This is old school science fiction. I love the older stuff. Its not about the special effects which can be cool but if you dont have them you have to make the story that much better. I think the special effects in this movie are very advanced for the time. The first men in the moon is about the entire human condition. Love interest, crazy scientist, people doing what it takes to get by and of course the aliens and the moon. It just dosent get much better than this. The scenery is excellent the plot is great and the special effects are great for the time. And of course the story was written by H.G. Wells. I had the VHS tape and decided to get rid of the VCR and all our tapes. I had to decide which ones I wanted repurchase and this one of my top 5!
A typically opulent Charles Schneer production, FIRST MEN IN THE MOON is the fantastical tale of a trio of intrepid Victorians who reach the moon (and claim it for the British empire). There they discover a sub-surface civilization of insect creatures who are naturally cautiously curious about these visitors. That's about all there is of the plot. As with every Schneer/Harryhausen film spectacle trumps story and this film does not disappoint in that regard. Harryhausen loves vast differences in scale as seen by long shots of tiny humans against gigantic sets and huge monsters. The killer caterpillar with the snapping mandibles is as fine a creature as Harryhausen ever designed. The lighting of the interior caves, tunnels and galleries leans into spooky purples and greens, effectively. Laurie Johnson's score was excellent, a fine substitute for Schneer's usual composer Bernard Herrmann. Some reviewers carped about Lionel Jefferies' acting but I liked his over-the-top goofiness; he was the most lively person in the movie. Of course the visual effects were created nearly 60 years ago. They definitely show their age. (And in one clumsy instance the wires and pulley holding up a supposedly "anti-gravity" chair are plainly visible.) But a certain suspension of belief is necessary to enjoy any fantasy film and this one, if you are willing to go along for the ride, will pay some handsome dividends. Read full review
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New
"This Is A Classic Movie That Came Out In The '60's. It's A Must Have For Those Into Classical Sci-Fi! All The Clothes And Furniture Are Made Of Velveteen, And The Background Colors Are Brilliant! The Research Scientist Creates A Metal Sphere, With Railroad Bumper's To Cushion Their Landing When They Take A Trip To The Moon. The Underlying Plot Is A Substance Painted On The Sphere's Retracting Blinds, Which Is An Anti-Gravity Substance That Take Them On Their Journey. They Find Life On The Moon, And Become Temporarily Trapped On The Moon. The Entire Sequence Of Events Are Reflected By One Of The Passengers. Their Are Several Notable Idea's Incorporated Into The Plot, That Were Introduced By H.G. Wells; A Pioneer In Physics And Mathematics Related To Modern, And Future Plans In The Realm Of Things Even Yet To Come By Contemporary Scientist's Of Today! I Highly Recommend You At Least Look Into The Scenes On YouTube, To See If You're Interested In Purchasing This Well Made Movie To Own For Your Collection. Have A Great Year!"Read full review
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
I like the plot. Story was written by H.G. Wells. Many have become movies. In this one.. Cavorite solution reversed gravity. Some ideas from movies, sparked minds to come up with new ideas for our space programs. I love this one. I appreciate the mind and writings of H.G. Wells greatly. Now I’m looking for War of the World’s. Another great writing.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
I originally saw this movie as a kid and have always remembered the Selenites (the bugs) and the giant caterpillar! This movie is a great adaptation of the H.G.Wells book. As an adult, I found the movie as entertaining as I remembered! Looking beyond the then state of the art special effects (the occasional visible hidden wires), It does make you realize that the exploration of space has risks (and consequences) not only to the explorers but to the destination itself! Like many of the old movies, it proves that you can be entertained without sex, lots of violence, or profanity!
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