The Time Machine

by

Klaus Badelt

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I've found Klaus Badelt's score for "The Time Machine" to be one of the best I've heard. The music is a perfect match to a movie which I felt was not given justice by the critics. Professor Hartdegen's theme, which is predominated by the piano and sounds right at home in early 20th century New York, matches the rather bookish character perfectly. Badelt's use of the African style vocals, woodwinds, and percussion is inspiring and appropriate for the Eloi and their culture.

Of course the Morlocks, being the villains, get a pretty good theme themselves. While much of it is slow, heavy, and ominous, track 11, "Morlock Attack", is some of the most exciting music of any score I've heard. The use of vocals helps to emphasize the otherworldly nature of the underground dwellers. A quicker, brass version of Hartdegen's theme mixes with that of the Morlocks as he has an encounter with one of the more persistent members of their species.

By far some of the best music is that associated with the time machine and time travel itself, although to really appreciate it one has to see the film to understand exactly what's going on and why the music works so well. As the world around Hartdegen and his time machine changes at an incredible pace the music builds, finally reaching its most dramatic heights when the Professor's quaint New York of the early 1900's rises up into an early to mid-21st century metropolis.

"The Time Machine" proves that Badelt is more than capable of producing a memorable score which does more than simply accompany the special effects. The music is at times inspiring, exciting, sometimes eerie, and always befitting of the movie. Why haven't we heard from Badelt before?

Director Simon Wells (H.G. Wells great-grandson) takes us on a classic adventure into the

world of science fiction ~ "THE TIME MACHINE", casting Guy Pearce (Alexander

Hartdegen as our hero), Samantha Mumba (Mara), Orlando Jones (Vox), Jeremy Irons,

Mark Addy and Phyllida Law...even Alan Young (who appeared in the 1960 version) cast as

a flower store worker...we take a trip from 1895 through 800,000 years, faced with two

different races ~ the Eloi who are peace-loving above ground people...at the other end of the

spectrum we have the Morlocks, who are subterranean and less than hospitable...this film is

loaded with special effects and in some ways more complete in story-line...but for my money,

give me the original.

Let's stand back for a moment and check out the music...composer Klaus Badelt, who

previously scored ~ "The Pledge" last year, now try's his hand with one of the most published

sci-fi novels every written...our viewer is looking for over-the-top scoring, but never

surfaces...Badelt's soundtrack is flat, lacks the punch and depth we should expect...one

wonders if Jerry Goldsmith, Hans Zimmer or Trevor Rabin might have been a better

choice...just look at Howard Shore, his contribution to blockbuster "The Lord of the Rings",

which won the Oscar for Best Score this year...was a pleasant surprise.

Total Time: 57:35 on 15 Tracks ~ Varese Sarabande 302-066-337-2 ~ (2002)