Julien Neaves, Sci Fi Head Writer
Warning: Moderate spoilers ahead
Plot: The Time Machine is based on the 1895 novella of the same name by legendary Sci Fi author H.G. Wells and follows Victorian England era inventor H. George Wells who creates a machine to travel through time. But a trip to discover the marvels of the future takes a disastrous turn when he is forced to travel to the year 802,701. There (or actually, then) he discovers mankind's descendants have been split into the apathetic, childlike and vegetarian Eloi and the beast-like, underground-dwelling and cannibalistic Morlocks who feed on them.
Time travel? Why that is pure nonsense. Rubbish I say. Poppycock. Flim-flam even.
Review: One of the films that made me fall in love with the Science Fiction genre is this 1960 classic. I don't recall how old I was when I first watched it, but I remember being transported to a world of pure imagination. Sorry, got a little Wily Wonky there. But seriously, I was enamoured with the film's immersive world of a far-flung future. Rewatching it recently, I was determined to cast aside my nostalgia glasses and go in completely objective like the fair film reviewer that I am. And yeah, The Time Machine remains a masterpiece.
What is there not to love here? Rod Taylor with his chiseled good looks is a fantastic leading man, delivering both as the curious inventor and the man of action taking on the Morlocks in the final act. The lovely Yvette Mimieux is sweet and likeable as George's love interest, the naive and innocent Weena. And Alan Young does yeoman service as both George's friend David Filby and David's son James in two separate time periods.
So, umm, some of these Morlocks would be female, right? So we could be looking at some Morlock boobies right now? Just something to think about
The visual effects are more than six decades old, but they still hold every well, especially the time-lapse photographic effects. Watching a candle melt in rapid stop motion fashion, a mannequin instantly changing clothes and day cycling to night and back again will never get old for me. Nowadays this stuff would all be done by CGI, but it can't replace the heft and the charm of the effects on display here. And they were quite cutting edge at the time, deservedly winning the Academy Award for Best Special Effects.
The practical elements are also outstanding. The titular Time Machine with its simple, steampunk-esque look is iconic and would become a pop culture staple, making its way into everything from Quantum Leap to Gremlins to The Big Bang Theory. Who hasn't wanted to sit in that thing and pull the lever? If you've watched the film, I am 99 per cent sure that you have had that desire at least once. I must also heap praise on the brilliant production design and costuming which transports viewers from turn of the century London to the dystopian future of the Eloi and the Morlocks. Intellectually you know the Morlocks are just guys in masks and suits, but they are still creepy and very disturbing.
RING: Never gonna give you up, never gonna let you down, never gonna turn around and desert you
Director George Pal, who also helmed When Worlds Collide (1951) and The War of the Worlds (1953), does such a commendable job with Wells' material. We start off with the intriguing hook of a bruised and disheveled George surprising friends at his home. What the heck happened to him? We must know! In the first two acts we get some light speculative Sci Fi and a trippy and thoughtful journey to the future that is capped by some 1960s nuclear war paranoia. We then jump to the distant future and a cerebral, action-packed tale that interrogates the very nature of society. The image of George smashing the crumbling books is such a poetically beautiful one and has remained with me. And I also enjoyed revisiting the cool ring recording device.
With a story that blends Sci Fi, philosophy, pulp adventure thrills and a sprinkling of romance, stellar visuals and an impressive score, The Time Machine is required watching for science fiction fans and an entertaining watch for any moviegoer. There was a remake in 2002 with Guy Pearce and while that was a decent film it fell far below the perfection of the original.
Editor Jules' Score: 10 out of 10
Are you a fan of The Time Machine? What's your favourite scene? And you can check out more classic Sci Fi content below:
REVISITING 'THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL' AT 70
REVISITING DISASTER SCI FI 'WHEN WORLDS COLLIDE' AT 70
BEFORE TERMINATOR THERE WAS FORGOTTEN SCI FI FLICK CYBORG 2087
Julien "Editor Jules" Neaves is a TARDIS-flying, Force-using Trekkie whose bedroom stories were by the Cryptkeeper, learned to be a superhero from Marvel, but dreams of being Batman. I love promoting Caribbean film (Cariwood), creating board games and I am an aspiring author. I say things like "13 flavours of awesome sauce". Read more.
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