tstone
02-17-2008, 02:52 AM
One of the classic science fiction movies from days of yore. From a period that had invading aliens as stand ins from Red Commie hordes, this film, along with others like The Day The Earth Stood Still and It Came From Outer Space, took a very different tack.
The United Planets cruiser C-57D and it's brave, earnest crew are on a mission to the planet Altair 4 to check out a research expedition that was set up some time back, from another ship called the Bellpharion. Upon approach, they are warned to stay away. Commander Adams (Leslie Neilsen) says that isn't an option and orders the landing. Once they arrive, a vehicle shows up, driven by Robbie, one of the most famous and distinctive robots in movie history, an amazing piece of work, especially for it's day. Robbie takes Commander Adams, Doc Ostrow (Warren Stevens, also played Rojan in the classic Star Trek episode, By Any Other Name) and the ship's pilot and XO, Lt Jerry Farman (Jack Kelly) to his master.
Doctor Edward Morbius and his lovely, but inexperienced and isolated daughter, Altaira, await them. Altaira is openly admiring of the three strange men, but Morbius repeats his warning and cryptically reveals what happened to the original colony. They were slain by a mysterioius force. Adams isn't sure what to make of that claim and decides he needs to report this to his superiors and get advice. Robby assists in their efforts, demonstrating ability atypical for an AI construct built by Earth technology. We find out that Robby is not just built out of Earth tec. Rather, he is partially constructed of technology created by the race that originally lived there, called the Krell.
Morbius takes Adams and the Doc on a tour of the Krell installation later, and you get the idea that they were amazingly intellectually developed and had built technology thousands of years in advance of the capabilities of humans. Morbius, having survived their brain enhancing machine and now posessing unmatched ability to study their technology, relates this a bit smugly, and again warns Adams of the danger on that world.
Later, their chief engineer is murdered one night. And the following night, a strange phantom creature assaults the defenses of the cruiser and kills more members of the crew.
At that point, another confrontation with Morbius begins to clarify the nature of just what they are facing.
This film has amazing effects and sets, and is as much about it's ideas as it is about wowing it's audience. Some classic science fiction tropes, like a saucer shaped shace ship, a cool robot and a scientist just a little too big for his britches, not to mention one of the whitest, most earnest military units you've ever seen. Also, Leslie Neilsen before he revealed to the world that he could be quite the clown.
Also, a soundtrack composed of a music composing technique which basically involves torturing circuit boards until they die.
A classic of it's genre, worth watching.
Stoney says check it out.
The United Planets cruiser C-57D and it's brave, earnest crew are on a mission to the planet Altair 4 to check out a research expedition that was set up some time back, from another ship called the Bellpharion. Upon approach, they are warned to stay away. Commander Adams (Leslie Neilsen) says that isn't an option and orders the landing. Once they arrive, a vehicle shows up, driven by Robbie, one of the most famous and distinctive robots in movie history, an amazing piece of work, especially for it's day. Robbie takes Commander Adams, Doc Ostrow (Warren Stevens, also played Rojan in the classic Star Trek episode, By Any Other Name) and the ship's pilot and XO, Lt Jerry Farman (Jack Kelly) to his master.
Doctor Edward Morbius and his lovely, but inexperienced and isolated daughter, Altaira, await them. Altaira is openly admiring of the three strange men, but Morbius repeats his warning and cryptically reveals what happened to the original colony. They were slain by a mysterioius force. Adams isn't sure what to make of that claim and decides he needs to report this to his superiors and get advice. Robby assists in their efforts, demonstrating ability atypical for an AI construct built by Earth technology. We find out that Robby is not just built out of Earth tec. Rather, he is partially constructed of technology created by the race that originally lived there, called the Krell.
Morbius takes Adams and the Doc on a tour of the Krell installation later, and you get the idea that they were amazingly intellectually developed and had built technology thousands of years in advance of the capabilities of humans. Morbius, having survived their brain enhancing machine and now posessing unmatched ability to study their technology, relates this a bit smugly, and again warns Adams of the danger on that world.
Later, their chief engineer is murdered one night. And the following night, a strange phantom creature assaults the defenses of the cruiser and kills more members of the crew.
At that point, another confrontation with Morbius begins to clarify the nature of just what they are facing.
This film has amazing effects and sets, and is as much about it's ideas as it is about wowing it's audience. Some classic science fiction tropes, like a saucer shaped shace ship, a cool robot and a scientist just a little too big for his britches, not to mention one of the whitest, most earnest military units you've ever seen. Also, Leslie Neilsen before he revealed to the world that he could be quite the clown.
Also, a soundtrack composed of a music composing technique which basically involves torturing circuit boards until they die.
A classic of it's genre, worth watching.
Stoney says check it out.