Reaction Paper: Trip to the Moon

2013-49565

THY

Reaction Paper: Trip to the Moon

If I was already present during the first screening of A Trip to the Moon (Le Voyage Dans la Lune) I would undoubtedly wait in line to watch the premier and support the film. And this would be my opinion on the film:

The movie was fascinating and an awe-inspiring ride of fantasy and adventure that captured us, the audience, with its wonderfully crafted visuals and its comedy. It began with a meeting of astronomers who by the order of the president bravely volunteer to travel in the capsule to the moon. As they are making their trip they land into the eye of the moon. I like the conception of space travel especially how they arrived to the Moon in their bullet-shaped spaceship (it was launched by giant cannon). The moon is mainly a dark and featureless desert, same as a view we get when looking up the sky. The scientists discover a strange, subterranean, mushroom filled environment in the cave. While searching the cave the scientists are confronted by strange, crazed aliens who live on the moon. I think this meeting of a new culture, or species in this case reflects colonialism and imperialism in the society. However, all of the scientists were rescued and brought back home.

The movie's special effects are admirable and the use of pyrotechnics, smoke effects, and frame manipulation, help it to be entertaining.  There are a number of ingenious techniques used to further the illusions, such as the smoke pouring out of the factories. It was cool to see the objects suddenly vanish or change.

The use of self-painted sets, real people along with animated figures and the placement of real faces on objects helped this draw in its audience and leave them with many astonished looks. This film allowed the inflation of imagination to look beyond what is in front and think of what technological advances can do for the future. It is impossible not to leave the cinema with one’s jaw on the floor. Très bien!