Simply A Masterpiece

Perfect cast and a good story

A Major Disappointment

At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

Do you want an entertaining tale, or are you expecting a movie to deliver a precise rendition of a large book? This is a fun movie with decent good guys and bad guys and some archaeology and some time travel. They never pretended they were doing Shakespeare, so don't expect it. I saw this back when it first came out, and borrowed it from a friend in 2018 because I had enjoyed it in 2003. It's a good movie, not a great one.

From the unnecessary and pointless gender swaps, to the random relation between characters, I could hardly stand to watch. If you've never read the book, then this is a great movie! Had I seen the movie before I had the pleasure of reading the book, it would be amazing and I'd probably give it a high rating. This movie and the book have nothing in common except for names and the occasional similar event I could go on forever.

I really enjoyed Richard Donner's Timeline, despite some bad reviews and an awful reputation. It's based on a book by the great Michael Crichton, and centers around what is one of the most fascinating and enjoyable premises out there: time travel. There's nothing like a time travel flick, in any way, shape or form. I'm a sucker for them. This one starts off with an archaeological dig somewhere in England, leading to the abrupt discovery of forces that allow a wormhole in time to be used, sending people back to the middle ages. Paul Walker discovers that his researcher father (Billy Connolly) has made the leap back in time, and may be in trouble. Along with his sort of girlfriend (Frances O Connor) and his father's friend (Gerard Butler) they venture back to find him, and of course everything goes wrong. They land smack in the middle of a skirmish between a poncy English lord (Michael Sheen) and the leader of the French faction (Lambert Wilson), with no identities, nothing to defend themselves with and not a clue what to do. Back home in our time (or, rather, 2003. Time flies, don't it?), the head of the program responsible for harnessing the wormhole's power (a slimy David Thewlis) is a greedy prick who can't really be trusted with the technology, prompting the suspicion of his assistant (Matt Craven). Walker, Butler and company are now faced with a full on castle siege that's quite the dandy set piece, forced to take up arms and fight for their lives as well as a way home. Walker is amusingly out of place in a medieval setting but it works considering the plot. Butler is terrific, bringing his old world style to a character arc that is lovely to see play out. Connolly, although not in the film that much, lights up the screen with his genial kindness and likability that he brings to every film. Neal McDonough, Anna Friel and Marton Csokas also costar. It's simply an adventure piece that doesn't think logistics too much, and in turn doesn't require you to do so either. Underrated stuff.

I liked the movie for it shows a young, charming and beautiful Gerard Butler. He does well as the earnest modern day man transported to the Middle Ages where he reveals himself to be a man of honor and nobility. The movie is a poor interpretation of a phenomenal book and does little to translate the reality of the main characters to film. But for those of us who admire the talented Mr. Butler, it is a must-see. Paul Walker, though very handsome, is not a convincing character. Unfortunately, Frances O'Connor's role is built upon Mr. Walkers's. Billy Connelly is his own inimitable self and holds his own with any one. A must-see for Butler fans, but forgettable in the scheme of things.