Another night spent indoors watching movies. Tonight it's the Time Machine. I'm referring to the 1960 version of course and, like anyone with too much free time and few precious social skills, I spotted some odd things in that movie. No, not the fact that the Eloi all look like ABBA. Other things, like...
1) World War III takes place 6 years into the audience's future: this little thing isn't actually such a big deal, but still worth pointing out. Movies where disasters happen have always been set in the not so distant future.
Plus, let's not forget that the Cold War was very much alive and well at the time. Incidentally, this was only 2 years before the Cuban missile crisis.
2) The trains are still running: it's nice to know that even with the incoming nukes being only minutes away, there are still diligent people making sure the trains run on time.
3) Morlocks are extremely flammable: obviously the Morlocks evolved to be flammable and explosive. Or, they've been bathing in liquid paraffin.
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| AIIIIEEEEE! |
4) Can the Time machine land on top of someone? When he's back in 1900 the Time traveler drags his machine to another spot, intending to return to the future outside the Sphinx and where Weena will be.
How the hell does he know he won't land right on top of the Eloi?
People have speculated that it's possible the Time traveler might end up appearing inside a mountain or under the ocean. He might even materialise and finds himself merged into a tree or person who just happened to be on the same spot.
It's only by sheer luck that nothing like this ever happens in his 800,000 year or so journey through time.
5) An undiscovered flower? That proves nothing: aghast that no one believes his adventure took place, the Time traveler brings out his flower from the future, exclaiming "try and match that to any species known today."
That really doesn't prove anything. The Time Machine takes place 64 years after Darwin's voyage around the world when Europeans were discovering hundreds of new species of flora and fauna. Even now, we're still in the process of doing so.
6) Mrs Watchett must think Filby is insane: after the Time traveler leaves for the last time, Filby comments on this and what books he took with him. Meanwhile Mrs Warchett is standing about listening to him talk about time travel and stuff, not quite sure what the hell the Scotsman is on about.
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| Oh Mr Filby, have you had one too many whiskeys again? |
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