Rating: 
Summary: DESTINATION MOON DVD
Review: Image's DVD release of DESTINATION MOON is one of the company's better ones. The 50th Anniversary Edition features a short essay by Tom Weaver in its fold-out cover, and it also includes the original theatrical trailer. While the print perhaps could be better, I didn't find it particularly distracting in any manner. As for the movie itself, this one's a classic, if not for any other reason than its historical importance. This is one of the first "serious" science fiction films of the 1950s and was written by the great sf author Robert Heinlein. The story revolves around four astronauts, their trip to the moon, and the difficulties they encounter preparing for the return trip to Earth. While certain details are inaccurate, the movie is still enjoyable, overall, for today's audience. The lunar landscape is still impressive. DESTINATION MOON, by the way, won the 1950 Academy Award for Best Special Effects. The DVD of DESTINATION MOON runs 91 minutes. I'd certainly recommend it to science fiction fans. As an extra "bonus," a Woody Woodpecker cartoon about basic physics is embedded in the movie.
Rating:
Summary: The most important science fiction film ever made?
Review: Looking at this film today, you might not believe this, but when it first came out, "Destination Moon" was at the cutting edge of both special effects and believability. In 1950, very few people believed space travel was possible, much less a trip to the moon. That was kids' stuff, fantasy nonsense that couldn't possibly work. Yet this movie got almost all of the scientific details right, thanks to the influence and supervision of screenwriter Robert Heinlein, then in the prime of his life and writing ability. Heinlein was even then the most respected science fiction writer on the planet (with the possible exception of H.G. Wells); in the last fifty years, that hasn't changed. "Destination Moon" is based VERY loosely on his classic juvenile "Rocket Ship Galileo," but between the two of them, a generation of young men and women were inspired to believe that going to the moon could be the greatest adventure of them all! This film is going to be attractive primarily to Heinlein and early science fiction movie fans; today, the plot and dialogue is a trifle corny, and we've seen the real thing. But think how bad it could have been: the producers wanted to turn the thing into a musical, and have the astronauts meet dancing and singing girls on the moon! Don't laugh too much: there is reportedly an existing screenplay to that effect in Heinlein's archives! Overall, a great slice of science fiction history, and a must-have video for all Heinlein fans.
Rating:
Summary: The most important science fiction film ever made?
Review: Looking at this film today, you might not believe this, but when it first came out, "Destination Moon" was at the cutting edge of both special effects and believability. In 1950, very few people believed space travel was possible, much less a trip to the moon. That was kids' stuff, fantasy nonsense that couldn't possibly work. Yet this movie got almost all of the scientific details right, thanks to the influence and supervision of screenwriter Robert Heinlein, then in the prime of his life and writing ability. Heinlein was even then the most respected science fiction writer on the planet (with the possible exception of H.G. Wells); in the last fifty years, that hasn't changed. "Destination Moon" is based VERY loosely on his classic juvenile "Rocket Ship Galileo," but between the two of them, a generation of young men and women were inspired to believe that going to the moon could be the greatest adventure of them all! This film is going to be attractive primarily to Heinlein and early science fiction movie fans; today, the plot and dialogue is a trifle corny, and we've seen the real thing. But think how bad it could have been: the producers wanted to turn the thing into a musical, and have the astronauts meet dancing and singing girls on the moon! Don't laugh too much: there is reportedly an existing screenplay to that effect in Heinlein's archives! Overall, a great slice of science fiction history, and a must-have video for all Heinlein fans.
Rating: 
Summary: Worst Transfer I've Seen... Ever
Review: One of the greatest joys of DVD for me is not watching your latest block-buster, but seeing older films restored to their former glory. Two of the best are "Now Voyager" and "The Time Machine", but this film "Destination Moon" has to be the worst transfer I have ever seen and basically renders the film unwatchable. I didn't even get past the first ten minutes before it was back in it's box and is now being advertised for sale on eBay. Ghastly.
Rating:
Summary: Worst Transfer I've Seen... Ever
Review: One of the greatest joys of DVD for me is not watching your latest block-buster, but seeing older films restored to their former glory. Two of the best are "Now Voyager" and "The Time Machine", but this film "Destination Moon" has to be the worst transfer I have ever seen and basically renders the film unwatchable. I didn't even get past the first ten minutes before it was back in it's box and is now being advertised for sale on eBay. Ghastly.
Rating:
Summary: Worst Transfer I've Seen... Ever
Review: One of the greatest joys of DVD for me is not watching your latest block-buster, but seeing older films restored to their former glory. Two of the best are "Now Voyager" and "The Time Machine", but this film "Destination Moon" has to be the worst transfer I have ever seen and basically renders the film unwatchable. I didn't even get past the first ten minutes before it was back in it's box and is now being advertised for sale on eBay. Ghastly.
Rating:
Summary: THE FIRST GREAT SCI-FI FILM
Review: Produced by the legendary George Pal and based on a story by Robert Heinlein, Destination Moon was really the first sci-fi film that ambitiously aimed for technical authenticity. The film won an Academy award for special effects and while they will look very low budget by today's standards, they were cutting edge in 1950. The movie is also a strong bit of cold war propaganda (although never mentioned) in a race to see which country can be the first to land on the moon.
Basically a group of scientists arrange funding for a mission to the moon through soliciting private corporations. This part of film really bogged down to me. The movie begins to shine once the mission begins. The effects team do a pretty good job at showing the effects of gravity and weightlessness. While landing the entire rocket on the moon wasn't so realistic, the moon itself was very well done. And of course the whole part about not having enough fuel for the return trip was something pretty chilling giving the era it was made in.
The acting is perhaps the main weakness of the movie. It's filled with largely wooden actors lead by the always dull John Archer. Archer was a b-movie actor who had starred in poverty row films such as "King of the Zombies" and "Bowery at Midnight" with Bela Lugosi. Warner Anderson who would give fine performances in "The Caine Mutiny" and "Blackboard Jungle" probably turns in the best performance as Dr. Cargraves.
The Print is average and there's little in the way of extras. While I would never call this a classic, It is notable as perhaps the grandaddy of sci-fi films.
Rating: 
Summary: A Landmark Film!
Review: Rather than call Destination Moon a science fiction film - George Pal labled his opus "a documentary of the near future". Pre-dating man's landing on the moon by at least a quarter century - it is a marvel how ahead of their time George Pal, Robert Heinlein, Irving Pichel, Chesley Bonestell and others who contributed to this film were. That speech by Neil Armstrong claiming the moon for all mankind - is actually duplicated here - a quarter of century before Neil Armstrong ever dreamt of landing on the moon or even contemplated writing that speech. That alone makes this film a landmark in the annals of film and space science history. George Pal's amazing ideas proove once again the great effect he had on science, writers, movies and even astronauts! Also to get a fabulous overview of this movie with many star interviews, crystal clear film sequences and amazing archival footage of Pal - buy the newly released on DVD expanded director's cut version of THE FANTASY FILM WORLDS OF GEORGE PAL by director Arnold Leibovit. It is positively sensational and one of the finest tributes ever done. There is an added 45 minute bonus kinescope sequence filmed on the actual set of Destination Moon in 1950. Appearances by Robert Heinlein, Chesley Bonestell, the stars of the film, the set, Irving Pichell, George Pal and more. No science fiction or fandom fan can be without the new DVD release of THE FANTASY FILM WORLDS OF GEORGE PAL!
Rating:
Summary: A Landmark Film!
Review: Rather than call Destination Moon a science fiction film - George Pal labled his opus "a documentary of the near future". Pre-dating man's landing on the moon by at least a quarter century - it is a marvel how ahead of their time George Pal, Robert Heinlein, Irving Pichel, Chesley Bonestell and others who contributed to this film were. That speech by Neil Armstrong claiming the moon for all mankind - is actually duplicated here - a quarter of century before Neil Armstrong ever dreamt of landing on the moon or even contemplated writing that speech. That alone makes this film a landmark in the annals of film and space science history. George Pal's amazing ideas proove once again the great effect he had on science, writers, movies and even astronauts! Also to get a fabulous overview of this movie with many star interviews, crystal clear film sequences and amazing archival footage of Pal - buy the newly released on DVD expanded director's cut version of THE FANTASY FILM WORLDS OF GEORGE PAL by director Arnold Leibovit. It is positively sensational and one of the finest tributes ever done. There is an added 45 minute bonus kinescope sequence filmed on the actual set of Destination Moon in 1950. Appearances by Robert Heinlein, Chesley Bonestell, the stars of the film, the set, Irving Pichell, George Pal and more. No science fiction or fandom fan can be without the new DVD release of THE FANTASY FILM WORLDS OF GEORGE PAL!
Rating:
Summary: Writer Rip Van Ronkel was Wide Awake when he wrote this one!
Review: The 1950 film Destination Moon, written by Rip Van Ronkel and Robert Heinlein, is incredible for it's accuracy of what was to come 19 years later. To show rocket physics in simple terms a Woody Woodpecker cartoon is used. Unlike some of the sci-fi films of the era (Ed Wood comes to mind), there is very little cheesy about this (unless you believe what they say about the moon). A small group of scientists have decided to get private US companies to finance the building of the rocketship to the moon. I'm sure they had McCarthy breathing down their necks enough to use this line: "Whoever gets to the moon first will be able to hit anywhere militarily on Earth and rule the world." In spite of the meglomaniacal military mentality of this, the rest of the film stays off of this track. It's interesting to compare this with the actual Apollo missions. First they show the weightlessness pretty accurately with decent weightless FXs, and when they walk on the spacecraft and someone drifts away they utilize something the first Galileo spacewalkers didn't even think of; using an oxygen tank as a jet to maneuver (after the first spacewalkers found it too difficult without them the spacewalk jets were later used). They ate bananas and coffee (as opposed to tang and baby food), and they never showed how they used the bathroom (in Apollo it was with great difficulty). And the idea to land the rocket whole on the moon was the original concept of Apollo until the main designer found it was much easier to create a Lunar Module. The FX of Earth from space was pretty accurate even if the colors weren't quite right, and most striking was how the moon looked in this film. Check it against the Apollo footage and you'll know they were accurate. I mean in 1950 they did have telescopes powerful enough to see the lunar surface up close and they utilized this. And most impressive is the science, being accurate with the airlocks, 1/6th gravity, and even the crisis where they must lower the payload. And compare the words of what the 2 astronauts who first step onto the lunar surface tell the world via radio: "First impression is one of utter barrenness and desolation...most intensely brilliant stars anyone ever dreamed of". Buzz Aldrin said "Magnificent desolation." And "I claim possession for the United States for the benefit of all mankind." Neil Armstrong planted the American flag and said the mankind bit. Remember this was all theoretical and a decade before anyone had even entered space. The stars I guess is what turns people off here, as they are too bright and looked more like lightbulbs. I guess the technology wasn't good enough back then to use actual star footage, but even on the Star Trek TOS intro they use fake stars. And considering all the B films about space travel since (the one with James Caan in '68, The Stowaway in '74, Capricorn One '79, Mission to Mars '99), this stands out for it's being dead on in many ways, even using 4 astronauts (opposed to 3). I'm wondering if the Apollo planners took some cues from this film. No, it's no 2001: Space Odyssey, but it's great for 1950. And one other point: they even predict the Space Shuttle, as the rocket is designed to "glide to a landing". I'm wondering when mankind will once again venture to the Moon, establish a moonbase, then onto Mars and beyond. We have the technology now, so let's do it!
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