Simply Perfect

As somebody who had not heard any of this before, it became a curious phenomenon to sit and watch a film and slowly have the realities begin to click into place.

Like the great film, it's made with a great deal of visible affection both in front of and behind the camera.

Actress is magnificent and exudes a hypnotic screen presence in this affecting drama.

A replication of the charming trick films of the great Georges Méliès, 'A Trip to Mars' is fascinating for many reasons that may or may not have actually been intentional. The acting itself is broadly comical, and the over the top performances help heighten this strange and almost surreal vibe the entire short has. The entire premise is absurd, largely because of what science has, by this time, taught us, and is in itself laughable, but also inexplicably helps heighten the film's confusing, bizarre, and flat out weird atmosphere. The film's most iconic visual by far is that of the giant alien lord(?), king(?), ruler(?), or something(?), the film never at all specifies much of what is going on (another element that helps heighten the atmosphere, albeit very possibly unintentionally), which looks like some sort of disturbing vision of Satan. It's all extremely odd, and ends in a wild, almost experimental note when the camera flips over and around and spins, creating an effect that replicates something by the likes of a Stan Brakhage(!).

This 5-minute movie from Edison studios was made eight years after Georges Méliès's "A Trip to the Moon" and while other reviewers have been calling it a knockoff of this film, I disagree. This movie may be much shorter and more simplistic, but the effects are amazing, and honestly are just as good as those in Méliès's film.The story of the movie is very fast-paced and doesn't slow down. Basically, a scientist discovers an anti-gravity formula and uses it on various objects. However, he accidentally spills some on himself and ends up on mars where he's threatened by various tree-like creatures who threaten to snatch him (which are convincing even today). Then, some giant martian gets him and turns him into what looks like a snowball (too bad the edits here were much too obvious) and tries roasting the guy over a fire but he escapes and gets back to earth. There's a twist at the very end where the scientist spills the formula on the floor and makes the room spin.Like I said, amazing effects. Many of them are very convincing even today, and at only 5 minutes this is pretty entertaining (although some of this could come from the fact that the YouTube uploading I've seen had some fun piano music with it). Even today I think most people would find it very watchable--and that's saying something.

In 1902, Georges Méliès created a landmark film, "The Trip to the Moon". While very primitive by today's standards, it was years ahead of its time and still is a joy to watch. It's the fanciful story of a trip to the moon and many studios ripped off the film-- making nearly identical (though always technically inferior) versions of the movie and passing them off as the original. Well, this isn't exactly the case with Edison's "A Trip to Mars". It's not a copy but is obviously inspired by the earlier film...but, sadly, although debuting eight years later, it's STILL not even close to the original in quality.The film is an episodic story of a scientist who creates an anti- gravity formula. Using it, he flies to Mars...but much of this trip is strangely absent. Once there, he finds the place inhabited by giants and they torment him. Ultimately, he returns to Earth.The film features many special effects and camera tricks--some of which worked very well and some which appear sloppy. Interesting and worth a look...but far from brilliant or groundbreaking.

Everyone knows about A Trip to The Moon. One of the first science fiction films it was a major milestone in film history. So when Thomas Edison was making films under his studio he decided to make an All American remake. Instead of a giant bullet, it's a scientist discovering reverse gravity. And instead of going to the moon, he goes to Mars. One step beyond. Well the scientist get's discovered by Martians, and he is soon sent back home by the giant overlord Martian. The scientist throws something on the ground and the room starts to spin. Just saying that description will make you laugh. But still it is pretty impressive. And the special effects are good. It's not as good as A Trip To The Moon but I still have to give it credit.