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"TIMELINE"
(2003) (Paul Walker, Francis O'Connor) (PG-13)

Alcohol/
Drugs
Blood/Gore Disrespectful/
Bad Attitude
Frightening/
Tense Scenes
Guns/
Weapons
Mild Moderate Heavy *Moderate Extreme
Imitative
Behavior
Jump
Scenes
Music
(Scary/Tense)
Music
(Inappropriate)
Profanity
Mild Mild Heavy None Heavy
Sex/
Nudity
Smoking Tense Family
Scenes
Topics To
Talk About
Violence
Minor None Minor Mild Extreme


QUICK TAKE:
Sci-fi/Action: After learning that their professor has sent them a plea for help from 14th century France, several archaeology students and others travel back in time to find and rescue him.
PLOT:
Professor Edward Johnston (BILLY CONNOLLY) and his assistant, Andre Marek (GERARD BUTLER), are leading a group of students on an archaeological dig at the ruins of a 14th century French castle at the village of Castlegard.

Long ago, following the hanging of a French woman, Lady Claire (ANNA FRIEL), the French forces were so enraged that they stormed the heavily fortified English castle and defeated their enemy. While that historical legend enthralls Johnston, Marek and students such as Kate (FRANCES O'CONNOR), Stern (ETHAN EMBRY) and Francois (ROSSIF SUTHERLAND), it means little to the professor's adult son, Chris (PAUL WALKER).

That changes when the group discovers a previously unearthed chamber that's been untouched for more than 600 years. Yet, not only do they discover a bifocal lens that wasn't invented until hundreds of years later, but they also find an ancient document. To their amazement, it's a handwritten plea for help from their professor dated April 2, 1357. After carbon dating and handwriting analysis proves the document's authenticity, the students head to the New Mexico headquarters of ITC, their expedition's sponsor.

There, they learn that Robert Doniger (DAVID THEWLIS) and his team have figured out a way of transmitting objects and people from one part of the world to another. Such research generated the unexpected discovery of a wormhole straight to 14th century France. Needing people versed in the culture of the time, Doniger recruits the students to travel back to 1357 -- along with marine Frank Gordon (NEAL McDONOUGH) and his team -- to rescue the professor and find and deal with a renegade worker who's stayed behind in that time.

Although they can't believe these amazing developments, the students agree and travel back to the site of their dig, only 600 years earlier. There, they attempt to find Chris' dad, all while dealing with the pending massive battle between the English, led by Lord Oliver (MICHAEL SHEEN), and the French headed by Lady Claire and her brother, Arnaut (LAMBERT WILSON), as well as an unexpected development back in the 21st century that threatens to leave them stranded in the past.

WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT?
If they're into sci-fi (especially time travel) films or are fans of someone in the cast, they just might, but younger kids probably won't otherwise be too interested in it.
WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: PG-13
For intense battle sequences and brief language.
CAST AS ROLE MODELS:
  • PAUL WALKER plays the professor's son who isn't interested in the past, but finds himself sent there to rescue his father. He shows some heroism while doing so.
  • FRANCES O'CONNOR plays an archaeology student who goes with him and similarly shows bravery in trying to accomplish their mission.
  • GERARD BUTLER plays the professor's assistant who also shows bravery and is determined to prevent Lady Claire from dying as history has already ordained.
  • BILLY CONNOLLY plays Chris' father, an archaeology professor who ends up stuck in the past and pleading for help.
  • ANNA FRIEL plays one of the French leaders who assists the time travelers and desires to defeat the English.
  • NEAL McDONOUGH plays a Marine who leads the time travelers back into the past with orders of rescuing the professor and dealing with another missing time traveler. He briefly uses strong profanity.
  • ETHAN EMBRY plays another archaeology student who stays behind in the present and complains a great deal.
  • ROSSIF SUTHERLAND plays a French archaeology student who goes back in time to serve as the group's translator.
  • LAMBERT WILSON plays Lady Claire's brother, the leader of the French forces.
  • DAVID THEWLIS plays the head of the corporation that's created the time travel machine. When others become trapped there, he's reluctant to try to bring them back.
  • MICHAEL SHEEN plays the English leader who wants to defeat and kill the French.
  • CAST, CREW, & TECHNICAL INFO

    HOW OTHERS RATED THIS MOVIE


    Curious if this title is entertaining, any good, and/or has any artistic merit?
    Then read OUR TAKE of this film.


    (Note: The "Our Take" review of this title examines the film's artistic merits and does not take into account any of the possibly objectionable material listed below).


    OUR WORD TO PARENTS:
    Here's a quick look at the content found in this action-oriented sci-fi film that's been rated PG-13. Profanity consists of at least 1 "f" word, while other expletives and colorful phrases are present. Violence includes a great deal of medieval fighting where many people are wounded or killed by various means, but only a few scenes have bloody results (one a moderate amount). Some of those scenes and other moments may be unsettling or suspenseful to some viewers.

    Various characters have varying degrees of bad attitudes, while a few have beers and a brief drug-related comment is made. If you're still concerned about the film and its appropriateness for yourself or anyone else in your home who may be interested in seeing it, we suggest that you take a closer look at our detailed listings for more specific information regarding the film's content.


    ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE
  • Chris and his dad have beer.
  • Chris brings a beer for Kate and himself.
  • Kate asks another person what they've been smoking when they suggest something that sounds preposterous.
  • A person comments for someone to keep a couple of beers cold for him.
  • BLOOD/GORE
  • We see a fair amount of blood from a man's mouth and over much of his face, as well as a rather graphic wound on the side of his bare torso.
  • Kate rams an arrow into one of her captors and then pushes it in a bit deeper (we later see a little bit of blood around the arrow and some dried blood on her hand).
  • During a battle, a man's ear is sliced from his head (we see the bloody results on his head).
  • DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE
  • The English and French forces have bad attitudes toward each other.
  • A person refers to the enemy as "French bastards."
  • Doniger has a bad attitude for not wanting to try to rescue the travelers from the past.
  • FRIGHTENING SCENES
  • Scenes listed under "Violence" might also be tense or suspenseful to some viewers, but really only to very young ones and those with low tolerance levels for such material that's more action than suspense-based.
  • Kate and Marek go into a newly found chamber that appears as if it's going to collapse shut on them, but they get out okay.
  • The group is transported back to 1357 and end up in a rapidly moving river and some have to rescue others out of it.
  • The group sees a person race by, telling them to hide, and we hear the sound of rapidly approaching horses. The group then splits up, runs, and hides.
  • The group gets nervous when English leader Lord Oliver hears Francois speaks and realizes he's French (the enemy).
  • Kate decides to try to escape and thus climbs out through an opening and onto a straw roof. She makes it to the top, but then slides out of control down the other side, stopping only when Chris catches her by sticking his arms out through the roof. She then climbs down the side of the building, being careful not to be spotted by her captors.
  • Soldiers set fire to a house Chris and Kate are in (who escape across the roof to safety).
  • The English prepare to hang Claire (but that never happens).
  • Men on horses race at several travelers as they try to activate their markers to return them to the present.
  • GUNS/WEAPONS
  • Swords/Bows & Arrows/Crossbows/Catapults/Grenade: Used to cause property damage and/or attack and wound or kill many people. See "Violence" for details.
  • IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR
  • Phrases: "Someone who doesn't give a sh*t," "Oh sh*t," "I don't give a sh*t," "Bullsh*t," "Bloody," "Romantic warrior crap," "It rocks big time," "Dude," "Sucks," "Hell of a stop," "Shut up," "French bastards," "How the hell do you know?" "You could blow us all to Hell," "What the hell do you think I'm doing?" and "Get the hell out of here."
  • Some kids may want to imitate the action and stunts that occur in the film.
  • JUMP SCENES
  • Marek tries to hide in a small hole and is suddenly surprised by someone else who's already there.
  • A sword blade suddenly pops up through a floor.
  • Men suddenly break through a wall to come after the travelers.
  • MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE)
  • A heavy amount of suspenseful and dramatic music plays in the film.
  • MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE)
  • None.
  • PROFANITY
  • At least 1 "f" word, 11 "s" words, 10 hells, 6 S.O.B.s (1 incomplete), 4 damns, 1 crap, 19 uses of "Oh my God," 3 each of "Jesus" and "Oh God," 2 each of "God" and "My God" and 1 use each of "By God," "For Christ's sakes" and "For God's sakes."
  • SEX/NUDITY
  • Marek takes a sword from Chris' hand, saying he's doing so before Chris cuts off something he might need later on (possibly a genital reference).
  • SMOKING
  • None.
  • TENSE FAMILY SCENES
  • Chris states that the past (or his father's involvement in digging it up) is what led to his parents splitting up.
  • Chris worries about his dad who's disappeared into the past.
  • TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT
  • Time travel and the effect the modern day travelers' presence would have on the past and future/present.
  • What it would be like to travel to and/or live in the past.
  • The comment that you make your own history.
  • VIOLENCE
  • Men on horseback chase after a man who we also running in another time period. We see a sword being swung at him, but don't see the impact.
  • A rider stabs a person with a sword (no blood).
  • A traveler is shot three times with arrows (no blood) before activating his return trip to the present. When he gets there, a grenade he activated in the past (but that came along with him) explodes, causing a great deal of property damage.
  • A man is shot with arrows (no blood).
  • There's some brief fighting where people are sliced.
  • Marek stabs and kills a soldier who's just grabbed and is struggling with a woman.
  • A man on horseback stabs at Kate with his sword, but misses and she flees.
  • Oliver spars with another man, occasionally hitting (but not harming) him with his sword. He then punches the man.
  • An Englishman runs one of the group members through with a sword, killing him. Marek then has to restrain Chris to prevent further death.
  • A sword blade suddenly pops up through a floor.
  • Oliver slaps a woman, she slaps him back and is then restrained by some guards.
  • Kate rams an arrow into one of her captors and then pushes it in a bit deeper (we later see a little bit of blood around the arrow and some dried blood on her hand). She frees the others who kick a man backwards and then collectively hit him.
  • Marek shoots a guard dead with an arrow (no blood).
  • An ax suddenly lands in the door next to Marek. He then tries to barricade the door and then break out through a wall opposite the door with the help of Claire, all as the man tries to break down the door.
  • Chris grabs a man's foot through some stairs, causing that man to tumble down them. He then kicks that man in the head.
  • English soldiers fire arrows at the French, hitting and wounding one while others take cover.
  • Men suddenly break through a wall to come after the travelers. They attack and struggle with them, while Kate hits one on the head with a rock and Chris punches one.
  • Soldiers set fire to a house Chris and Kate are in (who escape across the roof to safety).
  • There's a battle scene where opposing forces hit, slice and stab others, wounding and probably killing the victims (without blood or gore).
  • A man hits Marek over the head, knocking him unconscious.
  • A man stabs his sword into one of the travelers, killing him (no blood).
  • Kate and Chris smash through a wall to find a tunnel on the other side.
  • The French fire catapults with large burning balls of material onto the English castle, causing property damage and fires, including on some people.
  • The English fire a large, flaming spear-like object that creates a fire that can't be put out and only grows in intensity.
  • The French and English simultaneously fire flaming arrows at each other, resulting in many people on both sides being impaled by them (no blood). The English then fire non-flaming ones at the French, impaling and presumably killing more of them. Meanwhile, more catapult damage is done to the castle.
  • An explosion from a burning catapult projectile knocks various men aside.
  • Doniger pushes his subordinate backwards, injuring the man's head (no blood).
  • An arrow lands into the shield Marek is holding.
  • A massive explosion rocks a castle, causing a great deal of property damage and blowing people through the air (presumably killing them and others).
  • Arrows fired from bows and crossbows hit many people, wounding or killing them (no blood).
  • A hand to hand battle breaks out between the French and English with people being hit, sliced and stabbed (but with no blood). During this, we see several one-on-one battles, and two men end up tumbling down some steps while fighting. A person is kicked in the face and Chris tackles a bad guy as he's about to stab Arnaut. He then appears to hit a guy with an ax, but it turns out he didn't. Another man, however, stabs the assailant.
  • During a battle, a man's ear is sliced from his head (we see the bloody results on his head). The victim then slices and stabs his opponent.
  • A horseman raises his sword to attack a man, but we only hear the slicing sound.



  • Reviewed November 21, 2003 / Posted November 26, 2003

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