Forbidden Planet is without a doubt, the premier sci-fi movie for those who like to think. Initially shown around 1955 and starring Walter Pidgeon, Anne Francis, and Leslie Nielsen, it is the story of a scientist whose investigations of a race of beings called the Krell. His investigations lead to some very interesting events, the majority of which involve some very sophisticated animation for the time, all done by George Pal and his studios. It is blessed by a total lack of iguana-based dinosaurs and other 'monsters' that were popular at the time.

Every non-monster sci-fi movie ever made after that has elements of Forbidden Planet woven into the storyline, whether the author realizes it or not. The props for the movie appear in many different places including a large number of Twilight Zone episodes. Probably the most amazing and remembered character from the movie (aside from the then-daringly dressed Miss Francis), is the robot named Robbie. Capable of lifting tons of weight and prevented from harming sentient beings thanks to Issac Azimov's three rules for robots, Robbie isn't the vicious beast depicted on the box art (which is a poster from the movie itself).

Polar Lights kits are made in China and so come in a box strong enough to drive a truck over without damaging the parts. Once you manage to wrestle the top off it, you find two bags of parts. One contains the chrome plated and clear bits and the other the main parts of the robot in tan plastic. 

Unlike the Lost In Space robot, this one appears to be a new mold and not reverse engineered. All the parts look clean and crisp with no visible flash and the mold marks where they can be hidden. The chrome parts are well done, with mold seams small enough to be left on the parts if you are so inclined. The clear parts are sort of bluish in cast with the large dome scratched. There are four 'Voice simulator tubes' (part 15) of which they are not all the same shape. It will be interesting to see if this affects construction.

The rest of the parts are very nicely done as well. All the bits were still on the sprues. There are a few parts that were loose in the bag along with the base. These have been removed from the sprues at the factory. A result of this is that the attachment points need to be cleaned up and in some cases, filled as there are small gouges in the part at the attachment point. There is also a large base on which to display your Robbie. Sorry, but there is no passed out Anne Francis for Robbie to carry in his arms!

Kit instructions are similar to those with the LIS robot with one side of the sheet as image, ads and warnings, with the other side including an assembly sequence, painting guide and exploded view of the kit. All the parts are noted as to if they are chrome or transparent and all of them are named.

Frankly, I am looking very much to building this kit. If only I didn't have a dozen other projects on the bench. Well, maybe just one more............

In passing, I'd like to put full blame of my interest in modeling things sci-fi where it belongs, with John Lester and his website, Starship Modeler.  Thanks John!

Review copy courtesy of me and my wallet!! If any of you manufacturers or shop owners want to send products for review and building, please contact me.