Search - Timeline [Widescreen] on DVD

Timeline [Widescreen]

Actor(s): Paul Walker, Frances O'Connor, Gerard Butler, Billy Connolly, David Thewlis
Director(s): Richard Donner
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Movie Details

MPAA Rating: PG-13
Content Advisory: Violence, Adult Language
Movie Release: 2003
DVD Release: 04/13/2004
Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV - Closed Captioned
Edition: Special Collection
Audio Tracks: English, French
Subtitles: English
SwapaDVD Credits: 1
Number of Discs: 1
Run Time: 1 hrs 55 mins
Studio: Paramount
Total Copies: 12
Genres: Action, Science Fiction, Sci-Fi Action
See Also: Timeline [Fullscreen], Timeline [Circuit City Exclusive] [Checkpoint], Timeline [Fullscreen], Timeline [Widescreen]

DVD Synopsis

Directing his first film since 1998's Lethal Weapon 4, Richard Donner helmed this big-budget adaptation of Michael Crichton's novel of the same name. Featuring a script by first-time screenwriter George Nolfi, Timeline begins in France in the near future. A group of students from Yale are there studying a medieval site, when their professor, played by Billy Connolly, mysteriously goes missing. To make matters more enigmatic, the students are then taken back to the United States by a shadowy technology company called ITC, led by Robert Doniger (David Thewlis). The eccentric Doniger explains that because of a machine that his company built, their professor is trapped in 14th century France. In order to rescue him, two of the students, Chris Hughes (Paul Walker) and Kate Erickson (Frances O'Connor), along with Andre Marek (Gerard Butler), an archeological site manager, must travel to France, circa 1357, amid archaic war, deadly diseases, and other unexpected pitfalls. Meanwhile, David Stern (Ethan Embry), a third student, stays behind to keep an eye on the shady Doniger. ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide

Actors

Paul Walker - Chris Johnston
Frances O'Connor - Kate Ericson
Gerard Butler - Andre Marek
Billy Connolly - Professor Edward Johnston
David Thewlis - Robert Doniger

Editorial Review of DVD

Paul Walker (The Fast and the Furious) heads up the cast of this sci-fi action film from director Richard Donner. When his college professor mysteriously disappears, Walker and his classmates discover that the prof has been transported back in time, leaving it up to them to travel to 14th century France and rescue him. Presented on this nicely loaded DVD, the film has been transferred in widescreen with both the original English and dubbed French soundtracks available in Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound. English subtitles are also provided. In addition to the film itself, the disc features several bonuses. "Journey Through Timeline" is a three-part documentary that offers a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the film. Other extras include "The Nights of La Roque," "Setting Time," "The Textures of Timeline," and two theatrical trailers. A full-screen version with the same features is also available. ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide

Member Movie Reviews

Marianna S. (Angeloudi) from HOLIDAY, FL wrote on 12/23/2008...

1 of 3 member(s) found this review helpful.

Based on the time travel novel by Michael Crichton, Timeline takes us back to the year 1357, during the 100 Years War, to a battle for La Roque between the French and the British. Modern scientists have secretly discovered a "wormhole"- a portal through which people and objects can be transported back to April 4, 1357, to the scene of a pivotal battle. Several archaelogists and historians are sent back to rescue a professor, who was "stuck" back in the 14th century. Very exciting battle scenes make this movie quite thrilling.

Jennifer F. (KnJFisher) from GILLETT, PA wrote on 12/14/2008...

0 of 3 member(s) found this review helpful.

I think this was actually a made for tv movie, it plays like one! Terrificly bad acting, terrible story line, horrible accents, ven the "romance story line" was icky, as the two actors have NO chemistry.

Jason C. (JJC) from NEWARK, NJ wrote on 12/28/2007...

6 of 7 member(s) found this review helpful.

Legendary director Richard Donner, the man who has given us the first "Superman" and the first "Omen", "The Goonies" and all four "Lethal Weapon" films, seems to be slowing down in his old age, because he hasn't been belting out film after film like he used to.

It was five years since his last effort, which was the fourth (and supposed final) installment of "Lethal Weapon" and his previous two films before that, '97s "Conspiracy Theory" and '95s "Assassins", failed to impress critics, despite their some-what impressive box-office receipts.

Truthfully, I thought "Lethal Weapon 4" was one of the better sequels to that franchise, "Conspiracy Theory" was a very well-done and stylistic thriller and "Assassins" was a damn good actioner from the likes of Stallone, much better than the horrendous crap he was mixed up in at the time like "The Specialist" and "Judge Dredd".

So, I tend to think that Donner's recent efforts are a bit on the underrated side. Which brings me to his lastest film, "Timeline." I heard nothing but terrible reviews from film critics and a few associates of mine, which doesn't mean squat to me. I see what I want to see, despite its following, good or bad.

What I found in "Timeline" was a very tight and interesting time travel adventure. We have seen material like this before in "The Time Machine," "Back to the Future" and "Timecop," but Michael Crichton's story works when a science lab trying to perfect teleportation accidentally discovers a loophole in time, and a team of archaeologists are sent back to 1357 Paris, to recuse their boss who purposely went there for his personal obsession of that era.

Now, you can call this a popcorn flick...but it is a rather entertaining one and surprisingly smart at that. The cast of up and coming stars and known character actors do a fine job in their roles...I had a good time with this, and in no way shape or form deserves the critical panning in received.

I enjoyed it, it's well-done time travel flick.