Timeline Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A bunch of college students use a fancy fax machine to rescue their professor from medieval France, only to discover that history is just a suggestion.

🍿 Timeline: Detailed Plot Synopsis

The Discovery

In present-day France, an archeological team led by Professor Edward Johnston is excavating a medieval site. The team includes his son Chris, along with Kate Ericson, Andre Marek, Josh Stern and Francois Dontelle. The team uncovers strange artifacts that don’t belong in the 14th century, hinting at something more than just a historical dig. Professor Johnston becomes suspicious of ITC, the corporation funding the dig, and travels to their headquarters.

Professor’s Disappearance and the Truth

When Professor Johnston disappears, the team follows him to ITC in New Mexico. There, they discover that ITC has invented a device that can transport matter through time via a wormhole. The machine, meant for teleportation, sends objects back to 14th-century France, and Professor Johnston has become trapped there. Robert Doniger, the head of ITC, reveals the truth to the team and requests their help in rescuing the professor.

Journey to the Past

Chris, Kate, Andre, and Francois agree to travel back in time to rescue Professor Johnston. Outfitted with medieval clothing and time-sensitive markers for their return, they venture into 1357 France. They quickly find themselves embroiled in the Hundred Years’ War between England and France, facing immediate dangers and conflicts upon arrival. They must navigate the battles and political intrigue of the time to find the Professor.

Survival and Rescue

The team faces numerous challenges in the past, including attacks from English soldiers and the revelation of a hidden agenda within ITC. They encounter Lady Claire, a French noblewoman, and become involved in the conflict between the French and English forces. They ultimately locate Professor Johnston, but they face a ticking clock as their return markers have a limited time frame.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Chris Johnston (Paul Walker): The professor’s son who leads the rescue mission into the past, seeking to save his father and connect with Kate.
• Andre Marek (Gerard Butler): A skilled archaeologist and medieval weapons expert who falls in love with Lady Claire and chooses to stay in the past.
• Professor Johnston (Billy Connolly): The archaeologist who gets trapped in 14th-century France, prompting the rescue mission.
• Kate Ericson (Frances O’Connor): A resourceful archaeologist and Chris’s love interest, who participates in the time travel rescue.
• Robert Doniger (David Thewlis): The ruthless and greedy CEO of ITC who exploits time travel for personal gain and meets a fitting end in the past.
• Lady Claire (Anna Friel): A noblewoman in 14th-century France who is rescued by Andre and becomes his wife, altering history.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Marek: “We’re speaking the same language, but you don’t understand a word I’m saying, do you?” – Said to Lady Claire, highlighting the communication challenges despite sharing a language.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $80,000,000
• Domestic Gross: $19,481,943
• Worldwide Gross: $43,935,763

💥 Timeline Reviews

Personal Review

I remember being excited about Timeline because I love time travel stories and medieval settings, but it was a huge letdown. The science felt flimsy, the characters were bland, and the action scenes were surprisingly dull. I wanted to feel the grit and danger of 14th-century France, but instead, I felt like I was watching a poorly staged theme park attraction. The ending where Andre stays was a ‘Whaaa??’ moment for me. I just remember being overall disappointed. I felt like I was robbed of what could have been a cool story.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of action-adventure movies”
  • “Viewers interested in time travel stories”
  • “Those who enjoy medieval settings”
  • “Fans of Gerard Butler and Paul Walker”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Violence and battle scenes”
  • “Some intense sequences”
  • “Brief language”

Professional Reviews

• Rotten Tomatoes: “Despite a promising premise and a talented cast, Timeline suffers from a muddled plot, uninspired action sequences, and a lack of historical accuracy. The movie struggles to capture the sense of wonder and excitement that made the source material so compelling.
• Empire Magazine: “Timeline is a visually appealing but ultimately hollow action-adventure. While the medieval setting offers some entertaining moments, the characters are underdeveloped, and the plot feels rushed and convoluted. It’s a missed opportunity to create a truly memorable time-travel film.

Audience Reactions

Gerard Butler’s performance as Marek was a bright spot in an otherwise lackluster film.: Many viewers appreciated the film’s attempt to blend science fiction with historical adventure, even if the execution fell short.

The battle scenes, while not historically accurate, provided some entertainment value.: Some people who had NOT read the book found the film to be okay for a rental movie.

Overall Consensus: Timeline is generally considered a disappointing adaptation of Michael Crichton’s novel, with critics and audiences citing a muddled plot, weak character development, and a lack of historical accuracy as its major flaws. While some viewers found it to be a passable action-adventure, it ultimately fails to deliver on its promising premise.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “Michael Crichton, author of the novel, reportedly disliked the film adaptation so much that he refused to license any more movies based on his novels for some time.”
• “To enhance the authenticity of the medieval setting, the production crew visited several European castles dating back to the late 1300s, using these as inspiration for set designs.”

🖥️ How to Watch Timeline?

Timeline is available for rent or purchase on various platforms including Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, and Vudu. Check your local listings for broadcast options. Availability may vary by region.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Timeline, you might like these similar films:

• Stargate (1994): Features a portal used to travel to another time/place, blending sci-fi with historical elements.
• Army of Darkness (1992): A contemporary man is transported to the Middle Ages and must use his modern knowledge to survive.
• The 13th Warrior (1999): Features a modern character thrust into a historical setting with brutal combat and cultural clashes.

🛒 Timeline Related Products

• Timeline [Blu-ray]: High-definition version of the film for collectors. Offers enhanced picture and sound quality, providing a more immersive viewing experience for fans of the movie.
• Timeline: A Novel: The original novel by Michael Crichton that the film is based on. Provides a more in-depth and nuanced story than the movie, with richer character development and more detailed explanations of the science behind the time travel.
• Medieval Knight Action Figure: A detailed action figure representing a medieval knight, perfect for recreating scenes from the movie or for adding to a historical or fantasy collection. Great as an addition to a history collection.
• Castles: A History of Fortified Structures: A nonfiction book exploring the history of castles, including their construction, defense, and role in medieval warfare. Offers historical context for the movie’s setting.

🎧 Soundtrack

Timeline features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Just A Little Bad” – performed by Vikkie Rae Jordan
• “Main Title” – performed by Brian Tyler

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

The Entire Game Of Thrones Timeline Explained

Ever get confused by all the history and backstory in Game of Thrones? This video breaks down the entire timeline, from the First Men to Robert’s Rebellion. Honestly, it’s a lifesaver if you want to understand all the references!

✨ Rate