Timeline (B- or 2.5/4 stars)
'Timeline' is directed by Richard Donner & based on a Michael Crichton story. The movie begins with all the main characters working inside an old monastery at an archeological site in Castlegard, France. Here, we meet Chris (Paul Walker), Kate (Frances O'Connor), Andre (Gerard Butler) & Prof. Johnson/Chris' father (Billy Connolly). A corporation of sorts has discovered/invented a way to move objects from one place to another (time travel).
Unfortunately, Prof. Johnson, through a wormhole in time, has been transported to Castlegard, France in the year 1357 AD. He has no weapons, or ideology of how to adapt to 14th c France (France & England are in constant, intense, medieval battle). Chris is desperate to get his father back safely. And so, a team of 6 or 7 characters go into the time machine & get transported to 1357 AD. Around their necks is a device that shows how much time they have let before they must return to 2003 AD, and a button to press that will bring them back in case of emergency. However, to bring even MORE tension to this movie (there's plenty), the time machine explodes, making it impossible for the characters to return to the present.
That is, unless, the technical team can re-build the machine in time. In 1357 AD France, there's a lot of run-and-hide, swordfight, crawl on a rooftop, run-and-hide, swordfight, crawl in a tunnel type action. Some of it is repetitive, but a lot of it is really stressful … in a good way. I was fidgeting in my seat. I love movies that do that to me. Along the way, there had to be time allotted for romance. Andre meets & falls in love with Lady Claire (she is some form of royalty and is destined to die). And Kate allows herself to fall for Chris.
There are deaths of some of the introduced characters, but Richard Donner does not allow the audience to get too attached to most of these them. The climax of the movie is the highlight. The battle at the castle, coinciding with Kate and Chris' mad dash to find a secret passage way out of the monastery makes for an intense ending. And a last attempt for the remaining characters to get back to 2003 AD alive is one of those … down-to-the-last-second moments. My favorite performances come from Frances O'Connor & Gerard Butler. They are the only actors who put any passion into their performances. This is a fun, entertaining movie that doesn't have a ridiculous plotline. I wasn't amazed by the film. The only thing(s) that are 'groundbreaking' here are the archeologists. But I did enjoy the ride.
Unfortunately, Prof. Johnson, through a wormhole in time, has been transported to Castlegard, France in the year 1357 AD. He has no weapons, or ideology of how to adapt to 14th c France (France & England are in constant, intense, medieval battle). Chris is desperate to get his father back safely. And so, a team of 6 or 7 characters go into the time machine & get transported to 1357 AD. Around their necks is a device that shows how much time they have let before they must return to 2003 AD, and a button to press that will bring them back in case of emergency. However, to bring even MORE tension to this movie (there's plenty), the time machine explodes, making it impossible for the characters to return to the present.
That is, unless, the technical team can re-build the machine in time. In 1357 AD France, there's a lot of run-and-hide, swordfight, crawl on a rooftop, run-and-hide, swordfight, crawl in a tunnel type action. Some of it is repetitive, but a lot of it is really stressful … in a good way. I was fidgeting in my seat. I love movies that do that to me. Along the way, there had to be time allotted for romance. Andre meets & falls in love with Lady Claire (she is some form of royalty and is destined to die). And Kate allows herself to fall for Chris.
There are deaths of some of the introduced characters, but Richard Donner does not allow the audience to get too attached to most of these them. The climax of the movie is the highlight. The battle at the castle, coinciding with Kate and Chris' mad dash to find a secret passage way out of the monastery makes for an intense ending. And a last attempt for the remaining characters to get back to 2003 AD alive is one of those … down-to-the-last-second moments. My favorite performances come from Frances O'Connor & Gerard Butler. They are the only actors who put any passion into their performances. This is a fun, entertaining movie that doesn't have a ridiculous plotline. I wasn't amazed by the film. The only thing(s) that are 'groundbreaking' here are the archeologists. But I did enjoy the ride.