The Hunt for the Hidden Relic (2002)

Steffen Vogt is helping out at a German archaeological excavation in Israel when he finds a 2,000-year-old skeleton holding the instructions for a video camera dating from the year 2003. ... See full summary »

Director:

Sebastian Niemann

Writers:

Andreas Eschbach (novel), Martin Ritzenhoff

Stars:

Matthias Koeberlin, Naike Rivelli, Manou Lubowski

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Matthias Koeberlin	...	Steffen
Naike Rivelli	...	Sharon
Manou Lubowski	...	Yehoshua
Hans Diehl	...	Scafaro
Dietrich Hollinderbäumer	...	John Kaun
Heinrich Giskes	...	Professor Willfort
Robinson Reichel	...	Roland Jung
Klaus Grünberg	...	Man with broken nose
Pierre Semmler	...	Christopher
Frank Scharl	...	Ryan
Mario Holetzeck	...	Dan
Gode Benedix	...	Dr. Simmon (as Gode Bendix)
Torsten Jerabek	...	Agent 1
Andreas Cremer	...	Agent 2
Dounia Tazi	...	Ausgrabungshelferin

Storyline

Steffen Vogt is helping out at a German archaeological excavation in Israel when he finds a 2,000-year-old skeleton holding the instructions for a video camera dating from the year 2003. The bones also show traces of the present day. His theory of a time-traveler who made a video of Jesus is laughed at by everyone, however, including Sharon, an attractive Israeli woman he adores. Although no one appears to believe him, his find certainly seems to have generated interest: Steffen is attacked shortly afterwards in his hotel room by strange men; then he discovers that the German embassy and the secret service are after him; and when his friend Dan is murdered, he goes into hiding. His only true ally is Sharon. Steffen's theory seems to be correct: financier and time-travel expert Kaun turns up at the excavations in person and carries out several elaborate subterranean measurements at the Wailing Wall where he believes the camera has been hidden. He is assisted by the head of the ...

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Plot Keywords:

excavation | german | time traveler | camera | video camera | 

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Taglines:

An adventure that started 2000 years ago...

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Genres:

Action | Thriller | Mystery | Sci-Fi | Fantasy

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for violence

Details

Country:

Germany

Language:

German

Release Date:

5 December 2002 (Germany)

Also Known As:

Ancient Relic

Filming Locations:

Casablanca, Morocco

Box Office

Budget:

$4,500,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Medienfonds GFP,Rat Pack Filmproduktion

Technical Specs

Runtime:

182 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

One of the two helicopters on the chase near the end, the white and orange one, has a Spanish registration number: EC-FJA. Just some months after the release of the movie, this helicopter suffered an accident while performing fire-fighting tasks. Fortuntelly, all 7 on board escaped unharmed, but the main rotor caught fire and the whole aircraft was destroyed on this new fire.

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Goofs

The imprint of the second page should have appeared mirrored.

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Connections

Version of Jesus Video 3D

User Reviews

Pointless...

This is my kind of amusement movie. A middle eastern location, intriguing mystery story and lots of running around exotic locations looking for lost-for-millenia hidden relics. Therefore it wouldn't be that hard to make this a good enough movie.

You would think.

Instead it turns out to be a POINTLESS film. The acting is OK and the locations fulfill the requirements of sandy exotica, but the rest...

How does he suddenly get the idea that the skeleton could be a time traveler, five minutes into the film? How can any of the characters survive all these onslaughts of violence with nothing than the odd photogenic cut next to his eyebrow? If all these people are looking for him why does he walk around Jerusalem looking exactly the same as he normally does?

The questions go on and on but it would spoil the plot of the movie, so i will stop. Enough to say that the why? you ask yourself at the beginning of the movie is still unanswered by the time the credits roll. From what you hear from the members of the board, the book sounds rather interesting, containing the elements that would have made this a great movie. Therefore the recommendation is pass the rental and go and buy the book.