This hugely imaginative H.G. Wells sci-fi drama sees WWII continuing on for decades, chronicalling both the collapse and reconstruction of modern society.
Don't be put off by the age of this film. 1936 was a long time ago. We have all seen the scenes of old Sci Fi B movies with shaky UFOs on string and unconvincing alien costumes. However this film stand well above those and is a pillar not only of the sci fi genre but also British film making. Its sheer bravery, scope and ambition must be applauded. Menzies visionary and inventive direction combined with HG Wells' articulate screenplay help make this an engaging and interesting film that like all good sci fi challenges and confronts your own beliefsand thoughts about a wide range of important issues. It does not need aliens, monsters or spaceships, this film holds you attention due to its intelligence and relevance to our lives now. In addition it is refreshing to see Britain emerge as the leading World Superpower and not America. Covering 100 years of history there is little time for developing characters however this is not the point as the central characters only exist to portray ideas and issues to the viewer. Episodic in nature the film leaps from pre WW2 Britian through to 2036 and some astonishing and epic futuristic sets reminiscent of Fritz Lang's Metropolis and echoed in more modern Sci Fis such as Bladerunner and The Matrix trilogy. An impressive film from British cincema which could never be made now and with some telling and chilling predictions about our future, not least the bombing of London 4 years before the event.
I have only seen this film once on telly and I am actually glad that I have found it again and knowing I can watch it anytime I like. Being a huge sci-fi/fantasy fan, I do enjoy a classic sci-fi film that isn't just about aliens invading or mutant ants, bees, bears, monkeys turtles, etc doing something or other. I just hope they don't think of remaking or re-imaging the film as the most of the recent ones are just.....well bland.
It's incredible (and slightly depressing) to think that there was a time when British cinema was actually quite daring, and had more than a bit of vision to go with it. Granted, there's been quite a few decent British films over the years but the film-making climate which could have produced something as ambitious and visionary as this certainly seems like a foreign country in the current age of British cinema. Spanning 100 years of alternative history (and future) from 1940, Things To Come is an epic in every sense but justifies it's broad sweep of subject matter by consistently presenting visual after visual on screen that make you marvel at the year in which it was made. Hailed as England's first $1million film, it's hard to see today's British directors managing as much with 1000 times the budget.
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Sci Fi at its best
A British classic Sci-fi films ever made
classic