Jason KingTop 10 Time Travel Films & Welcome New Salty Writer Sean
June 7th 2009 07:51
:
by New Writer - Sean
Category: No Category
Please offer a warm welcome to my new writer on Salty Popcorn, Sean. We have similar tastes in film and enjoy discussing how bloody awesome films are. He will now be joining the growing family of writers on Salty Popcorn and will provide another viewpoint on the wonderful world of film. Welcome Sean.
With the release of "Land of the Lost" upon us, I thought that as my first post on Salty Popcorn that I would put together a little countdown of my Top 10 "TimeTravel Films (or series) of All Time".
10. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)
Dir. Alfonso Cuaron
Whilst this film isn't the greatest ever made, it does make the top 10.
Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliff) is in his third year at Hogwarts. This time around, he meets his Godfather, Sirius Black (Gary Oldman), an escaped convict from the wizard prison Azkaban. He is on the run, and the only person that Sirius can confide in is Harry, but what Harry doesn't know is that Sirius is innocent. He was locked up, falsely accused of working for Voldemort.
HP3 deals with the time-continuum (like most time travel films... actually, like all time travel films). Harry and Hermione (Emma Watson) are forced to travel back in time to save Sirius from a nasty werewolf, a pissed off, grudge holding potions teacher and the law... no, not Judge Dredd.
Not the greatest movie ever, but a cool concept.
9. Groundhog Day (1993)
Dir. Harold Ramis (who else)
Phil (Bil Murray) is a down on his luck weatherman who's sent to Pennsylvania to report on the festivities of their celebration of Groundhog Day. But after he and his team are enveloped by a blizzard, he wakes up the next day, finding that it's February 2nd again. And again. And again.
But is the days continues, Phil tries to kill himself over and over, but with no success. He realises that he has the abilities to right all the wrong that occur during the day.
From saving a homeless people to saving his relationship with Rita (Andie MacDowell), Phil works to find a way to February 3rd.
A fun movie, but at times drags on.
8. Twelve Monkeys (1995)
Dir. Terry Gilliam
Like the title suggests, this film is about monkeys - even though there is only one true ape, Brad Pitt.
The future looks grim in this film. It's riddled with disease and crime. Only 1% of the population is still alive, after a lethal virus wiped out five billion people in 1996.
Set in 2035, a small group of Scientists decide to send a convict, James Cole (Bruce Willis) back in time to 1996 to try and find out what happened with the disease and try and find a way to prevent it.
But after a mistake in the calculations, Cole is sent back to 1990, where he is arrested and locked up in a mental institution, where he meets Dr Kathryn Railly (Madeleine Stowe) and Jeffery Goines (Brad Pitt), the insane son of a famous scientist and virus expert.
This is one of my favorite films - and probably Brad Pitt's best film. Based on the 1962 French film (La Jatee), written and directed by Chris Marker.
But Twelve Monkeys, with a tagline of "The Future is History", stands out as one of the coolest sci-fi movies of all time.
7. Time Bandits (1981)
Dir. Terry Gilliam
What a brilliant concept of a young boy, a group of dwarves, Sean Connery and some treasure hidden in time. Who else but Monty Python?
Made just after "The Life of Brian", the Python gang half came together for this caper through the history books. Even Kenny Baker (R2-D2) made was in for this film.
After a young boy, Kevin (Craig Warnock) accidently joins a band of dwarves, he follows them through time, as they seek and steal treasure hidden in the middle of history's biggest moments. On their journey, they run into King Agamemnon (Sean Connery), Robin Hood (John Cleese) and an invisible wall ( ).
But the film is a sweet tale of a young boy who just needed time to find his friends.
One for the family.
6. Deja Vu (2006)
Dir. Tony Scott
Another really cool concept from the lesser known half of ScottFree Productions.
Denzel Washington stars as ATF Agent Doug Carlin, an investigator who is sent to find the terrorist who blew up a ferry full of Marines in post-Katrina New Orleans.
The FBI have developed a technology that uses seven satellites to look four days into the past to solve some of their tougher cases. Shortly after the ferry blows up, a woman's body washes up upstream from the explosion.
But after the woman is found to have the ingredients of the bombs on her, Doug begins to investigate her death too.
Before he knows it, the explosion is about to happen in the past, and Doug is forced to be sent back in time to save not only the girl, but also the 543 people on board the ferry.
With an awesome Hummer chase scene, quick one liner's from Val Kilmer and one of the meanest terrorists in film history played by Jim Caviezel, Deja Vu is a great movie with a good time travel theory.
5. Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure (1989)
Dir. Stephen Herek
Of come on, who could forget this film. Two dumb teenagers Bill (Alex Winter) and Ted (Keanu "Neo" Reeves) have a history assignment to complete. But they are both so wrapped up with getting their rock band, the "Wyld Stallyons" started, they are failing school, and as punishment, Ted's father is going to send him off to Military school.
But when a man named Rufus appears in a time travelling Phone booth, and tells them that he's from the future, and their music is the pillar of existence in his time, they realise that they need to pass the history assignment and keep the band together.
So they take the phone booth and travel through the past, meeting and collecting some of history's biggest names to help pass the assignment.
As they travel through time, they meet Napoleon, Billy the Kid and Genghis Khan - amongst others.
"Excellent".
4. Austin Powers Trilogy (1997-2003)
Dir. Jay Roach
"It's a Pimp Mobile"
This series had the coolest, and sexiest time machines ever. A hippie painted/coloured VW Beatle, a 1975 Cadillac Coupe DeVille "Pimpmobile" and a swirling "Stargate".
The basic storyline is this: Austin Powers, International Man of Mystery (Mike Myers) was frozen in 1967 after his arch nemesis Dr Evil (Mike Myers) is cryogenically frozen. In 1997, Dr Evil is unfrozen and threatens to wreck havoc on the world, so the Ministry of Defence unfreeze Austin Powers to fight him.
Along the way, Austin meets (shags) pretty girls, fights bad guys (Fat Bastard (Mike Myers) and Goldmember (Mike Myers)) and saves the world, all whilst trying to work out how to use the internet.
Probably one of the funniest movies of all time. Here's hoping they do another.
3. Star Trek (2009)
Dir. J.J. Abrams
Okay, Jason will give me crap for this, and I understand (JK says
). The best move in ten years. But the top two came out before this one.
Like many of the Star Trek films, this one deals with time travel. But unlike any of the Star Trek films, this movie changes the entire storyline of the future of Kirk and his team.
The film is about the early days of the Enterprise. James T. Kirk (Chris Pine) is a young Starfleet student, whose best friend is Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy (Karl Urban). They have nowhere else to go except Starfleet, so they sign up.
Three years later, a distress call from Vulcan puts all the students into battle mode.
That is all I am going to say about this film as it is still in cinemas, but it makes number 3 due to its awesomeness and.......well. Just watch it.
2. Terminator 1 & 2 (1984, 1991)
Dir. James Cameron
T1 and T2 make number two as the b-grade sci-fi flicks that changed the idea of the future. Coming out towards the end of the Cold War, where fear of nuclear attack was huge, these films were never meant to be as big as they became.
To be entirely honest, I shouldn't need to tell the story of these two films, but here it is any way.
T1: A T-800 (Arnold Schwarzenegger) is sent back in time from 2018 - where humans and robots have been at war for decades - to kill Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton) and prevent the human "Resistance". But the humans send Kyle Reese (Michael Beihn) back in time to protect Sarah and her yet to be conceived son, John Connor (leader of the "resistance").
T2: This time, John (Edward Furlong) is 10. Skynet (the robot bad guys) sent a T-1000 back to kill John. So John sends another T-800 (Arnold Schwarzenegger) to protect him and his mother.
Enough said.
Terminator Salvation is out now.
1. The Back to the Future Trilogy (1985-1990)
Dir. Robert Zemeckis
Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) is in High School. He's friends with Doc Emmett Brown (Christopher Lloyd), a mad scientist whose just developed a time machine built into a DeLorean. But when Doc Brown sends Marty back to 1955, Marty meets his parents, and his future starts to change.
I really shouldn't have to explain these films, except that they are my favorite time travel movies of all time. Back to the Future 1 is number 2 on IMDB's best "Time Machine" Movies.
"What the hell is a gigawatt?" Best Movie Ever!!
JK says - flux capacitor - always wanted to use that!
Well then, that rounds out the countdown for the Top Ten "Time Travel Movies of All Time." The Land of the Lost, starring Will Ferrell and Danny McBride is out this Thursday.
With the release of "Land of the Lost" upon us, I thought that as my first post on Salty Popcorn that I would put together a little countdown of my Top 10 "TimeTravel Films (or series) of All Time".
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
10. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)
Dir. Alfonso Cuaron
Whilst this film isn't the greatest ever made, it does make the top 10.
Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliff) is in his third year at Hogwarts. This time around, he meets his Godfather, Sirius Black (Gary Oldman), an escaped convict from the wizard prison Azkaban. He is on the run, and the only person that Sirius can confide in is Harry, but what Harry doesn't know is that Sirius is innocent. He was locked up, falsely accused of working for Voldemort.
HP3 deals with the time-continuum (like most time travel films... actually, like all time travel films). Harry and Hermione (Emma Watson) are forced to travel back in time to save Sirius from a nasty werewolf, a pissed off, grudge holding potions teacher and the law... no, not Judge Dredd.
Not the greatest movie ever, but a cool concept.
Groundhog Day
9. Groundhog Day (1993)
Dir. Harold Ramis (who else)
Phil (Bil Murray) is a down on his luck weatherman who's sent to Pennsylvania to report on the festivities of their celebration of Groundhog Day. But after he and his team are enveloped by a blizzard, he wakes up the next day, finding that it's February 2nd again. And again. And again.
But is the days continues, Phil tries to kill himself over and over, but with no success. He realises that he has the abilities to right all the wrong that occur during the day.
From saving a homeless people to saving his relationship with Rita (Andie MacDowell), Phil works to find a way to February 3rd.
A fun movie, but at times drags on.
12 Monkeys
8. Twelve Monkeys (1995)
Dir. Terry Gilliam
Like the title suggests, this film is about monkeys - even though there is only one true ape, Brad Pitt.
The future looks grim in this film. It's riddled with disease and crime. Only 1% of the population is still alive, after a lethal virus wiped out five billion people in 1996.
Set in 2035, a small group of Scientists decide to send a convict, James Cole (Bruce Willis) back in time to 1996 to try and find out what happened with the disease and try and find a way to prevent it.
But after a mistake in the calculations, Cole is sent back to 1990, where he is arrested and locked up in a mental institution, where he meets Dr Kathryn Railly (Madeleine Stowe) and Jeffery Goines (Brad Pitt), the insane son of a famous scientist and virus expert.
This is one of my favorite films - and probably Brad Pitt's best film. Based on the 1962 French film (La Jatee), written and directed by Chris Marker.
But Twelve Monkeys, with a tagline of "The Future is History", stands out as one of the coolest sci-fi movies of all time.
Time Bandits
7. Time Bandits (1981)
Dir. Terry Gilliam
What a brilliant concept of a young boy, a group of dwarves, Sean Connery and some treasure hidden in time. Who else but Monty Python?
Made just after "The Life of Brian", the Python gang half came together for this caper through the history books. Even Kenny Baker (R2-D2) made was in for this film.
After a young boy, Kevin (Craig Warnock) accidently joins a band of dwarves, he follows them through time, as they seek and steal treasure hidden in the middle of history's biggest moments. On their journey, they run into King Agamemnon (Sean Connery), Robin Hood (John Cleese) and an invisible wall ( ).
But the film is a sweet tale of a young boy who just needed time to find his friends.
One for the family.
Deja Vu
6. Deja Vu (2006)
Dir. Tony Scott
Another really cool concept from the lesser known half of ScottFree Productions.
Denzel Washington stars as ATF Agent Doug Carlin, an investigator who is sent to find the terrorist who blew up a ferry full of Marines in post-Katrina New Orleans.
The FBI have developed a technology that uses seven satellites to look four days into the past to solve some of their tougher cases. Shortly after the ferry blows up, a woman's body washes up upstream from the explosion.
But after the woman is found to have the ingredients of the bombs on her, Doug begins to investigate her death too.
Before he knows it, the explosion is about to happen in the past, and Doug is forced to be sent back in time to save not only the girl, but also the 543 people on board the ferry.
With an awesome Hummer chase scene, quick one liner's from Val Kilmer and one of the meanest terrorists in film history played by Jim Caviezel, Deja Vu is a great movie with a good time travel theory.
Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure
5. Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure (1989)
Dir. Stephen Herek
Of come on, who could forget this film. Two dumb teenagers Bill (Alex Winter) and Ted (Keanu "Neo" Reeves) have a history assignment to complete. But they are both so wrapped up with getting their rock band, the "Wyld Stallyons" started, they are failing school, and as punishment, Ted's father is going to send him off to Military school.
But when a man named Rufus appears in a time travelling Phone booth, and tells them that he's from the future, and their music is the pillar of existence in his time, they realise that they need to pass the history assignment and keep the band together.
So they take the phone booth and travel through the past, meeting and collecting some of history's biggest names to help pass the assignment.
As they travel through time, they meet Napoleon, Billy the Kid and Genghis Khan - amongst others.
"Excellent".
Austin Powers
4. Austin Powers Trilogy (1997-2003)
Dir. Jay Roach
"It's a Pimp Mobile"
This series had the coolest, and sexiest time machines ever. A hippie painted/coloured VW Beatle, a 1975 Cadillac Coupe DeVille "Pimpmobile" and a swirling "Stargate".
The basic storyline is this: Austin Powers, International Man of Mystery (Mike Myers) was frozen in 1967 after his arch nemesis Dr Evil (Mike Myers) is cryogenically frozen. In 1997, Dr Evil is unfrozen and threatens to wreck havoc on the world, so the Ministry of Defence unfreeze Austin Powers to fight him.
Along the way, Austin meets (shags) pretty girls, fights bad guys (Fat Bastard (Mike Myers) and Goldmember (Mike Myers)) and saves the world, all whilst trying to work out how to use the internet.
Probably one of the funniest movies of all time. Here's hoping they do another.
Star Trek - Chris Pine
3. Star Trek (2009)
Dir. J.J. Abrams
Okay, Jason will give me crap for this, and I understand (JK says
). The best move in ten years. But the top two came out before this one.Like many of the Star Trek films, this one deals with time travel. But unlike any of the Star Trek films, this movie changes the entire storyline of the future of Kirk and his team.
The film is about the early days of the Enterprise. James T. Kirk (Chris Pine) is a young Starfleet student, whose best friend is Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy (Karl Urban). They have nowhere else to go except Starfleet, so they sign up.
Three years later, a distress call from Vulcan puts all the students into battle mode.
That is all I am going to say about this film as it is still in cinemas, but it makes number 3 due to its awesomeness and.......well. Just watch it.
T2
2. Terminator 1 & 2 (1984, 1991)
Dir. James Cameron
T1 and T2 make number two as the b-grade sci-fi flicks that changed the idea of the future. Coming out towards the end of the Cold War, where fear of nuclear attack was huge, these films were never meant to be as big as they became.
To be entirely honest, I shouldn't need to tell the story of these two films, but here it is any way.
T1: A T-800 (Arnold Schwarzenegger) is sent back in time from 2018 - where humans and robots have been at war for decades - to kill Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton) and prevent the human "Resistance". But the humans send Kyle Reese (Michael Beihn) back in time to protect Sarah and her yet to be conceived son, John Connor (leader of the "resistance").
T2: This time, John (Edward Furlong) is 10. Skynet (the robot bad guys) sent a T-1000 back to kill John. So John sends another T-800 (Arnold Schwarzenegger) to protect him and his mother.
Enough said.
Terminator Salvation is out now.
Back to the Future
1. The Back to the Future Trilogy (1985-1990)
Dir. Robert Zemeckis
Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) is in High School. He's friends with Doc Emmett Brown (Christopher Lloyd), a mad scientist whose just developed a time machine built into a DeLorean. But when Doc Brown sends Marty back to 1955, Marty meets his parents, and his future starts to change.
I really shouldn't have to explain these films, except that they are my favorite time travel movies of all time. Back to the Future 1 is number 2 on IMDB's best "Time Machine" Movies.
"What the hell is a gigawatt?" Best Movie Ever!!
JK says - flux capacitor - always wanted to use that!
The Land of the Lost
Well then, that rounds out the countdown for the Top Ten "Time Travel Movies of All Time." The Land of the Lost, starring Will Ferrell and Danny McBride is out this Thursday.
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Comment by Morgan Bell
Science News
Deep Pencil
Business News
Movie Train
Artist Quirk
Groundhog Day was a great concept, but with all the rest i thought the element of time travel was the thing that brought them down, with the possible exception of the screwball comedies like Bill & Ted, and Back To The Future as they were quite self-aware and able to laugh at themselves and the paradox that time travel really is
Comment by Jason King
Sydney Table
Salty Popcorn
Total Randomness
I am trying to get Sean an account set up so he comment himself.
But my opinion is I think he got the list pretty spot on. Back to the Future rocked, T2 is one of my all time faves and I loved 12 Monkeys. Star Trek is also my new equal ties number one film. The whole topic of time travel is a tough one - because you end up with the time loop issue. You start where you end
Comment by Morgan Bell
Science News
Deep Pencil
Business News
Movie Train
Artist Quirk
im surprised how dead it is around Orble lately, maybe everyone else was off having drunken adventures as well?
i hope Sean signs up and gets things moving and shaking around here
Comment by James Beauchamp
Butter Coated Reviews
Can't agree more with your top 3, though. Star Trek was incredible and used time travel to great effect. Terminator's concept of time travel remains the best ever seen on screen, with perfect execution of it to boot. And Back To The Future - ah, the memories. The series will always have a special place in my heart, and the first film remains one of my favourite movies of all time.
Comment by Jason King
Sydney Table
Salty Popcorn
Total Randomness
What I think will be amazing with the time travelling in the new Terminator trilogy, that is if this first one makes enough money to justify the other two, is that I think it will end with Kyle Reese stepping back through the time machine to close the perfect loop. The last film ends at the beginning of the series - gold!
Thanks for commenting and reading!
Comment by Sean Lander
Thanks for all the welcomes and comments. It's good to be writing for Salty Popcorn. Bring on the red carpets!!!
Anyway, in reply to the questions of Groundhog Day, I have the same opinion as Jason. Seen it on tv way to many times. But still a fun movie.
I'm not entirely sure what you need/want me to tell you, except that when it comes to reviews, I'll be here to give you the film makers side of things.
Looking forward to chatting with you guys.
Sean
Comment by Lilla
From The Home Front
Enviro Warrior
Dream Herald
Esoteric Bookshop
Now you are talking my language completely. . . ((dreamy look on my face)) This is my favourite genre*s of film : and your list is impeccable. Wow! Bill and Teds Excellent Adventure, what fun! And Groundhog day, Gosh I had my own groundhog year rewatching it! ((laughs))
I Would add only a few that compare to the above:
Timeline (my favourite and one of the best I think.)
The TIme Machine
Star Trek IV (the Voyage Home)
..I know its not film, although two part series always seem to me to feel like they are. . . but honourary mention from me to Gene and the various gangs of Star Trek Next gen, DS9 and Voyager who so often delighted me by delving deeply into the very paradox of the time continum, with amazing space/time variance phase shifts, which warped my mind completely.
Secondary mentions to :
Suddenly 30
17 Again
Peggy Sue Got Married
Pay Check and Sliding Doors (not really time travel, but close). .
What fun reading and reliving them all.
Lilla ..
Comment by Lilla
From The Home Front
Enviro Warrior
Dream Herald
Esoteric Bookshop
Lilla
Comment by Jason King
Sydney Table
Salty Popcorn
Total Randomness
I have never seen Timeline but will hunt it down now. Also thought the Time Machine was woeful but believe it was a remake and never saw the original just the horrible Guy Pierce one.
And I am a trekkie with The Voyage home being my second fave Star Trek movie behind the most recent reimagining. U just loved 17 Again - way better than most will assume because of heartthrob Zac and his teeny bopper following. And Sliding Doors is a masterpiece - I cried so very very much
I am not much of a Will Farrell fan myself but am also looking forward to this one. I am off to watch The Hangover tonight with friends - should be ok. Review tomorrow.
Thanks for your enthusiastic response!
Comment by Doobism
A quibble- how exactly does Harry Potter have time travel or time manipulation a la Groundhog?
Regradless, the two films that I would have had to put in there would have been Planet of the Apes ('68) and Donnie Darko. Both twist your head grappling with the story. One with a good old fashioned plot twist, the other with occassionally pretentious quasi-science, both ultra enjoyable.
Comment by Jason King
Sydney Table
Salty Popcorn
Total Randomness
I do love the idea of Planet of the Apes and stupid stupid me - one of my top ten films Donnie!!!! Yay - great additions.