A replication of the charming trick films of the great Georges Méliès, 'A Trip to Mars' is fascinating for many reasons that may or may not have actually been intentional. The acting itself is broadly comical, and the over the top performances help heighten this strange and almost surreal vibe the entire short has. The entire premise is absurd, largely because of what science has, by this time, taught us, and is in itself laughable, but also inexplicably helps heighten the film's confusing, bizarre, and flat out weird atmosphere. The film's most iconic visual by far is that of the giant alien lord(?), king(?), ruler(?), or something(?), the film never at all specifies much of what is going on (another element that helps heighten the atmosphere, albeit very possibly unintentionally), which looks like some sort of disturbing vision of Satan. It's all extremely odd, and ends in a wild, almost experimental note when the camera flips over and around and spins, creating an effect that replicates something by the likes of a Stan Brakhage(!).

In 1902, Georges Méliès created a landmark film, "The Trip to the Moon". While very primitive by today's standards, it was years ahead of its time and still is a joy to watch. It's the fanciful story of a trip to the moon and many studios ripped off the film-- making nearly identical (though always technically inferior) versions of the movie and passing them off as the original. Well, this isn't exactly the case with Edison's "A Trip to Mars". It's not a copy but is obviously inspired by the earlier film...but, sadly, although debuting eight years later, it's STILL not even close to the original in quality.The film is an episodic story of a scientist who creates an anti- gravity formula. Using it, he flies to Mars...but much of this trip is strangely absent. Once there, he finds the place inhabited by giants and they torment him. Ultimately, he returns to Earth.The film features many special effects and camera tricks--some of which worked very well and some which appear sloppy. Interesting and worth a look...but far from brilliant or groundbreaking.

An interesting piece of movie which is based entirely on H. G. Wells book. Melies "A Trip to the Moon" is based mostly on J. Verne's book "From The Earth to the Moon" and has elements from Wells book "The First Men in the Moon" (Wells mentions that the moon is inhabited by Selenites and about huge plants and also in Verne's book they never get to step on the moon). In this movie, like in Wells book, the scientist discovers a substance which defies gravity (in the book it's a new material called cavorite) which helps him travel up in the air and straight to Mars! There he finds strange creatures and an environment different from Earth. He manages to get back to his house and in a strange twist he spills the substance on the floor. It is not as good as Melie's movie but is fun small piece of history. If you like the short "magic films" of this era than is a must. You have to love the way they brought fantasy into life and the way they used the means they had at the time to make this possible.

A Trip to Mars (1910) *** (out of 4) This is a fairly interesting picture from Edison about a scientist who discovers a powder that can defy gravity. At first he uses this to move a few objects in his room but then he decides to take a trip to Mars where he encounters some giant tree people and some sort of monster. I'll admit that I'm not quite certain what the monster did to the scientist but it looks like a very early version of a crack pipe. A TRIP TO MARS isn't a masterpiece like A TRIP TO THE MOON but I think fans of the bizarre should enjoy it. The best moments happen when the scientist lands on Mars and we see the giant tree-looking creatures, which were quite cleverly done and look very good. This is when the film turns really strange as this demon thing takes the scientist and smokes something. Again, I'm not sure what he was doing exactly but it was quite effective. This film was made around the same time as Edison's FRANKENSTEIN and the set here looks very similar to the one used in that film so I do wonder if they're the same.