Films like The Time Machine.

The Time Machine (2002) reads as Sombre, breathless, extreme sci-fi / adventure, inventive in texture. Ambivalent, epic, measured. Every film below is ranked by distance across the same twelve hand-scored axes — with what it keeps, and where it walks away. Not a genre dump.

Timeline (2003) poster
1. Timeline2003

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the world-sized stakes — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

Johnny Mnemonic (1995) poster
2. Johnny Mnemonic1995

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the world-sized stakes — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009) poster
3. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen2009

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the world-sized stakes — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

John Carter (2012) poster
4. John Carter2012

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the world-sized stakes — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

The Chronicles of Riddick (2004) poster
5. The Chronicles of Riddick2004

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the world-sized stakes; trades toward a relentless forward drive.

The Scorpion King (2002) poster
6. The Scorpion King2002

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the world-sized stakes — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

The Host (2013) poster
7. The Host2013

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the world-sized stakes — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

DragonHeart (1996) poster
8. DragonHeart1996

Keeps the world-sized stakes and the white-knuckle intensity — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

Star Trek: Insurrection (1998) poster
9. Star Trek: Insurrection1998

Keeps the world-sized stakes and the relentless forward drive — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

Battle: Los Angeles (2011) poster
10. Battle: Los Angeles2011

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the world-sized stakes; trades toward a relentless forward drive.

The Forbidden Kingdom (2008) poster
11. The Forbidden Kingdom2008

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the world-sized stakes — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

Star Trek: First Contact (1996) poster
12. Star Trek: First Contact1996

Keeps the world-sized stakes and the relentless forward drive — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

These are The Time Machine’s neighbours — where are yours?

Rate five posters and the same twelve axes read you — then tonight’s pick comes from your own centre of taste.

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