The Time Machine

Rating:
Summary: I Need A Time Machine...
Review: ...to get my wasted time back from watching this film! What a huge disappointment. Normally, I'm quite laid back with my reviews, but having seen the original version of this film with Rod Taylor, I was uneasily awaiting the release of this version. Bypassing the fact that Guy Pearce nowhere near fits the lead role, I also found the history and fleshing out of the plot to be greatly lacking. Had I not seen the original, I'd have been lost for the lack of plot. In addition to a poor plot, there are many logical holes in the story that are ridiculously overlooked, as if the audience is too dumb to catch on. The DVD itself is pretty poorly set up. The bonus features only include ONE deleted scene, barely-there special-effects featurettes, and NO behind-the-scenes specials. Too bad this movie is such a flop--I was looking forward to owning it, but definitely will not add it to my collection now.

Rating:
Summary: The Time Machine
Review: I Thought this movie was very awesome and VERY breathtaking. It's one of the best Sci-Fi dramas I have ever seen in my life.

Rating:
Summary: Bleh
Review: You'd think someone who knows enough about time to create a machine to travel it would know the answer to the question he keeps asking before he even started making his rediculous machine. This movie could have been much better if it didn't assume the audience was stupid.

Rating:
Summary: An excellent movie!
Review: I can't agree with the reviewers who say this film has no plot but relies completely on special effects. Yes, the special effects in this movie are mind-blowing at times (in one scene, he looks up into the night sky to see the moon falling apart, and the time-travel sequences are amazing...and we finally get some Morlocks who will genuinely scare you), but there are other things that make this a great movie. For one thing, the plot is great, and giving the traveler a reason for his travels strengthens the one thing that was weak in the original story. The movie is a little short though compared to what it should have been, and the ending seems to come just a little fast - but it's otherwise a great film. The soundtrack is beautiful, and it's best appreciated in surround sound. All in all, I really enjoyed the entire movie and didn't feel at all cheated by the price I paid for it. To me, one of the most impressive scenes comes at the end, where we see Alexander's past and present onscreen at the same time with something so simple as a walk through the jungle. Ignore the bad reviews and check this one out for yourself.

Rating:
Summary: Silly and rushed, but highly enjoyable.
Review: The Time Machine caught a lot of flack from critics, most of them finding it a silly, needless remake of a sci-fi classic. And while I agree with some of their complaints, by the end, The TIme Machine successfully (though certainly not completely) won me over with its mix of awe-inspiring sci-fi and tense adventure.

Guy Pearce stars as Alexander Hartdegen, a mathematics professor in the late 19th century who's just about to propose to his beautiful fiancee (Sienna Gullory). But on the night, he proposes to her, she's shot and killed by a mugger. Distraught, Hartdegen spends the next four years building a time machine so he can return to the very night she died. But when he does go back in time, the results are the same. She survives the mugger, but is killed in an even more horrific manner.

Grief-stricken once again, Hartdegen comes to the conclusion she will always die no matter how he tries to save her. Not knowing why, he believes the answer is in the future, which ultimately propels him 800,000 years to the future, where technology no longer exists and humanity's fate is more terrifying than Hartedgen could have imagined.

There's a lot to like in The Time Machine. Despite a somewhat stilted beginning that belongs more in a romantic comedy, once the time traveling begins, the film only engages more and more momentum as it moves along. The subplots that are added here and there (most particularly how the moon was destroyed) are fascinating, each one capable of making another film entirely out of such ideas.

And it seems there lies the major problem. The film is extremely rushed. In what it should have been an intriguing, tense, and perhaps somewhat leisurely paced adventure turns out to be a short (albeit fast-paced) 96-minute ride. Director Simon Wells should have spent a bit more time exploring each of the future worlds Hartdegen visited, rather than simply giving us brief teases.

The film has other problems, much of it pertaining to logic (and not logic applied to time travel, which would be pretty lame to complain about, since it would make the entire notion impossible). I'd rather not give anything away, so I'll give a spoiler warning here. There's a scene where Hartdegen meets the head Morlock (the people living underground), played by Jeremy Irons. This morlock happens to be telepathic, but Hartdegen manages to trick him anyway. Then there's the finale, which somehow features Hartdegen and his female companion climbing up a rather tall cliff in a matter of seconds, when it really would have taken at least half-an-hour to do so.

But there are enough winning elements to make this a successful film. As far as science fiction goes, The Time Machine is occasionally awe-inspiring, particularly in two amazing time traveling sequences that showcase eye-popping special effects as the world quickly changes around Hartdegen as he views, like us, with a transfixed fascination.

Though some people I know didn't quite like the film's 800,000 year jump in the future, it made for quite a few standout scenes (particularly Pearce's first sight of the Eloi village and later on, his conversation with Irons' character). The film also boasts some energetic action sequences, which are actually quite tense and well-directed, especially the morlock hunt (a sequence that would probably frighten younger children). There's a particularly exhilarating scene where Hartdegen tries to fight a huge morlock single-handedly, and is speedily chased by the creature through the forest and up a wooden tower.

As far as performances go, Guy Pearce is quite good as Hartdegen, delivering yet again another memorable turn. Pearce makes this character convincing as both a nerdy scientist and as a physically-capable action hero, no small feat there. Samantha Mumba makes little impression as Pearce's sort-of love interest, coming across a little flat. Admittedly, her good figure kind of took my attention from her acting for a few moments. Jeremy Irons is a standout as the uber-morlock, completely creepy and somehow both over-the-top and restrained at the same time.

It's unfortunate The Time Machine isn't all it could have been (these days, that seems to apply to most big-budget studio films), but it's nice to see an inspired and spirited sci-fi adventure that's entertaining. I like good science fiction, and if you're willing to accept some of this film's flaws, you'll probably enjoy this film, too.
*** 1/2 out of *****

Rating:
Summary: Special Effects are Nice...
Review: ...and that's about the only thing that's good about this movie. A thin plot, tired cliches, poor acting and directing, and a lousy ending are just a few of this movie's problems. HG Wells must be spinning in his grave after watching his wonderful book turned into a silly action flick by his grandson. Good sci-fi usually makes a statement about the human condition, as Wells did in his book, which warns the reader of the dangers of communism and fascism. The movie has no such lofty goals, and there is no statement here, just typical hollywood tripe aimed at the masses. It gets 2 stars for the nice special effects, most notably the time travel sequences. An okay rental for a rainy Saturday afternoon with plenty of cold beer, but I'd never actually buy this one.

Rating:
Summary: Rent it first
Review: I consider myself a fan of sci-fi/fantasy stories but I found this movie laughable. The first 1/3 of the movie looked promising but the plot just took a nosedive. It just reminded me of one of those hokey sci-fi channel shows that never became successful, or an episode of the Twilight Zone which got scrapped.

Unless you're a diehard sci-fi geek don't buy this movie, rent it first.

Rating:
Summary: Shoddy movie-making with an impressive story
Review: As a fan of the original movie and novel, I anticipated the release of this newer stylized version of "The Time Machine" with baited breath. It only disappoints me in the stylings of the movie itself, while the enhanced story has a fascinating way of portraying a moral.

Unlike a majority of movie fans out there, I didn't want the new version of this classic to be like the original. First, If I wanted the exact same movie, I would have bought the DVD of the Rod Taylor epic (which is available, by the way). The changes that they made to the storyline, including the greater detail about the Moorloc race and invention of a motive for the main character (Emma's death), only add to the overall plot. The fact that the traveler asks a question which we all occasionally toss out at points in our lives ("Why can't I change the past?") ties the character nicely to us. His answer is an unfathomable allegory, which is a shcoking lesson which sci-fi fans will enjoy the most. Anyone who claims that this movie lacks philosophical depth has not taken the time to concider the effects of the question itself. Second, the effects are top-notch. The time machine itself is a truly amazing prop, and the DVD version also provides a fine documentary about its creation. The effects shown during time travel sequences are equally astounding. The Moorlocs also show the skill involved in the all around look of the film, as the make-up is frighteningly realistic. Kudos to Stan Winston.

Now that I've explained the good, there are fallbacks to this film as well. First, those who are not well acquainted with the original story may find themselves lost. While this movie does a wonderful job of providing explanations for many problems that could have occured (addressing the commonly glossed-over problem of a time paradox in an unusual fashion), it does a poor job structuring and organizing these explanations. The worst fallback is when Orlando Jones gives his lack-luster explanation of the two races, which leaves most people who haven't read the novel asking the opinion of those who have. If you wish to enjoy this movie, YOU HAVE TO READ THE NOVEL FIRST. Second, and on a lighter note, the music in the film has a dreadful new age feel that is often over the top. As the main character explores the world of the future, the Enya-like chorus playing at full volume as a backdrop is ridiculous to the point of hysterical distraction. Finally, and this is my largest bone of contention with the movie-making decisions of the director, the one deleted scene is extremely important contextually. Available on the DVD is a deleted scene that explains the main character's drives and ambitions and also introduces many philosophical questions that later are addressed seemingly out of the blue. If you purchase this film, I recomend watching this deleted scene first to give you such a context. You will enjoy the film a lot more. (Also, at only 90-odd minutes, a 5-10 minute deleted scene of this importance was not a cost effective cut.)

In conclusion, this movie stands quite well on its own, despite the director's poor judgement on some more stylistic issues. If you are capable of putting aside your ties to the old film and watch this new interperetation as a new film in and of itself, you may find yourself enjoying it despite your better judgement.

Rating:
Summary: Don't fix it if it ain't broken.
Review: I do not understand why they bother remaking a movie which, the original version, was already a fine one. The acting stinks, the storyline is silly to say the least and it has no scientifical curiosity neither any momentum. THIS MOVIE STINKS get the original one it is much better......

Rating:
Summary: Imagine this . . .
Review: Some Hollywood screenwriter has an idea: Let's make a film based on HG Wells's TIME MACHINE. ONLY, instead of England, let's set it in Iceland. Instead of an inventor, the hero is a bus driver and , oh cool! He drives his BUS into the future so he can find out who will win the Latin Grammy award. ONly, in the future there are these gangs of girls who force you to dress like Madonna because, well, because they WaNT to make you do it and then There is a big Crash or explosion, and some Monster, and a fast car . . . ANYWAY, it all ends on Hollywood Boulevard and N'Sync are there and Mr T and Pamela Lee and, maybe we can get George Bush to make a speech about Iraq? Anyway, we'll call it THE TIME MACHINE! [HG, I am SOOOOOO SORRY nad apologizefor my era]