One should try to look at the movie with the eyes of a viewer from the year 1950, at least where the technical aspects of space exploration are concerned . If one doesn't make the effort, "Destination Moon" is sure to look home-spun, primitive or silly, where in fact it was a laudable attempt at scientific and technological accuracy. Its barren lunar landscapes, for instance, were based on observations by astronomers ; seen in retrospect, they aren't all that different from the real thing. Other details too ring true, such as the scenes where the astronauts experience the vast stresses of lift-off or float around in amazed weightlessness.
However, I wasn't too fond of the story itself, which lacked depth and nuance. The four astronaut characters, too, could have used far more care and attention. As it now stands, the viewer gets 3 well-meaning but bland heroes plus 1 well-meaning hero of the "comic relief" variety - and the result, sadly, doesn't offer much in the way of surprise or dynamism. The dialogue too is far from scintillating.
Still, I was delighted to see that the movie contained an early ancestor of all those tourist photographs, based on a trick of perspective, where a person is shown supporting the Leaning Tower of Pisa, touching the tip of an Egyptian pyramid, cradling the Brussels Atomium, and so on. Visit the Moon and return with a souvenir that will give your pals a chuckle !
However, I wasn't too fond of the story itself, which lacked depth and nuance. The four astronaut characters, too, could have used far more care and attention. As it now stands, the viewer gets 3 well-meaning but bland heroes plus 1 well-meaning hero of the "comic relief" variety - and the result, sadly, doesn't offer much in the way of surprise or dynamism. The dialogue too is far from scintillating.
Still, I was delighted to see that the movie contained an early ancestor of all those tourist photographs, based on a trick of perspective, where a person is shown supporting the Leaning Tower of Pisa, touching the tip of an Egyptian pyramid, cradling the Brussels Atomium, and so on. Visit the Moon and return with a souvenir that will give your pals a chuckle !