A Trip to the Moon (1902)

User Review

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  TheMovieDiorama

  9 / 10

  Le Voyage Dans La Lune (A Trip to the Moon) traversed space and introduced science-fiction cinema to the masses. The pinnacle of classic cinema. One of the earliest motion pictures to ever be recovered and released. Arguably the most influential and culturally significant sci-fi film of all time. And damn does it still hold up well today. Over 100 years old (released in 1902) and still has the entrancing power to hypnotise me with Méliès' authentic production design. Wow. Just incredible. A group of astronomers build a capsule and launch it in an effort to land on the moon, where they encounter extraterrestrial life. Using his artistry as an illusionist, Méliès was able to capture a staged production on film and utilise his trickery and editing skills to craft a coherent silent story. The layered stage design that Méliès and his team built in his film studio exhumed both imagination and innovation. Shooting a bullet shaped capsule into the moon's eye, astronomers bashing jumping aliens causing them to explode and the capsule falling straight (literally) back down to Earth. It is pure fiction that really hinders on the viewer's imaginative capabilities. Some of Méliès techniques were absolute genius. Ranging from the filming of a fish tank depicting underwater scenes to the infamous panning shot as the camera zooms in on the moon. Méliès didn't just direct these films, he invented them on a practical level. With no dialogue cards, the narrative was told through expressive acting which, whilst came across as exceedingly goofy, added flamboyancy and charm to the picture. There isn't much else to say. This wasn't just any old film that time forgot about, this was a stepping stone that influenced epic features like '2001: A Space Odyssey' and 'Metropolis'. Without Le Voyage Dans La Lune, we may not have even been introduced to sci-fi pictures for many years after. So for that, I truly am grateful for Méliès' pioneering work. Plus, how often can you say you've seen a film that's over 100 years old? Exactly!

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