{"id":9800,"date":"2015-09-11T04:44:41","date_gmt":"2015-09-11T08:44:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dougbittinger.com\/thoughts\/?p=9800"},"modified":"2025-04-21T01:56:38","modified_gmt":"2025-04-21T05:56:38","slug":"movie-review-destination-moon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pineymountainfoster.org\/thoughts\/movie-review-destination-moon\/","title":{"rendered":"Movie Review: Destination Moon"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Destination<\/a>\u201cWhen production on <\/span><\/span>Destination Moon<\/i><\/span><\/span> began in 1949, everything about the project was state of the art. The great science fiction author Robert Heinlein co-wrote the script (based on his novel <\/span><\/span>Rocketship Galileo<\/i><\/span><\/span>) and served as technical adviser. The film\u2019s astronomical visions were realized by Chesley Bonestell, whose artwork virtually defined the look of space travel at the dawn of the rocket era. <\/span><\/span>Destination Moon<\/i><\/span><\/span> is even noted in NASA\u2019s official timeline of space-travel history, and almost inevitably won the Academy Award for Best Special Effects. It remains a milestone film, not so much as classic science fiction but\u2013like <\/span><\/span>2001: A Space Odyssey <\/i><\/span><\/span>18\u00a0years later, as an attempt to visualize the reality of space exploration. (To educate the audience on this topic, Woody Woodpecker makes an animated guest appearance, hosting an instructional film on the basics of rocketeering.)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The movie now seems quaintly nostalgic, and its depiction of man\u2019s first lunar landing is inaccurate on several details. Taken in context, however, it remains impressively authentic, and conveys the same charm and wonder of the later classic <\/span><\/span>Forbidden Planet<\/i><\/span><\/span>. The motivation for the lunar conquest remains military: the country that controls the moon will control the Earth, and cold war paranoia fuels the mission of the rocket ship <\/span><\/span>Luna<\/i><\/span><\/span>, which blasts off from the Mojave Desert carrying four daring astronauts.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The stalwart crew consists of noted scientists and engineers, but Everyman Joe Sweeney (Dick Wesson) is aboard for broad audience appeal; he\u2019s the kind of Bronx-born guy who pronounces \u201cEarth\u201d as \u201coith\u201d and complains that the moon has \u201cno beer, no babes, no baseball.\u201d But when a payload crisis threatens the crew\u2019s safe return to Earth, Joe rises to the occasion. It\u2019s all a bit goofy now, but <\/span><\/span>Destination Moon<\/i><\/span><\/span> is still a wonderful movie, bursting with the awe and enthusiasm that would eventually lead to \u201cone giant leap for mankind.\u201d <\/span><\/span>\u2013Jeff Shannon<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Robert Heinlein was one of my favorite authors as I grew up.\u00a0 I liked his no-nonsense approach to Science Fiction.\u00a0 So when I saw that he was not only the author of the original story, but the technical adviser on the movie itself I knew this would be one I had to see.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The story involves the decision for America to build a rocket capable of reaching the moon \u2013 and doing it before Russia does. A private businessman finances the expedition where American astronauts are to fly to the moon and establish a base, claiming the moon as American territory.\u00a0 But problems arise and they are not certain they have enough fuel to return to Earth.\u00a0 Drastic steps and heroic measures ensue.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

For its era, Destination Moon is a well written and scientifically solid story with great special effects.\u00a0 If you like Classic Sci-Fi movies, this is definitely one to watch.\u00a0 Amazon has it available on DVD and Instant Video.\u00a0 Here is the movie trailer:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n