And 2 and 1/2 decades older technology. Their movies weren't the series that they are today. Investors were very reluctant to finance part 1 of a syfi series so you had to cram it all in. As per the acting. Minimal back story makes for speed acting, hence the narrative format. I liked it because I'd read the book and thought they did as well as anyone could under those restrictions. There was a day when Forbidden Planet was thought to be the first great movie. I still like it but most probably haven't seen it and wouldn't appreciate it.