The Time Machine [2002] | ![The Time Machine [2002]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/4198N0DS53L._SL160_.jpg)
 enlarge | Director: Simon Wells
Actors: Guy Pearce, Yancey Arias, Samantha Mumba, Mark Addy, Sienna Guillory
Studio: Warner Home Video
Category: DVD
List Price: £13.99
Buy Used: £0.81
You Save: £13.18 (94%)
New (25) Used (42) Collectible (1) from £0.81
Rating:  31 reviews
Sales Rank: 7664
Format: Dubbed, Pal, Widescreen
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Subtitles For The Hearing Impaired), Italian (Subtitles For The Hearing Impaired), Arabic (Subtitled), Dutch (Subtitled), English (Subtitled), French (Subtitled), German (Subtitled), Italian (Subtitled), Portuguese (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled), French (Dubbed), Italian (Dubbed)
Rating: Parental Guidance
Region: 2
Discs: 1
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Number Of Items: 1
Running Time: 92 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.3 x 5.6 x 0.6
EAN: 7321900221917
ASIN: B000062V97
Theatrical Release Date: March 8, 2002
Release Date: October 7, 2002
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.co.uk Review
Reinterpreting HG Wells' The Time Machine, one of the most well-loved science fiction classics both as a book and in its 1960 film incarnation, was always going to risk critical condemnation. Yet despite all the problems experienced in making the film (reshoots, September 11 comparison fears, Guy Pearce breaking a rib), this new Time Machine is still great fun. Critics and naysayers may point at the obvious timeline gaffes, the lazy groundlaying for a sequel, or even the radical departure from Wells' scenario, but the film is still gorgeous to look at and imbued with a sense of carefree adventure. Pearce plays Professor Hartdegen with just the right touch of distraction turning into passionate resolve. The secondary cast all manage to make something of their brief on-screen appearances, too, notably Mark Addy as faithful friend Philby, Samantha Mumba as Morlock babe Mara and Jeremy Irons making more of his shadowy baddie than might be thought likely. The film's chief accomplishment is that it in no way supersedes the George Pal version. If anything, it enriches the spirit of fun it has happily inherited. On the DVD: The Time Machine 2002 incarnation has picture (2.35:1) and sound (Dolby 5.1) that are as pristine as you'd expect from so recent a digital FX extravaganza. In the extras department there's plenty to keep you busy: a gallery of production drawings, an action sequence animatic, three trailers, four mini-documentaries on stunts, FX, Morlocks and building the Time Machine. The only thing missing is anything acknowledging the 1960 version or the link with director Simon Wells (the author's great-grandson). Wells joins editor Wayne Wahrman for one commentary track dealing with the broad strokes of conceptualisation and changes along the way. Commentary two is from the Designer, FX Supervisor and Producer, so is naturally more technically focused. --Paul Tonks
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| Customer Reviews: Read 26 more reviews...
 Not as bad as some would have you believe! August 31, 2008
J. Field (Kent, UK)
This was on TV last night, and I nearly didn't watch it, due to the mixed reviews it has received. In the end, I thought I might as well, and am actually quite glad I did. Yes, the reason why the time machine gets created is clichéd and really quite unnecessary, and the story does move away from Well's novel, but I didn't really mind, to be honest, as the idea of the old world order coming to an end, due to the moon's demise, is actually quite interesting. The acting is sound across the board, with Guy Pierce and Jeremy Iron's, in a cameo on this occasion, on good form. The real star of the show is, of course, the Time Machine itself, and it's well realized, capturing the spirit of the nineteen century, with all it's brass instruments, cog wheels, and pressure gauges. The time travel sequences are fine, and are done with CGI. Yes, we've seen similar stuff, not least, in a certain Guinness commercial, but it still works perfectly well, here.
For sure, it isn't the best sci-fi movie you'll ever see, but for my money, given the choice between this and Spielberg's War of the Worlds (as far as I'm concerned a film of that novel has yet to be made) I'd go for this, every time. It's entertaining - give it a go!
 Nothing to do with Wells August 31, 2008
Vp Campbell (Leicestershire, UK)
As a run of the mill time travel paradox type of film this is OK. The problem is it explicitly labels itself as HG Wells' 'The Time Machine' which it shows complete contempt for. If you don't know the book, then you'll maybe enjoy it, if you can get past Guy Pearce's surprisingly poor performance (from such a good actor too- he seems to have no idea how to convey the repressed passion of the central protagonist), and the ridiculous accents, with Samantha Mumba (whatever happened to her?) and her brother gradually shifting ever more back to their Irish accents as the film progresses. Jeremy Irons offers an intruiging villain, but has only a single scene to do anything in.
The real problem though is the way Wells' genuinely classic morality tale about the consequences of class divisions in industrial society, conveyed through a genuinely thrilling tale of the traveller, is completely misunderstood, ignored and replace by the Hollywood demand for motivation. It's not enough that someone might want to travel through time for its own sake, no it has to be to try and change the past and rescue a lost love. It's not enough that the Morlocks hunt/farm the Eloi because that's their nature, there has to be a big baddie monologuing as to how and why etc. etc. (Add in things like the Morlocks hunting for Eloi in broad daylight, or easily able to get into the suspended homes of the Eloi, and there isn't even any coherence or logic to the set-up.)
Like Spielberg's 'War of the Worlds', ripping the heart (and sense) out of a classic tale seems to be so pointless beyond a lazy attempt to get some bums on seats from using the famous title. That's not to say that stories inspired by classics can't be good- 'Time After Time' brilliantly plays off the Wells' source material, and if you want to watch a film that plays fast and loose with the source story, that's the one to go for.
This film though, with some great visuals aside, is a massive missed opportunity to bring Wells to a new generation, which is a great shame.
If you've got nothing else to do August 27, 2008
S J Buck (Kent, UK)
This is a remake of a pretty good 1960 film version of the H G Wells story. Guy Pierce stars in the leading role. Now Guy Pierce isn't a bad actor, but here is given an impossible job. At the start of the film he is the obsessed Prof. Hartdegen who just happens to on the verge of building a time machine. He has a sweetheart of course and after an evening in the park he has recourse to use the machine. From then on its downhill all the way as Hartdegen changes from a somewhat reclusive Prof. into an Indiana Jones type character.
Add to this magical transformation a frequently vomit-making musical soundtrack and overall you have a film that really should only be watched if you have nothing better to do. There are worse films for sure, but this certainly lacks any of the charm of the original and has even less to with the book. Result - only buy if they are giving it away!
 One for the collection May 7, 2008
Mr. G. R. Thomson
Been a whil since i saw this film so may be hard to write spcifics in the review however i will try and give it my best shot!
The people saying that there are long drawen out scenes don't know what they are talking about, all the film is relevent to the plot. The acting is good if not brilliant! Okay there are sci-fi bits that may not seem intresting but really the film is trying to get across the same as the book...Live with your descions and don't have any regrets.
I would recomend this film to all! (if you hate sci-fi though maybe this isn't the film for you)
Judge it for itself and not as re-make. April 8, 2008
Mr. A. W. Powsey (reading, uk)
I bought this for 2 to use as a language aid (sub titles in the major euro languages) without much hope of finding it really enjoyable....but it was! The computer graphics were excellent and the time machine was awesome (apparently it took technicians over a year to plan and build. The story does drift a long way from the original but does have interesting alternatives. The Eloi have become cliff dwelling folk who live in basket type huts clinging to the cliff edge like swallow's nests, connected by vertiginous complexes of ladders. The Morlocks live below ground and have a caste system of hunters and spies lead by a highly evolved being, the Uber morlock, whose brain is so big it extends down his spine, This character is played by Jeremy Irons (at least 5 hours in make up!) Samantha Mumba is one of the love interests, and she is gorgeous! There are a few silly moments: the hero has his machine parked in NYC unattended and comes back to find it still intact (how believable is that !)People have mocked the film saying how could english have survived for so long (800,000 years into the future) and how come there are still vestiges of old New York in the form of stone fragments? What about Latin, Sanscrit etc and even dinosaurs footprints still exist today. OK this is not going to make it into the 100 best ever films but it is still a very enjoyable view. The Director justs happens to be HG Wells's great grandson!
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