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| Movie Review: The Time Traveler's Wife Alternate Title: Frequent Flier
Story: The idea of time travel
far exceeds going to an airport and being subject to one indignity after
the next. This entertaining film directed by Robert Schwentke
and written by Bruce Joel Rubin was based on the novel
by Audrey Niffenegger. I did not read the book but wanted to spend two
hours in a great escape and this movie did not disappoint. Our time
traveler Henry wanders, without control, within a 40 year time continuum.
Along the way he meets Clare, at all stages of her life. They do connect
at an age appropriate time and that is the heart of the film. Their fantasy romance has plenty of chemistry
therefore allowing us to care about them. Some of the nitty gritty of
time travel is quite humorous (he always arrives at his new destination
naked) and often he does not meet up with Clare at the same age as when
he last left. Needless to say, this is not a linear told story
and if you can ride the wavelength of this story without too many questions
it is a delightful use of your time. Carpe diem. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USUDlMBR-dQ Acting: Rachel McAdams as Clare, is very lovely but
for half of the film I thought she was Jennifer Garner. Eric
Bana as Henry is always earnest regardless of whether he is
playing the Hulk or an impassioned Israeli in Munich. Arliss
Howard as Richard DeTamble, Henry's father did not have much
to do. Ron Livingston as Gomez, Henry's friend, was
a fine comic relief. Stephen Tobolowsky as the geneticist
Dr. David Kendrick was good as was young Clare, Brooklynn Proulx.
Trivia: Eric Bana has said that Sam Elliott and Nick
Nolte are two of his favorite actors, and got to work with both in Hulk
(2003). No fewer than three of his theatrical films are remakes of,
or share the same source material with, a television movie. The Incredible
Hulk comic book series was filmed as the television movie and series
"The Incredible Hulk" (1978), and the theatrical film Hulk
(2003). Homer's Iliad was filmed as Helen of Troy on television, and
the theatrical film Troy. George Jonas's book Vengeance was filmed for
television as Sword of Gideon (1986) (TV), then remade by Steven Spielberg
as Munich (2005). Rachel McAdams doesn't own a car.
As part of her daily contribution to help conserve energy, she rides
her bike or takes the bus. She is co-founder of www.greenissexy.org,
a website which helps raise awareness about the environment. Auditioned
for the role of Sophie for the musical Mamma Mia! (2008) but lost out
to actress Amanda Seyfried. Seyfried had lost out to McAdams previously
for the role of Regina when they both co-starred in Mean Girls (2004).
Predilection: I like the idea of time travel.
Critters: Deer or maybe an elk
Food: Bacon and eggs, a noodle dish and a beautiful
turkey.
Sex Spectrum: Lots of hugging, kissing and cuddling.
Blatant Product Placement: Coca Cola
Opening Titles: The film opens with no titles. All
credits are at the end.
Theater Audience: About 20 other people and no one
left either willingly or unwillingly.
Sappy Factor: 2
Quirky Meter: 2
Squirm Scale: 0
Drift Factor: I did not drift for fear of time traveling
and losing the plot.
Predictability Level: High
Tissue Usage: I got a little teary towards the end.
Oscar Worthy: No
Big Screen or Rental: Rental would be fine. Wikipedia
has a list of 151 other time traveling films. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Time_travel_films
Length: Under two hours.
LOBO HOWLS: 7
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