I find myself in a mood for a good time-travel movie. I've seen all the popular ones, and I have Primer on order at Netflix. But I'd be greatful if anyone could point me to a good one (that's the trick, most of them suck) I haven't already seen.

One that comes to mind is Just Visiting with Applegate. I actually liked this one, mainly for the comedy. I found it kind of sappy, but the comedy made up for it, IMHO.

Army of Darkness is a fun romp through time. "Listen up, you primitive screwheads. This is my boom-stick!"

Trying to think of a non-comedy time travel flick that I enjoyed, but coming up mostly empty.
Hmmm...

edit:
Ah, Donny Darko.
While I did like it, I feel it could have been much better.
I liked the ending, but it lacked certain amount of impact.
Also, not very big on the time travel element.
It's there, but not much.

edit2:
Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home
One of the best. Might have to watch this later.

Seen 'em all (Just Visiting in two versions)

Somewhere in Time (1980) with Christopher Reeve is a cute time travel movie. What I enjoyed more, though, is the book on which it's loosely based, Time and Again by Jack Finney. One of my favorite books. I doubt it's still in print but I bet it would turn up on Amazon.

Agreed, but I've seen that one, too :)

Just rent a bunch of Dr. Who DVDs... :grin:

I hated the old Dr. Who's, but I'm enjoying the new series with Eccleston.

I just saw Primer, and it's interesting, but not particularly entertaining. I like the concept more than the execution. It wants to be a "realistic" movie about time-travel, with the assumption that the human mind cannot handle the concept of time-travel. To illustrate this, the director made a movie that the human mind cannot handle (rumor has it that this is deliberate, so it possibly excuses him from being a bad filmmaker).

I hated the old Dr. Who's, but I'm enjoying the new series with Eccleston.
That's soon crossed the pond!

12 Monkeys
Back to the Future series
Contact
Time Machine
Planet of the Apes series
The Final Countdown
Bill & Ted series
Black Knight (never seen it)
Blast from the Past


That's all I can think of right now...

the television series Stargate SG1 has dabbled a bit in time travel, though i couldnt tell you the exact episodes. and Stargate Atlantis has done one also. i believe that one was late last season.

and the british tv series Red Dwarf from a few years ago did a couple also. Red Dwarf was an interesting romp in space, comedy, which found its way into my video library.

havent seen any recent movies dealing with the subject, however. didnt Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy do a bit? that shld be out on dvd soon.

i used to read a lot of Robert Heinlein's stuff. in his later years he seemed obsessed with the subject. Asimov got into it also, though not as much.

there was also that tv series that starred scott baccula. that's still in syndication.

sorry, no real movies of late i can think of.

Craig

Don't forget TIMELINE, by Michael Criton.

A team of American archeologists working in France find a note from the middle ages written by their professor pleading for help. The team visits the corporation sponsoring them only to discover their professor is missing and was sent back to the middle ages. So, they all go back to rescue him.

The movie wasn't bad (could've been better). The book was probably one of the best time travel stories I've read. Just watch out for those transcription errors.

--Racc

Here are a few:

"For all time", 2000 TV movie starring Mark Harmon

"House in The Square"

"Frequency"

As for time travel reading, Anything by Jack Finney and Richard Matheson.

Steve

I believe "Somewhere in Time" was based on Richard Matheson's "Bid Time Return." Was pretty faithful to the book.

You are certainly right about Finney's "Time & Again", it was great. He also wrote a sequel, "Time After Time."

Steve

Somewhere in Time (1980) with Christopher Reeve is a cute time travel movie. What I enjoyed more, though, is the book on which it's loosely based, Time and Again by Jack Finney. One of my favorite books. I doubt it's still in print but I bet it would turn up on Amazon.

I really loved the original theatrical cut of Donnie Darko (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0246578/) , but think he ruined parts of the film in the Directors Cut really. So if you have the chance, see the original cut! That is one great movie.

Another that came to mind is The Butterfly Effect (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0289879/) . It's with Aston Kutcher, i know, but it's actually good anyway. Kutchers only good film in my opinion, I don't like the guy. But the story in this one is great, and deal with a differen type of timetravel. Reccomended.

As said earlier, 12 monkeys is another good one.

Somewhere in Time was a great movie, and from my favorite time period. But it was based on the book by Richard Matheson who wrote many episodes for Twilight Zone. Finney, Matheson, and Ray Bradbury are probably my favorite authors of time travel stories.

Finney's book Time and Again is really a good one. And there was a sequel also.

Steve


Somewhere in Time (1980) with Christopher Reeve is a cute time travel movie. What I enjoyed more, though, is the book on which it's loosely based, Time and Again by Jack Finney. One of my favorite books. I doubt it's still in print but I bet it would turn up on Amazon.

Wow! Time travel. You just pushed one of my buttons to a favorite topic.

Here are some recommendations for movies: "For All Time" made for tv, not sure if it is out on DVD or not. Of course "Somewhere in Time." "Peggy Sue Got Married." I'll Never Forget You" with Tyrone Power. A remake of Berkeley Square" that starred Leslie Howard...(Ashley of "Gone With The Wind.) "Frequency" with Dennis Quaid. And "Timeline" from the book by Michael Crichton.

Some of the best stuff was on Twilight Zone...."A Stop At Willoughby"..."Walking Distance"..."Of Late I Think Of Cliffordville"..."No Time Like The Past"...A Hundred Yards Over The Rim"..."Once Upon A Time"...Static"...and "Back There." There are others in the series, but these are some I have watched over & over, especially "Willoughby" and "Walking Distance."

Steve

Somewhere in Time (1980) with Christopher Reeve is a cute time travel movie. What I enjoyed more, though, is the book on which it's loosely based, Time and Again by Jack Finney...

You're absolutely spot on, Hephaestos, about "Time and Again." A great read - I've read it at least twice but sadly don't know what became of my copy and I fear you're right about it being out of print. For anybody who hasn't read it, if you can find a copy on eBay or wherever, buy it.

The movie, however, is another deal altogether. Having been to Mackinac Island several times, I had fun recognizing familiar places. Other than that, I found it loathesome in every respect. "Loosely based" is putting it mildly.

dc

Don't forget the Terminator movies.

You should check out La Jette. It's really quite beautiful and simple in it's story telling while being deep in content. 12 Monkeys is partially based on it.

You're confusing the book "Bid Time Return" with Finney's "Time & Again." I don't believe it was ever made into a movie. If it was I would sure like to know, as it is a fantastic book. It was available at Barnes & Noble not too long ago. Not sure about "Bid Time Return."

Matheson's book "Bid Time Return" was made into the movie "Somewhere In Time." Not the best time travel movie I have seen, but with the great scenery and music, it held it's own for me.

Steve


You're absolutely spot on, Hephaestos, about "Time and Again." A great read - I've read it at least twice but sadly don't know what became of my copy and I fear you're right about it being out of print. For anybody who hasn't read it, if you can find a copy on eBay or wherever, buy it.

The movie, however, is another deal altogether. Having been to Mackinac Island several times, I had fun recognizing familiar places. Other than that, I found it loathesome in every respect. "Loosely based" is putting it mildly.

dc

I guess I was taking Hephaestos's word on the relationship between "Time and Again" and "Somewhere in Time." I've largely repressed my memories of the movie but I recall there were enough similarities at the conceptual level to make such a supposition at least somewhat reasonable.

I'd forgotten about the sequel to "Time and Again." I know I've read it but don't remember anything about it. Then again, I don't remember much about a lot of things these days.

I just Googled Finney and learned that he wrote other stories and novels that explored time-travel related themes. He also wrote the book on which "The Invasion of the Body Snatchers" was based, among other things.

dc

"Time After Time" was the name of the sequel to "Time & Again." It was a continuation of the first one...going back in time to 1800's New York City to complete a government project he started in the first story. Actual vintage photos of the places in NY that he includes in his story are all throughout the books.

I have a book of his short stories which are mostly time related. Believe it's called "It's About Time."

Go here to locate his out-of-print stuff if you can't find it in a local book store.

http://dogbert.abebooks.com/servlet/SearchEntry?errorcode=1


Steve


I guess I was taking Hephaestos's word on the relationship between "Time and Again" and "Somewhere in Time." I've largely repressed my memories of the movie but I recall there were enough similarities at the conceptual level to make such a supposition at least somewhat reasonable.

I'd forgotten about the sequel to "Time and Again." I know I've read it but don't remember anything about it. Then again, I don't remember much about a lot of things these days.

I just Googled Finney and learned that he wrote other stories and novels that explored time-travel related themes. He also wrote the book on which "The Invasion of the Body Snatchers" was based, among other things.

dc

Just double checked my books and altho I no longer have the it, I believe I remember the title as "From Time to Time" as the sequel. Finney did write "Time After Time" also.

Steve

ok, you guys are covering the bases quite nicely, so let's veer just a bit. is time travel possible and how would you deal with the various paradoxes?

craig

Yes, time travel is possible. It's paradoxes that are impossible. Therefore, while possible, no one will ever time travel :)

hehe, doug. now you're sounding like my old sig: the only absolute is that there are no absolutes :)

craig

I do dig recursive logic. My old sig was "moderation in all things, including moderation".

hehe, good one.

craig

Einstein said it is. Never tried it myself.

Steve

ok, you guys are covering the bases quite nicely, so let's veer just a bit. is time travel possible and how would you deal with the various paradoxes?

craig

Seen too many "impossible" things happen during my lifetime to ever say that something won't ever happen.

Steve

Yes, time travel is possible. It's paradoxes that are impossible. Therefore, while possible, no one will ever time travel :)

If you saw them, they weren't impossible, were they? :)

You'd think if TT were possible we would have met a traveler by now. That's why, when I'm feeling particularly ornery, I'll claim that TT will be limited to viewing, and even then only to the past.

Precisely...and when TT happens IT won't be either. Remember it was possible to go to the moon (in theory) 200 years ago. I would bet on a lot of doubters back then, if the subject ever came up.

I found these interesting:

Parallel universes resolution

There could be "an ensemble of parallel universes" and when you travel back in time and kill your grandfather, you do so in a parallel universe in which you will never be conceived as a result. However, your existence is not erased from your original universe. Parallel universes are also used in Michael Crichton's novel Timeline and Alfred Bester's short story The Men Who Murdered Mohammed. The latter story starts with this premise, but proposes a timeline which is dependent on perspective, making such paradoxical changes self-limiting. Interestingly enough, Crichton's novel seems to imply that universes set in the past can affect the one we live in. The example given is when a professor trapped in the past sends a message to his graduate students at a medieval cathedral.

Complementary time travel

Since quantum physics is governed by probabilities, an unmeasured entity (in this case, your historical grandfather) has numerous probable states; but, when that entity is measured, the number of its probable states singularises, resulting in a singular outcome (in this case, ultimately, you). Therefore, since the outcome of your grandfather is known, you killing your grandfather would be incompatible with that outcome. Thus, the outcome of one's trip backwards in time must be complementary with the state from which one left. (see Professor Dan Greenberger, of the City University of New York, quoted by Kettlewell, BBC, 2005, [1])

Steve


If you saw them, they weren't impossible, were they? :)

You'd think if TT were possible we would have met a traveler by now. That's why, when I'm feeling particularly ornery, I'll claim that TT will be limited to viewing, and even then only to the past.

There's a whole nuther conversation. I don't believe in parallel universes or quantum mechanics. Scientists are a lot less "scientific" than people assume. A lot of that is just the old Sherlock Holmes axiom "eliminate the impossible, and whatever is left must be true, however improbable". So instead of proof we have inference, and a lot of mind games offered by ppl like Heisenberg and Shroedinger to justify it :)

Infinity also doesn't exist, but it makes their formulas work so they must insist it does. Ditto black holes, etc.

I feel a debate brewing on what started out as someone asking for a recommendation of some time travel movies.

Let's concede good points made by all and go back to keeping this a relaxing place to come for all of us.

Steve

There's a whole nuther conversation. I don't believe in parallel universes or quantum mechanics. Scientists are a lot less "scientific" than people assume. A lot of that is just the old Sherlock Holmes axiom "eliminate the impossible, and whatever is left must be true, however improbable". So instead of proof we have inference, and a lot of mind games offered by ppl like Heisenberg and Shroedinger to justify it :)

Infinity also doesn't exist, but it makes their formulas work so they must insist it does. Ditto black holes, etc.
In science nothing can be proven, only theorised and then failed to be disproved.
A long time ago the earth was flat and if you sailed to the endge of the world you would fall off, as far as anyone was concerned this was the truth, then somebody disproved that theory and we now believe the earth is a sphere. In a thousand years time maybe that wont be the truth, maybe we'll discover that the its really something else that we dont even have a concept of right now.

Space=Time. Time is nothing more than the space of the next highest dimension.

For example, let's imagine the second dimension (a flat plane) with a sphere passing through it. How would it look to the inhabitants of the second dimension?

It would first appear as a point. That point would expand to a circle equal to the diameter of the sphere and collapse again to a point and dissappear. From our 3 dimensional vantage point we can see the sphere is three dimensional, but the folks in the second dimension only see the cross section of the sphere as it intersects their dimension. The only way for them to measure the entire surface of the sphere is over time. Yet we apparently see the "whole" sphere simultaneously. Our space is their time.

Okay, but what about for us? We think we see the whole sphere, but all we can see of the sphere's surface is what intersects our dimension. We know by looking at the second dimension that the only way they could percieve the 3rd was to measure it over time. What if we do the same thing? Can we determine what the sphere would look like in the 4th dimension (our time)? You bet.

If we start plotting the surface of the sphere over time, we can begin to see what that sphere looks like in 4 dimensional space. With a perfectly smooth sphere what would emerge would be a long tubular structure (like a spaghetti noodle) that represents the path of the sphere through our space. Map that tube structure into 5th dimensional space and you get giant curtain-like structures.

So what does all this have to do with time travel? Time, even though it IS space, cannot be percieved without motion. All things in the universe are in constant motion. That is why the sphere is passing through the plane of the 2nd dimension and why it appears to be traveling through ours.

As Einstein says, you can't travel through time by going faster than the speed of light. To do so, you'd have to have enough energy to overpower all the motion in the universe. Not very practical. To travel through time, all you need to do is step into the next highest dimension (the 4th in our case). You could then simply walk along the surface of the noodle and transition yourself back into the third dimension to complete the time travel. The journey could take as long as you like, it wouldn't matter to those in the 3rd dimension it would be instant. The only trick, is getting into and surviving in that other dimension.

--Racc

Scientists are a lot less "scientific" than people assume.
Da Vinci code?
9-11 Cover-up?

No, these ain't nuthin'.

The big conspiracy is the science guys hushing up the Heim Theory.
The guy (Burkhard Heim) developed the Grand Unified Theory* 50 years ago, and up to now has been the only one to show Real proven results.

If you are interested do some Googling.
If not, just let the scientists go one spending billions to smash atoms and hunt for elusive dark matter and dark energy - when the answers are already there.

"But the theory is written in German!" Ah, c'mon. 2006?

Rô
* Life, the universe and everything

i hadnt seen "Frequency" with Dennis Quaid before but the Sci Fi channel ran it last night. that was an interesting romp. you knew where it was going but it was still enjoyable watching it get there.

craig

A sincerely bad time-travel movie is The Lake House. Worse even than A Sound of Thunder, if only for the fact that at least the latter recognized that paradoxes would happen, even if it was clueless about how they'd work.

I know, I know, not really fair to expect hard science from a weepy chickflick :)

Am I back here again? Ha!

Time seems to be based on circular motion (spinning of the earth, planetary orbits, rotation of galaxies, etc.). Or maybe a spiral (circular and forward motion). Beyond that, I don't know what I'm talking about.

Movies:

Escape From New York

Planet Of The Apes

I don't know if this one counts exactly. I guess it really depends on your personal take. But it's a great movie none the less: Red. The third of the Three Colors Trilogy: Blue, White, Red

You'd think if TT were possible we would have met a traveler by now.

What if time travel were possible but occurs in an absolute reference frame so you lose sync with the earth's position. Maybe the real reason we haven't met a traveler is that they can't solve the problem of how to arrive at a specific coordinate in space-time. With the Earth revolving around the Sun at about 67,000 miles per hour and the Sun revolving around the galaxy at about 486,000 miles per hour, anything beyond a trivial jump would probably end up in deep space. And the Galaxy isn't standing still either. :wink: