Rating summary

Movie		5.0
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		5.0

A Trip to the Moon Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov March 13, 2018

Georges Melies' "Le voyage dans la lune" a.k.a. "A Trip to the Moon" (1902) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Flicker Alley. The supplemental features on the disc include the director's films "The Astronomer's Dream" (1898) and "The Eclipse or The Courtship of the Sun and the Moon" (1907); Serge Bromberg and Eric Lange's documentary film "The Extraordinary Voyage" (2011); multiple music scores; and more. The Blu-ray release also arrives with a 24-page illustrated booklet featuring an excerpt from Gilles Duval and Severine Wemaere's "A Trip to the Moon Back in Color" and notes on the restoration of the film. Region-A "locked".

The beginning

Note: The text below initially appeared on our review of Flicker Alley's 2012 out-of-print SteelBook release of A Trip to the Moon.

It may sound cliché at this point but I believe that it is well worth repeating it: There has never been a better time to collect films. And I am convinced that once you see Flicker Alley’s beautiful new release of Georges Melies’ legendary A Trip to the Moon (1902), you will wholeheartedly agree with me.

The newly restored hand-colored version of A Trip to the Moon has a fascinating history. In 1993, while researching the work of a Spanish director from the silent era, French film archivists learned that Filmoteca de Catalunya in Barcelona had an original hand-colored copy of Melies’ film, which their Spanish colleagues were willing to trade. (Until then it was universally believed that such original copies no longer existed). The copy was sent to France in 1999, but a quick analysis immediately revealed that it had deteriorated so much that it was impossible to use for viewing or restoration. Seriously frustrated, the French archivists decided to wait for technology to advance before they begin experimenting with the film.

In 2010, three parties – Lobster Films, Groupama Gan Foundation and Technicolor Foundation for Cinema Heritage – joined forces and launched one of the most ambitious restoration projects ever. According to the Technicolor Foundation for Cinema official site, 13,375 frames had to be carefully restored, one by one. Then, after hundreds of hours of discussions, the restorers began reassembling Melies’ film in Technicolor Creative Services in Los Angeles. Under the supervision of Tom Burton, and using multiple sources to compare and rebuild missing or seriously damaged parts, such as a black and white original nitrate print owned by the Melies family and a positive print kept in the vaults of Centre National du Cinema (CNC), the restorers were able to bring back to life a truly magical film which captivated the imagination of people 100 years ago.

After the restoration was completed, French ambient rockers Air were commissioned to compose a soundtrack for A Trip to the Moon. In 2011, the fully restored hand-colored version of A Trip to the Moon with the new soundtrack by Air premiered at the Cannes Film Festival.

The restored hand-colored version of A Trip to the Moon looks magnificent. I saw the film just a few hours ago and to say that I was utterly overwhelmed by it would be the understatement of the year. You will realize why once you also view the film and then see the terrific documentary included on this release where pieces of the damaged negatives that were discovered in Filmoteca de Catalunya are shown. It really is quite unbelievable to see what the restorers had done with them.

The film itself is approximately 15 minutes long and it is truly impossible to describe with simple words. It has spectacular sets and special effects which one cannot but admire. It is also surprisingly fluid, forcing one to immediately wonder how some of the more complex shots were done. The narrative is also quite fascinating, especially considering the fact that Melies was essentially able to accurately imagine the Moon’s surface as well as the landing technique that will be used in the future. Absolutely fascinating.

A B&W version of A Trip to the Moon, sourced from a fine-grain master derived from a nitrate print made available by the Melies family, is also included. This version of the film can be seen with three separate audio tracks: an orchestral score by Robert Israel with an original spoken English narration written by Melies, a troupe of actors voicing the various characters as performed in the U.S. in 1903 with piano accompaniment by Frederick Hodges, and a separate piano accompaniment by Frederick Hodges. (Note: The B&W version of the film is approximately 13 minutes long).

A Trip to the Moon Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 1.33:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Georges Méliès' A Trip to the Moon arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Flicker Alley.

The release is sourced from the same restored master that Flicker Alley used to produce the 2012 out-of-print SteelBook release. Click on the link to read our technical analysis of Lobster Films, Groupama Gan Foundation and Technicolor Foundation for Cinema Heritage's restoration.

A Trip to the Moon Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The disc has multiple tracks, some of which are new, and they are listed below:

1. A Trip to the Moon, restored hand-colored version, Jeff Mills score: LPCM 2.0.
2. A Trip to the Moon, restored hand-colored version, Dorian Pimpernel score: LPCM 2.0.
3. A Trip to the Moon, restored hand-colored version, piano track by Serge Bromberg: LPCM 2.0.
4. A Trip to the Moon, B&W version, Robert Israel Orchestral score: LPCM 2.0.
5. A Trip to the Moon, B&W version, actors and accompaniment by Frederick Hodges: LPCM 2.0.
6. A Trip to the Moon, B&W version, piano accompaniment by Frederick Hodges: LPCM 2.0.
7. The Astronomer's Dream: LPCM 2.0.
8. The Eclipse: LPCM 2.0.
9. The Extraordinary Voyage, directed by Serge Bromberg and Eric Lange: English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1.

I listened to Jeff Mills and Dorian Pimpernel's scores and both are very original and effective. The latter reminds of Giorgio Moroder's work but has a slightly more pronounced chamber quality. Nevertheless, the electronic/ambient edge gives it a very nice retro vibe. The former has a very different contemporary identity that will likely appeal better to folks that enjoy minimalistic electronica. The quality of the lossless tracks is fantastic. Clarity, stability, and balance are outstanding, though this should not be surprising as both are essentially studio projects. Fantastic additions to this rerelease.

A Trip to the Moon Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• A Trip to the Moon, B&W Version - a B&W version of A Trip to the Moon, with three different scores. (Please see the audio section of our review). (13 min, 1080p).

• The Astronomer's Dream (1898) - Star Film Catalogue No. 160-162, with music by Donald Sosin. Directed by Georges Melies. (4 min, 1080/60i).

• The Eclipse or The Courtship of the Sun and the Moon (1907) - Star Film Catalogue No. 961-968, with music by Alexander Rannie. Directed by Georges Melies. (10 min, 1080/60i).

• The Extraordinary Voyage (2011) - an outstanding documentary film, directed by Serge Bromberg and Eric Lange, which focuses on the life and legacy of Georges Melies, the fascinating history of A Trip to the Moon, and the magic of film preservation. In English and French, with imposed English subtitles where necessary. (66 min, 1080p).

• Booklet - 24-page illustrated booklet featuring an excerpt from Gilles Duval and Severine Wemaere's "A Trip to the Moon Back in Color" (published by The Groupama Gan Foundation for Cinema and The Technicolor Foundation for Cinema Heritage) and notes on the restoration.

A Trip to the Moon Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

This is a fantastic rerelease of Georges Melies' legendary film A Trip to the Moon by Flicker Alley. I expected only a repackaging of the out-of-print SteelBook edition, but there are two terrific new scores that are included on it, and I think that I actually may end up liking Dorian Pimpernel's score even more than the one that Air produced for the first release. It reminds of Giorgio Moroder's best work and has a very attractive retro vibe. I loved it. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.