Rated:PG-13
Running Time: 1:36
Tabitha's Rating: ***/5
Synopsis: An inventor from the late 19th century is so torn when his fiance dies, that he creates a time machine to take him back to the night she is killed in order to prevent it. She dies anyway and he embarks in a search through the future to discover the answer to the question, "Why can't I change the past".
I am really torn between giving this movie a two, and a three. I settled on a three because I really do not think it is as horrible as the other movies I have given a two in the past, which are The Musketeer, Pearl Harbor, and The One. Truly, there are some highlights to the film. The concept of the story, presented in the book, of a time machine is a very interesting premise. However, the problem is the story never jumps off the premise. The plot is underdeveloped, and so are the characters, which is not surprising since this movie is about as long as a Disney cartoon. Had the creators of the film put in the time time necessary to really let the audience understand the characters, or at least the setting of the characters, it would have been a much better film.
Why is...the main character played by Guy Pearce..(who is so forgettable I cannot even remember his name)...so eager to save the life of Samantha Mumba's character, when he has only known her for one day? And why after saving her, does he suddenly appear to have fallen for her? Just two seconds ago (or 9 million years, whichever way you look at it) he was driven mad by his love for his dead fiance.
The only thing that makes this movie worth seeing, is Guy Pearce. However, I would rather watch another of his movies, Memento, a million times, rather than pay to this movie even once more. Seriously, if you want to see a great movie, rent that. Also, the answer he sets out to discover, is never really answered. And exactly how did he destroy all the bad guys without hurting any of the good guys?
Hands down the best part of the film is the visual effects. There are some truly eye pleasing scenes, for example, pieces of the moon falling to earth, and also watching thousands of years past in a few seconds as he is traveling through time.
Bottomline: This movie about flying through time, should have spent a lot more time on the necessary basics like character and plot developement.
