Timeline (2003)

User Rating:

5.3/10   

Director:

Richard Donner

Writers (WGA):

Michael Crichton (novel)
Jeff Maguire (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

26 November 2003 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Fantasy | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

They had to travel into the past to save the future

Plot:

A group of archaeological students become trapped in the past when they go there to retrieve their professor. The group must survive in 14th century France long enough to be rescued.

Plot Keywords:

France | Ruins | Battle | Village | Team

Cast

Paul Walker	...	Chris Johnston
Frances O'Connor	...	Kate Ericson
Gerard Butler	...	Andre Marek
Billy Connolly	...	Professor E.A. Johnston
David Thewlis	...	Robert Doniger
Anna Friel	...	Lady Claire
Neal McDonough	...	Frank Gordon
Matt Craven	...	Steven Kramer
Ethan Embry	...	Josh Stern
Michael Sheen	...	Lord Oliver
Lambert Wilson	...	Lord Arnaut
Marton Csokas	...	Sir William De Kere / William Decker
Rossif Sutherland	...	François Dontelle
Steve Kahan	...	Baker
David La Haye	...	Arnaut's Deputy

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for intense battle sequences and brief language.

Runtime:

116 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | French

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

Australia:M | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:14A (Alberta/Manitoba) | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG (British Columbia/Ontario) | Iceland:12 | South Korea:15 | Malaysia:U | Argentina:13 | Brazil:12 | Finland:K-15 | Germany:12 | Netherlands:12 | Norway:15 | Singapore:PG | Sweden:11 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | UK:12A | USA:PG-13 (certificate #40033)

Filming Locations:

Harrington, Québec, Canada

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

Twice in the movie (first when Lady Claire is reunited with the French knights, and later in the final battle), a French knight's shield has the Québec flag painted on it. These scenes where shot in Québec, along with every 14th century France scenes.

Goofs:

Audio/visual unsynchronized: When Doniger is trapped in the machine, after he says he doesn't have his marker, when he says the words "I'll never get home!" his mouth isn't moving.

Quotes:

Gordon: Trust me- we're in 1357 France.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Journey Through 'Timeline' (2004) (V)

Soundtrack:

Just A Little Bad

The movie is fine, but treat yourself and read the book too

Based on some of the other comments I was expecting to hate this movie. I didn't, but I see why the reviews seem so negative. There are so many things to pick at, and no real bright spots to talk up.

It really wasn't that bad. It wasn't great, but it's worth a rental. I'm not sure I would have felt I got my money's worth in the theater.

I'm sure it was a tough chore to convert the original story to a 2-hour movie script. They had to take several liberties and condense quite a bit to do so. Unfortunately, that affected the flow and the movie ends up being a little choppy. How and why they go back in time is pretty well cut out of the movie and without any detail the believability is nil. The story boils down to a pretty standard chase and explosion thriller set in the middle ages.

Definitely treat yourself to a read of the book the movie is based on. Like any book, the depth of characterization is so much more rich and interesting than what comes through in the movie. Once you get past the introductory technical jargon to set up the story it is a real page turner.