Rated PG-13 for intense battle sequences and brief language.
116 Minutes
Directed By: Richard Donnor
Written By: Jeff Maguire
Based On The Novel By: Michael Crichton
Staring: Paul Walker, Gerard Butler, Frances O’Connor, Billy Conolly, David Thewlis, and Anna Friel
The way I see it, we’ve got what, we’ve got 650 years of knowledge on these guys. If we put our heads together, there’s no reason why we shouldn’t be able to get out of here and home in 20 minutes. -Chris Johnston
Review
Like Stephen King, Michael Crichton’s techno-thrillers don’t always translate well onscreen. Whether it’s due to bad screenwriters or director’s who don’t comprehend the scope of his novels is unknown, but Timeline is a movie that wasn’t as bad as I initially thought it would be. The story itself stuck reasonably close to the tale Micheal Crichton wove, which was actually one of his more suspenseful novels, though lacking more in the technicality department. The entire idea of the story played out really well onscreen, but unfortunately it missed too many character developing beats, and the mediocre acting of Paul Walker distracted it from being something moderately good, to just OK.
A group of archaeological students are working on recovering the remains of Dorigone Valley in France. They are approached by a corporate team that explains they need to be sent back through time to help save their professor in the 14th century. Basically, according to the scientists at hand, they are “faxing” the students back through time. Surviving the violence of a war and trying to rescue their professor becomes peril rather than a leisurely trip back to a historic time.
The actual dialogue in the screenplay was an issue. Campy lines like the one quoted above delivered from voice of Paul Walker comes across as more of Bill and Ted trying to save the Princesses than an actual serious action adventure flick. That combined with the set and costume design that actually looked like it had been dug out of the back of an old Shakespearean theatre, with the obnoxious overdone colors and obviously less than expensive costs made it have the feel of a comedy. However, it seems the bulk of the film was focused on explosives and distracting special effects. I guess when you are failing everywhere else, the idea is to blow something up and distract the viewer. Have Richard Donnor and Micheal Bay met? On a serious note, when a film generally comes off as trying to be a popcorn fun action flick, this scenario sometimes works, but 
Donnor was taking on essentially a very complicated and smart science fiction story. It’s complexity ate his attempt to simplify it for breakfast.
Unfortunately, Paul Walker’s whimsical surfer attitude is just not plausible for his supposed intellectual, though brutish character. Gerard Butler and Frances O’Connor made things move along well enough, and occasionally compensated for Walker’s disastrous attempts at acting, but his terrible inability to be versatile was left naked and exposed.
Timeline did not live up to it’s reputation for being a complete failure of a movie, though it certainly fell short in many categories. It was fine for a mindless few hours of passing the time on my local cable station and was suitable in that category. When put up against some of the amazing Science Fiction and Action feature films of today, it fell into the category of unacceptable. Though I’m a fan of Paul Walker’s smoldering good looks, some of the weaker aspects of the film may have been easier to ignore without his whole “dude” performance. Unfortunately, they weren’t. For a mediocre movie with a handsome lead and cool explosions, but no substance outside that, Timeline is a movie to catch on the tele for free and leave it at that. Then you won’t be disappointed.
Hey Heather just wanted to let you know I think your site looks fabulous!! Great Job!!
i don’t know why but i love this movie. the acting isn’t good, the action isn’t even that great, but it just makes me happy, so i agree with your rating but i still like it.