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If only the rest of 2002's The Time Machine had been like this sequence, it would have been one of the greatest science fiction movies ever. A future attempt to colonize and mine the moon instead leads to the near-total destruction of all life on Earth, as the broken moon rains chunks of rock onto Earth. Supposedly this scene would have been much longer and more intense, but director Simon Wells (H.G.'s great grandson) feared invoking comparisons to 9/11. It leads to one of the most interesting plot twists ever.
If only the rest of 2002's The Time Machine had been like this sequence, it would have been one of the greatest science fiction movies ever. A future attempt to colonize and mine the moon instead leads to the near-total destruction of all life on Earth, as the broken moon rains chunks of rock onto Earth. Supposedly this scene would have been much longer and more intense, but director Simon Wells (H.G.'s great grandson) feared invoking comparisons to 9/11. It leads to one of the most interesting plot twists ever.The main character, Alexander, has been traveling forward in time from the 19th. century, assuming that humanity will keep becoming more scientifically advanced. He needs to find someone who can unravel the temporal paradox he's caught himself in, so he can save his girlfriend from being crushed back in 1899. But after the moon-blasting incident, he slowly realizes that humanity never gets any more tech-savvy. He's actually the most advanced scientific mind in human history, because we destroyed ourselves before we got any further. Okay, he does finally meet a Morlock in 802,371 who explains the movie's plot to him. But he's the greatest technological mind in history. Sucks to be him.
The other great thing about the otherwise awful Time Machine remake is the sassy holographic library computer Alexander meets in 2030, who keeps popping up throughout the movie. At one point, the movie gets all metatextual and the library hologram tells Alexander about the book The Time Machine, which was made into two movies and a Broadway musical. And then the hologram splits into four holograms and sings a selection from the musical's score.
And then, sadly, the movie dives into a vortex of suck, from which it never emerges. Weirdly, the worst parts of the movie are the only parts where it tries to be faithful to the original book, including the Morlocks/Eloi segments. It makes you wish Wells had just made an original movie, instead of trying to base on great-granddad's book.
Comments
Quick someone get the time machine and go back to where all this extra musical crap was starting to take off!!!
People have to stop re-inventing Wells. I'd prefer the books over any of the movies.
One other redeeming element of this remake: it was partially filmed in my then hometown, Troy, NY. Lovely little Victorian holdout. They did a cattle-call for extras, and then cut the scenes involving my fellow Trojans (or Troylets, depending who you ask). The locals were pissed, let me tell you.
I wrote a whole novel based on that clip. Freaking amazing!!
Isn't a broken moon what led to the apocalypse that created the world that Thundarr the Barbarian lived in?
The year 1994: From out of space comes a runaway
planet, hurtling between the Earth and the Moon,
unleashing cosmic destruction. Man's civilization is
cast in ruin.
Two thousand years later, Earth is reborn...
A strange new world rises from the old: a world of
savagery, super science, and sorcery. But one man
bursts his bonds to fight for justice! With his companions
Ookla the Mok and Princess Ariel, he pits his strength,
his courage, and his fabulous Sunsword against the
forces of evil.
He is Thundarr, the Barbarian!
Loved it!
This movie seriously could've been great. I was willing to give it the benefit of the doubt until the lame-ass mutant Morlock/Dark City knockoff villain showed up.
I was a arts reporter at the time this movie came out, and was given 4 free passes to see this movie.... worst 2 1/2 hours i ever sat through.
I would have enjoyed the movie more if he had continued to look for an answer to prevent the paradox of his girlfriend getting killed instead of the whole Morlock storyline. He could have met with some benevolent future humans who showed him how anything other than his GF dieing would have resulted in the destruction of humankind, but he still went against their guidance trying to save her, pissing of benevolent future humans...
Hey, I think I just wrote a screenplay!
I would of seen this movie at the theatre but my friend was horrified to look at the actors sunken face that had the look of AIDS written all over it. His one fear not mine, however I don't work so it isn't an issue. I loved the movie to pieces though even if he looks a little gaunt.
We endorse the Release Thundarr The Barbarian On DVD Petition to AOL Time Warner Inc. and Cartoon Network.
Go here and sign the petition. Can't hurt, might help.
[www.petitiononline.com]
Wasn't this the same guy who said that none of the social ramifications from the original book are still relevant anymore?
I mean, seriously, there's oblivious, and then there's oblivious.
@Darkweave: Super-science you say?
//Apparently this is the reward I get for years of screwing with super-science. In short, I pissed in God's eye, and he blinked.//
I happened to like that version of "The Time Machine" seems the author of this article has issues with a very decent interpretation of a SciFi classic. I've liked all 3 of the movies, to be quite honest, this one was just nice to have it expand on ideas Wells discussed in his journals and what-not.
If someone makes the sequel to Time Machine, The Time Ships by SBaxter, now that would be the greatest SF movie of all time.
I thought 'Time Machine' was very entertaining. As I child I read a lot of the 'classics' (Verne, Wells) and it warms my heart when the powers-that-be decide to re-tell the story yet again to a new generation. How many different versions of 'War of the Worlds' is out there? Why? It is a story worth telling.
@Darkweave: You totally rock, Darkweave.
I always thought Thundarr would make a great big-screen movie. Then I tracked down some episodes and realized that the best thing about it was the title sequence. That didn't stop me from writing a treatment, though. It's in the files someplace. Ookla the Moc rocks!
@t3knomanser: Troy, Ny eh? I went to Colgate, so I know the area well (one of my best friends was from troy). Sadly, I remember this scene pretty well, I think it's the only part I liked in the entire movie (reminds me a bit of the first episode of Futurama where Fry's been chilled on ice).
@Robert Isbell: @deckard97: I also want to add my vote to the minority opinion; Time Machine was pretty good. Effects were decent and Guy Pearce is an appealing lead. So there!
I second Ghost Particle, if you haven't read it go out and get Stephen Baxter's "The Time Ships".
The continuation of HG Wells story. You can pick it up used on amazon for a penny. Totally worth it.
Just about anything Baxter writes is worth picking up. I particulaly liked "Raft" & "Ring". If the io9 are editors are listening a profile of Baxter would be an interesting read. The hard science heir to Arthur C Clarke.
Okay, the smashed moon was good enough for Thundarr, because it was a stupid (the good kind of stupid) Saturday morning cartoon.
However, in an umpteen-zillion dollar movie, you'd almost think they could have somebody doing oversight with a 6th-grade understanding of gravity... The dang moon isn't a frickin' billiard ball.
-Kle.
I hated the climactic fight with the Morlocks so much. The friend I saw the film with had to physically restrain me so I wouldn't stand up on my seat and scream, "THE MACHINE DOES NOT ACTUALLY SPEED UP TIME, YOU IDIOTS!"
I've never seen the movie, so I am at a bit of a loss. Is strip mining mentioned somewhere else in the film?
@NefariousNewt: Really? I think the problem is rather than trying to 'reinvent' Wells, people just keep "redoing" Wells.
If anything, a movie called "The Time Machine", penned by a decent Sci-fi author of the modern day would probably have a bit more Time Travel, and a bit less weird post-humanity... whatever. Not to say HG Wells doesn't deserve his place in the hall of fame, but Time Machine isn't what I would consider his best work. While it DID challenge some preconceptions (chiefly that mankind would always be top monkey), that was really secondary to the plot of the story, and I think the work suffers for it.
@gybryant: alexander stops at some point in the "near" future, when he marvels at miniskirts and news broadcasts in the background are announcing the upcoming lunar colony plans, and the intent to excavate with nuclear warheads.
that context sets up his next jump forward thru time, which is interrupted by violent tidal earthquakes caused by the shattered moon.
@jchasse: the Ring was amazing. The epic scale...!
@Ghost Particle:
I was going to mention that book, if no one else did...
Fantastic continuation of the original H.G. Wells...
[en.wikipedia.org]
@DocGratis: true, the scope was very good and the ending too was excellent.
Ah, yes, The Time Machine - starring Guy Pearce's razor sharp cheekbones. Seriously, was he the only one not allowed to eat during the entire shoot?
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