 | ||
 |  | |
 | ||
| ||
| | |
| ||
|
Home Flash Gordon Kurosawa films Joseph Campbell Personal Myth Lord of the Rings Dune 2001: Space Odyssey Forbidden Planet Ben-Hur The Wizard of Oz E.E. "Doc" Smith Lightsabers The Droids Imperial Walkers Other stuff More other stuff Music FAQ Storytelling Lessons Other Science Fiction Message Board  
|
  LEFT: Morbius uses Krell technology to project a hologram of his daughter Altaira. RIGHT: R2-D2 projects a hologram of Princess Leia. Released in 1956, Forbidden Planet is among the most influential science fiction films ever made. The first-rate script is a remake of Shakespeare's The Tempest, and the special effects were revolutionary. Like 2001: A Space Odyssey twelve years later, Forbidden Planet taught the mainstream that science fiction can be a lot more than campy Flash Gordon stuff. Star Wars seems to borrow strongly from Forbidden Planet, including the Energy Monster burning through a Krell door (Qui-Gon burning through the Trade Federation door) and Robbie's red force-screen (the red force-screen in Phantom Menace). This isn't one of those "historically important" scifi films which are dubiously educational but boring - this is a well-made, hugely entertaining film that stands up against the best films made today. (So go see it, already!)  TOP: Theed generator station, from The Phantom Menace. ABOVE: City of the Krell, from Forbidden Planet. Notice the long walkways, hollowed-out circular platforms, bottomless chasms and crackling pillars of energy.
Star Wars: Origins © 1999-2006 by Kristen Brennan, part of the Jitterbug Fantasia webzine. |
