Timeline by Michael Crichton
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Timeline by Michael Crichton
I just finished Cold Mountain, and am trying to read books for other movies that are coming out that I know I'll see.
Timeline's coming up. Is this one worth reading? Anyone read it? And more importantly, anyone liked it?
Timeline's coming up. Is this one worth reading? Anyone read it? And more importantly, anyone liked it?
#9
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Originally posted by PalmerJoss
I didn't like it--it just seemed like Jurassic Park in a medieval setting. IMO it was just Crichton on autopilot.
I didn't like it--it just seemed like Jurassic Park in a medieval setting. IMO it was just Crichton on autopilot.
Although it didn't work for me as a novel, I will give the movie a try. A lot of times pulpy stuff like this makes for very entertaining films (think Die Hard).
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Originally posted by Kal Jedi
Love it. But don't expect the movie to be anywhere close to it.
Love it. But don't expect the movie to be anywhere close to it.
Last edited by Darren Garrison; 09-30-03 at 10:11 PM.
#13
DVD Talk Platinum Edition
Originally posted by NZ_DVD_Freak
I thought it was an enjoyable read but nothing too exciting.
I think its better than Prey.
I thought it was an enjoyable read but nothing too exciting.
I think its better than Prey.
So if you enjoy his writing I think you'll enjoy Timeline.
#14
DVD Talk Limited Edition
It seems the general consensus that a movie version of a book is almost always inferior to its source. With Crichton, though, it seems to be the exact oposite, especially with his recent books.
Timeline
But, I'm looking forward to renting the movie.
(And Prey )
Timeline
But, I'm looking forward to renting the movie.
(And Prey )
#15
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Originally posted by Darren Garrison
I expect the movie to be almost EXACTLY the same. As I said before, the dialogue, pacing, jousting, fore-shadowning, "cliff-hangers", swash-buckling, pithy quips used by the "good guys" while dispatching the "bad guys" ALL read just like the book was written as a script for a popcorn flick. I don't remember anything at all in the book that wouldn't translate directly into a Joe-sixpack movie.
I expect the movie to be almost EXACTLY the same. As I said before, the dialogue, pacing, jousting, fore-shadowning, "cliff-hangers", swash-buckling, pithy quips used by the "good guys" while dispatching the "bad guys" ALL read just like the book was written as a script for a popcorn flick. I don't remember anything at all in the book that wouldn't translate directly into a Joe-sixpack movie.
Didn't bother to put those in spoiler since most of you think it'll suck anyway.
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Originally posted by Michael Corvin
Time travel
The Dark Ages
Timeline
Time travel
The Dark Ages
Timeline
In my opinion, the central concepts of the book were really interesting and had potential, but they just sort of petered out as it became a "where's Waldo" sort of thing.
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Easily one of Crichton's worst.
Crichton formula #1: Take a smart, good-hearted person and drop them into the middle of corporate-intrigue scandal. Worked well for Disclosure; tepid for Rising Sun or Disclosure II: Airframe.
Crichton formula #2: Take a team of various experts and drop them into a weird situation that spirals out of control. Worked well for Jurassic Park, Sphere, Eaters of the Dead, and (to some extent) Congo. Worked very badly for The Lost World and [shudder] Timeline. Timeline is one of his worst.
Haven't read Prey yet.
- David Stein
Crichton formula #1: Take a smart, good-hearted person and drop them into the middle of corporate-intrigue scandal. Worked well for Disclosure; tepid for Rising Sun or Disclosure II: Airframe.
Crichton formula #2: Take a team of various experts and drop them into a weird situation that spirals out of control. Worked well for Jurassic Park, Sphere, Eaters of the Dead, and (to some extent) Congo. Worked very badly for The Lost World and [shudder] Timeline. Timeline is one of his worst.
Haven't read Prey yet.
- David Stein
#20
DVD Talk Godfather
Eaters of the Dead? Are you kidding me? That was Crichton's worst book.
Timeline is just a screenplay in book form. Awful.
And for the record, from best to worst:
Airframe
Disclosure
Sphere
Jurassic Park
Andromeda Strain
Prey
Rising Sun
Travels
Terminal Man
The Lost World
Timeline
Eaters of the Dead
Timeline is just a screenplay in book form. Awful.
And for the record, from best to worst:
Airframe
Disclosure
Sphere
Jurassic Park
Andromeda Strain
Prey
Rising Sun
Travels
Terminal Man
The Lost World
Timeline
Eaters of the Dead
#21
DVD Talk Hero
Originally posted by The Bus
Eaters of the Dead? Are you kidding me? That was Crichton's worst book.
Eaters of the Dead? Are you kidding me? That was Crichton's worst book.
#22
Moderator
I agree that Critchton's books read a lot like screenplays. What's funny about that is that when they are adapted into movies, there's always a TON of changes.
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Timeline
Utter crap as a book, it should make a better movie. For a good book about time travel try:
Time Travel
Middle Ages
Plague
Dooms Day Book by Connie Willis
Utter crap as a book, it should make a better movie. For a good book about time travel try:
Time Travel
Middle Ages
Plague
Dooms Day Book by Connie Willis
Last edited by jad.dvd; 10-17-03 at 10:33 PM.
#25
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Originally posted by The Bus
Eaters of the Dead? Are you kidding me? That was Crichton's worst book.
Timeline is just a screenplay in book form. Awful.
And for the record, from best to worst:
Airframe
Disclosure
Sphere
Jurassic Park
Andromeda Strain
Prey
Rising Sun
Travels
Terminal Man
The Lost World
Timeline
Eaters of the Dead
Eaters of the Dead? Are you kidding me? That was Crichton's worst book.
Timeline is just a screenplay in book form. Awful.
And for the record, from best to worst:
Airframe
Disclosure
Sphere
Jurassic Park
Andromeda Strain
Prey
Rising Sun
Travels
Terminal Man
The Lost World
Timeline
Eaters of the Dead
Please tell me why in the world Airframe tops that list. You want to talk boring...
BTW I liked Timeline. I thought it was pretty good and held my attention. It would be much better if it was edited down a lot. Too long.