The plot follows Dr. Alexander Hartdegen (Guy Pearce), a scientist and inventor living in New York City at the turn of the 20th century. Unlike the original novel’s unnamed protagonist, Alexander is driven by a personal tragedy that fuels his obsession with time travel. After his fiancée, Emma (Sienna Guillory), is tragically killed by a mugger, Alexander becomes determined to change the past and save her life.

Alexander constructs a time machine, a complex and visually impressive device, and travels back to the moment before Emma’s death. Despite his efforts, he finds that changing her fate is impossible, as she dies in different ways no matter what he does. This realization leads him to question the very nature of time and destiny.

Frustrated and seeking answers, Alexander propels himself into the distant future, arriving in the year 2030. Here, he learns about advances in technology and society, but a further tragedy forces him to escape even further into the future. He eventually lands in the year 802,701, where he discovers a world divided between two distinct species: the peaceful, surface-dwelling Eloi and the monstrous, subterranean Morlocks.

Alexander befriends a young Eloi woman named Mara (Samantha Mumba) and her younger brother, Kalen (Omero Mumba). He learns that the Eloi live in fear of the Morlocks, who periodically emerge from underground to capture and eat them. Determined to help the Eloi and understand this future society, Alexander explores the ruins of human civilization and uncovers the catastrophic events that led to humanity’s division.

The climax of the film involves Alexander’s confrontation with the leader of the Morlocks, the Uber-Morlock (Jeremy Irons), a highly intelligent and telepathic being. The Uber-Morlock explains that the Morlocks control the Eloi through fear and selective breeding, maintaining a brutal and hierarchical society. Alexander realizes that the Uber-Morlock represents a dark reflection of humanity’s potential future.

In a final act of defiance, Alexander sabotages his time machine, causing a massive explosion that destroys the Morlock’s underground lair. He sacrifices his ability to return to his own time but secures a hopeful future for the Eloi. The film concludes with Alexander choosing to live among the Eloi, embracing a new life and leaving behind his tragic past.

“The Time Machine” explores themes of loss, destiny, and the consequences of technological advancements. The film’s visual effects, particularly the design of the time machine and the depiction of the future world, were praised for their creativity and execution. However, the movie received mixed reviews from critics, with some praising its ambition and others criticizing its deviations from the source material and its handling of complex themes.