Rip-roaring sci-fi (From Western Telegraph)

Rip-roaring sci-fi

It could be argued that science fiction stories are the backbone of modern cinema. Though they tend not to garner much approval from award-givers, the stories of monsters, magic and moon rockets tend to be the biggest earners in the movie business: Spiderman, which is about to break all box office records in this country, as it has in the States; Star Wars, of course (Have you seen it yet? Too many cartoon characters? Awful lines? Best film ever?); ET; Terminator; Alien; Independence Day; The Matrix. Theyre all classic blockbuster sci-fi movies that have paid for the production of thousands of romantic comedy and family dramas that go on to win more critical praise. Sci-fi is big, big, big business.

Who should we thank for this? Arthur C. Clark? Isaac Asimov? Ray Bradbury? All the best modern writers of the art form, but before them there was a man who set some of the ground rules for those men to follow - who was literally the inspiration to them.

H.G. Wells was born in Kent in 1866 and struggled from a lowly upbringing to become a teacher and eventually a writer of some of the best-known stories in the world. Considering what life was like at the turn of the 20th century, and what was known of science, it is truly incredible to read the inventions of H.G. Wells, The Time Machine and War Of The Worlds to name but two. And so it seems fitting that the work of the Great Grandfather of science fiction, gets re-adapted for the screen by his great grandson, as this week sees the release of The Time Machine directed by Simon Wells.

Based on Wells classic sci-fi novel, The Time Machine stars Guy Pearce in the role of scientist and inventor, Alexander Hartdegen. Hes 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 events of the past. In 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.

The Eloi are the natural, tribal types but they are hunted by the evil Morlocks (led by a heavily disguised Jeremy Irons).

The Time Machine is so short that I darent mention any more details for fear of blowing a huge part of the films excitement. What I will say though is that Guy Pearce is excellent, carrying off just the right blend of geeky scientist and adventurer, which so many H.G. Wells rip-off heroes have failed to get a grasp of.

I can also say that the effects by George Lucas ILM effects company have produced some amazing images for this film that will no doubt date as badly as anything in Mary Poppins. I particular liked the time-jumping moments where he travels through the recognisably evolving history of the world.

All in all a very silly film charting nothing truly new to he screen, except the acting debut of Oyyrish pop singer Samantha Mumba. The Time Machine is a rip roaring science fiction B-movie that, if nothing else, brings yet another generation of little boys and girls to the work of H.G. Wells.

Vaughan Sivell