The Birth of Modern Day SciFi

[Atrocities]

How many of you have ever seen the movie The Forbidden Planet?

If you have, then you will understand what I am about to say, if you have not, then I strongly recommend it.

This movie was released long before any series Sci-Fi shows or movies such as Star Trek, Star Wars, Battlestar Galactica, Farscape, Stargate SG1, and many others. Sure it was not the first, I believe those honors really go to the Buck Rogers and Flash Gordon serials, with one or two old movie exceptions.

But if you watch The Forbidden Planet, you can see where Star Trek, Star Wars, and many others came from. TFB has many key points that clearly were "utilized" by other Sci-Fi movies and programs.

Watch the movie and think about what it is your watching. I think TFB is the defining instrument for which Star Trek, TOS and all of them, were based. There are things such as Hyper drive, bLasters, Robots, and many other items that later were used in Star Wars.

Id software for example got its name from this game along with the basic concept for Doom.

Gene Roddenberry used many aspects of this movie in developing Star Trek. A strong captain, United Planets, A strong relationship between the Captain, Ships XO, and Doctor. A view screen, faster than light travel, and much much more.

The intelligence of this movie even by today’s standards is brilliant. The special effects were state of the art then, and are actually quite impressive to watch even now.

This movie represents the intelligence of Sci-Fi movies, and helped to define an entire genera of movies and television. It pains me to think that this movie has been forgotten in pages of history, and would implore you all to go out and buy it before it fades completely.

The movie is really that good. And just to add souce to the goose, this movie lends itself well to SE IV. Watch it and you will see what I mean.

[Gwaihir]

Yay for the classics!

[smitty]

Forbidden Planet, ah a classic indeed. I have it on DVD and love to watch it. I am unsure of your SEIV reference though?

[geoschmo]

One of my all time Favorites. It might be a shock though for those of you that have never seen Leslie Neilson in a dramatic role.

I have been thinking it would be very cool to see them remake that movie. Although what I'd like would be if they used the original soundtrack and dialogue and replaced the film with a high-tech computer generated animation, like that Final Fantasy movie a couple years ago.

Geoschmo

[FadingSuns]

It was reciently announced that Paul Allen (of Microsoft fame) would be converting a portion of the Experience Music Project to science fiction. He is planning on displaying props from classic sci-fi movies and shows. You know I'll be there! Anyone want to plan an SE4 get together in Seattle?

[Baron Munchausen]

Actually, there is a remake of Forbidden Planet in the works. I don't think this is a good thing, myself. Why remake a classic?

Although it should be pointed out that Forbidden Planet itself is based on a classic of literature. Ever heard of a guy named Shakespeare? Well, imagine the basic plot of The Tempest with the island transformed to a planet. You still have the ship coming to find the old man in exile, who happens to be a 'wizard'. The ending is a bit different, but it's still quite recognizable.

But this is from a different era when Hollywood still had some intelligent people in it. I live in fear of what the remake will be...

[Erax]

Don't forget the ship's engineer. Gene Roddenberry used that character as the template for Scotty.

One of our biggest gaming stores down here is called Forbidden Planet (it's owned by a guy who loves the movie).

[geoschmo]

Originally posted by Baron Munchausen:
Actually, there is a remake of Forbidden Planet in the works. I don't think this is a good thing, myself. Why remake a classic?

Well, I agree a remake in the classic commercial Hollywood style woudl be a mistake. What I had in mind would be something never really done before that I know of. Taking the actual soundtrack and dialoge of the original movie and use that as the audio track for an animated Version full of high tech eye candy. That way you don't dumb down the intelligence of the original with cheesy dialogue and extra plot garbage, but you make it appeal to a new generation of sci-fi viewers. A lot of them today would as likely watch Forbidden Planet as The Man in the Moon.

[Taz-in-Space]

Forbidden Planet? Was that the one that first used Robby the Robot? (You know the robot that looks like he was modeled on the Michelin Man.)

I always thought that robot suit looked better than the Lost in Space one.