Discussions ***ZEEK THE GEEK***

Aaron:

Hello All,

After watching the George Méliès' film A Trip to the Moon (1902) think about the differences and similarities between how you believed someone would had processed that movie then emotionally, intellectually, and spiritually (among numerous ways) and how you processed the last “big event” or blockbuster movie you saw. Tell us what you think are different and similar.

 

A:        I think imagination has a lot to do with how we wish to be entertained, along with technological advancements.  If I were to insert myself in 1902, I believe I would have been very impressed with the production of A Trip to the Moon; especially since I actually enjoyed the film in 2017. 

Intellectually:  Obviously we are not able to use gravity to fall off the moon to return to earth, and we know that crazy looking moon creatures do not actually exist.  However, there is serious debate on the possibility of human like life forms that might exist somewhere else in the known universe.  It does not seem too farfetched to imagine that past generations of people often looked to the heavens and pondered as to what may be out there.  I will admit that while I appreciated the intense action sequences, I did not realize moon creatures would be so susceptible to the vicious overhead umbrella attack!!

Special Effects:  The last action movie that I watched, for the second time, was Superman Returns (2006).  The special effects used were amazing as I witnessed Superman lift a kryptonite infested land mass out of the Atlantic Ocean and hurl it into outer space.  Using modern cinematic standards while criticizing Melies’ hand colored film is simply not fair.  I have no doubt that the viewers of his film in 1902 were as impressed with his use of effects as I was the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth time I watched Terminator 2.  The use of applying historical context will prove to be important during the duration of this course.

 

Going beyond the entertainment value of a non-documentary movie, what other value do you get out of seeing a movie?

A:        The other value that I try to derive from a non-documentary film is the value of values.  Personal values can range from honor and integrity to possessing traits such as strength and wisdom.  Celebrating a hero for demonstrating good qualities is a must in my mind.  For instance, Captain America fought against some of his own people in the most recent movie titled Captain America: Civil War (2016).  It may be wrong to seek a fight, but I find someone that is willing to fight for what they believe in as someone who has integrity. 

 

TTYS,

Mundras, Aaron A.

 

References

 

IMDB. (n.d.). Superman Returns. Retrieved on January 11, 2017 from http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0348150/?ref_=nv_sr_3

 

IMDB. (n.d.). Civil War: Captain America. Retrieved on January 11, 2017 from http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3498820/

Andrew:

After watching the George Méliès' film A Trip to the Moon (1902) think about the differences and similarities between how you believed someone would had processed that movie then emotionally, intellectually, and spiritually (among numerous ways) and how you processed the last “big event” or blockbuster movie you saw. Tell us what you think are different and similar.

I can only imagine how someone felt watching this over a century ago. I am sure that this was intriguing to them, space travel was only something that crazy people and dreamers spoke of. That is what i think the beginning of the movie was, they were all dressed up like clowns and the man was teaching about space travel.

In all honesty though besides the whole gravity piece that Aaron mentioned in his post their theory of how it would work was kind of spot on.

Going beyond the entertainment value of a non-documentary movie, what other value do you get out of seeing movie?

Honestly I watch movies A LOT because I cannot stand to sit down and spend days of my life reading a book. I have people tell me " You miss out on so much when you don't read the book". I love the whole entire cinema experience, the popcorn, candy and $40 soda is second to nothing. My wife says that i am weird because I will go and watch a movie by myself.

Andrew