ALL SCI-FI Forum Index ALL SCI-FI
The place to “find your people”.
 
 FAQFAQ   SearchSearch   MemberlistMemberlist   UsergroupsUsergroups   RegisterRegister 
 ProfileProfile   Log in to check your private messagesLog in to check your private messages   Log inLog in 

The Time Machine (2002)
Goto page 1, 2, 3  Next
 
Post new topic   Reply to topic    ALL SCI-FI Forum Index -> Sci-Fi Movies from 2001 to 2010
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
Bud Brewster
Galactic Fleet Admiral (site admin)


Joined: 14 Dec 2013
Posts: 17016
Location: North Carolina

PostPosted: Sun Jun 07, 2015 3:02 pm    Post subject: The Time Machine (2002) Reply with quote



I had a problem with this movie when I first saw it. I thought the idea that Dr. Alexander Hartdegen would give up the idea of preventing his fiance's death after one try was ridiculous.

Admittedly it does seem like he gave up too quickly, but the Morlock leader (Jeremy Irons) says something important to Hartdegen that I missed the first time I saw the movie, and it explains why Hartdegen can't actually save her.

If you were bothered by that aspect of the plot and missed the line that clears up the confusion, it has to do with the idea that the time machine was invented as a direct result of the girl's death and Hartdegen's obsession with saving her.

But if he succeeds in saving her, then his reason for inventing the time machine no longer exists — so Hartdegen won't invent it, and the girl won't be saved.

When I realized that the thing I thought was a serious flaw in the movie was actually its greatest strength, I was able to appreciate the film for the cinematic masterpiece it is.

Director Simon Wells, the great-grandson of H.G. Wells, did an amazing job. I consider this movie a worthy successor to the 1960 classic.

_________________
____________
Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)


Last edited by Bud Brewster on Tue Dec 13, 2022 2:17 pm; edited 5 times in total
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Bud Brewster
Galactic Fleet Admiral (site admin)


Joined: 14 Dec 2013
Posts: 17016
Location: North Carolina

PostPosted: Sun Apr 03, 2016 9:47 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

________________________________

I love this movie and I'm surprised nobody has posted a reply and start a discussion. This movie gets a bad rap, and I'd like to talk about the pros and the cons.

_________________
____________
Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)


Last edited by Bud Brewster on Fri May 01, 2020 1:56 pm; edited 2 times in total
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
ralfy
Mission Specialist


Joined: 23 Sep 2014
Posts: 488

PostPosted: Mon Apr 04, 2016 10:29 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I'd like to see a film version that considers the part in the novel where the traveler visits a dying earth.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Bud Brewster
Galactic Fleet Admiral (site admin)


Joined: 14 Dec 2013
Posts: 17016
Location: North Carolina

PostPosted: Thu May 12, 2016 9:26 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

________________________________

In honor of All Sci-Fi's Friday Live Chat for May 13th and its focus on this movie, here's an excerpt from the fine review on Common Sense Media. It's a very accurate summation of the film's qualities. Cool
________________________________

Based on H.G. Wells' classic science fiction novel, and with a passing nod to the 1960 movie version with Rod Taylor, this is a showy and entertaining story about an idea everyone has dreamed of: having power over time.

Clocks appear throughout the story, sometimes playing an important role, as when Alexander's watch is stolen and when he uses it at a crucial moment. And the issues of the role of history and learning to move on from great loss are also thoughtfully presented.

The art direction is striking, from the intricate Victorian machinery to the balloon-like homes of the Eloi. Pearce's performance seems overwhelmed by all that is going on around him, but Orlando Jones is delightful as a virtual repository of all human knowledge, pop singer Samantha Mumba has a strong, sweet presence as the Eloi teacher who befriends Alexander, and Jeremy Irons is shiver-inducingly evil as the creature who prizes his own survival above everything.

The director of the movie, Simon Wells, has two special qualifications. He is an expert at animation, which helped with the special effects. And he is the great-grandson of the author of the book.

_________________
____________
Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)


Last edited by Bud Brewster on Mon Mar 11, 2024 1:44 pm; edited 2 times in total
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
bulldogtrekker
Space Sector Admiral


Joined: 14 Dec 2013
Posts: 1024
Location: Columbia,SC

PostPosted: Fri May 13, 2016 4:45 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

It is one of my favorite movies, especially when you and I are watching it together and you are explaining it to me. And the soundtrack is great.

PS I enjoyed watching the trailer since the trailer borrowed music from Stargate.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Bud Brewster
Galactic Fleet Admiral (site admin)


Joined: 14 Dec 2013
Posts: 17016
Location: North Carolina

PostPosted: Fri May 13, 2016 5:11 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

________________________________

Hey, I didn't realize the music in the trailer wasn't the actual soundtrack, but now that you mention it I did wonder why it wasn't the music I was so familiar with from my CD and the DVD itself.

Thanks!

_________________
____________
Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)


Last edited by Bud Brewster on Mon Mar 11, 2024 1:45 pm; edited 2 times in total
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Bud Brewster
Galactic Fleet Admiral (site admin)


Joined: 14 Dec 2013
Posts: 17016
Location: North Carolina

PostPosted: Thu Jun 02, 2016 12:54 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

___________________________________

All Sci-Fi's Friday Live Chat featured this film on May 13th, 2016, and I thought I'd add the trailer that was offered when we promoted that chat (which was a lot of fun, by the way! Very Happy )


__________ The Time Machine (2002) — trailer


__________________

_________________
____________
Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)


Last edited by Bud Brewster on Mon Mar 11, 2024 1:46 pm; edited 6 times in total
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Bud Brewster
Galactic Fleet Admiral (site admin)


Joined: 14 Dec 2013
Posts: 17016
Location: North Carolina

PostPosted: Tue Aug 22, 2017 4:19 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

________________________________

IMDB has 37 trivia items for this movie. Here's a few of the ones I found the most interesting. Very Happy
________________________________

Director Simon Wells is the great-grandson of H.G. Wells who wrote the book upon which this movie is based.

Note from me: In addition to liking this movie because I think it's extremely well done, this aspect of the production gives me a good feeling.

The Time Machine itself was the biggest and most expensive prop ever to be built for a movie at the time.

Note from me: And the design is absolutely gorgeous! But it's so ornate and complex that getting a photo that demonstrates just how great it looks is impossible! In the movie we get to see it from various angles, in motion, with numerous close ups. The pictures below don't really do it justice.






But the two videos below of beautiful WORKING models do a fine job of presenting the design.

_________ The Time Machine 2002 how to build?


__________



______ The Time Machine 2002 by Martin Fromme


__________



Guy Pearce was so consistent in most of his takes that the audio from one take could be put with the video from another and the combination of the two would fit perfectly.

Note from me: This is a remarkable ability. I wonder how many other actors could do this.

Gore Verbinski was brought in to take over the last 18 days of shooting, as Simon Wells was suffering from "extreme exhaustion." Wells returned for post-production.

Note from me: Apparently Simon was determined give his all to make this movie.

Simon Wells' idea for the machine to incorporate Fresnel lenses came from the fact that the Time Traveler in the book is mentioned as a professor of physical optics.

Note from me: Yet another reason to admire Simon Wells. The glass portions of the time machine's design add a lot to it's aesthetic appeal.






Samantha Mumba (Mara) and Omero Mumba (Kalen) are siblings in real life.

Note from me: Hey, I didn't know the kid and the young lady were actual brother and sister.

Alan Young: "Filby" from The Time Machine (1960) appears as a florist. When Young picked out his costume, he found the same period shirt he wore in the earlier film, complete with his name written on the collar! (Source: DVD production notes)

Note from me: Sort of makes you believe in fate, doesn't it. Wink

_________________
____________
Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)


Last edited by Bud Brewster on Fri May 01, 2020 2:00 pm; edited 3 times in total
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Bogmeister
Galactic Fleet Vice Admiral (site admin)


Joined: 14 Dec 2013
Posts: 574

PostPosted: Tue May 21, 2019 1:06 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

____________
______________________

_________________ The Time Machine (2002)


__________


Latest version of the famous sf novel from H.G. Wells; the famous previous one was the 1960 version. There was also a telefilm version in 1978.

This film begins in the same year as the 1960 version — 1899 — but veers off into less inspired territory right away, spotlighting some young inventor with a forgettable name (Guy Pearce).

It falls back on the stale tale of lost love: the inventor loses his girlfriend to a mugger and this is what galvanizes him to build a time machine, not the search for ultimate answers or the need to explore unseen worlds. And, it gets more clumsy after he builds his machine: he goes back in time and saves his girl from the mugger, but she dies minutes later by other means.

Everything about this sequence is poorly conceived. You'd think that after actually saving his love, the smart and obsessed scientist wouldn't let her out of his sight, but no — minutes later he leaves her alone. I had little sympathy for him at this point and thought less of his forthcoming adventure. Also, though she died anyway, she did die in a different way, so he must have changed history, if ever so slightly. But, this is not addressed.


_________ The Time Machine - The First Attempt


__________


Nevertheless, the remaining adventure is not too bad.

Turning his back on the past, the inventor travels into the future, though he is still driven by thoughts of finding a way to save his girl. He stops in year 2030, checking out a futuristic library (including an annoying hologram played by Orlando Jones).

Going forward only a few more years, he witnesses the destruction of most of Earth's moon, which naturally causes a cataclysm on Earth.

His next stop is the same far off year as in the original — year 802,701 — where he meets this film's versions of the Eloi and the Morlocks. The Eloi are simple, brown-skinned fishermen who live on the sides of cliffs in special but primitive housing.

The Morlocks are super-powered versions of the apelike creatures of the 1960 version and live underground. They resemble white apes and are much stronger and faster than common humans. Their command structure is also weird — most Morlocks come across like bestial brutes, but the leader is a very intelligent & telepathic Uber-Morlock (Jeremy Irons).


___________The Time Machine - Going Forward


__________


It should come as no surprise that the concluding action involves a mano-a-mano confrontation between the hero inventor and the Uber-Morlock.

What is also different in this version is that the time machine itself becomes involved, as an engine of massive destruction. This reflects the differences in how films are constructed nowadays compared to decades ago — these days it's all about big explosions. This seems to be the only option to cap things off in films these days.

In 1960, it was awesome. In 2002, meh.

This film's story does make one game attempt to go beyond the 1960 version, by having the time traveler briefly journey much further into the future in the final act, over 600 million years. But, even this has a meaningless tone to it.



BoG's Score: 6.5 out of 10



BoG
Galaxy Overlord Galactus
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Bud Brewster
Galactic Fleet Admiral (site admin)


Joined: 14 Dec 2013
Posts: 17016
Location: North Carolina

PostPosted: Tue May 21, 2019 1:21 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

________________________________

I like this remake much more than Bogmeister did, but I'll admit that I didn't care for it at first because I disliked the whole "why can't I save my finance's life" aspect of the story.

I thought he just gave up after one try, and that seemed dumb. What I missed was the logical reason that it really was impossible to save her!

Jeremy Irons told Guy Pierce that the reason he was driven to create the time machine in the first place was the death of his fiance. But if he saved her in the past, that would remove his reason for creating the time machine in the present . . . and therefore he would NOT be able to go back and save her! Shocked

In short, by removing the cause for the time machine's creation (the girl's death), he removed the effect of that cause (the time machine itself).

A classic temporal paradox. Very Happy

Once I understood that brilliant aspect of the story, it completely changed my opinion of the movie . . . and I bought the DVD (along with the CD of the wonderful soundtrack).

I also disagree with what seems to be Bogmeister's low opinion of Guy Pearce. I think he's terrific in the role! Very Happy

_________________
____________
Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)


Last edited by Bud Brewster on Mon Mar 11, 2024 1:48 pm; edited 2 times in total
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Gord Green
Galactic Ambassador


Joined: 06 Oct 2014
Posts: 2940
Location: Buffalo, NY

PostPosted: Tue May 21, 2019 3:24 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I too greatly enjoyed this movie.

However, it points out the problem with re-telling a classic story in contemporary cinema.

I could enjoy it because I tried to look at it as a separate, stand alone story with no relation to the classic George Pal film. As such it stands up well. At least it retained the Victorian, turn of the century motif.

But when reflecting on it, it points up just how hard it is for a fan, (who saw the GP version when it came out,) to really appreciate the newer version.

Imagine a new version of FORBIDDEN PLANET with today's emphasis on CGI effects, fast cut action and flash over substance. It may be totally acceptable to a young audience (the demographic it's aimed at, after all!) but be anathema to fans of the original.

_________________
There comes a time, thief, when gold loses its lustre, and the gems cease to sparkle, and the throne room becomes a prison; and all that is left is a father's love for his child.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Bud Brewster
Galactic Fleet Admiral (site admin)


Joined: 14 Dec 2013
Posts: 17016
Location: North Carolina

PostPosted: Tue May 21, 2019 4:16 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

________________________________

I completely agree. And that's why I really have no interest in a remake of Forbidden Planet. If they make one and I like it in spite of the problem you described, I'll be surprised. Rolling Eyes

_________________
____________
Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)


Last edited by Bud Brewster on Mon Mar 11, 2024 1:49 pm; edited 1 time in total
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Bud Brewster
Galactic Fleet Admiral (site admin)


Joined: 14 Dec 2013
Posts: 17016
Location: North Carolina

PostPosted: Tue Apr 20, 2021 11:53 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

________________________________

After watching this movie in the chat room recently I read this trivia item on IMDB.
________________________________

In the trailer, when Alexander is shown standing up in his time machine, the scenery shows a beautiful landscape and tall towers.

This was to indicate that the Eloi had won and evolved into a technological race. When the movie was shown in theaters, the scene was changed to a blood red sky and Morlock lairs appearing everywhere.

Director Simon Wells did this because he felt that if Alexander traveled into a future where the Eloi won their war against the Morlocks, he would have no reason to go back to the past and Mara.

________________________________

That makes sense, and it also follows logically that Alexander's influence of the Eloi culture after he decided to stay with them would have a significant influence on the Eloi's technological advancement.

Alexander was devoted to science, and he was extremely frustrated with the people is his own time for being so unimaginative.

Having such a brilliant and well educated man living among the Eloi would benefit them greatly. Furthermore, he and the Eloi have access to the surviving library computer, so Alexander could study the scientific knowledge it contained from 2037.

In fact, we see a scene near the end which shows Orlando Jones (the holographic interface) teaching Eloi kids about Mark Twain's The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.

All these new elements in the Eloi culture are consistent with the idea that their civilization was on its way to becoming an advanced one like we see in the deleted scene after Alexander kills the Uber Morlock and stops briefly to see the future Eloi city. He then returns to free Mara from the cage in the Morlock lair.




_________________
____________
Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)


Last edited by Bud Brewster on Sat Apr 24, 2021 12:42 pm; edited 1 time in total
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
johnnybear
Mission Specialist


Joined: 15 Jun 2016
Posts: 442

PostPosted: Sat Apr 24, 2021 8:07 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

How they've resisted doing a Forbidden Planet remake after all these years is beyond me. You know they will, you can feel it a coming...
JB
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Bud Brewster
Galactic Fleet Admiral (site admin)


Joined: 14 Dec 2013
Posts: 17016
Location: North Carolina

PostPosted: Sat Apr 24, 2021 12:19 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

________________________________

Johnny, I guess they haven't remade Forbidden Planet for the same reason they haven't remade Gone With the Wind.

Both the originals set the bar so high that no remakes could hope to even match them — much less surpass them.

Purist would be outraged by any attempt to digitally "enhance" Forbidden Planet in any way — for the same reason that colorizing the original King Kong is not popular.

However, such efforts could induce younger audiences to watch older movies and not be put off by aspects which are blatantly "dated".

Yes, I know, those of us who grew up thinking Forbidden Planet is perfect simply don't want a single moment of the movie to be changed. Rolling Eyes

But lets face facts, guys. After we're all eventually dead and gone, we shouldn't want Forbidden Planet to be considered so dated it can't be enjoyed by future audiences! Shocked

The basic premise, the set and prop designs, the pure art which that film presents — all those aspects of Forbidden Planet should not be ignored because modern audiences have radically different expectations which result from the culture in which they grew up.

The remake of The Time Machine is a brilliant re-thinking of the original concept — far more complex than the 1960 version. Furthermore, he special effects are flawless, the music is beautiful, the acting and direction are magnificent, and the altered premise is as brilliant and thought-provoking at the 1960 version.

Those folks who criticize the remake either don't understand the complex concepts or they simple object to the changes it made in the George Pal version.

I regret the fact that brilliant remakes like this one are often unsuccessful for these unfortunate reasons.

_________________
____________
Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic   Reply to topic    ALL SCI-FI Forum Index -> Sci-Fi Movies from 2001 to 2010 All times are GMT - 5 Hours
Goto page 1, 2, 3  Next
Page 1 of 3

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum


Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2005 phpBB Group