By EWAN McDONALD
(Herald rating: * *)
Billy Connolly - funny man, Scottish, tells great stories like the Glasgow Crucifixion, right? Michael Crichton - blockbuster novelist, American, writes great stories like Jurassic Park, Twister, Sphere, Congo, right?
So when you put the two of them together with a movie-maker like Richard Donner (Superman, Lethal Weapon, Maverick), you end up with ... well, a movie that's not quite sure what it's supposed to be.
Chris Johnston (Paul Walker) tags along with his archaeologist dad, Professor Edward Johnston (Connolly), to England on a dig.
Dad visits a company run by Robert Doniger (David Thewlis) that has invented a time machine that "faxes" people through a wormhole into the past, clearly a subject of great fascination to an archaeologist, and disappears. Chris and his pals will find that he is lost in France, not an uncommon state of affairs, but darned difficult when it's medieval France that you're misplaced in.
Our young heroes have six hours to go into the wormhole, find the misplaced parent somewhere in the 14th century, and get home on time/in time, while escaping the distractions of knights, swords, cannon, flaming arrows and a war between England and France.
Great picture (2.35.1 anamorphic widescreen) and soundtrack on the DVD. Best of the supplements is a three-part documentary on the making of the movie that includes behind-the-scenes footage with Donner, cast and crew, and details how the special effects were handled. Other features include a look at the costumes, sets, and music, trailers and previews.
* DVD, video rental 11 August
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