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Timeline
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Timeline
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Review by Pam & George Singleton
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HHH
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Cast
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Paul Walker
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Chris
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Frances O'Connor
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Kate
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Anna Friel
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Lady Claire
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Gerard Butler
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Andre Marek
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Directed by Richard Donner. Based upon a novel by Michael Crichton. Sci-Fi Adventure. Rated PG-13 (for intense battle sequences and brief language). Paramount Pictures.
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Time travel is like faxing a human body
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Chris (Paul Walker) is in love with Kate (Frances O'Connor), an archaeologist who works with his father, Professor Edward Johnston (Bill Connolly), a renowned scientist. The Professor, who wants to truly understand history, has an opportunity to travel back in time, thanks to research done by a technology company. On one of his expeditions, Professor Johnston is trapped in France during the year 1357, unable to return, and the businessmen call upon Chris, Kate and a few other eager student archaeologists to go back in time, rescue the Professor and return to the present day.
The action is non-stop and when one of the time travelers returns with an unauthorized weapon that damages the transition center, things begin to look bleak for everyone. Their safe return is activated by a "marker," which has a six-hour count down, and the clock is ticking.
Neither the story nor the cast of "Timeline" is on par with "Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World," yet it's swinging in the same ballpark. Frances O'Connor ("Mansfield Park" and "A.I.") helps make up for Paul Walker ("Fast & Furious" and the sequel). What is of similar quality with the two films is the directing. In particular, Richard Donner, like Peter Weir in the seafaring saga, allows very little use of computer generated images (CGI). There is action reminiscent of the final battle scenes in "Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers," with the notable difference being that what you see in this film is real rather than elaborate, exceptionally well done CGI. The sling shot fireballs, raining arrows in the dark, and Greek fire were truly spectacular.
The story is fun and there is plenty of action, along with a historical perspective about why the English and the French have little love lost for one another. That even sounds a little familiar with the French and the US today. If you are looking for a good, easy going, sci-fi movie, you've found it.
George O. Singleton © 2003
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