Stars: Paul Walker, Frances O'Connor, Gerard Butler, Billy Connolly, Ethan Embry, Anna Friel, Michael Sheen, Lambert Wilson, Matt Craven, David Thewlis

Director: Richard Donner

Summary: A group of archaeologists working in the Dordogne area of France have uncovered the remains of a 14th Century castle. Little do they realise that soon they will be caught up in the adventure of a lifetime. A technology company have secretly designed a time travel device which has opened a portal into the 14th Century...

The archaeological excavation at La Roque Castle in Castelgard, France, appears to be like any other dig. At least it does until archaeology student Kate (Frances O'Connor) and assistant professor Andre Marek (Gerard Butler) discover a note from their boss Professor Edward Johnston (Billy Connolly) dated 1357, but the chamber has been sealed since the mid-14th century. Knowing that Johnston is visiting the dig's main funder, cutting-edge computer company ITC, Kate and Marek head for corporate headquarters along with Johnston's son Chris (Paul Walker), and team members Stern (Ethan Embry) and Francois (Rossif Sutherland). To their astonishment, the team finds that ITC inadvertently discovered a wormhole leading to Castelgard circa 1357, that they have the ability to transport 3D objects through the hole, and that Johnston is trapped there with the team being his only hope for rescue. But is ITC telling them the whole truth

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Just enough of Michael Crichton's novel survives in Timelineto make it a passable popcorn thriller. It's likely that Crichton fans will lament the shallowness of director Richard Donner's film, and its gee-whiz style of acting lays waste to any scientific credibility that Crichton's scenario might have retained. Still, the Crichton formula is a sturdy one, following the model of Westworldand Jurassic Parkby involving a small band of adventurers in a fantastical realm of danger and death. 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 hope of retrieving Walker's father (Billy Connolly) 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 travellers find their body count rising, and the deadline for their return home is rapidly approaching. All well and good, so far, and the castles-and-crossbows action reaches a fever pitch, but it's obvious that Donner is too lazy to make the much better film that this could and should have been. Despite its enjoyable highlights, Timelineis perfunctory entertainment. --Jeff Shannon

Main Language:	English
Region:	Region 2
Special Features:	Documentary - 1. JOURNEY THROUGH TIMELINE (in 3 Parts), Featurette - 1. TEXTURES OF TIMELINE, Trailer
Year:	2003
Release Date:	April 26, 2004
Runtime:	115 minutes
Certification:
Catalogue Number:	E D V 9229
Keywords:	General, Fiction, Science, Horror, Sci, Fi, Timeline
Genre:	Science Fiction