'Time Machine' stalls intermittently

The Time Machine -- PG-13\nStarring: Guy Pearce, Samantha Mumba, Orlando Jones\nDirected by: Simon Wells, Gore Verbinski\nShowing: Showplace West 12\nWith the recent popularity of books-turned-movies, production companies are hungry for the box office success of movies like "The Lord of the Rings" and "Harry Potter." Although some books provide entertaining, fantastical plots for the big screen, others, like "The Time Machine," are better left in literary form.\n"The Time Machine," based on the novel by H.G. Wells, tells the story of Dr. Alexander Hartdegen (played by "Memento" star Guy Pearce). A scientist and professor of the late 1800s, Hartdegen is\ndesperately trying to create a time machine in an attempt to reverse a personal tragedy. After his time machine is completed, he soon discovers that the past cannot be altered. Leaving him perplexed, Hartdegen sets out on a quest of the future to learn why the past is unchangeable. When he finds himself 800,000 years into the future, Hartdegen discovers the human race has evolved into two races, the Eloi and the Morlocks. \n"The Time Machine" is successful in portraying the story by Wells. His story is provocative, especially in the fact it was written long before simple technological advances. The projection of the future is chilling, making "The Time Machine" comparable to movies like "A.I." and "Planet of the Apes." The problem "The Time Machine" encounters is the universal familiarity of the overdone time machine plot. \nSince Wells wrote the novel in 1895, hundreds of parodies and reinterpretations of the story have been created and recreated again. Although Wells' idea may have been fresh and incredible in its debut, now the construction of a time machine is laughable, unimaginable and downright cheesy. \nAlthough the movie is trite and stale in its plot, "The Time Machine" does provide an ample amount of cinematic entertainment. The special effects are stunning and beautiful. For example, as Hartdegen rides through time in his machine the audience watches as flowers bloom and wither in fast-forward motion. The movie also succeeds in holding the attention of the audience, generating action-packed scenes and occasional comedic dialogue by Orlando Jones. \n"The Time Machine" comes off as hokey and overdone, a bad combination for a movie attempting to glorify a literary classic. However, the special effects and campy entertainment value are worth taking the time to catch a $2 "cheap seat" viewing of the movie over at the mall. \n

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