tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13727952.post145328490038224553..comments2024-03-29T06:56:12.797-04:00Comments on Doux Reviews: The Time MachineBillie Douxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17141769005175631213noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13727952.post-54985638005613080302019-01-04T15:34:07.956-05:002019-01-04T15:34:07.956-05:00I watched this earlier this evening. I haven’t rea...I watched this earlier this evening. I haven’t read the book by H.G. Wells, so have no idea if the film is anywhere close to the novel in terms of story and quality. <br /><br />I cannot say I was hugely impressed to be honest, although I did like the Victorian setting in jolly old London at the turn of the last century. And the time machine itself (both the miniature and the big guy) were impressive albeit not very weather proof.<br /><br />But clearly the special effects were its Achilles Heel, no doubt constrained by a limited budget from a cautious production studio. So as our Brylcreemed hero, Rod Taylor, vaults into the future each new surrounding didn’t look overly futuristic; instead we have a model set of London streets with toy cars and papier-mâché bridges, roads and buildings. And 800,000 years further into the future we just have lots of plants, trees and a few caves to admire, again all done on the cheap. And the people, or more specifically the Eloi, look like Scandinavians with their perfect hair, teeth and bodies. <br /><br />As for their adversaries, the Morlocks, well they’re not all that good in a fight to be honest, and lack any form of intelligence. So how the pacifying Eloi can’t put up the slightest bit of resistance escapes me, and adds to another weakness in the story. <br /><br />I haven’t seen the 2002 remake, and judging by the hugely negative reviews I don’t think I will be bothering. But this kind of theme definitely deserves a reboot because in this day and age the cgi of any future utopia will be doable and believable, just so long as the story remains close to Wells’ book.<br /><br />Yes, I am in the minority here for not showing enough love, but for me this film was stuck in time, with some pretty Stone Age performances.<br /><br />2/5Diane Cnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13727952.post-63127772418810736612017-07-20T11:12:18.465-04:002017-07-20T11:12:18.465-04:00Keith, Time After Time is an old favorite of mine....Keith, <i>Time After Time</i> is an old favorite of mine. I've started drafting a review of it a couple of times, but it just doesn't seem to want to be written.Billie Douxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17141769005175631213noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13727952.post-39033667523396799622017-07-20T02:43:37.118-04:002017-07-20T02:43:37.118-04:00Nice review Billie! My favorite part is the '...Nice review Billie! My favorite part is the 'talking rings' and the way the voice slows down as the ring stops spinning.<br /><br />It occurred to me recently that people who lived on the surface might be more affected by residual nuclear fallout radiation than those living underground. So it's possible that the Eloi might be more deformed than the Morlocks. However, 800,000 years is a long time--depending on when the last war happened there might not be much radioactivity remaining. Still, mutations might have become permanent from the time when the radioactivity was higher.<br /><br />I also like <i>Time After Time</i> (1979) which combines <i>The Time Machine</i> with Jack the Ripper.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09499845492120364597noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13727952.post-81655801666433915082012-06-10T11:59:59.850-04:002012-06-10T11:59:59.850-04:00Thanks, guys. It's funny -- when I started co...Thanks, guys. It's funny -- when I started compiling a list of my favorite movies, <i>The Time Machine</i> wasn't on it and I didn't even think about it. But a couple of months ago, it aired on television and Dan and I were watching it, and it occurred to me that, even though I didn't have a copy of the movie in my collection, I watched it every time it aired on television when I was a kid. And I still watch it every year or so. That makes it one of my favorites. Maybe a second tier favorite?Billie Douxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17141769005175631213noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13727952.post-47899576251548368772012-06-10T09:18:45.521-04:002012-06-10T09:18:45.521-04:00Fun review, Billie! I remember finding this movie...Fun review, Billie! I remember finding this movie very campy, and yet somehow creepy and unsettling at the same time. But I much preferred the book. It creeped me the hell out! The mental images I conjured of the Morlocks were terrifying, so I believe the ones from the film ended up being underwhelming for me. I think I was more creeped out by the Eloi in the film! (I seriously found them creepy. Probably all the blond wigs.)<br /><br />Still, I really enjoyed that episode of <i>The Big Bang Theory</i>. What a hoot! Thanks for including the picture of the guys with their Time Machine.Jess Lyndehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14165015932507376656noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13727952.post-90855800955734784272012-06-09T17:45:58.645-04:002012-06-09T17:45:58.645-04:00What a great review! I first saw this on TV when I...What a great review! I first saw this on TV when I was a kid, and it's one of those movies that I always watch a little bit of whenever I run across it on cable.<br /><br />Y'know, I think I saw the remake, too. But I don't remember a thing about it. :-)Josie Kafkahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17892717530356699008noreply@blogger.com