I have no time to go to the movies
right now and it’s really pissing me off because there is a bunch of movies I
REALLY want to see. One of those movies
is Looper, about a guy who is hired
to kill people the mob sends back through time which looks totally
amazing. Even though I haven’t seen it
yet, it got my juices flowing and has led me to list one of my favorite genre
of film, the time travel movie. I only
considered movies in which moving back and forth in time is a central plot
point. So, Donnie Darko, which does have time travel in it, is not on the list
because most of the movie goes on without us knowing it’s about time
travel. Also, like with my Top 5 Vampire
Novel list, I’m not as read as I should be, so Primer and Time After Time,
two movies that sound like they would show up on my list, won’t because I
haven’t seen them yet. Without further
ado, here is my Top 5 Time Travel Movies…
5) The Time Machine
I’m listing
the original Time Machine, not that
crappy 2002 re-make with Guy Pearce.
It’s the first time travel movie that I remember seeing, based on what
I’m pretty sure was the first time travel story ever written (or at least the
most famous). I still remember watching
Rod Taylor jump into his machine, pull the lever, and sit there as time changed
around him. It blew my mind. It may not be the most complex story about
time travel, it may not be the best acted, it certainly doesn’t have the
special effects of the more modern fare, but there is something to be said
about the original story, the movie that launched our obsession with time
travel.
4) Bill And Ted’s
Excellent Adventure
This is a
totally underrated movie that seems to have been forgotten over time. Bill and Ted were the original Beavis and
Butthead, complete morons who somehow stumble upon victory. The genius of this movie was its ability to
be both clever and moronic with its humor.
The depiction of historical figures was both funny and informative and
played beautifully off the stereotypes survey history courses have given
them. This also has the privilege of
being one of three movies that I can actually stand Keanu Reeves in (Matrix and
Parenthood being the others).
3) Back to the Future
For my
generation, this is an untouchable classic.
I’ve never met anyone who had anything bad to say about it. If The Time Machine kick started my love of
time travel movies, Back to the Future stoked the fire. Michael J. Fox was brilliant and Christopher
Lloyd’s Doc Brown has gone down as one of films greatest characters. There is something to be said about time
travel comedies being generally better then dramas, I have three on this list,
and this movie is a great example of a film that was able to be both funny and
dramatic, the best of both worlds and family entertainment at its absolute
best.
2) 12 Monkeys
This isn’t
really a movie for the masses, I’ve heard plenty of people say it was confusing
or that they didn’t get it, but I find it a beautiful piece of art. It’s Terry Gilliam at his best, creating a
wonderfully fantastic world filled with amazing characters. Bruce Willis and Brad Pitt put in amazing
performances that helped flesh out those characters. I’ll admit, it does get a little confusing at
points, but it’s still a great movie about time travel and its potential benefits
and consequences.
1) Time Bandits
I guess
there is something about Terry Gilliam and the fantastic worlds he creates that
just lend themselves to great time travel movies. On the surface this is a much lighter, family
friendly time travel story then 12
Monkeys. It’s a wonderful comedy and
a totally original premise as far as time travel is concerned. Yet, like most Gilliam films, it does have a
dark side that gives the story great depth.
This is one of my all time favorites, time travel or not, and is a must
see movie for anyone. The visuals are
amazing, the comedy is clever, and the story is poignant. Just an amazing movie.
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