Movie Review: Timeline

Timeline

I first saw the trailer for this movie just a few months ago. It was intriguing enough that I made up my mind on the spot that I had to see it. In the interim, I went to my local bookstore and bought the Michael Crichton book on which the movie was based. I read and enjoyed the book very much, and so was primed and ready for the release of Timeline on Thanksgiving weekend.

Timeline spans some 600 years, but focuses on one event in history and the people who played a role in that event. Professor Edward Johnston (Billy Connolly), a prominent archeologist, is at a dig in France attempting to reconstruct the infamous La Roque Castle which fell to the French in a pitched battle with the English in 1357. When Johnston becomes suspicious of the accuracy of maps provided to him by his corporate employer, he leaves for a visit to US-based ITC Corporation and its wealthy founder, Robert Doniger (David Thewlis). Meanwhile, Johnston's son, Chris (Paul Walker) is visiting the dig where he has developed an interest in Kate (France O'Connor), one of his father's most promising students. Because he's stayed to woo Kate, he's there when Kate and midieval history expert André Marek (Gerard Butler) break through to a room that's been sealed for hundreds of years. Knowing that they're about to see things no man has seen for 600 years, the two are never-the-less shocked by what they do find: a bifocal lens, and a note from Professor Johnston asking for help.

Chris immediately demands the attention of ITC, and, as a result, he, Kate, André, budding physicist Stern (Ethan Embry), and French archeological student Francois (Rossif Sutherland) jump on a private jet to New Mexico where they intend to meet with Doniger and find out what's happened to Professor Johnston. No one is prepared to learn that ITC has discovered a method of time travel, and all are dismayed to find that the professor insisted on the opportunity to see the past for himself. Having become stranded in the 14th century, Doniger tells the group he needs them to rescue the professor. Accompanied by Gordon (Neal McDonough), a tough ex-marine who's visited the past before, all but Stern volunteer to make the attempt. Once they arrive, however, they find all of their modern-day knowledge is little help when two determined groups of soldiers are bent on making war, and their dilemma is only complicated further by a chance meeting with Lady Claire (Anna Friel) who, according to history, is to die at the hands of the English that very night.

Timeline is the first Paul Walker movie I've seen, and he almost lives up to his reputation. But I suspect he's more a draw because of his pretty-boy looks than he is for his acting ability. He's okay, but he's not a wonderful actor, at least not at this stage of his career. Most of the other cast members are quite good, including Billy Connolly and Gerard Butler (who I first discovered and loved in the title role in Dracula 2000). But the real star of Timeline is the faithful recreation of 1357. The moviemakers actually built a castle. They recreated the weapons of the day, including the frightening trebuchet catapaults. The actors received extensive weapons and fight training so that the sword fights and archery is all authentic, and the costuming is largely true to the original clothing of the era as well (costumers did brighten some colors largely so that audiences could easily tell the French and English armies apart). The battle scenes are extraordinary both in their appearance and their scope (film makers hired some re-enactors as extras and advisors, and they obviously did their jobs well). In fact, I knew who would live, who would die, and who would win and I still found myself on the edge of my seat at times.

Critics have been savaging Timeline, and I agree with them that it will win no awards nor will it change the world. It was, however, two hours of really great entertainment. I loved the storyline, I cared for the characters, and I found myself utterly caught up in what was happening on the screen in front of me. While I truly enjoy a high caliber performance and script, I don't go to the movies to pick this year's Oscar™ winner. I do it to have fun. And when I went to Timeline, I had a lot of it.

FAMILY SUITABILTY: Timeline is rated PG-13. There's no sex, but there's a good deal of violence and the battle scenes are, in some instances, very intense. Given the circumstances are at least somewhat educational, however, and that the violence has a point, I see no problem in letting kids age 12 or so and up see this movie.