The Time Machine (2002)

Hoping to alter the events of the past, a 19th century inventor instead travels 800,000 years into the future, where he finds humankind divided into two warring races.

Director:

Simon Wells

Writers:

H.G. Wells (novel), David Duncan (earlier screenplay),

Stars:

Guy Pearce, Mark Addy, Phyllida Law

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Guy Pearce	...	Alexander Hartdegen
Mark Addy	...	David Philby
Phyllida Law	...	Mrs. Watchit
Sienna Guillory	...	Emma
Laura Kirk	...	Flower Seller
Josh Stamberg	...	Motorist
John W. Momrow	...	Fifth Avenue Carriage Driver
Max Baker	...	Robber
Jeffrey M. Meyer	...	Central Park Carriage Driver
Jeremy Irons	...	Über-Morlock
Alan Young	...	Flower Store Worker
Myndy Crist	...	Jogger
Connie Ray	...	Teacher
Orlando Jones	...	Vox
Lennie Loftin	...	Soldier #1

Storyline

Based on the classic sci-fi novel by H.G. Wells, scientist and inventor, Alexander Hartdegen, is determined to prove that time travel is possible. His determination is turned to desperation by a personal tragedy that now drives him to want to change the past. Testing his theories with a time machine of his own invention, Hartdegen is hurtled 800,000 years into the future, where he discovers that mankind has divided into the hunter - and the hunted.

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Plot Keywords:

time travel | time machine | scientist | hunter | 19th century | 

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Taglines:

Be Careful What You Wish For

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Genres:

Sci-Fi | Adventure | Action

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of action violence

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

8 March 2002 (USA)

Also Known As:

La máquina del tiempo

Filming Locations:

Albany, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$80,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$450,608 (Japan) (9 August 2002)

Gross:

$4,156,558 (Japan) (9 August 2002)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros., DreamWorks SKG, Parkes/MacDonald Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital DTS SDDS

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Guy Pearce broke a rib during the filming when he tackled the Morlock from the side.

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Goofs

During Prof. Hartdegen's first talk with the VOX unit in the city, he clearly asks the unit for more info on temporal causality and temporal paradox. Both these phenomena are what the uber' Morlock explains to him towards the end of the film when he tells the professor that he cannot save Emma because it would create a temporal paradox. So, if the professor even had a passing knowledge of what those terms meant, he would already know why he cannot change the past and would have never required to go anywhere.

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Quotes

David Philby: Nothing can change what happened.
Alexander Hartdegen: No, you're wrong. Because I will change it.

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Connections

Featured in The Rotten Tomatoes Show: Repo Men/The Bounty Hunter/The Runaways (2010)

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Soundtracks

"See Me Dance the Polka"
Written by George Grossmith

User Reviews

Enjoyable Romp Through Time

I enjoyed The Time Machine and its focus on simplicity and special effect instead of heavy time travel contradictions and fancy plots. This movie was straight backwards and forwards dealing with materialism and love - straight and simple. This was a feel good movie in a time (our time) of confusion, fear, and war. Too many critics looked for something really deep, tried to tear it apart because of its apparent lack of scientific continuity. But really the essence of this movie was human relationships and I thought the movie it made its point even though it took 800,000 years to do it. I felt with the characters. The only real problem I had was how a language could be kept so pure after so many years - of course they may have had help from a local library.