Sci Fi Movie Review: "Destination Moon"



Sci-Fi Movie Review: Destination Moon (1950)

 Destination Moon holds a place among the Cinematic Sci-Fi Elite in terms of importance, a small cohort of films that includes Le Voyage dans la Lun (Trip to the Moon, 1902), Metropolis (1927) and Star Wars (1977). These films each ushered in a new era of cinematic science fiction. A Trip to the Moon started the ball rolling with (at the time) dazzling special effects and creative filming methods. Metropolis set the standard again with visuals and music, and of course, Star Wars not only took visual effects and music to another level but began en masse the concept of fandoms for a movie. What about Destination Moon though?

First, a little background. Destination Moon was directed by George Pal and written by Robert A. Heinlein, one of the greatest sci-fi writers of all time. The story is both simple and (for Heinlein) unusually bland. But the movie triumphed because of the visual effects and the attention to detail. This is probably the most realistic moon voyage depicted on film prior to the actual thing.

Destination Moon was the dynamite that opened the floodgates which became 50's Sci-Fi. The depiction of a voyage to the moon with such attention to believability showed that going to the moon and beyond was not just a fantasy but could indeed come to pass. It triggered (in a good way) the imagination of American movie-goers, especially kids.

None of the movies which followed, however, really resembled the technical masterpiece. The hunger that Destination Moon created in people, young and old (but mostly young) to reach beyond our planet was met with campy summer flicks about extra-terrestrial teenagers and Lunar Gorillas in diving helmets. And eventually, in 1977, Star Wars picked up where Destination Moon left off.

As a Christian, I love Destination Moon because of its positive outlook on Man's call to exercise dominion of creation (which I believe includes Outer Space). We see human ingenuity and creativity triumph over the dangers of nature. The focus on humanity is, in fact, the substitute for characterization.We have a scientist, a soldier, an entrepreneur and an average Joe (literally named Joe). Heinlein knows when a story needs to focus on the characters and when the story is bigger than them. In this case, it's seriously bigger than them.

I'd recommend watching Destination Moon if you want to see it for the important role it played in sci-fi cinema or just want to let yourself be carried away by the optimistic view that 50's America had toward space exploration.

Til next time!
SDG
D.M. Gibson 

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