So I am trying to make this list an interesting read compared to the general lists floating about on mainstream articles but I need others input too. I want to hear your good ideas.
Ok
The Time Machine (2002)
Another B-Movie of a modest Budget and another film with a story to tell about production trouble in the bonus features.
First up we have a deleted opening scene which should be restored to the film as the content of this scene permiates throughout the plot and provides important context for scenes that appear later on.
Next we have a deleted FX sequence that was apprently completed of the moon breaking up and meteorites slamming into buildings in New york. This was removed due to 9/11 terrorist attacks. This ILM fx sequence remains unreleased.
The next problem revolves around Stan Winstons Morlocks. The creatures were designed to only ever be shot and photographed in the dark. All the scenes were due to be set at night as they are nocturnal creatures. Then this suddenly changed and Stan Winston studios openly proclaimed our work looks shit here because the producers keep changing stuff too late in the design process and basically the statement firmly places blame on the studio for there whole look and appearance being poor. Surely this could have been somewhat remedied as doing a day for night color grading on the morlock scenes? I think having nocturnal creatures running about in the day should call for the intention of “day for night” grading to remedy these sequences and perhaps get these parts looking as originally intended. The Morlocks should of had reflective eyes or lit eyes? This could be a further missing attribute for the these monsters…
Finally the Director Simon Wells related to Orson Wells then suffered an exhaustion burn out and Gore Verbinski was brought in to finish off the film.
The ending was completely reshot and Jeremy Irons part was added late in production he was not originally attached to be in the film. It is noted that the film does not contain any mention of inequality and utopia as in the novel or any anti war messages which is sorely lacking. Especially leading up to this point should have been more pronounced. It does beg the question about other times he was perhaps due to visit to see these themes not perhaps have them explained.
In the theatrical trailer there is different VFX background at 1.14 for a Time travel arrival in far future showing the Eloi had evolved into a technolgical race. Something may have changed there or it was cut also. Another deleted scene… I guess showing hope before things go to hell. The Teaser trailer contains a good version of the time machine with guy pearce inside and an animatic for the logo with a mobius strip cool design that logo. Should be on the cover or the disc menu.
The film actually exists in a reality where the book is acknoledged to have been written by H.G. Wells and a fictional musical by Andrew Loyd Webber which Vox starts singing. That there should be cut out of the film. It is totally lame.
Theres an interesting story about production problems that would make for good special features material. Also a featurette on the actual time machine prop would be nice an impressive steam punk looking bit of kit and very expensive too to build it $13M. Whilst it’s not an amazing film there is scope to improve upon what is there in a Special extended edition release.
Furthermore the soundtrack is extremely good for this film way better than the film itself. A special feature on the soundtrack would be great as well. Perhaps also a feature on Orson Wells too would be something to pad it out going over his body of work.
All in all the time machine was ok but just barely scraping the average but the ingredients were there to be better than what it actually was. Is the future of this film written in destiny or could it be changed for better or for worse. Whilst making it destiny was not considered at all. So Fix this film up and present a better vetsion as intended. I feel that there could be even more unreleased stuff for this film that has still yet to be released. Anyhow that’s the special edition premise idea.