- date_create_from_format: documentation ( source)
<?php
$timetocomp = "2015-05-27 12:32:53";
$dateTimeToCompare = date_create_from_format('Y-m-d H:i:s', $timetocomp);
$dateTimeNoW = new DateTime();
$diff = $dateTimeToCompare->diff($dateTimeNoW);
if($diff->h >= 1) {
echo "difference of at least 1 hour";
} else {
echo "difference less than 1 hour";
}