Timeline (2003) A review - by Shlomoh Sherman August 24, 2023

Timeline (2003) Director: Richard Donnerr Writers: Michael, Crichton, Jeff Maguire, George Nolfi Stars: Paul Walker, Gerard Butler, Billy Connolly Motion Picture Rating (MPAA) Rated PG-13 for intense battle sequences and brief language Plot Keywords: one word title - time travel Plot: A group of archaeologists become trapped in the past when they go there to retrieve a friend. The group must survive in 14th-century France before they can escape back to the twenty-first century. Taglines:They had to travel into the past to save the future Genres: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi, War, Drama, Mystery, Thriller Motion Picture Rating (MPAA) Rated PG-13 for intense battle sequences and brief language Country of origin: United States Languages: English, French Release Date: November 26, 2003 (United States) Filming Locations: Mascouche, Qu bec, Canada Company Credits Production Companies: Paramount Pictures, Mutual Film Company, Donners' Company Technical Specs Runtime: 1 hour, 56 minutes Color: color Sound Mix: Dolby Digital DTS Soundtracks: Just A Little Bad, Written & Performed by Vikkie Rae Jordan, Courtesy of Marc Ferrari/MasterSource Box office: Budget: $80,000,000 (estimated) Gross US & Canada: $19,481,943 Gross worldwide: $43,935,763 Timeline on IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0300556/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1 Criticism: Michael Crichton, author of the same-titled book on which this movie was based, disliked this movie so much that he refused to licence any more movies based on his novels. Nobody would gain the movie rights to a Michael Crichton book until Steven Spielberg, long-time friend of Crichton, bought the rights to "Pirate Latitudes" after Crichton's death. Major Goof: The film completely misrepresents the languages being spoken at the time. In 1357, when the film takes place, neither modern French nor modern English would have been spoken. The English would have been speaking Middle English (a language closer in pronunciation and vocabulary to Old English) and the French would have been speaking Occitan - a combination of Middle French and Latin. Certain members of both sides would have spoken Latin, especially the clergy. Michael Crichton details these languages in his book but the film ignores them.

Storyline: I will keep this review brief since I do not wish to sully my keyboard overly much. To paraphrase one reviewer whose name escapes me, I wish I had a time machine so that I could go back in time and talk myself out of watching this insult to movie goers! Where to begin? The story: Although Michael Crichton wrote a reasonably good sci-fi novel, the movie makers (if they can be called such), have managed to destroy the book's plot. The page on IMDB on which the movie appears has this to say: "Michael Crichton, author of the same-titled book on which this movie was based, disliked this movie so much that he refused to licence any more movies based on his novels." Need I really say more? Yes I do. The acting: I am sure that Stanislovsky, the father of modern method acting, is rolling over in his grave. To quote reviwer Heres_Ssupertramp on the reddit website, "I ve seen better acting at an epileptic whore house . The cinematography: Was the director using a modern film camera and just wasting footage on unnecessary scenes that add nothing valuable to the story? Production values: None! Is there anything positive that I can say about the film? The music score was pretty although I have heard better. It was interesting to hear Gerard Butler using his real Scottish accent. That's his complete contribution to the movie. Don't get me wrong. I like Butler's movies, the good ones. As I do on many of my movie reviews, I include a review by someone else on IMDB Here is Bear_78's April 22, 2005 review. If this concept interests you, take the time to read the book. I rented this movie knowing that is it based on a Michael Crichton book. The Movie was somewhat entertaining if you could get past the acting. The sets and the costumes were done well and the battle scenes were plausible. However if you read the book there is so much more to explore with the characters and the action. This book was written so it could be a movie. Ten years down the road this should be remade for justice sake. A mini series on could be in order because of the additional scenes that would be needed. And no I am not naive, I know that in any adaptation sacrifices must be made but I feel that because they got a big name to play Chris, they centered the movie around him when it is clearly better balanced in the book. I am not a book snob but I saw so much potential in this concept that I felt that the movie was unfinished. That is why I read the book. Judge for your self.

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Cast: Paul Walker ... Chris Johnston Gerard Butler ... Andre Marek Billy Connolly ... Professor Johnston Frances O'Connor ... Kate Ericson 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… Rossif Sutherland ... François Dontelle Steve Kahan ... Baker David La Haye ... Arnaut's Deputy Richard Zeman ... Oliver's Lieutenant Patrick Sabongui ... Jimmy Gomez Mike Chute ... Bill Baretto

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