The Timeline movie is based on a book by author Michael Crichton. The book ... is wonderful. The movie does not do the book justice ... at all. Unlike the other major book-to-film adaptations of Congo, Sphere, Jurassic Park, and The Lost World, this movie fails miserably to truly capture an audience.
However, this movie does have two redeeming qualities.
One. French actor Lambert Wilson, the Merovingian in The Matrix Reloaded and the Matrix Revolutions, shines.
Two. Trebuchets. Need I say more?