Timeline
#1
Thread Starter
DVD Talk Legend
Michael Chrichton's Timeline
I was just wondering if anyone has heard any substantial news about this. I just read the book and thought it would be great source material if done right. According to the IMDB the movie is in post production. I'm kind of surprised that there has been no news about it. Apparently it is slated for a July release. We should be seeing previews by now. With a pretty substantial budget (80 mil) you would think that the marketing wheel would have been churning by now.
Richard Donner was the director. of superman and lethal weapon fame. I don't know about him. He did great in those but it seems like he might take a formulatic action summer flick approach.
The cast really looks the part.

Characters from left to right David Stern, Andre' Marek, Chris Hughes and Kate Erickson

Chris and Kate in the ITC "time machine"
This movie really does have the potential to be a serious scifiish film and epic timepiece in one but that is probably too much to ask for.
http://us.imdb.com/Details?0300556
www.thetimelinemovie.com
Richard Donner was the director. of superman and lethal weapon fame. I don't know about him. He did great in those but it seems like he might take a formulatic action summer flick approach.
The cast really looks the part.

Characters from left to right David Stern, Andre' Marek, Chris Hughes and Kate Erickson

Chris and Kate in the ITC "time machine"
This movie really does have the potential to be a serious scifiish film and epic timepiece in one but that is probably too much to ask for.
http://us.imdb.com/Details?0300556
www.thetimelinemovie.com
Last edited by tanman; 03-19-03 at 12:27 AM.
#2
DVD Talk Hero
I really liked the book, and have been anxiously awaiting the movie to come out. I'm not a really big fan of Richard Donner but I'm still hoping for a good flick. This should be your standard summer blockbuster, and as I read the book I found a lot of similarities with Jurassic Park. Hopefully I'll like it as much as I did JP!
#4
Thread Starter
DVD Talk Legend
I take it this is just another grouchy moment brought to us by our local Groucho
#5
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
I have serious doubts about this movie. I heard they made
plus some other changes that I thought were unnecessary. Loved the book as well, but going in with reserved expectations on this one.
PS. Didn't Kate have to cut her hair?
Spoiler:
PS. Didn't Kate have to cut her hair?
#6
I liked the book too and I hope they don't stray too far from it; like having some dufus from the past follow them into the future or something like that----just so a sequel could be made.
#7
DVD Talk Legend
I really had to put the book down as I found it rather cheesy. While I admire Donner, who in the world are these actors? Never heard of them before in my life. This seems to be a Congo of sorts, and that ain't good.
P.S. Oh, those are the names of the characters, not the actors. Hate to say this, but the presence of Paul Walker immediately turns me off. While I like Billy Connoly, I always see him as more or less a comedic character over everything else.
P.S. Oh, those are the names of the characters, not the actors. Hate to say this, but the presence of Paul Walker immediately turns me off. While I like Billy Connoly, I always see him as more or less a comedic character over everything else.
Last edited by Dr. DVD; 03-19-03 at 10:49 AM.
#9
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From: Weird New Jersey
I think one charachter was changed from female to male . I forgot the charachter's name at the moment but she was decapitated in the book and I guess they decided decapitating a man instead of a woman was more appropriate?
I think the name was Gomex, not sure though.
I think the name was Gomex, not sure though.
#10
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Originally posted by Samuel
I think one charachter was changed from female to male . I forgot the charachter's name at the moment but she was decapitated in the book and I guess they decided decapitating a man instead of a woman was more appropriate?
I think the name was Gomex, not sure though.
I think one charachter was changed from female to male . I forgot the charachter's name at the moment but she was decapitated in the book and I guess they decided decapitating a man instead of a woman was more appropriate?
I think the name was Gomex, not sure though.
Spoiler:
#11
Thread Starter
DVD Talk Legend
I think they may have changed the whole Rob de Kere twist by
I think...
and yes kate did have to cut her hair but they might just go with the wig thing or not at all.
He also cut out the entire ear piece thing
which allows some of the cooler moments in the book.
Donner said that they did have to change things (which is expected since it is a 500pg book) and that they had Micheal Chricton's bleasings which, in all reality, means absolutely nothing. not many of his movie translations stay faithful to the books (have not seen disclosure, andromeda strain, great train robbery, rising sun).
I think the one that stayed the most like the book was the 13th warrior. I really liked both the book and the movie.
Spoiler:
and yes kate did have to cut her hair but they might just go with the wig thing or not at all.
He also cut out the entire ear piece thing
which allows some of the cooler moments in the book.Donner said that they did have to change things (which is expected since it is a 500pg book) and that they had Micheal Chricton's bleasings which, in all reality, means absolutely nothing. not many of his movie translations stay faithful to the books (have not seen disclosure, andromeda strain, great train robbery, rising sun).
I think the one that stayed the most like the book was the 13th warrior. I really liked both the book and the movie.
#13
DVD Talk Legend
Disclosure was pretty faithful as was 13th Warrior (which was pretty lackluster as a book as well). Crichton is a lot less possessive of his books being made into films than is Tom Clancy. Crichton was once a director himself, so he knows it's probably best to keep your trap shut about creative licensing.
My $.02 : they should wait and release this movie in the fall when there's less competition as opposed to the summertime. Who knows, it's liable to happen anyway.
My $.02 : they should wait and release this movie in the fall when there's less competition as opposed to the summertime. Who knows, it's liable to happen anyway.
#15
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DVD Talk Legend
Originally posted by mrhan
Tanman,
---that doesn't make sense if they do change what Rob De Kere does from the book.
Tanman,
---that doesn't make sense if they do change what Rob De Kere does from the book.
#16
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I enjoyed the book but have found no definite release date.
I would think they would have to market a movie like this heavily. Sure it has the time travel element but the time in which they go back to could turn the Genre audience off.
I would think they would have to market a movie like this heavily. Sure it has the time travel element but the time in which they go back to could turn the Genre audience off.
#17
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Hmmmm....a movie adaptation of a Chricton book.
I predict major suckage!!!
Now, I love Chritchon novels, but they've almost always been turned into mediocre to bad adaptations of the original source. Congo...ugh, Sphere...blargh, Jurassic Park, ho-hum compared to the book.
I predict major suckage!!!
Now, I love Chritchon novels, but they've almost always been turned into mediocre to bad adaptations of the original source. Congo...ugh, Sphere...blargh, Jurassic Park, ho-hum compared to the book.
#18
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DVD Talk Legend
Yeah, I really don't know why most of his movie adaptation sucks. They have such Great potential and they are always fumbled. I mean he has some great original ideas in his books but most of the time they are just transferred into a glorious popcorn flick. They don't spend enough time on the oooooohhhh.....and ahhhh....which is one of my major problems with the last two JPs.
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From: Currently in the Nexus.
I think the best part of the book was the beginning where the quantum mechanics/physics stuff was expounded on. After they were transported to the "past", it turned into one big anachronistic soap opera.
So far, the casting *looks* good tho considering the characters... it's just the characterization, dialogue, acting, and well... screen adaption that worry me.
So far, the casting *looks* good tho considering the characters... it's just the characterization, dialogue, acting, and well... screen adaption that worry me.
#20
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I for one loved Congo in theatres, very cheesy fun and 13 th Warrior rocked, just a victim of constant delays and retinkering that gave people a preconceived notion of a stinker. Timeline was a great read but im sure they'll dumb the concept down to an average time travel movie, an aspect i liked in the book when it explained it wasnt actually time travel. If it keeps the grittiness and rawness the book gave of medievil times then it might just work.
#21
Member
I too read the book and found it to be quite entertaining, but totally cheesy and obviously written with a movie adaptation in mind. I do have a hard time believing that all these 20 somethings are scientists. But, movies aren't supposed to be real life, so I'll accept that and go see it. Looking at how this summer is shaping up with all the blockbuster releases, I have a feeling that this one will get lost in the shuffle. My prediction: It will open strong, perhaps with 18-20 million, then sharply decline. That doesn't mean it's gonna suck, just that it has all the makings of a box office bomb.
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#25
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Hmmmm.....November 26th release with only The Haunted Mansion as competition.
They might actually make some money since it will be a thanksgiving holiday action popcorn flick release with no Harry Potter or Pixar to compete.
Actually when does Nemo open?
They might actually make some money since it will be a thanksgiving holiday action popcorn flick release with no Harry Potter or Pixar to compete.
Actually when does Nemo open?



