Time After Time (1979)

H.G. Wells meets Jack the Ripper

That sounds a little corny, but I'll try anything with Malcolm McDowell in it. David Warner as the bad guy seems to be the perfect role for him as an actor. The "babe" in this film, well, maybe not a "babe", but the "woman of interest" here is Mary Steenburgen. I've come to notice that she seems to like films about time travel. You'll remember that she was also the school teacher in the 1800's in "Back To The Future III". I still think that "The Time Machine" from 1960 is far better than this film, but this one is better than the 2002 version of "The Time Machine".
This movie is worth renting, but Malcolm McDowall had a better film just a couple years later. He was really cool and creepy in 1982's "Cat People." Of course, his best is still "A Clockwork Orange."
September 1, 2008

A Good Movie

The special effects may be crappy for this day and age but that doesn't stop this movie from being a classic. The new version with Guy Pierce may have better special effects but overall I feel this one is a better overall story. You can say it's a time travel movie with a twist. Just get it, you'll see. July 27, 2008

A suspenseful sci-fi thriller!

I was a bit skeptical when I first saw the premise of this movie - many time travel movies fail to deliver but this was an exception. The movie stars Malcolm McDowell who plays H.G. Wells, the famous author who is enjoying a dinner at home with some of his acquaintances and tells them about a time machine that he has built. The setting is late 19th century London, the same period of the infamous Jack the Ripper who also happens to be one of H.G. Well's dining guests. When the police come knocking, Jack pulls a disappearing act in Wells' time machine and it is left to Wells to follow the killer through time into the future, 1979 San Francisco to be exact.

Mary Steenburgen plays a bank clerk who meets both Jack [played to chilling effect by David Warner] and Wells [a very convincing Malcolm McDowell] and falls for Wells, not knowing who he really is. Though the movie is dated, as it is an older movie and the effects are a bit underwhelming, the credible acting by the main leads and well-written story makes for entertaining and suspenseful viewing. There is a bit of romance [Wells and Amy the bank clerk], lots of thrills and a score that truly brings the 70s to mind. All in all, well worth one's time if you like 'period' thrillers with a time travel element. July 14, 2008

A Modern Day Jack the Ripper

I smell H.G. Wells. You got a time machine, romance, and killing by the same guy in two time periods. I love this kind of genre. Tried and true and very well done. Not quite a Sunday morning movie to watch with the kids, but a good movie that holds your attention. July 7, 2008

Finally Bought It

This is one of my favorite movies (time travel has always fascinated me). This one has several twists with both H.G. Wells and Jack The Ripper being joined in the same movie. Add in a young, very innocent appearing Mary Steinbergen and you have a very enjoyable film. October 26, 2007

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