In 1893, in London, H.G. Wells (Malcolm McDowell) has just finished his time machine, when his friend Dr. John Leslie Stevenson (David Warner) – indeed Jack the Ripper – uses it to escape from the Scotland Yard. Wells decides to follow John, and arrives in 1979, in San Francisco. While in a bank chasing John, he meets Amy Robbins (Mary Steenburgen),who is responsible for the exchange of currencies, and she gives the address of John, in Hyatt Hotel. Wells and Amy have a crush on each other, while John threatens them, trying to get the key of the time machine. "Time After Time" is a classic, and one of my favorite sci-fi movies. The first time I saw it was in 1979, in the movie theater, then I have watched it at least three times on VHS, and now it was my debut on DVD. The plot has some irrelevant inconsistencies, as usual in movies that deal with time travel, but these flaws do not reduce its charming. There is sci-fi, action, romance, suspense and drama blended in a delightful story. Malcolm McDowell and Mary Steenburgen have a perfect chemistry, and Malcolm McDowell has probably one of the nicer character in his career, where I would like to highlight three excellent movies and performances in his filmography: the masterpiece "A Clockwork Orange", "Time After Time" and "Cat People". David Warner is excellent as usual in the role of a charming villain. "Time After Time" is a highly recommended film, for lovers of sci-fi films. My vote is ten.

Title (Brazil): "Um Século em 43 Minutos" ("One Century in 43 Minutes")

"Time After Time" is the sort of escapist fantasy that you just need to suspend disbelief in order to enjoy--and very enjoyable this film certainly is. Additionally, it's quite romantic and is a movie I strongly recommend you watch.

The film begins in London during the time of Jack the Ripper (David Warner). Coincidentally, the famous writer H.G. Wells (Malcolm McDowell) has just built a working time machine and the Ripper uses it to avoid being caught by the police. But Wells knows he cannot allow this maniac to escape and travels to 1979 in search of the murderer. There, Wells falls in love with a lady (Mary Steenburgen) and enlists her help to find the killer.

This movie works for a variety of reasons. It's certainly one of McDowell's best performances and it's nice to see him being vulnerable and more multidimensional than his other famous roles (such as in "A Clockwork Orange"). The film also looks and sounds wonderful (with a lovely score by Miklós Rózsa) and is wonderfully directed by Nicholas Meyer. Well worth seeing and a rousing adventure that both men and women will likely enjoy.

Time After Time has Malcolm McDowell cast as the famous H.G. Wells who hasn't turned to writing yet, but is quite the scientist and has built the famous time machine he wrote about. It's peer into the future maybe see if and when the Utopia he thinks humankind is destined for comes about. It certainly hasn't in 1979 the year Wells travels to the future in San Francisco of that year.

But Wells is on a more important mission. Using the machine before him was David Warner, a doctor friend of Wells and a convivial dining companion who happens to be the infamous Jack the Ripper. Wells means to bring him back to face British justice.

Warner of course continues the activities which made him infamous. The challenge for Wells who represents the ultimate in civilization is does he have the right stuff to bring down a man who has become known in history as the incarnation of pure evil.

Along the way we learn that Wells snatched his second wife from the future one Amy Robbins played by Mary Steenburgen. That was the maiden name of Wells's second wife, not that he was the most faithful of husbands. But she put up with his infidelities in real life and had a few of her own.

Time After Time is based on an interesting notion produced well for the big screen. All three of the leads give great performances.

As for Wells he remains optimistic though far more realistic.