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2003
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 .. Read more
| Starring | Paul Walker, Frances O'Connor, Gerard Butler, Billy Connolly |
|---|---|
| Director | Richard Donner |
| Genres | Sci-Fi/Fantasy |
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Timeline
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
| Starring | Paul Walker, Frances O'Connor, Gerard Butler, Billy Connolly, Ethan Embry, Anna Friel, Michael Sheen, Lambert Wilson, Matt Craven, David Thewlis |
|---|---|
| Director | Richard Donner |
| Studio | ENTERTAINMENT IN VIDEO |
| Run time | DVD: 1 hr 55 mins |
| Certificate | |
| Genres | Sci-Fi/Fantasy |
| Language | DVD: English |
| Released | DVD: 10 Apr 2004 Production year: 2003 |
| Format | DVD |
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Critics' reviews (4)
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Despite the distinguished alliance of director Richard Donner and writer Michael Crichton, this time-travelling fantasy is almost too daft to laugh at. Lesser talents might have treated it more lightly and successfully, but Crichton (Jurassic Park) and Donner (Lethal Weapon) press too heavily on the significance of events, leaving the absurdities to take over. It's saved from complete disaster, thanks to Billy Connolly, who plays a professor leading an archaeological dig in the Dordogne valley. When the professor gets thrust back in time by the shady corporation sponsoring the dig, his son (Paul Walker) and fellow students follow to try and rescue him and find themselves in a 14th-century war in which the villainous English are browbeating the saintly French. Despite the clunky dialogue and outrageous situations, the momentum maintains our interest, while the plot keeps us amused if not bemused. Even so, there comes an exasperating moment when you are grateful for Aldous Huxley's famous assertion that time must have a stop.
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Risible adventure, so daft to be almost, but not quite, endearing; the performances are beyond redemption.
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Most helpful member's review
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27 out of 28 people found this review helpful
Get over it other reviewers, right now.
OK enough. If it's one things movies have taught us it's you can judge a book by it's cover. Paul Walker in a historical time travel romp rated 12. Who honestly watches this then gives it a bad review? What else were you expecting? Seriously? It's a daft time travel flic with knights and catapults. There! Theres your movie. Expect anything more and endup dissapointed, AND it'll be your fault. I liked it because I rented a silly wee adventure movie made straight for sunday family viewing. Please don't expect anything more and you might be impressed. So what if the accents aren't accurate! Thats not what you're watching and you know it. One of Richard Donners worst movies, but that doesn't mean you won't enjoy it. I liked it and if you read this, take it in and rent the movie you might too.
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Most recent members' review
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3 out of 5 people found this review helpful
Oh Please
A group of archeology students somehow end up back in medieval France. Get into trouble. Get back to the US. That's the plot. The trailer looked OK.
The trailer missed the plot holes...
Where shall I begin?
Rule #1 of time travel: Don't take anything back into the past from the modern era.
So why did the two goons, sent back with the archie-types by the corporation that discovered time travel, have grenades on them??
Rule #2 of time travel: The gadgets they use to come back to the modern era need 40 feet of clearance to operate.
So why did the first of those two goons, after being shot by bow and arrow twice (just like Boromir in Lord of the Rings, but with less class), pull his grenade pin, trigger the gadget, and travel back to the modern era WITHOUT LETTING GO OF THE GRENADE, thus destroying the travellers' route back home (and adding the necessary suspense to this sorry tale), in the middle of a french wood, and with men on horseback nearby.
Rule #1 of film making: Don't pick on the obvious suspect without good reason.
6 people from modern-day US. 5 american, one french or canadian. All get captured by the English baron who is currently encamped in medieval france. One speaks up for his team, in American English. The afore-mentioned baron suddenly asks the guy next to him what his name is, and lo and behold, it's the french guy. Francois.
Cue: one dead french spy.
But why stop at him? Why not ask the next four people what their names are? I'm sure they were Double Entendre, Je Ne Sais Quoi, Croissant, and Avant Garde.
(If you've not seen Top Secret, then A. you've no idea what I'm talking about, and B. you need to get a life!)
Rule #2 of film-making: Don't invent paradoxes if you're doing time travel.
A girl in modern times wonders why a medieval fresco has been demolished. That same girl goes back to medieval times and wonders why someone would demolish that fresco. Of course, it was her! So she demolishes it, and the wall collapses to reveal a hidden tunnel. Which she wouldn't have found if the modern girl hadn't noticed the damage. Which wouldn't have happened if the she'd not damaged it. Which wouldn't have happened if the modern girl hadn't noticed....
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... sorry.
Anyone notice the flaw here?
Rule #1 of archeology: Learn some of the language that you're digging up.
'Il est mon pere'. It's not difficult. I learned that much in 2 years at school, and they speak less after doing doctorates in medieval french history! Get a grip! Those four words would have saved a lot of bother and several lives....
Thank god I also got 'I, Robot' today as well. At least I know that was a good film!
And for the critics who say 'who says sci-fi is supposed to be believable?', I respond: 'At least it can be inherently consistent'. -
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Timeline
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) ...
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