George Melies (and Smashing Pumpkins?)

So, everyone who's ever heard of The Smashing Pumpkins knows their "Tonight, Tonight" video. Well, not meaning to, I stumbled upon the original work that inspired their music video. I know, I'm a little late on this one; I'm sure most of you already know, especially if your a film student or just dig The Pumpkins that much... but here it is:  George Melies' "A Trip to the Moon" (1902). It's a pretty neat short film. Great for film buffs, Pumpkin heads, and steampunkers alike.
The cool thing is, even if you don't like The Smashing Pumpkins, watching their music vid right after Melies short, silent, film is pretty much like watching an in colour sequel. Very cool to say the least. ("Tonight, Tonight"). And if you notice, the name of the steamship is called the S.S.Melies.

Marie-George-Jean Melies was a french filmmaker back when making films was as fresh as a new born baby (yet also with a lot of the headache as well ;p ). He is credited as the "Cinemagician" and was the first to use stop motion filming, which he discovered by accident! Over his career he made 531 films, most short films that basically just showed awesome and shiny new special effects in action rather than focusing on any type of plot. But, more to the point, this guy is like the grandfather of special effects, sci-fi/fantasy movies, and yes, even horror films. These effects may not seem like much to us now, but he plowed the way for any number of special effects movies and even music videos.  Just think what else he would have created and what the world would have had today! But unfortunately the French Army melted down most of his films (they need to make boot heels for the soldiers fighting in World War I) and he took time off from film-making to make toys (a man after my own heart!).

All I can say is kudos Mr. Melies! And thanks for being the frontiersman for special effects filming today!
For more information on George Melies visit: Wiki and www.victorian-cinema.net/melies