FORBIDDEN PLANET: The Id is Back...in 4K

FORBIDDEN PLANET Limited Edition (4K UHD)

1956 / 98 min

Arrow Video

Review by Mr. Paws😸

Forbidden Planet has the distinction of being the first movie that ever scared the shit out of me when I was a kid. Even on an old hand-me-down black & white TV, the “Id” monster was total nightmare fuel. For me, that horrifying creation made the flying monkeys from The Wizard of Oz look like a basket of puppies.

And if you don’t know what I’m talking about, shame on you for never having seen one of the greatest science-fiction movies ever made. And if not the greatest, it’s certainly one of the most influential. This wasn’t typical 1950s sci-fi drive-in fodder. With its generally serious tone, cerebral concepts and a huge budget for the time, Forbidden Planet was intelligent, thought provoking and visually spectacular. If not for this one, we may have never gotten the likes of Star Trek, Solaris or 2001: A Space Odyssey. 

A perfect marriage of story and spectacle, Forbidden Planet has held up remarkably well over the years, both narratively and visually. Without revealing too much that would spoil things for those shameful few who still don’t know what they’re missing, the film uses Shakespeare’s The Tempest as the foundation for a story about the crew of United Planets space cruiser C57-D, led by stoic commander John J. Adams (Leslie Nielsen). Their mission is to check-in on a colony sent to the distant planet of Altair IV. 

When they arrive, however, the only survivors are supergenius Dr. Morbius (Walter Pigeon) and his nubile-but-naive daughter, Altaira (Anne Francis, who might have been this writer’s first celebrity crush). Everyone else was slaughtered 20 years earlier by “some devilish thing that never once showed itself.” Adams ignores Morbius’ pleas for the ship to leave for fear of it happening again. Later, Morbius grudgingly reveals his decades-long research of the Krell, a long-extinct race that ended up being a little too technologically advanced for its own good. 

The film culminates in a plot revelation that remains potent today, though beyond the grasp of my tiny mind when I first watched it. But even without its thematic complexities, Forbidden Planet has always been a visual wonder, a triumph of visual effects and elaborate production design. Some of its imagery has since become iconic, such as the C57-D ship and especially Robby the Robot, the latter rendered so charming that he’s billed in the credits right along with the rest of the cast (and as the bonus features remind us, he even enjoyed something of a TV and film career outside of Forbidden Planet).

"That bastard just called me Shirley!"

Only a bit of cornball comedy and the superfluous romance between Adams and Altaira serve as glaring reminders of the decade from which it sprang. As for the dreaded Id monster that once haunted my dreams…it may have lost its power to terrify over the years, but still remains rather menacing (especially within the context of the story) and brilliantly animated.

An acknowledged science-fiction classic, Forbidden Planet was long overdue 4K release. Fortunately, Arrow Video comes through with a great limited edition set. This is one of the few films I’ve seen in every format, and can attest the 4K restoration is excellent (and framed in its original 2.55:1 aspect ratio, which the previous Blu-ray wasn’t). There are also three audio options, a DTS-HD MA mono track, a DTS-HD MA 5.1 track, and best of all, the theatrical “Perspecta” stereo track. The last option is the way this one should be heard, especially regarding the film’s groundbreaking electronic score (the first of its kind)...

…which reminds me…I once bought the Forbidden Planet soundtrack on vinyl, which is an experience unto itself. Not only do parts of it make my dog tilt her head, I had a record player in my classroom during my middle school teaching days, and there was a time I had this playing as kids were filing into class. One of them stopped in the middle of the room, regarded the turntable, and said in total seriousness, “Mr. Anderson, this is worse than that Slayer shit you listen to.” His grave comment had me laughing so hard that I didn’t have the heart to write him up for swearing (or hating on Slayer).

The 4K disc includes an excellent new audio commentary (I always enjoy listening to Kim Newman), while the rest of the bonus features are on an accompanying Blu-ray. Most of them are archival and have been featured on previous Blu-ray and/or DVD editions, but they’re pretty substantial and very entertaining (see below). Forbidden Planet fans will find a lot to love here, the technical aspects alone making it worth the upgrade. As for those who’ve ever seen it, here’s a great chance to end your shame.

EXTRA KIBBLES:

NOTE: Free Kittens Movie Guide was provided with a promo disc for review purposes. Physical supplemental material included with the final product (booklets, artwork, inserts, etc) were not available for review.   

UNEARTHLY AURA - This is a new appreciation of the groundbreaking (and really bizarre at the time) electronic score by Bebe & Louis Barron, by music historian Neil Brand. Aside from the commentary, it is the only totally new bonus feature.

ARCHIVAL FEATURETTES - Watch the Skies!: Science Fiction, the 1950s and Us is an hour-long retrospective documentary about sci-fi films of the era, and features interviews with some of the genre’s best-known directors; Amazing!: Exploring the Far Reaches of Forbidden Planet is a very entertaining look back at the film’s production and enduring impact; Robby the Robot: Engineering a Sci-Fi Icon looks back at the creation and construction of the film’s most endearing character.

THE INVISIBLE BOY is a second feature film featuring Robby. A fun little curio.

“ROBOT CLIENT” is an episode of the Thin Man TV series featuring Robby, and another strong argument that The Thin Man should never have been made into a TV show in the first place.

EXCERPTS FROM MGM PARADE

DELETED SCENES AND LOST FOOTAGE - The latter largely consists of alternate special effects shots.

SHOOTING SCRIPT

IMAGE GALLERIES

TRAILER

4 MOVIES IN 4K: Free Kittens' MYSTERY BOX Giveaway!

😺What’s in the box? 4K discs, that’s what! Four of them, to be exact, all brand new, and recently released. 

😺What titles are included? Only Stinky knows! Besides, they’re free, and all you gotta do for a chance to win all four is drop us an email at freekittensmovieguide@gmail.com

😺For 4K fans, there’s no easier way to add four new titles to your collection. The giveaway ends 9/30/2026 and we’ll randomly select one entry afterwards.

😺Sorry, open to U.S. residents only.

MOBLAND - SEASON ONE: Those Horrible Harrigans

MOBLAND Season One (DVD)

2025 / 472 min

Paramount

Review by Carl, the Couch Potato😺

MobLand is a show that revels in bad behavior, centered around an Irish crime family, the Harrigans, whose patriarch, Conrad (Pierce Brosnan), is self-aggrandizing, short-tempered, sociopathic, perverted, arrogant and completely ignorant of his own shortcomings. And he ain’t even the worst of them.

That honor goes to his wife, Maeve (Helen Mirren), whose obsession with keeping the Harrigan name atop the mountain knows no bounds. In addition to having many of the attributes as her husband, she’s conniving, sadistic, twisted, manipulative…and more-than-ready to throw allies and family members under the bus to achieve her goals. Both of them are over-the-top caricatures, played with scenery-chewing zeal by Brosnan and Mirren. As such, they’re kind of a hoot to watch.

But the real backbone of the family - and indeed, the show itself - is Harry Da Soiza (Tom Hardy), the Harrigans’ trusted fixer and easily MobLand’s most complex, interesting character. When psychopathic grandson Eddie (Anson Boon) murders the son of rival mob boss Richie Stevenson (Geoff Bell), Harry’s tasked with trying to keep the peace, while other Harrigans continue to exacerbate the problem. Though obviously aware of this, he remains loyal to a fault, even as it threatens to destroy his marriage. However, Harry’s longtime friendship with Conrad’s son, Kevin (Paddy Considine), is arguably the most engaging relationship in the show.

Harry realizes who stole his hat.

Most of these 10 episodes focus on the escalating war between the Harrigans and Stevenson, along with a few subplots of varying interest. There ain’t much in the way of intricacy or subtlety, but overall, the show’s a lot of fun. It’s not often you have a series whose protagonists are generally more reprehensible than their enemies. In fact, some of them are so hateful that we might be rage-watching in the hope of seeing them die (or in Eddie’s case, that Harry will beat him within an inch of his life).

Throughout the season, there are plenty of plot twists and a few shocking character revelations, along with frequent bursts of action and violence to keep things lively. And while it finishes by setting the stage for Season Two, at least Season One’s main story comes to a satisfying conclusion. MobLand isn’t exactly the most original (or plausible) organized crime series ever made, but as a twisted soap opera with morally-bankrupt characters (including some of the police), it’s morbidly compelling.

MARSHMALLOW Exists for the Twist

MARSHMALLOW (Blu-ray)

2025 / 93 min

Toy Robot

Review by Josey, the Sudden Cat🙀

A subsidiary of Arrow Video, Toy Robot is a new boutique label that, so far, appears similarly committed to releasing cult classics and newer indie films. Marshmallow is one of the latter, a 2025 horror movie directed by Daniel Delpurgatorio, who I’d never heard of until now. But he might be someone to keep an eye on…

…though I certainly didn't think so during the first half of this thing. My first thought was, God, yet another slasher movie taking place at a summer camp in the woods. And no, the story doesn’t unfold like an homage or parody. You’ve got your usual collection of douchebag counselors, campers who are misfits or bullies, and of course, the ol’ scary campfire story about an urban legend, all presented as though Delpurgatorio and writer Andy Greskoviak invented these tropes. Yawn. 

Then something begins to happen, slowly at first. Initially, it appears that the aforementioned urban legend is gonna turn out to be true…lots of stalking and kids running, screaming & hiding. In fact, nearly all of the terror is inflicted on children…and as it turns out, there’s a reason for that. To elaborate further would ruin some cool story twists and a final revelation you won't likely see coming. But it will have you re-thinking some few of the glaring implausibilities of the first half.

"First rule of Fight Club, kids..."

Is it worth the wait? Yeah, I think so. Overall, Marshmallow still has a few liabilities, such as weak characters, occasionally dumb dialogue and what might be the most overbearing music score I’ve ever heard in a horror movie. And I still don't know what the hell the title means. But despite the familiar setting, it’s pretty atmospheric, well-directed and doesn’t rely too much on jump-scares and gory shocks.

Marshmallow clearly exists for the big twist, which is pretty original and ultimately elevates this one a bit above the usual “there’s something in the woods” slasher film. I don’t know if I would ever be compelled to watch it a second time, but any horror movie that manages to throw a surprise my way can’t be dismissed entirely.

EXTRA KIBBLES

FEATURETTE - Filming the Dream Sequence

PODCAST INTERVIEWS - Featuring director Daniel Delpurgatorio, screenwriter Andy Greskoviak and actor Dylan Friendman.

AUDIO COMMENTARY - By director Daniel Delpurgatorio and actors Kue Lawrence & Kai Cech.

SHORTS - “Other” and “Body(s)” are two early shorts by director Daniel Delpurgatorio.

STORYBOARDS, STILLS GALLERY & SCRIPT PAGES

REVERSIBLE COVER

THE POOP SCOOP: Dinos & Detectives Edition

UPCOMING KIBBLES THAT MAKE US PURR!

THE END OF OAK STREET on Digital September 15 and Blu-ray, 4K and DVD November 3 from Warner Bros. After a mysterious cosmic event rips Oak Street from suburbia and transports their neighborhood to someplace unknown, the Platt family soon discovers that their very survival depends on them sticking together as they navigate their now unrecognizable surroundings.Starring Anne Hathaway and Ewan McGregor, The End of Oak Street also stars Maisy Stella and Christian Convery. The film is written and directed by David Robert Mitchell and produced by J.J. Abrams, Hannah Minghella, Jon Cohen, David Robert Mitchell, Matt Jackson and Tommy Harper. The executive producers are Chris Bender, Jake Weiner, Joanne Lee and Leeann Stonebreaker.

FLIC STORY on Blu-ray October 20 from Kino Lorber. The year is 1947. When Émile Buisson, post-liberation France’s most notorious criminal (Jean-Louis Trintignant, The Outside Man), escapes from a mental asylum and embarks on a bloody crime spree, Paris cop Roger Borniche (Delon, Le samouraï) gets the thankless job of either bringing him in or stopping him dead. Through rooftop pursuits, alley stakeouts, nightclub showdowns and car-to-car gun battles, Borniche, a stylish and scrupulously ethical “flic” (French slang for “cop”), is forced to break the rules he usually only bends. Driven to the edge of reason, Borniche will even risk the safety of his lover Catherine (Claudine Auger, Thunderball) to put his maniac nemesis back in a strait-jacket and on death row. Director Jacques Deray follows in the footsteps of master filmmaker Jean-Pierre Melville (Un flic) by bringing unsentimental verve, intelligent pacing and multi-layered performances to this hard-boiled classic of ’70s French film noir. 

SHREK 25th Anniversary Edition is coming to 4K Ultra HD and Limited Edition Steelbook on November 3 from Universal. The ogre who changed fairy tales forever returns as the beloved classic, SHREK debuts a newly remastered 4K Ultra HD and Limited Edition Steelbook from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. To celebrate its 25th anniversary, the film comes home in a stunning newly remastered edition featuring Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos for an enhanced home viewing and listening experience. The 25th anniversary release also includes 30 minutes of brand-new bonus content peeling back the layers and exploring the making of the animated classic we all know and love! Showcasing the quintessential voice talent of Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz  and John Lithgow ; rewatch one of the most ogre-the-top animated films of the 21st century, in a fresh light! 

THE LAST BOY SCOUT on 4K and Blu-ray October 13 from Arrow Video. The hard-hitting action comedy The Last Boy Scout receives its global 4K UHD debut. The movie brings together an all-star lineup including Bruce Willis, director Tony Scott, screenwriter Shane Black, uber producer Joel Silver. The Limited Edition release features a brand-new 4K restoration from the original 35mm camera negative by Arrow Films, approved by director of photography Ward Russell. A Limited Edition Blu-ray release will also be available. Special features include a brand new audio commentary; newly filmed interviews with screenwriter Shane Black and actress Danielle Harris; a newly filmed appreciation of Tony Scott; an on-stage interview with screenwriter Shane Black from Beyond Fest 2025; extended & alternate scenes from a pre-release workprint version of the film; theatrical trailers; image galleries; the original screenplay; and a collectors’ booklet.   

LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS on 4K and Digital October 6 from Warner Bros. The newly remastered film will include both the Theatrical and Director’s Cuts, as well as new bonus content. 

KPOP DEMON HUNTERS on Blu-ray, 4K and DVD November 3 from Criterion Collection (seriously!). Few films have taken the world by storm quite like KPop Demon Hunters, an Academy Award–winning sensation overflowing with dazzling animation, unforgettable characters, and tenaciously catchy songs. 

SCARY MOVIE on Blu-ray, 4K and DVD September 22 from Paramount. Twenty-six years after the original massacre, Cindy, Brenda, Shorty, and Ray get dragged back into the chaos by a brand-new masked killer who clearly never learned when to quit. 

MINIONS & MONSTERS on Digital Now and 4K, Blu-ray & DVD September 9 from Universal. Illumination expands its joyful Minions universe with a riotous chapter featuring all-new characters in the biggest global animated franchise in history. 

The Original INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE: THE VAMPIRE CHRONICLES on 4K September 15 from Warner Bros. The newly remastered film will also include new bonus content featuring filmmakers reflecting on the making of the film over 30 years later.

Not Quite Sensurround, but the next best thing…ROLLERCOASTER on 4K +  Blu-ray September 29 from Kino Lorber. An unnamed young extortionist (Timothy Bottoms) sets off a bomb on an amusement park roller coaster, and he will do it again unless he's paid one million dollars. 

  

EVIL DEAD BURN on Digital Now and 4K, Blu-ray & DVD September 18 from Warner Bros. EVIL DEAD BURN unleashes the franchise’s most savage and terrifying ride to date with an all-new chapter of carnage and demonic mayhem.

MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE on 4K, Blu-ray & DVD October 20 from Alliance Entertainment. After being separated for 15 years, the Sword of Power leads Prince Adam (Nicolas Galitzine) back to Eternia where he discovers his home shattered under the fiendish rule of Skeletor (Jared Leto).

Nominated for Multiple Oscars, THE SECRET AGENT Comes to 4K, Blu-ray & DVD September 22 from Criterion Collection. With an electrifying blend of kinetic punch and elegiac historical sweep, Kleber Mendonça Filho connects life under Brazil’s twentieth-century military dictatorship to the living present, delivering a kaleidoscopic period thriller pulsing with resonance. 

GONE WITH THE WIND in 4K and Digital November 3 from Warner Bros. The film quickly became an “Instant Classic” when it was first released over eighty-five years ago and now returns newly remastered with extraordinary picture and sound and includes new bonus content. 

Guillermo del Toro’s FRANKENSTEIN on 4K and Blu-ray October 27 from Criterion Collection. A decades-in-the-making triumph of darkly ravishing visual invention and operatic storytelling, Frankenstein is a deeply personal statement from a director who has long been drawn to the realm where men and monsters merge.  

FORBIDDEN PLANET Limited Edition on 4K September 28 from Arrow Video. For the very first time, Forbidden Planet is presented in its original Cinemascope aspect ratio of 2.55:1 with its theatrical "Perspecta" stereo soundtrack in an eye-popping brand new 4K restoration. 

THE COMPLETE KUBRICK Coming to 4K + Blu-ray October 20 from Criterion Collection. Collected here for the first time are Kubrick’s thirteen features and three shorts, all restored in 4K, over twenty-five hours of interviews, documentaries, and behind-the-scenes materials; and deluxe packaging.

Revisiting STAR TREK: THE ORIGINAL SERIES on Blu-ray

STAR TREK: THE ORIGINAL SERIES 60th Anniversary Edition (Blu-ray)

1966-1969 / 4121 min

Paramount

Review by Carl, the Couch Potato😸

We all need more Star Trek in our lives, especially now. At a time when it feels like the world has never been more divisive, polluted, intolerant, greedy, oppressive and damn-near dystopian (do say nothing of a lot dumber), sometimes it’s nice to be reminded that the future doesn’t have to suck. 

Even though the original show is now 60 years old, many of the provocative themes and social issues it tackled back then are still relevant today (off-hand, I can think of a few slack-jawed mouth-breathers who could learn a thing or two from "Let That Be Your Last Battlefield”). High-mindedness notwithstanding, Star Trek: The Original Series remains one of the most entertaining and rewatchable sci-fi shows ever made, and in terms of consistently imaginative writing, only the original Twilight Zone surpasses it.

Now that TOS is becoming increasingly difficult to find on TV without springing for yet-another streaming app, having the show on physical media is a godsend, and it looks a hell of a lot better, too. Keep in-mind this 60th Anniversary set contains nothing that’s actually new to Blu-ray (though Amazon offers a deluxe version with more bells & whistles…and a much bigger price tag). It’s the same restoration and batch of bonus features that have been previously released on other editions. So if you already have one of those, there’s no need to double-dip here.

That being said, the show looks and sounds tremendous on Blu-ray. As for the supplements…they may all be archival, but typical of most Trek home video releases, there’s still a ton of ‘em (see below). So much, in fact, that I think any effort to create anything new that hasn’t been written or said before would be a futile endeavor. As someone who hadn’t yet upgraded the show to Blu-ray, the bonus material alone kept me occupied for hours. I especially appreciate the option of deciding for myself whether to watch episodes with upgraded special effects or the old ones. As a crusty ol’ Boomer, I’m partial to revisiting the show as it originally aired.

Gorn With the Wind.

As for Star Trek itself, all 79 episodes are here, as well as the two early pilots and a couple of “sequels” that were part of other Trek shows. Everyone has their favorites, as well a few clunkers they’ll probably never revisit. I’m of the opinion that Season Two is when the show hit its stride, with the likes of “Mirror, Mirror,” “The Doomsday Machine,” “The Changeling,” “The Trouble with Tribbles,” “The Immunity Syndrome,” and “The Ultimate Computer” ranking among my favorite episodes. 

Conversely, I concur with the general consensus that Season Three contains the most pooches, though there are still a few great ones here and there (“The Tholian Web” and “All Our Yesterdays” immediately come to mind). But I found revisiting Season One particularly interesting, watching the series find its footing in character and concept development as it progressed. Standouts from this season include “Tomorrow is Yesterday,” “The Corbomite Maneuver,” “The City on the Edge of Forever,” and of course, “Space Seed.” Needless to say, your results may vary.

My only beef is with the packaging. The new artwork is fine, but with hinged trays designed to hold stacks of discs (noooo!), finding a specific episode is pretty cumbersome, and makes the discs susceptible to scratching. Other than that, it’s a terrific set commemorating the 60th anniversary of a landmark series.

EXTRA KIBBLES

SPECIAL EFFECTS OPTION - In addition to being previously remastered, every episode got significant special effects upgrades, replacing the antiquated old effects with CGI-driven new ones. While initially interesting, the quaint charm of the original FX are part of what continues to make the show endearing. Fortunately, every episode in this set gives you the option to watch either version.

FEATURETTES - Spread throughout these 20 discs are gobs of archival featurettes, including interviews, retrospective appreciations, and plenty of entertaining historical info. Some are very short - running less than two minutes - while others are longer and more comprehensive. With no supplementary booklet as a guide, some of these are a bit of a challenge to find, though all of the set’s contents are listed inside the cover (which will require you to slip it out of the case to be able to use). For the sake of expediency, I’m not listing all of them here, but it’s a treasure trove for Trekkies.

AN ENTIRE “TRIBBLES” DISC! - “The Trouble with Tribbles” remains one of TOS’ most beloved episodes. The entirety of Season Two, Disc 4 is dedicated to those little furballs. In addition to the original episode, “More Tribbles, More Troubles” (from the animated series) and “Trials and Tribble-ations” (from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine) are included, giving you the complete Tribbles saga on a single disc. 

PILOT EPISODES - Season Three, Disc 6 features two versions of “The Cage,” which was the original Star Trek pilot episode that featured Jeffrey Hunter (as Captain Pike) commanding the Enterprise. It never aired during Trek’s original run. Also included on this disc is a restored, unaired version of “Where No Man Has Gone Before,” which was Trek’s second-produced pilot episode. 

STARFLEET ACCESS - Throughout the set, seven selected episodes feature pop-up and text commentaries. 

PREVIEW TRAILERS

PASSENGER: Deja Vroom

PASSENGER (Blu-ray)

2026 / 93 min

Paramount

Review by Josey, the Sudden Cat🙀

Because the director is Andre Øvredal, I approached Passenger with a bit of cautious optimism. This is the guy who unleashed The Autopsy of Jane Doe on the world, which in my opinion is one of the freakiest, creepiest horror movies of the past 20 years. His subsequent films have been more conventional and less interesting, but I still hold out hope that he’ll hit another one out of the park.

While Passenger isn’t that homerun, it’s a solid double and arguably Øvredal’s best horror film since Jane Doe. Considering his efforts in the interim, that might be considered faint praise, but I enjoyed this one far more than the likes of Umma and Last Voyage of the Demeter, even if originality remains in short supply.

It begins brilliantly, though, with an atmospheric, tension-filled prologue that features a demonic figure terrorizing a couple of travelers on a dark lonely highway. The primary story begins with a young couple who’ve given up their day jobs for the freedom of van life. They come across the lone survivor from the prologue in his wrecked car and try to offer aid (to no avail). In a turn of events that’ll come as no surprise, this entity now commences pursuing and tormenting them.

"You think the cat did that?"

Much of the narrative is a series of sequences where Tyler (Jacob Scipio) and Maddie (Lou Llobell) repeatedly encounter this monstrous figure. Some perfunctory, largely unnecessary exposition is eventually provided, revealing the entity’s long, violent history of killing travelers (and is referred to as ‘The Passenger’). The movie moves in fits and starts, some truly creepy set-pieces buffered by comparatively dull character moments, though Melissa Leo makes a welcome appearance as a seasoned van-lifer who knows a lot about The Passenger.

Elsewhere, there are plenty of jump scares, maybe too many for its own good. For every shot that provides genuine jolts, there’s one that evokes a strong sense of deja vu. The basic premise is somewhat similar to Jeepers Creepers, though this one is more skillfully directed. Øvredal puts together some chilling moments and throws in a smattering of gore here & there for good measure. By and large, the titular terror himself is a suitably malevolent presence (until he’s fully revealed, at least). So while Passenger is hardly a genre milestone, it’s a fairly enjoyable road-horror movie with just enough going for it to be worth checking out. But here’s hoping Andre Øvredal shoots for something a bit more ambitious next time.