In the mind of an eight-year old boy,in the summer of 1956, this was the perfect film. Later, when I learned that the screenwriters had pirated the plot from Bill Shakespeare, I found myself a bit disappointed, though in retrospect, it did not diminish the sweetness of the memories. Campy? Yes. A bit kitsch? Of course. Entertaining? Most definitely. Set aside 95 minutes on a summer's eve and prepare to enjoy yourself, and when you get to Altair IV, say hello to Robby for me.

I love this early science fiction adventure. The effects are well made for that time and the characters are really good written. Also before this film i only knew Leslie Nielsen for his naked gun films and i actually liked to see him in an serious role.

"Forbidden planet" is not the most intelligent movie ever filmed ; there probably are fourteen-year old school girls capable of writing a sharper, wittier, tauter script or more astute dialogues. Some of the performances leave a lot to be desired, too : Anne Francis, as daughter to the local scientist / magician, was supposed to be naively innocent and sweetly mischievous, but I found her so cloyingly twee that she grated on my nerves like nails on a blackboard. (In mitigation it can be said that Miss Francis wasn't given much of role to work with.) An eccentric scientist with a young, gorgeous daughter who becomes the love interest of the hero - now here's a novel idea ! While not a feast for the intellect, the movie is a feast for the eyes : there's a wildly abundant and inventive artistic imagination, brought to life by exquisite sets and superb visual and special effects. For instance, there is a titanic "city" boasting miles and miles of machines and records beyond human comprehension. There is also a deeply impressive scene, where some kind of dimly observed beast tries to break through the defense of a small human settlement. The beast itself is pretty much invisible, but one can catch just enough glimpses of its outlines to grasp its seething, roaring ferocity.Finally it should be said that the movie, while not the sharpest science fiction knife in the block, makes an excellent point about the nature and limits of progress : no civilization, however advanced, brilliant and wise, is as civilized as it hopes or thinks.

The pure, essential essence of 1950's-era science fiction. It's primitive in a way--but you have to accept that. It's not like they had decades of science fiction film tropes to refer to so none of the slow kids would get lost. They also didn't have a million and one expert science fiction writers to call upon to write the script. They had to settle for what they had, but it was wonderful. In order to appreciate this film you have to stop judging it and comparing it to other films from other times. It is the best of its type for its time, and then it is also a wonderful, almost accidental masterpiece. Robbie the Robot is the first GOOD movie robot. The space ship is the first GOOD movie space ship. The story is the first (and almost the last) GOOD movie space story. You may not understand the story the first time through. Don't be a jerk and blame the script. You missed something. Watch it again. Then, finally, after you understand what is going on ("my poor Krell") and you're no longer gagging on the stupid sexual innuendo (yes, it's dumb, get over it) you can really sit back and enjoy one of life's true intellectual pleasures. The strange story of how one may live a life of the mind, and nothing else, inspired by a long- dead civilization and their hideous technology. Forbidden Planet. Father of Star Trek.