“The Time Machine” is a 2002 science fiction film directed by Simon Wells, based on H.G. Wells’ classic 1895 novel of the same name. The film stars Guy Pearce, Samantha Mumba, Mark Addy, and Jeremy Irons. It presents a modernized adaptation of the original story, blending elements of adventure, romance, and speculative fiction.

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.