Timeline (2003)

A group of archaeological students become trapped in the past when they go there to retrieve their professor. The group must survive in 14th century France long enough to be rescued.

Director:

Richard Donner

Writers:

Michael Crichton (novel), Jeff Maguire (screenplay),

Stars:

Paul Walker, Frances O'Connor, Gerard Butler

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Paul Walker	...	Chris Johnston
Frances O'Connor	...	Kate Ericson
Gerard Butler	...	Andre Marek
Billy Connolly	...	Professor Johnston
David Thewlis	...	Robert Doniger
Anna Friel	...	Lady Claire
Neal McDonough	...	Frank Gordon
Matt Craven	...	Steven Kramer
Ethan Embry	...	Josh Stern
Michael Sheen	...	Lord Oliver
Lambert Wilson	...	Lord Arnaut
Marton Csokas	...	Sir William De Kere / William Decker
Rossif Sutherland	...	François Dontelle
Steve Kahan	...	Baker
David La Haye	...	Arnaut's Deputy

Storyline

In this case, a group of archaeologists and combat experts led by Paul Walker and Frances O'Connor use a "3-D fax machine" (so much for technobabble!) to time-travel back to France in 1357, in hopes of retrieving Walker's father and returning safely to the present. No such luck! Fending for themselves against marauding hordes of medieval French warriors at war with the invading British, these semi-intrepid travelers find their body count rising, and the deadline for their return home is rapidly approaching.

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Plot Keywords:

professor | student | france | castle | monastery | 

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Taglines:

In 6 hours they'll be history!

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for intense battle sequences and brief language

Details

Official Sites:

Paramount UIP [fr]

Country:

USA

Language:

English French

Release Date:

26 November 2003 (USA)

Also Known As:

Prisonniers du temps

Filming Locations:

Harrington, Québec, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

$80,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$549,289 (Italy) (9 July 2004)

Gross:

$549,289 (Italy) (9 July 2004)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures, Mutual Film Company, Donners' Company

Technical Specs

Runtime:

116 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital DTS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Director Richard Donner had previously been one of four directors bidding to direct the film adaptation of Jurassic Park, before Michael Crichton chose Steven Spielberg.

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Goofs

The team take a Frenchman to 1357 as an interpreter. But 14th-century French would have been incomprehensible to a 20th century speaker and vice versa. Also, the Englishmen of such a time and place would have been Normans, able to speak little if any English.

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Quotes

Josh Stern: So are you saying that they could be stuck back there forever?
Steven Kramer: It could be.

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Connections

Featured in Industrial Light & Magic: Creating the Impossible (2010)

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Soundtracks

"Just A Little Bad"
Written and Performed by Vikkie Rae Jordan
Courtesy of Marc Ferrari/MasterSource

User Reviews

Barely relates to the novel

So many important plot elements were left out, that the phrase 'sort of based on an idea by Michael Crichton' is the closest you can get to a relationship to the novel. The most glaring omission is the lack of the radio 'transceivers', which, if you've read the book, were involved in a major plot twist. And, they could have at least made SOME attempt to have the characters speak in 14th century (sounding) languages and used subtitles to give it a more authentic feel. On a positive note, the acting and casting were reasonably good. The action/fighting sequences were done well.

Overall, the movie gave me the feeling that, as so often happens, the producers used the phrase "no one will notice" way too often during meetings.