Ephraim Gadsby
H. G. Wells has a sterling reputation based on a handful of brilliant works he composed between 1895 and the turn of the twentieth century. My favorite is THE INVISIBLE MAN, but others may prefer THE TIME MACHINE, THE ISLAND OF DOCTOR MOREAU, THE WAR OF THE WORLDS, THE FIRST MEN IN THE MOON, etc.Some of Wells' views were noxious. He was a long-time socialist and a believer in eugenics and dominant races. Several of his later books were pedantic over his theories of racial hygiene, as well as his obsession for developing a single world government. All this makes some of his later work unreadable today.Wells also composed numerous short stories. Though these are of variable quality, some are among the best creepy stories in the English language."The Infinite Worlds of H. G. Wells" is a three-part series culled from Wells' short stories. Wells himself is portrayed as an active participant in these weird events. Sometimes his role is vital to the stories, at other times his presence is tangential. The series has a framing device of Wells as an old man during World War Two, looking back over his long career and relating some of the strange things that occurred to a young journalist -- who herself might not be all she seems.Wells is presented as an eager young man desperately trying to mature as a successful author, balancing it with his growing love for a woman he calls Jane (though that is not her real name). The unsavory fact that Wells left his first wife for Jane, and he had several affairs and illegitimate children outside of his marriage to her, is fortunately by-passed for this dramatization. Only Wells' sunny side shines through here.Wells and Jane come off as a likable young couple whose worse strain comes from the bizarre situations they and their friends lurch into.Though some of the stories contain tragedy, the stories presented here come off as largely comic, as if Wells were a nineteenth century Douglas Adams. The stories are neatly rewritten to accommodate the author, and to make sure most have charming or happy endings. Strangely, one story that originally had a happy ending is played here for tragedy. And just be careful, if you are inordinately fond of dogs.The series is good for anyone who wants to add a little pleasant and ultimately unimportant weirdness to their lives.If you want to look ahead an see how the stories are altered from the originals, the stories dramatized include "The New Accelerator", "The Queer Story of Brownlow's Newspaper", "The Crystal Egg", "Story of Davidson's Eyes", "The Truth About Pyecraft" (changed much for the better) and "The Stolen Bacillus."
ksaelagnulraon
Collection of six Wells short stories, ranging from time travel to martians to "acceleration", tied together with an ongoing romance between Wells and a female scientist, set toward the end of the 19th Century. It's not a bad production, overall, but most of what is good about the series is owing to Wells' stories themselves; the acting, makeup and effects can be dodgy at times, but that's what you'd expect from a TV miniseries from across the Pacific. Rating: 6/10.
esbglenn
My wife and I watched this over 3 nights on the Hallmark Channel. It was a good way to present 6 short stories, and HG Wells short stories are a much neglected resource.Good characterisations and nicely done in the late 19th century. Whilst some of the HG Wells Biography is ignored, I think that this was acceptable for what the programme aimed to achieve.We do hope that they consider making more :)I would say a 9/10
Robert Nicholas (Rob-77)
If you are a fan of H.G. Wells and like the odd spot of romance then this "made for tv special" is for you. I saw it on the Hallmark Channel over the span of 3 nights and thoroughly enjoyed every minute.The format is reasonably simple. Set in post-WWII, Wells is visited by an "up and coming star" lady, a supposed journalist, who comes to quiz the famous author on an old science chum. This in leads to Wells relating a number of stories that he played some small part in well over 50 years ago. All of the stories are short, lasting about 40 minutes screen time. They mostly revolve around time and its a wonderful exploration on its varying effects on people.Thrown into all of this is Well's love interest. A charming lady scientist who urges the great writer onto bigger and better things.All in all this is one of the better 'made for telly movies' that I've seen. A decent cast, nice settings and a good script. I gave it a rare 10/10.