MovieChat Forums > Time After Time (1979) Discussion > Does anyone else think . . .

Does anyone else think . . .

posted 19 years ago by Retro_81
13 replies | jump to latest

that John wanted to die?

I know John does everything he can to avoid being arrested and executed for murder -- but then there's that scene at the end where H.G. is about to send him to Infinity.

There's this small moment where H.G. is about to pull the key out of the time machine, which will essentially destroy John, and he pauses to look up at John's face. John kind of gives him this subtle head nod, as if to say, "Do it, H.G., the world's better off without me."

Anyway, that's how I interpret the scene.

I think there were two sides to John's personality -- a good side, and a bad side. The good side was appalled by all the murders the bad side was committing, but it was powerless to do anything about the situation. Death was the only way out, so when H.G. was about to kill him, there was a feeling of relief. John was thankful that this crazy nightmare he'd been living out would finally be over.

Kay

[–] RandyL712 19 years ago

John / Jack's look is meant to say, "Ahh, you got me! Checkmate indeed." You're creating fiction when you contemplate the lighter side of him.

[–] Retro_81 19 years ago

"John / Jack's look is meant to say, 'Ahh, you got me! Checkmate indeed.' You're creating fiction when you contemplate the lighter side of him."

The "chess explanation" had occurred to me too. What makes me "contemplate the lighter side of him" is not just the look he gives H.G., but the entire scene in question.

Think about it. John has the chance to kill Amy in that scene, but instead he takes pity on H.G. and lets Amy go. Also, listen carefully to the way he says, "I'm sorry H.G., but it's checkmate and you've lost again." To me, he doesn't sound like a cold-blooded killer when he says this. He sounds . . . I dunno, a little sad.

Of course, even if John DID have a lighter side, it doesn't mean I'm right about him wanting H.G. to kill him. I have to admit that the chess explanation seems a bit more plausible.

[–] brian67761 19 years ago

My theory is that H.G. hesitates when he is about to kill John because they used to be friends. John understands this and nods in order to say "I deserve to die."

[–] 19 years ago

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[–] movieghoul 16 years ago

It'sd not a question of a lighter side, but Jack the Ripper, both in theory and in this movie, is definitely schizo, maintaining an unblemished life as a VIctorian gentleman while committing mayhem on the side.

Remember that Jack the RIpper was not an indiscriminant serial killer, he had a thing for prostitutes only. So when he kills Amy's friend and threatens Amy, he's out of his usual territory. Seeing HG's anguish might have brought him to his senses.

[–] indy_go_blue44 13 years ago

Not schitzo(phrenic), a mental condition in which a person is for the most part of out touch with reality, has hallucinations, hears voices, has delusions of reference (ie, the tv's sending me messages) and has jumbled speech and other recognizable symptoms.

John was a sociopath; amiable, sociable, friendly (when he wanted to be and it fit his purposes) yet capable of committing horrible cold-blooded murder of defenseless women and feel absolutely no remorse.

Sociopathy is considered a personality disorder, which all criminals have to a greater or lesser degree. "I" is the most important person in the world. No conscience, no remorse is the mark of a sociopath and it fit John to a tee.

Remember though, that when John released Amy, he also humiliated George. "She's not particularly attractive, is she? You don't love her, do you?"

[–] 13 years ago

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[–] jim6263 15 years ago

It's also somewhat of an ironical admission by John -- as Wells has him trapped, and literally holds the key, again, to John's future -- that there may be some truth to Well's altruistic ideals, albeit they are not as yet achieved by humanity's "human nature" in great measure. John knew what he (and the world) was and would rather be that or be nothing, so he was in quite a conundrum, quagmire in his psyche.

J.m.o.

Overall, a clever and creative fantasy/mystery romantic redo of Well's "Time Machine" with a definite edge to it, And filmed on location in S.F. (always a plus!). A few annoying continuity flaws for the older and/or more preceptive viewers (or repeat viewers) -- like the cab's brief folley track from "Bullitt" and couple of featured extras turning up as 2 diff. characters (cousins or brother-in-law/s of the Dir. or Prod'r, perhaps?) but, overall, great fun.

An 8.5

[–] 15 years ago

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[–] randybob275 14 years ago

I interpreted it that either like you said,"Do it, H.G., the world's better off without me." or that he is saying/thinking something like,"you got me where you want me H.G., pull the plug and stop me for all time." Either way, I did see John shake his head in agreement.

[–] maxrenn-934-602191 13 years ago

I was thinking the same thing myself. For starters he knew that Wells could have taken the key out and killed him, because he asked him at the start of the film what the key does. Getting into the machine with Wells so close by was suicide.

Also, anyone noticed how Jack cries whenever he kills someone. Now if that doesn't show a part of him, is disgusted with what he's doing. Then I don't know what does.

[–] jschillig 13 years ago

I gotta say...I really like the way those last few minutes of the movie play. After H.G. says, "John...we were friends...I respected you..." have you noticed how unsteady Stephenson sounds when he replies, "Oh, what are you on about, H.G.? Really, you've become quite an old fool, haven't you?" Then, on "I'm sorry, H.G...it's checkmate, and you've lost again..." he really does sound apologetic, almost on the verge of tears. It's as if whatever humanity is left in John Leslie Stephenson is responding to his old friend.

In that light, that final look of acknowledgement could be read as, "well, you've got checkmate, after all, H.G....get it over with" or as "you were right all along, H.G....now get rid of me before I make anything worse."

[–] roddmatsui 12 years ago

I like to think of it as a rather ambiguous moment. You can read a lot into it. It is a neat wrap-up to the chess game.

Had Stevenson dragged Amy into the machine with him, he might have succeeded in stranding Wells!

And, as in the George Pal film, when Wells pulls the equalizer out, the nonviolent time traveler solves the problem by finally resorting to killing. It's a sad moment of triumph, in a way.