews


No like gresham uk who have no imagination
Review date: 2008-07-21 Rating: 10 out of 10

Forbidden Planet is an icon of Sci Fi, for people who have never seen it should watch it. No blood no guts no sex scenes, honest good imaginative sci fi. People like Gresham UK should be banned from their comments that give the whole plot away of a superb film. He/she has no imagination and feels that they should tell everybody the plot. A very sad person, it is a sign of the times that even on TV adverts for films they insist on showing the best bits of a film, and parts from the beginning, middle and the very ending of a film. It then makes no point in seeing a film, just as Gresham UK has done with the ill conceived review that they posted.

Excellent special edition
Review date: 2008-06-25 Rating: 10 out of 10

The transfer and sound are just great, lots of special features, among them the - mostly laughable and weird, but sometimes thrilling and visionary - full-length feature "The Invisible Boy" by Herman Hoffman. One 50-minutes-documentary is worth pointing out: "Watch the Skies!: Science Fiction, the 1950s and Us", containing in-depth-commentaries by Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, Ridley Scott and James Cameron.

A movie of many levels
Review date: 2008-05-10 Rating: 10 out of 10

Though this movie is from our past it portrays two possible futures. The civilisation that explores or the civilisation that fails through its own folly. This is a great film, nostalgic because it was made when it seemed we were destined to become that exploring civilisation. If you have ever wondered why project SETI has been unsuccessful then think about Ankor Wat, the Mayans, Babylon and the Krell. The film "Solyent Green" now seems prophetic.

See the start of Star Trek and more
Review date: 2008-04-08 Rating: 10 out of 10

This is the Epic that gave the look to Star trek, Creatures from the ID and Robby the Robot. The story is basically Shakespear's The Tempest. In it a space ship comes to investigate what happened to a science team but they find a single suvivor and his daughter, I won't go into it too closly as it will just seem like a Star Trek episode but what makes it better than Star Trek is the FX the attack by the creature from the ID is brilliant and Robby the robot is great, there is action, comedy, romance and a great writter (shakespear). The best Star trek story ever made that came over a decade before star trek????

The special features are great and the DVD looks brilliant. One for all Sci-fi Fans, Star trek fans, classics movie fans, animation fans if not everybody. If you don't have this DVD then you are missing out.

Product Details/Specifications


Actor(s):
Leslie Nielsen
Walter Pidgeon
Warren Stevens
Anne Francis

Creators:
Walter Pidgeon (Primary Contributor)
Anne Francis (Primary Contributor)

Director(s):

Recording label: Warner Home Video
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
EAN: 7321900669122
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 2
Format: Box set, PAL, Special Edition,
Release date: 2007-06-18
Audience rating: Parental Guidance
Region code: 2
Running time: 94 minutes
Theatrical release date: 1956
Language: English (Original Language)

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