Final Shot

         "The Great Train Robbery," so similar and yet so different to Melies' "A Trip to the Moon."  Different in the genre of movie and the lesser use of such theatrical methods, yet similar in the way that it broke barriers in the world of motion pictures and paved the way for new, innovative ideas.  For example, this Edwin S. Porter film was one of the first to shoot on location, as opposed to those before him that used backdrops and props to create a setting.  Porter was also one of the first to employ techniques such as parallel editing, which is basically the alternating of two or more scenes.  In our fast-paced world of technology, the idea of this being something new and fascinating is almost comical, but Porter was paving the way for filmmakers and editors everywhere.  In "The Great Train Robbery," the costumes, suspenseful music, and overall storyline set the precedent for future westerns, and the film will forever be one of the first great narratives.

The final shot of the film, a literal shot directly at the camera that startled audiences everywhere