[7]

A British couple and a mad scientist embark on the world’s first trip to the moon and end up getting more than they bargained for in this colorful fantasy featuring visual effects and animation by Ray Harryhausen. First Men in the Moon is beautifully rendered with imaginative set design, color-saturated cinematography, and a grand score by Laurie Johnson. It’s also a bit more sophisticated than most films of its time and genre. The scientist and the couple have an ongoing moral conflict about whether to regard the moon’s alien inhabitants (cute bug-like critters) as dangerous or friendly, and the movie doesn’t reveal the creatures’ motives until the final reel. Their leader is a pretty nifty character, speaking with a calm, creepy voice and he’s kept hidden behind a force field so that you never see him clearly. As far as pre-Star Wars sci-fi/fantasy films go, this one is worth a look.