A TRIP TO THE MOON (1902)

A.K.A.: Le voyage dans la lune

Country: France

Genre(s): Adventure / Comedy / Fantasy / Sci-Fi

Director: George Melies

Cast: George Melies / Brunnet / Henri Delannoy

Plot

A team of astronomers board a rocket to the moon, where they encounter a race of hostile creatures.

What I Liked

With its fantastic set design and simple but entertaining story, “A Trip to the Moon” was a special effects extravaganza before special effects extravaganzas existed as a concept.  It must have been a completely awe-inspiring experience for those of the period who witnessed it.  It’s not surprising that director George Melies was a magician.  A magician’s talents for directing the eye and dazzling the imagination are on display throughout the film’s fourteen minute length.  More importantly, the film presents a very unique vision, a proto-surrealist take on the universe and its mysteries that no doubt amazed audiences but also sets the film apart as work of original art in a time when many thought motion pictures a medium of ignorance or a fad.  The gorgeous set pieces, the whimsical backdrops, and outrageous events all contribute to a movie that remains distinctive, unforgettable, and essential to this day.  It is truly the work of creative genius.

What I Didn’t Like

I have to say the villains of the story (some acrobatic moon men) were unimpressively easy to kill, even if the deaths themselves were groundbreaking feats of special effects.  The conclusion was also disappointingly abrupt, but certainly a necessity for the budget and technology constraints of the era.  Other than that, what’s not to like about this wonderfully entertaining bit of film history?

Most Memorable Scene

What else? The scene where the rocket arrives on the moon and lodges itself directly into the eye of a none too amused Man in the Moon’s face is one of the most iconic scenes in cinema history, certainly the part of the film that has never been forgotten by anyone who has ever witnessed it.

My Rating: 4.5 out of 5