From what I see, the time machine isn�t so much of a time machine (i.e. it can take you to any time instantly) as it is a time-isolation-bubble creation device. That is, it creates a small area of space-time, (?)(isolated time? Area with no decoupled timeflow?) the time of which is relevant only to the person in the bubble.

Evidence to support this comes in the form of the locket which the protagonist dropped outside the bubble by accident. The locket was seen to experience rapid aging at a rate approximately equal to the passing of external time relative to the time experienced in the bubble.

Hence, the machine does not really move time, it merely creates a �bubble� of space (?), which is isolated from normal timeflow. As a result, it should not allow the protagonist to go back in time. (However, the protagonist is shown as being able to travel back in time.)

Sequence of action is as follows; Machine is activated, bubble is created, time in bubble is decoupled from time outside bubble, time inside the bubble moves independently of that outside bubble, time outside moves faster than time inside, time travel appears to be taking place.

(A side note; this is similar to cryogenic freezing, in that in the case of cryogenic freezing, in that you appear to have stopped moving in time. However, this is not really the case, instead it is so because you would have measured time�s passing relative to the rate at which your body operates/ages. Since you were frozen, it would appear that time bypassed you, when in actual fact it had not, and your body had experienced the full time, only the the effects of this time are greatly reduced by the freezing. Hence, a matter of perception. I suppose if you wish to compare it to the time machine, instead of the time machine creating a bubble to isolate you from time, it�s actually your body being the bubble that isolates your mind from time.)

(Another side note; If you slow down the speed at which your mind operates, while your perception of the speed you work at remains unchanged, you would appear to be traveling forward through time at an increased rate as well. However, this is not happening, what has happened is that your perception of time has slowed down relative to the norm. )

The time machine, perhaps, does not really allow the manipulation of time, rather, it allows the isolation of oneself from time, (similar to cryogenic freezing) and as such allows time to move past faster than a normal person would perceive.

I could go on for pages and pages, and I�d really love to discuss this and many other philosophical delights with someone who has genuine interest in these matters, but for now I�m going to stop here, because the movie looks like a lot of work went into it and since channel 5 is (for once!) actually broadcasting something that they haven�t shown more than thrice, and I haven�t watched the movie before, I�m going back to admire the gorgeous scenery and special effects.

(on a side note, I think I didn�t really want to ask her out because she was sooo amazing, rather, I was obsessed because I was bored. And still am. It just gave me something to do. Hence the feeling I�m feeling isn�t really loneliness, it�s boredom. Extreme, extreme boredom. Heck, they could make it a sport. Like extreme wakeboarding. And you�d give scores based on how bored the person was. And to measure it you�d see how fast doing the sport would make the judges want to kill themselves. Or fall asleep. But I digress.)

The point is, back to the movie now!

Tata.

written at 8:53 p.m.