The Time Guardian (1987)

User Rating:

3.8/10   

Director:

Brian Hannant

Writers:

John Baxter (written by)
Brian Hannant (written by)

Release Date:

3 December 1987 (Australia)

Genre:

Action | Romance | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

Pray he's not too late.

Plot:

In the distant future, the human race nears extinction and a new race of beast-like creatures rule the earth...

Plot Keywords:

Independent Film

Cast

Tom Burlinson	...	Ballard, The Time Guardian
Nikki Coghill	...	Annie Lassiter
Dean Stockwell	...	Boss
Carrie Fisher	...	Petra
Peter Merrill	...	Zuryk & Committee Member
Tim Robertson	...	Sergeant McCarthy
Jim Holt	...	Rafferty
Thye Liew Wan	...	Sun-Wah
Damon Sanders	...	Smith
Tom Karpanny	...	Tracker
Henry Salter	...	Prenzler
Peter Healy	...	Wayne
Adrian Shirley	...	Counihan
Don Barker	...	Undertaker
Terrayne Crawford	...	Tucker (as Terry Crawford)

Runtime:

87 min

Country:

Australia

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

West Germany:16 | Iceland:16 | Australia:PG | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

Adelaide, South Australia, Australia

Company:

Chateau

Quotes:

Annie Lassiter: Tell me more, Ballard.
Ballard: About the City?
Annie Lassiter: Yeah.
Ballard: You'd be amazed. The technology's enormous. We've got powers your time only dreams about.
Annie Lassiter: No, I mean, the people. Are they different?
Ballard: They still fight and squabble, and try very hard to outdo each other. I guess they're not very different.
Annie Lassiter: And what about men and women?
Ballard: They fall in and out of love, marry and divorce, argue over the children... what?
Annie Lassiter: I'm pleased.
Ballard: Why?
[...]

Movie Connections:

References Star Wars (1977)

Soundtrack:

This Time I Know

Okay, but nothing close to Star Wars

Anyone who watches Time Guardian expecting it to be like Star Wars because of Carrie Fisher's presence will be disappointed. Not a totally awful film, but the plot is hard to follow and is full of holes, and some of the costumes seem ridiculous. Burlinson and Fisher travel back in time to make sure the City (which can travel through time and space) can land in the late 20th century in the outback of Australia. There, they battle both the Jen Diki (their enemies from the future) and some corrupt outback cops. The movie isn't completely bad, as there are some good battle segments, great footage of the Australian Outback, and fans of Carrie Fisher get to see her in a few good scenes. Overall, however, this is one of those films that spent too much on special effects and not enough on developing the story. It's not a hopeless film, but you quickly forget it after it's over.