The special effects are understandably better than the original but the rest of the movie is almost a pure waste of time. Even Sci-Fi movies need good acting.

This is a showy and entertaining story about an idea everyone has dreamed of: having power over time.The art direction is striking, from the intricate Victorian machinery to the balloon-like homes of the Eloi. Pearce's performance seems overwhelmed by all that is going on around him, but Orlando Jones is delightful as a virtual repository of all human knowledge, pop singer Samantha Mumba has a strong, sweet presence as the Eloi teacher who befriends Alexander, and Jeremy Irons is shiver- evil as the creature who prizes his own survival above everything.

Some parts were a bit confusing and unnecessary (such as the blue guy) and the plot could've been better. But it was an alright movie. I first heard of it through an episode of the CBS sitcom "The Big Bang Theory", and saw it at a local bookstore on VHS. I still have a VHS player, so I decided to get it. The movie was totally worth 50 cents. By the way, another confusing part was the way it explained how humans evolved into two separate species caused just by the moon "falling out of the sky" even though the moon isn't in the sky! It's over 200,000 miles away from earth! There weren't any especially ridiculous scenes but it is quite convenient that the Artificial Intelligence lasted 800,000 years. I kind of liked him, though

the first verdict - it is far to be an adaptation of Wells novel. and that is not a surprise because after few good adaptations is not easy to present something new. but it could be only a detail and the freedom of creation of film team is out of doubt. but the result is so confuse than the message is lost at all. only virtue - maybe the images and the meeting with few real great actors - Phyllida Law is one of them. is it enough ? I do not know. because as adaptation or only a Sci. Fi who has the idea of novel as starting point are unrealistic. the film is only expression of director ambition. but he is fan of his version in high measure and that fact deserves a fake image. the message, the lesson as parable about humanity evolution are out of script. and Guy Pearce is the first victim of error.