FanDominion

OPENS: August 15, 2008
RATING: G (Mild gross-out humor)
GENRE: Space, Children’s Film, Animation, Fantasy, 3-D, Historical Fiction

Almost 40 years ago, the first human walked on the Moon. The new film, Fly Me to the Moon, memorializes this event with an animated 3-D children’s movie.

Reviews have been mixed and split rather evenly down the line with “serious” film critics panning the film for being a bore for grownups and for its less-than state of the art in animation techniques and slightly creepy human character design.

More “fannish”-type critics are noting the limited appeal of this film for children – not adults. Also, they point out the film is a technological breakthrough in its effective use of 3-D technology.

Additionally, the movie contains historically accurate (minus the flies) sounds and dialogue from the actual Apollo 11 mission. And the movie creators use the animated flies as a window to allow young children a window into history.

WATCH THE TRAILER

<!– {rw_good}

• Child-friendly film
• Sunning 3-D effects
• Educational in historic re-creation

{/rw_good} –>

<!– {rw_bad}

• Story does not work on multiple levels for adults and children. It’s just a kiddie flick.
• This ain’t Disney/Pixar and it shows – in the creepy-looking, slightly disturbing character designs.

{/rw_bad} –>

<!– {rw_score}

{for="Newsday" value="1"}

"That premise is the first of countless problems in this 3-D animated movie aimed at very young children." – Rafer Guzman

{/for}

{for=”Space.com” value=”6″}

“At its heart, the new film Fly Me to the Moon offers immersive 3-D effects that will likely entertain kids with visions of America’s first lunar landing of even if its story falls flat with parents.” – Tariq Malik

{/for}

{for=”San Diego Union-Tribune” value=”7″}

“Fly Me to the Moon is slow and really silly in parts, but it is a kids movie. And any letdowns are more than made up for by the best part of the film – the story of three men making it to the moon.” – Jane Clifford

{/for}

{for=”Toronto Star” value=”7″}

“The movie used NASA blueprints for the animation and capsule transcripts for the astronauts’ dialogue. Aldrin lends his own voice and there are real sound clips from the lunar landing, including Armstrong’s historic words upon standing on the moon’s surface.” – Linda Barnard

{/for}

{for=”Boston Globe” value=”6″}

“A crummy movie for kids, yet it still holds out the prospect of past wonders and future marvels. It’s one small step for a housefly, one giant leap for 3-D.” – Ty Burr

{/for}

{for=”San Francisco Chronicle” value=”6″}

“while the script, by Domonic Paris, will probably pass muster with very young viewers, their parents may grit their teeth at its saccharine quality. ” – Walter Addiego

{/for}

{/rw_score} –>