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Amazon.co.uk Review
Just enough of Michael Crichton's novel survives in Timeline to make it a passable popcorn thriller. It's likely that Crichton fans will lament the shallowness of director Richard Donner's film, and its gee-whiz style of acting lays waste to any scientific credibility that Crichton's scenario might have retained. Still, the Crichton formula is a sturdy one, following the model of Westworld and Jurassic Park by involving a small band of adventurers in a fantastical realm of danger and death. In this case, a group of archaeologists and combat experts (led by Paul Walker and Frances O'Connor) use a "3-D fax machine" (so much for technobabble) to time-travel back to France in 1357, in hope of retrieving Walker's father (Billy Connolly) and returning safely to the present. No such luck. Fending for themselves against marauding hordes of medieval French warriors at war with the invading British, these semi-intrepid travellers find their body count rising, and the deadline for their return home is rapidly approaching. All well and good, so far, and the castles-and-crossbows action reaches a fever pitch, but it's obvious that Donner is too lazy to make the much better film that this could and should have been. Despite its enjoyable highlights, Timeline is perfunctory entertainment. --Jeff Shannon
DVD Description
From director/producer Richard Donner (Lethal Weapon) and producer Lauren Shuler Donner (X-Men). Inspired by the author Michael Crichton (Jurassic Park), Timeline is a thrilling action adventure. Timeline is about a team of student archaeologists digging at a medieval site in France when suddenly their professor disappears … into the 14th century! Embarking on a perilous journey to rescue him from the middle of a feudal war, the students find they’re not just excavating the past – they’re living it.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This has an interesting and unusual idea as a basis (from a book by Michael Crichton) but sadly seems to lose it's way at times.
Basically a space/time 'wormhole' is discovered enables people to travel back in time- but only to medieval France. A group of archaeologists are coerced into going back to save one of their number stranded there.
There's a clash of cultures between the Scientists/Military/MoneyMen versus the History-loving Archaeologists. There's a lot of inconsistencies glossed over (presumably explained in the book) but hey- it's an action film first and foremost.
It has an abrupt start and I thought 'Great! That means there's so much to fit into the rest of the film that they've glossed over character building and scene setting!'.
I was wrong. It meanders once it gets going and seems to think it has to justify how History can be 'F.U.N'
Having said that there's a dependable and credible (if odd) cast, and Richard Donner is a veritable stalwart of cinema direction.
The locations are beautiful- shot mainly in Quebec (which is in line with it's French connection!). Some of the sets are impressive too and the stunts pretty good.
So all-in-all a bit formulaic but not a bad film.
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Having not read the book, my general opinion of this film is certainly higher than many of the other reviews here. I personally found it was very well paced, had very nice and well choreographed action sequences, and had a decent (if simplistic) story. It's based on a book by the same author who wrote Jurassic Park, and in fact the composition of this film seemed to be very similar to that one (substitute dinosaurs for medieval knights, genetic manipulation with time travel, and there you go).
Unfortunately, just like Jurassic Park, the characters are fairly one-dimensional and the plot is very straightforward. One failing of this film that Jurassic Park didn't have is the science (or lack thereof). The word 'wormhole' is mentioned a couple of times, but that's about it. I can understand a director/producer not wanting to confuse the audience with unnecessary jargon, but in this case where the scientific theory underpins the whole focus of the plot (e.g. getting there, and getting back), more time should have been taken explaining the machine and how (and why) it does what it does.
The acting was fairly decent for the most part, with Connolly, O'Connor and Friel giving the best performances (as you might expect). Unfortunately, I thought the main lead (Walker) was less convincing, but this is probably more to do with the weak characterisation than the actor's talent. The 'bad guys' as a whole could have been played considerably more menacing; I think Hollywood has finally past the point where just having an English accent is enough for the audience to tell that a character is supposed to be evil!
One thing missing from the film is a sense of humour. Once the main characters have gone back in time, they spend pretty much all their time hiding or fighting - the odd humorous line or moment would certainly have helped raise the tone of the film, which is strangely rather dark. It's almost as if the film makers pitched the film at the wrong audience, this should clearly have been a family action/adventure film like Jurassic Park or Pirates of the Caribbean.
I actually bought this film because its music is composed by Brian Tyler, who wrote the music for the 'Children of Dune' mini series. Unfortunately, the score to this film isn't nearly as original or atmospheric as that, which was a bit disappointing.
The DVD itself is also rather disappointing. It has no special features at all (not even a trailer or cast bios) and doesn't even have subtitles.
This is a fast paced, medieval action film. If you liked Jurassic Park and like films with knights, catapults and plenty of sword fighting you'll probably like this film. If however you expect a sci-fi film or a tense thriller (which from the trailer, you would have assumed this film was) then you'll be disappointed.
Unfortunately, just like Jurassic Park, the characters are fairly one-dimensional and the plot is very straightforward. One failing of this film that Jurassic Park didn't have is the science (or lack thereof). The word 'wormhole' is mentioned a couple of times, but that's about it. I can understand a director/producer not wanting to confuse the audience with unnecessary jargon, but in this case where the scientific theory underpins the whole focus of the plot (e.g. getting there, and getting back), more time should have been taken explaining the machine and how (and why) it does what it does.
The acting was fairly decent for the most part, with Connolly, O'Connor and Friel giving the best performances (as you might expect). Unfortunately, I thought the main lead (Walker) was less convincing, but this is probably more to do with the weak characterisation than the actor's talent. The 'bad guys' as a whole could have been played considerably more menacing; I think Hollywood has finally past the point where just having an English accent is enough for the audience to tell that a character is supposed to be evil!
One thing missing from the film is a sense of humour. Once the main characters have gone back in time, they spend pretty much all their time hiding or fighting - the odd humorous line or moment would certainly have helped raise the tone of the film, which is strangely rather dark. It's almost as if the film makers pitched the film at the wrong audience, this should clearly have been a family action/adventure film like Jurassic Park or Pirates of the Caribbean.
I actually bought this film because its music is composed by Brian Tyler, who wrote the music for the 'Children of Dune' mini series. Unfortunately, the score to this film isn't nearly as original or atmospheric as that, which was a bit disappointing.
The DVD itself is also rather disappointing. It has no special features at all (not even a trailer or cast bios) and doesn't even have subtitles.
This is a fast paced, medieval action film. If you liked Jurassic Park and like films with knights, catapults and plenty of sword fighting you'll probably like this film. If however you expect a sci-fi film or a tense thriller (which from the trailer, you would have assumed this film was) then you'll be disappointed.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
It is nice tale about time.I do not know why is it rated so low in Rotten Tomatoes.There is everything in this move what you can expect in tale.adventure,history,love friendship,loyality...whatever you want.
Just sit down,relax and enjoy.
And,be sure,Gerard Butler is a cherry on the top.
sweet.
Just sit down,relax and enjoy.
And,be sure,Gerard Butler is a cherry on the top.
sweet.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
A huge waste of time
Fundamentally, this film is appalling. The acting is wooden, the plot is shocking and the action scenes are rubbish. Read more
Published 2 months ago by A. G. D. Davies
Losing an ear back in time!
Timeline is a perfectly good Sci-fi adventure film, but will never be considered a classic. This is largely because of a weak lead actor in Paul Walker and a messy screenplay. Read more
Published 4 months ago by j.r
super film
Very quick delivery, like the price, a film you could watch with your grandmother! all the family enjoyed it - price very good- pack well -
Published 7 months ago by dectum10
garbage
It's just garbage. Billy Connollys' in it for gawds sake!! The book - on the other hand - is terrific. Buy that instead. Read more
Published 12 months ago by W. A. Buckley
Timeline
I got this film as i love historical films, but sadly it was a bit of a disappointment. I though that the storyline w in the film was a bit lame, and a waste of a cool idea. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Hamama
OK movie
OK timejourney movie. I have a soft spot for time travelling but even so this was not the best movie ever. OK and nothing more.
Published 15 months ago by Lars Rasmussen
Disappointing compared with book and history
Once again Hollywood distorts a book and history in the quest for commercial success. What a shame, they could have preserved the credibility of the content of the book. Read more
Published 18 months ago by TSR
Read the book then watch the film!
I loved this film and even more so after reading the book.
I'll admit that this was my first Michael Crichton book so I don't have anything to compare it with but... Read more
I'll admit that this was my first Michael Crichton book so I don't have anything to compare it with but... Read more
Published 20 months ago by loopyjay
Good book ruined
How could they ruin such a good book? Completely miss cast. Half of it missing. Gone from being another Crichton blockbuster, like Jurassic park, to just another B-Movie. Read more
Published 21 months ago by Salacious Crumb
Daft but fun
Judging by the trailer, budget and casting, this movie aspired to be more than it is. Don't watch it looking for nail-biting drama or historical accuracy - this is a gloriously... Read more
Published on 18 April 2010 by Carole Birley
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