The Time Machine(s)

Often I catch myself being (compulsively) systematic. For instance, if I become interested in a film and discover there is some series (re-makes, sequels, etc.) I want to watch them in chronological order.

The Time Machine is the latest subject of this impulse. But this time -- this time, we also ended up reading the H. G. Wells book (1895).

We sort of went out of order, because we were inspired to read it as a result of having seen these film versions that bore little resemblance to our fragmented memories of reading the story in our respective youths (I read an illustrated version, LK read the book at some point).

When we did get around to read the literary version of The Time Machine, we were able to determine several things:

1. The 2002 film is really a remake of the 1960 film rather than a reinterpretation of the novella.
2. Wells’s text is far richer than the films (duh!).
3. The ambiguity of the book may have encouraged these creative interpretations -- no motivation for the Time Traveler is ever given in the book and both films revolve around what they decided his motivation might be.
4. Both films, like the book (and in fact all science fiction), reflect more about the times in which they were written than about the historical time in which Wells’s wrote his text.

So here are the executive summaries (book, 1960 film, 2002 film):

The book:
Motivation for time travel: scientific curiosity. Reflects the idea of intellectual pursuits for their own sake (the gentleman scholar). Reason for Eloi-Morlock split: the elite grew weak, proletariat grew powerful. The Time Traveler returns briefly to his own time to relate account of adventures, then leaves again to the far future never to return. Apparent motivation for his last departure is his dismay no one believes him (takes a camera when he goes back). Weena: physical companion only. She dies, no big deal.

1960 movie:
Motivation for time travel: disgust with war. The reason for Eloi-Morlock split was the war between "East" and "West." War destroyed the earth and some people went underground while others stayed above. Like the book, the Eloi are clothed and fed by the Morlocks -- its unclear if they can survive without Morlocks. The Time Traveler returns to his own time briefly to relate account of adventures. Decides to go back to "rescue" Weena and takes 3 books with him but we never know which ones.

2002 movie:
Motivation for travel: tragic loss of loved one, becomes obsessed with wondering why he can’t change the past (and prevent her death). Reason for Eloi-Morlock split: science goes too far -- moon is damaged and causes extreme environmental change. Some went underground, developed their own society with very clearly delineated castes (hunter, spy, leader), and are barely human. Elois stayed above -- primitive, but beautiful, very human. Eloi's survival is not dependent on the Morlocks. Not cattle, like in both previous versions, but certainly food supply for Morlocks. The Time Traveller never returns to his own time.

What they have in common:
A time machine and a Time Traveller.

Should you watch them? Nah. But do read the book!