The Time Machine (H.G. Wells)

H.G. Wells is responsible for many classics that stirred the imagination with tales of the futuristic, fantastic and impossible. In 1960, director George Pal, the man behind Seven Faces of Dr. Lao and The War of the Worlds was the perfect candidate to bring the vision of H.G. Wells 1894 first story The Time Machine to the silver screen for MGM, capturing the imagination of audiences and a 1961 Best Effects Oscar.

Starring Aussie born Rod Taylor, he plays English inventor H. G. Wells (although he's only ever referred to as George in the film, in a nice little touch you get a clue to his full identity from a plaque engraved with "Manufactured by H. George Wells"). George has an obsession about time and a dislike for man's nature to engage in war. Determined to do something about changing the time he lives in, he goes off and creates a time machine, as you do. Showing a smaller test model of his creation to his closest friends, he's met with disbelief at the folly of an invention (if it even works) that has no marketable value in a time of war by a man who could better serve his country with his talents.

Disheartened by the reaction of his friends, he sets about testing the full scale version, discovering along the way man's love of war proves its eventual downfall until finally 800,000 years into the future he finds mankind has evolved into two seperate races, one peaceful and happy and the other the cannabalistic cave dwelling masters.

The Time Machine is a fun, simple film which is best viewed in a not too demading frame of mind. The acting is suitably hammy from all and sundry, but tends to work in its favour because it has so much otherwise going for it and so well suits the age and appeal of the film. Viewed in comparison to today's big budget special effects films with slick CG and seemless integration between the real and effects shots, the model and effects work looks simplistic, obvious and second rate, but at the time it was enough to garner it an Oscar and even adds to the overall charm of this much loved classic when viewed in modern times.

I love to see that an old faithful such as The Time Machine is given such good treatment. A wonderfully detailed anamorphic 1.78:1 transfer does the film justice and will have you demanding that all older films be shown this kind of respect in future. The colours here are well presented, exhibiting good shadow detail, with rich warm tones in the Wells home at the beginning and a bright vividness later in the open natural settings of the Eloi in the far future. A very fine grain is visible throughout, but is never intrusive and at the very least adds to the charm of the film.

Say what you will about the lack of the original stereo audio track, but you certainly can't complain about the DD5.1 remix we do get. Thankfully avoiding sonic overkill, the dialogue is clearly and firmly set in the centre, with the front stage expanding with the score and some minor panning through the left and right channels. The surrounds are only called into action a few times, with a few standout dramatic moments involving all channels and creating a large enveloping soundfield to really enhance the drama on screen.

Asides from a Trailer, some text screens of Awards and Cast and Crew Lists, the real extra feature here is The Journey Back documentary hosted by Rod Taylor, in a performance almost as hammy as his one in the film. He leads us through the creation of the movie with interviews with various people. It spends a lot of time focusing on the the story of the machine itself, its constuction, destruction and rebuilding. It even includes a very different and interesting section containing an acted out "what-if" scenario from Taylor and another cast member, that expands on the story a little and is very unique.

How can I say anything other than, "Stop reading this review and go buy this DVD right now!"? If you're a fan, rest assured that they've done a wonderful job in bringing this classic to us on a well produced DVD. Let's hope some more sci-fi classics get equally as good treatment.