Le Voyage dans la lune (A Trip to the Moon) (1902)

...suddenly we have the cinema - that glorious mutt art.

A treat for cineastes and sci-fi fans alike, with Melies borrowing from both Jules Verne and H.G. Wells.

Cinema's first science fiction story.

Ladies and Gentlemen: the world's first sci-fi film! Based on works by Jules Verne and H. G. Wells, this is a landmark film from essentially the king of the silent era, one Georges Melies. What we have here is the story of a group of curious astronomers who, fascinated by space, construct a rocket, travel to the moon, have a run in with the locals, raise a ruckus, then escape back home to planet Earth. It's simple, and sounds a bit hokey, and does come off as a tad silly, but, at the time especially, and, to an extent today, this is still a work which evokes a sense of awe and wonder. Yeah, it's rough in comparison to contemporary films, but for something that's 111 years old, I think it holds up reasonably well. There's innovative special effects, the pioneering use of now common cinematic techniques, and a great amount of energy and excitement, especially with the performances. Yeah narratively speaking some of it seems rough, especially since there's no title card inserts, and, even though I don't mind having to figure stuff out based purely on visuals, for a few bits I think it would have been nice to get some specific clarification on things. Apparently during some screenings, someone would read a script to provide some basic narration as things played out. I think that's kinda cool, and a touch ambitious. I recognize that this is an important and influential film, and it's more successful in those regards than it is when looked at as just a stand alone film, but even then it's still pretty cool and entertaining. And of course, if not for this movie, there wouldn't be one of the greatest music videos ever ("Tonight, Tonight" by The Smashing Pumpkins).

Le Voyage dans la lune is a very important film in the history of cinema. This is a wonderful short film that should be seen by every serious film buff. I first became aware of this film when watching the HBO miniseries From the Earth to the Moon, and afterwards I lost sight of this film. Fortunately upon watching the trailer to Hugo I was able to rediscover this film, and check it out. This is a terrific sci fi short film that captures the imagination. The film is really something to see, The film uses simple, yet very creative tricks for special effects. Georges Méliès influence on cinema is important, and as one of the first directors in the medium, he pioneered something that 100 years later would still be exciting to see. This film is simple, yet effective and shows that even all the way back in 1902, the cinematic medium had the power to capture the imagination. This is a classic film that is a pleasant treat to watch. The film is fun to look at, and despite for its slight silliness, no one can dismiss this film. This film served in a way as a prediction that we would land on the moon. Before there was Sci fi as we know it, there was this film. This film is an important landmark in film history. This film shows that even in the early days of cinema, great ideas for films were striving to entertain audiences. Georges Méliès is a true pioneer of the cinematic medium and his imagination, vision and skill to create something wonderful on-screen is a testament that outclasses even the biggest films of today. If you're curious about the early of cinema, and are passionate about the medium, then give this work a shot. This is truly a fun silent film that is memorable and worth your time.