Here are a few trailers from some 1950s sci-fi classics. Take a look, and then I have a few questions for you.
What themes and stylistic choices do these movies appear to share with Forbidden Planet? You might wish to consider man's fear of knowledge, fear of the unknown, fear of change, fear of communism and homsexuality, pro-military attitudes, conservative attitudes, etc.
Also, how do these movies come across as different from Forbidden Planet - visually, tone, budget, acting, etc.
In "This Island Earth", there is fear of the unknown because it's about a couple of humans who get abducted by aliens. No body knows what it would be like to be kidnapped by aliens. This movie can be comparable to "Forbidden Planet" because of the vivid colors used in it. Also, the special effects of the UFO going through space look very similar to the ones used in "Forbidden Planet".
ReplyDeleteFor "The Day the Earth Stood Still", there is definitely a fear of the unknown because aliens that humans have never seen before are threatening to take over earth. There is also a fear of change because they will have to change how they live their lives and follow the aliens orders. Finally, there is a strong pro-military attitude because of the way the movie shows them "ready to face the aliens" that came out of the UFO. As far as special effects, I don't think it really compares to "Forbidden Planet" because it's still in black and white, but the acting is still the same (dramatic).
"Invasion of the Body Snatchers" has a strong fear of the unknown because everybody is freaking out and trying to leave town because something is changing the people they know. There is also fear of the end of the world because the aliens might eventually capture everyone on the planet and take over the world. Like in "The Day the Earth Stood Still" the special effects don't really compare much to "Forbidden Planet" because it was filmed in black and white.
Julie - "Like in "The Day the Earth Stood Still" the special effects don't really compare much to "Forbidden Planet" because it was filmed in black and white."
ReplyDeleteHow so? And does anyone agree/disagree with Julie's claim?
From what can be seen in the trailer for the movie, "This Island Earth", there are a few similarities that are also seen in "Forbidden Planet". The bright colors and special effects of the spaceship and explosions appear to be similar to the ones used in "Forbidden Planet". This movie also looks like it would be a high budget film because of the advanced use of special effects and the use of color, just like how "Forbidden Planet" was a high budget movie. A similar theme of a fear of the unknown is seen in both movies because nobody in either movie is actually sure what or who the "evil" is. The two movies are different when it comes down to tone. It feels as if "This Island Earth" has a more horrific feel to it than "Forbidden Planet" because of the more dramatic music and acting.
ReplyDeleteThe main similarity between the movies, "The Day The Earth Stood Still" and "Forbidden Planet" is their common theme of pro-military attitude. In both movies, when it came down to facing the "bad guys", weapons and military attitude was used for defeat and protection. There is a common fear of others because in "The Day The Earth Stood Still", the humans were afraid that the oncoming spaceship would take control of them. While in "Forbidden Planet", Morbius was afraid of the spaceship because he did not want them landing on his planet and discovering his secrets. A difference between the two movies would be that one is in color and the other isn't. Also, the special effects in "Forbidden Planet" were a lot more dramatic and eye-catching.
In the movies, "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" and "Forbidden Planet", there is a very conservative theme. This is shown in "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" when the one man is telling others that something bad is going to happen and that they need to listen to him, while instead people are so focused on their daily lives to go and change. Another common theme is the fear of knowledge. The man in "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" knows/has knowledge to what is going to happen and people do not want to listen to him for fear that something worse can happen. A significant difference between the two movies is the fact that one is black and white, while the other is in color. Also, "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" seems to have been a lower budget movie compared to "Forbidden Planet".
In the trailer for This Island Earth, immediately a fear of the unknown is portrayed just with the first initial words that pop up on the screen within the first two seconds. Their use of the word ‘infinite’ is deliberate, showing that they really do not know how many worlds are out there and that’s scary for them, to not know that. The effect that the music makes builds on a anticipation and fear of what is to come and what is left that they don’t know and the minute amount that they do know. This Island Earth is a story about the first people to take a journey that no one else had endeavored upon before, a new exciting and scary venture. It goes on to describe the immense violent and intruding acts that the “aliens” can perform, causing a fear in those that they do not know. It is a fear in others who are different which includes communists, homosexuals etc. These are all themes that were noticeable in Forbidden Planet as well.
ReplyDeleteIn the trailer for The Day the Earth Stood Still, the first thing the viewer hears is the military informing all of the population about the dangers of the unknown, but reassuring everyone that the military officials would have everything under control. The army is then seen again fighting against the alien when the crowds are running and terrified, while military officers hold their ground, scared, but attempting to protect the population. Like in This Island Earth, there is a fear of what nobody knows, of things foreign and different from those on Earth, which also translates into a fear of the outliers who inhabit Earth like communists and homosexuals.
In the trailer for the Invasion of the Body Snatchers, it is the same thing as the previous two. The themes are the same, with just a couple slight tweaks in the plotline of all the films to create a different feel and sensation. They all emulate a strong fear of the unknown and a fear of knowledge and those who know too much and knowing too little. While “alien” is common used in these movies as an actual extra-terrestrial, it can also be translated to foreign people who are unknown to the majority of people.
“This Island Earth” can be compared to “Forbidden Planet” because of its bright colors. “This Island Earth” is also like “Forbidden Planet” because of its special effects and the way they create the spaceship. In this movie the fear is of the unknown and other outsiders. The fear is of aliens and of them abducting and attacking Earth. They are unsure of what is about to come and of how things will turn out. They are scared of things that they are unsure of. The movie also shows the fear of people who are different, for example, communists. All are themes that are also portrayed in “Forbidden Planet”. “This Island Earth”, like “Forbidden Planet” is filmed in color.
ReplyDeleteLike “This Island Earth” and “Forbidden Planet”, “The Day the Earth Stood Still” is also about fears of unknown. Like the other movies, aliens/ unknown creatures come to Earth. The movies also promote a pro-military attitude to defeat and protect themselves from the unknown creature. Unlike “Forbidden Planet”, in “The Day the Earth Stood Still” people are afraid of the Aliens and UFO coming towards the Earth and its effects on the planet. While as in “Forbidden Planet” they go on a new planet and are afraid of what life is like on the new planet. “The Day the Earth Stood Still” is in black and white unlike “Forbidden planet”.
Like all of the movies, "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" also has a fear of the unknown. The people evacuate unsure of what is going to happen to their lives and their homes. They are afraid of what the aliens will do and how their lives will be changed and affected. Unlike “Forbidden Planet”, “Invasion of the Body Snatchers” is filmed in black and white.
in "this island earth", fear is struck into the heart of the viewer by showing the unknown. it is like "forbidden planet" because of the vivid colors and the advanced special effects with some cool explosions. it shows the paranoia of the time of the communist homosexual nuclear (blue) aliens..!?
ReplyDeletein "the day the earth stood still" the knowledge that we are not alone scares the public. it is similar to "forbidden planet" in the sense that there is an alien person and a giant destroyer like person/monster/robot/thing. it shows that no matter what happens, the military will blow it up and save us all from our fears.
"invasion of the body snatchers" doesnt really compare to "forbidden planet" as they are completely different stories. the aliens could be compared to homosexuals coming out of the closet and taking over as aliens come out of pods. something changing the people they know and something new in society.
"This Island Earth" could be compared to "Forbidden Planet" by its fear of the unknown. Also in both movies the unknown race was more intelligent and sophisticated then humans. Both movies had UFO's, but in "This Island Earth" Aliens were in the UFO's rather then humans being in them like in "Forbidden Planet." Also both movies ave bright shining color.
ReplyDelete"Day the Earth Stood Still" could be compared to "Forbidden Plane" by its pro military attitude. In both the movies the conflict with the aliens was delt with by mlitary action rather then a peace negotiation or reasoning. This is common in most 1950's sci fi movies. Both movies also have destruction from the outer space alien or beast.
"Inasion of the Body Snatchers" was similar to "Forbidden Planet" in the sense that there was a fear of outsiders infultrating and changing the way we live. Also both movies were played in some special way. "Invasion of the Body Snatchers was play in Superscope and "Forbidden Planet" was played in technacolor.
Each film has one or more of the many themes that we talked about in class. In"This Island Earth" its main theme seems to be the fear of the unknown, much like in "Forbidden Planet." In FP there is a huge fear of what they all do now understand or what is beyond them. Another theme that could be compared in both is fear of the apocalypse etc. Both showed planets being destroyed and such of the nature.
ReplyDeleteIn "The Day the Earth Stood Still," there is a very big pro-military attitude. It basically says that the army with be there to protect and fight against outsiders. There is also a big pro military attitude in FP. Many of the main characters are military men after all. In the trailer for "The Day the Earth Stood Still," it was mostly shots of the military, going to destroy the outsiders.
The last trailer, "Invasion of the Body Snatchers," is the same as both FP and "The Day the Earth Stood Still" in that all of them had a fear of outsiders, though the two trailers showed this theme more so than "Forbidden Planet."
I found the "Forbidden Planet" was much, much nicer visually than the trailers of the movies. It has very nice color and visual effects that these movies didn't seem to acquire. I found "Forbidden Planet" a very nice movie to look at.
Between the Forbidden Planet and the Island Earth, there were several similar thematic and stylistic choices. Both films had a fear of the unknown and intelligence, as seen in the new worlds that humanity enters. In both cases, the superior unknown beings on the new world wreak havoc on the humans. Both films are presented in dramatic fashion and bright colors and scenery. In addition, the acting for both films are pretty dramatic, though it seems as the Island Earth is a little bit more dramatic. Also we see a large focus on the military. Both films incorporate a military and portray them as heroic figures fighting against the evil unknown. Another difference that I noticed was that the other inhabitants of the new world were even more unknown in the Island Earth film, as that film showed a completely new race.
ReplyDeleteIn the film the Day the Earth Stood Still, there was also a heavy emphasis on the military and a danger of the unknown. In both films, the frightening unknown unjustly attacks the soldiers, and the good soldiers must fend off for themselves for the rest of the crew. Both films are also dramatically presented. However, many noticeable differences are present. First off, the Day the Earth Stood Still is shot in black in white, while the Forbidden Planet is shot in bright colors. In addition, the budget for the Day the Earth Stood Still and the special effects seem less creative than Forbidden Planet, making the Day the Earth Stood Still a movie planted more on reality than a new expansive era of technology like in the Forbidden Planet. Acting wise, the Day the Earth Stood Still held a more variety of actors of both genders and various races, unlike the Forbidden Planet where the only actors were the white, militant group of soldiers and the doctor and his daughter. Finally, another difference is that in the Day the Earth Stood Still, the unknown comes to the Earth and look completely different from humans.
Finally, in the Invasion of the Body Snatchers, there was also an emphasis on the unknown visiting Earth; similar to the Day the Earth Stood Still but slightly different from the Forbidden Planet. While the Forbidden Planet’s style is one of awe and terror, this film appears to be one simply of terror. Again, the special effects seem lacking in this film compared to the Forbidden Planet. In this film, much less emphasis is placed on the military, as ordinary citizens are seen fighting against the monster unlike in Forbidden Planet. Obviously, the Invasion of the Body Snatchers is shot in gray and white and the Forbidden City is shot in color. In the Invasion of the Body Snatchers, there also seems to be a theme of conservatism of humanity and society. While the Forbidden City was about expanse, adventure, and rescue, the Invasion of the Body Snatchers seems more involved with keeping society the way it is. Finally, the acting in the Body Snatchers film appears to be much more dramatic than the intellectual individuals of the Forbidden Planet.