Scientist H. George Wells builds a time machine, and despite the warning from his friend against this experiment, he decides to visit the future. Jumping ahead years, he observes vast changes around him, from fashion to architecture but also the tragedies of a terrible war. He travels thousands of years ahead; to discover a post-apocalyptic world where he uncovers some shocking aspects of society in a time inhabited by humanoid Eloi and the monstrous Morlocks that feed upon them. This H.G. Welles book-turned-movie is a great sci-fi adventure that explores the intrigue and tragedy of looking into the future. From being a blessing to see beyond one's years, to the horror of what is in store for future generations. However, it is not all doom as our protagonist helps out the future by securing a peaceful livelihood, leaving things optimistic. I enjoyed this film and recall seeing it on TV when I was younger and having a vivid memory of it. Finding it again on DVD years later was a nice treat as this sci-fi classic is an incredible adventure. The storytelling is phenomenal in its depiction of how time travel works. I found it very interesting the way our protagonist depicts, as well as sees, how the machine works first-hand, with the effects it has around him as he travelled as far as the year: 802,701. The special effects are exceptionally well done. We see things alter around George like a model in a shop window having the clothes changed over the years, the seasons changing and planets beging to grow, with the use of some clever stop motion. I especially loved the effects when it came to some of the stunts in the climax fight against the dreaded Morlocks. For example, when George fends the hoard of Morlocks off with a flaming torch, he uses it to set one aflame and it ran off the screen engulfed in fire. It was all real too, which was the most amazing part. If this film had been made today, such a scene would have been very unlikely to be real and more likely CGI effects, which is one of the main things that sets these older films apart from modern-day movies. The time and details, as well as risky stunts like that, are seen much less now. Another use of the superb effects was when George uses the time machine to escape certain doom and as he travels back we see the Morlocks' bodies decompose by use of some amazingly detailed models. One of my favourite aspects of this film was the intricate detail of the time machine. Despite its obvious older apparel to fit in the time of the 1900s, it looks very futuristic and I love seeing how it operates with parts spinning and flashing as it travels. It is so iconic it's even referenced in other media years later, like in a background site gag in
Gremlins (1984), where it disappears between shots at a science convention as it travels through time. It is also seen in films as recent as The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part (2019), where it is one of many movie time machines made into Lego that gets used to make the ultimate time travel spaceship. H.G Welles' books shaped the science-fiction genre and this film is a great adaptation of one of his books, bringing his genius ideas to screens for us to visually see the worlds and stories he created before our very eyes. It is very interesting to see the transformation from book to film and this one left me wanting to find more movies based on his novels. If you love films like this but want a bit more of the light hearted comedy elements too, then why not check out the equally fantastic sci-fi adventure:
First Men in the Moon (1964). Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this movie, from the terrific storytelling to the outstanding visuals for the time, this is certainly a grand adventure to delve into. If you are looking for an old sci-fi film with some great action and the use of time travel, this is definitely one to watch.
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