Fly Me to the Moon (film) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fly Me to the Moon |
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Theatrical release poster
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| Directed by | Ben Stassen |
| Written by | Domonic Paris |
| Starring | |
| Music by | Ramin Djawadi |
| Editing by | Kerry Fulton |
| Distributed by |
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| Release date(s) | 30 January 2008 (Belgium) 15 August 2008 (United States) |
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| Language | English |
| Budget | $25 million |
| Money made | $41.7 million |
Fly Me to the Moon is a fun 2008 animated movie. It was made using CGI and shown in 3D. The story is about three brave flies who sneak onto the Apollo 11 rocket. They travel all the way to the Moon!
The movie was directed by Ben Stassen. Domonic Paris wrote the story. It first came out in Belgium in January 2008. Later, it was released in the US and Canada in August 2008. You could even watch it in IMAX 3-D.
Fly Me to the Moon was made by nWave Pictures. Summit Entertainment helped share the movie in the United States.
Contents
About the Movie's Story
The Space Race Begins
The movie starts by telling us about the "Space Race." This was a competition between the Soviet Union and the United States. Both wanted to be the first to explore space. In 1957, the Soviet Union launched Sputnik 1. This was the first satellite to orbit Earth.
Then, in 1961, Yuri Gagarin from the Soviet Union became the first person in space. The United States wanted to catch up. President John F. Kennedy made a big promise. He said America would send a person to the Moon and bring them back safely. This would happen before 1970.
Flies on a Mission
Eight years later, in 1969, the big moment was near. An 11-year-old fly named Nat lived near Cape Canaveral, Florida. This is where the huge Apollo 11 rocket was ready to launch. Nat and his friends, I.Q. and Scooter, dreamed of adventure.
Nat's grandpa, Amos, was a great storyteller. He often told Nat about his own adventures. One story was about helping Amelia Earhart on her famous flight across the Atlantic Ocean. Nat wanted to be just like his grandpa.
So, Nat told his friends his daring plan. They would sneak onto Apollo 11 and go to the Moon! His friends were a bit scared, but they agreed. The next morning, the three flies made it into Mission Control. They hid inside the helmets of astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins.
A Journey to the Moon
Back on Earth, Nat's grandpa and mom watched the news. They saw their brave flies on TV! The flies were tiny, so humans barely noticed them. But a sharp NASA flight controller, Steve Bales, saw them. He told Armstrong about the "contaminants" on board.
Meanwhile, in the Soviet Union, other flies were watching. They didn't want American flies to reach the Moon first. Some special Soviet flies, like Yegor, tried to cause trouble. But a Soviet fly named Nadia heard Scooter. She recognized the name Amos. Nadia and Amos had met and liked each other many years ago in Paris.
On the way to the Moon, the spaceship shook violently. There was a problem with the wiring. Nat and I.Q. bravely flew through the wires. They fixed the problem just in time! Without their help, the mission might have failed. The flies were then caught and held in a test tube.
Landing on the Moon
The flies managed to escape! Nat quickly flew into Armstrong's helmet. He was there when the landing craft, Eagle, touched down on the Moon. Nat felt so proud as Armstrong took his historic first steps. I.Q. and Scooter joined him on the Moon inside Aldrin's helmet.
After a thrilling rescue where Nat saved Scooter, the landing craft was left behind. Back on Earth, Nadia arrived in America. She told Amos and Nat's mom about the Soviet flies' plan to mess up the mission. Amos quickly set off to help save the mission.
Coming Home as Heroes
At Mission Control, the Soviet flies were ready to change the return codes. The astronauts and the flies didn't know they were in danger. But Amos, Nat's mom, and Nadia worked together. They stopped Yegor and the Soviet plan!
The main spaceship, Columbia, came back towards Earth. There was a short time when no one could hear them on the radio. But then, Columbia splashed down safely in the Pacific Ocean. The USS Hornet picked them up. Nat, I.Q., and Scooter returned to their home as heroes!
At the very end of the movie, the real Buzz Aldrin appears. He explains that no flies were actually on the Apollo 11 mission. He also says it's not possible for a bug to go to space.
Meet the Voices
Many talented actors lent their voices to the characters in Fly Me to the Moon:
- Trevor Gagnon as Nat McFly
- Philip Daniel Bolden as I.Q.
- David Gore as Scooter
- Christopher Lloyd as Amos McFly
- Kelly Ripa as Mrs. McFly
- Nicollette Sheridan as Nadia
- Tim Curry as Yegor
- Ed Begley Jr. as Poopchev
- Adrienne Barbeau as Scooter's Mom
- Robert Patrick as Louie
- Mimi Maynard as I.Q.'s Mom
- Buzz Aldrin as Himself
- Cam Clarke as Ray
- Steve Kramer as Leonid
- Max Burkholder as Mom's Maggot
- Jessica Gee as Maggot #1
- Mona Marshall as Maggot #2
- Barbara Goodson as Maggot #3
- Gregg Berger as Pale Russian Flies
- Charles Rocket as Mission Control 1961
