A Trip to the Moon

This two-disc limited edition release features the home video debut of the painstakingly restored color version of George Méliès's landmark 1902 fantasy short—'the first international hit in motion picture history,' in the words of cinema historian and archivist Serge Bromberg, and perhaps the most famous film made prior to The Birth of a Nation. The surviving hand-painted print was discovered in the late 1990s in brittle and badly decomposed condition, and it took over 10 years to complete the digital restoration, which premiered at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival and was glimpsed in Martin Scorsese's Hugo. Historical importance aside, A Trip to the Moon is a delight—a whimsical portrait of science as wizardry by way of the industrial revolution, a picture-book fantasy brought to life with intricate sets and the effects that Méliès had perfected in his 'trick films.' A Trip to the Moon showcases the best of Méliès as magician and showman; and for this definitive issue, the French pop duo AIR contributes an offbeat original score. Released as a Blu-ray/DVD Combo, extras include the feature-length documentary The Extraordinary Voyage (which covers both the history of the film and the restoration process), a preserved black-and-white version with a choice of three additional soundtracks, two other Méliès shorts, and an interview with AIR. Essential for any early cinema collection, this is highly recommended. (S. Axmaker) [Blu-ray/DVD Combo Review—Mar. 20, 2018—Flicker Alley, 15 min., not rated, Blu-ray/DVD Combo: $39.95—Making its latest appearance on DVD and Blu-ray, 1902’s A Trip to the Moon features an excellent transfer with a DTS 5.1 soundtrack. Extras include the black-and-white version of the film, multiple scores for the original film and optional English narration written by director George Méliès, 'The Extraordinary Voyage' 2011 'making-of' documentary (65 min.), two Méliès short films—1907’s 'The Eclipse' (9 min.) and 1898’s 'The Astronomer’s Dream' (3 min.)—and a booklet featuring an essay excerpt from A Trip to the Moon Back in Color. Bottom line: the definitive edition of an early cinematic landmark.]