Trip to the Moon

1. Explain what you liked about this film?

The film was portrayed to be realistic in its own nature where the idea of a trip to the moon doesn’t sound bizarre as a preface is set where a telescope when raised above the heads magically converted to a chair. A 2 second shot like this sets a base from which the movie is improved upon and doesn’t make it absurd and blown out of proportion.

I was impressed with the portrayal of the characters where in the first shot 3 rows of people were standing on stairs and a person separated from the rest who was sat little away from them. Then 6 more characters were introduced as they walked into the frame and the others greeted them showing the difference in hierarchy. The difference in clothes worn by the characters standing in the stairs looks less amusing than the characters who just entered the frame which led me to believe that it may not be a greeting and a subtle portrayal of hierarchy. There is another reason which is explained after a while as these are the 6 characters travelling to the moon hence adding a bit more respect to their name. After a while of discussion and agreements the character who sat on the side away from the rest seems to have an argument with the main scientist. I felt that the director having this in the back of the mind purposefully placed that character separately to portray a difference in opinions.

The portrayal of the moon as a face before landing as a happy face and after landing as an unhappy face that is crying venting out its emotion that it does not like to be invaded and meddled with.

Again, continuing its realistic nature of the film where an umbrella immediately grew out to become a mushroom like plant while the scene smoothly shifts to the entry of a species in the moon after noticing a change in its environment as the plant grew very tall making it obvious.

The casting of the unknown species who were in the moon was interesting as the setting of the place showed to be a King’s rule and everyone acted by it showing that the civilization is still undeveloped.

2. What made the film unique?

The fact that it incorporates a lot of small details and covers everything in its entirety especially in a short time of 15 minutes at its own realistic nature is unique. Also, all the shots were taken using a still camera and not moving cameras which has its own difficulties as it must cover all required details in that short frame and the director seemed to have handled it well.

3. How was the film received by the audience? The industry?

After going through some sources Trip to the Moon was a big hit amongst the audience and was also the most pirated films in the young history implying that it was a big hit in the industry as well. Sources also claim that it was a futuristic approach and hence made it even more interesting amongst the audience.

4. Write one unique or interesting fact about the filmmaker?

One of the appropriate and relatable fact is that he was an illusionist before he became a filmmaker hence explaining the smooth work of the magic in-between scenes and explains his mind-blowing imagination of a futuristic world and the ability to express it beautifully on screen. It also explains the still cameras as magicians have limited space to work with and that has helped the director to encompass all the required details.

5. Name a future film you feel was influenced by this film and how?

In my opinion every futuristic or unrealistic film that is made is influenced by this movie as it was this director who brought this style of filmmaking into play with which everyone explored to create their own film. By unrealistic I mean when the movie is realized it may be viewed as unrealistic but may be possible in the future as taking this as example, we have been to the moon which was once claimed impossible.

To be specific after some research Destination Moon as it continued to dwell on the difficulties in the trip to moon. I believe it is an extension of the Trip to the Moon with a more focused narrative.