Paul Walker Movie:

Editorial 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 hopes 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 travelers 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's 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

Timeline [Region 2] Reviews:
A pleasant escape
2009-11-07 - I read Crichten's book and loved it so I wanted to see the movie. It was fun and mixed action, history, romance, and suspense. As far as I am concerned, Gerard Butler carries every movie he is in and I liked Claire and Donniger. Paul Walker is cute, but not a terrific actor. In addition, there were several historical mistakes made (modern historians and scientists don't know the actual "recipe" for Greek Fire, among other errors). But if you are able to file up a large amount of "willing suspension of disbelief" then this movie is pleasant and fun.

Let's go a digging!
2009-11-04 - Seeing snippets of this film on TV aroused my curiosity, but that was all.

Billy Connoly's archaeology professsor character is a disgrace to the profession, claiming the Hundred year ended a century too early, and trampling all over excavation sites.

Thankfully the good Prof goes missing before he does history any further mischief. Not that you actully notice anyway, until someone tells you he has been gone for 2 weeks.

The characters are poorly developed, and are usually killed before you can get to know them.
Those that aren't spend most of thier time climbing on buildings, and smashing up walls. One decides to rescue a French girl (Anna Friel with a very bad accent), from the nasty English who kill the French for sport (after having ran out of deer.)

The film relies on non-stop action, as opposed to telling good storytelling.
So for two hours the baddies chase peasants, stab people, burn houses and dangle women from battlements. All because they are English of course. Reason enough.

"Timeline" the movie. From the book by Michael Chricton
2009-03-02 - A very good movie. An artful blend of science fiction and history, with a touch of romance. Good action, a good portryal of the trebuchet as the "terror weapon" of the 1300's Worth watching.

Great Movie
2008-12-29 - This was an outstanding SCI-FI movie . The acting was very good and the plot was excellent. Great special effects and a stong cast. The DVD Was in good shape and played well. Great deal for .88c

Never a dull moment in this movie.
2008-11-29 - I am not one who enjoys an action film. I did find myself drawn to this one though. It has charm and wonderful actors. There is twist's and turns throughout the film. My husband loved it so much that I decided to buy this for him. It's definately worth buying! It takes you through time but in a way that it differs from the rest of the "time traveling" films. It's the only one of it's kind and Would make a wonderful gift for anyone.