Review of Timecop

Introduction

Well, it had to happen eventually. Jean-Claude Van Damme finally made a decent film. A strange blemish on an otherwise consistent career, Timecop was that strange beast, an intelligent, witty and enjoyable action flick, starring the Muscles from Brussels. Yes, the early nineties was a strange time for action films. Sly had Cliffhanger, Arnie had True Lies and Van Damme`s foray into science fiction was a rip roaring blast that entertained from beginning to end. The intelligent action movie was here to stay. At least that`s what I hoped back then, but with twenty-twenty hindsight we can see that the golden age for action movies was short lived and while the above stars try to relive old glories as they rapidly approach pensionable age, their successors still churn out lowbrow movies, with ever increasing effects budgets and ever decreasing IQs.

Adapted from the comic book, Timecop`s premise was that in the early nineties, Time Travel was made a reality, and as with all new advances, the opportunistic and greedy quickly found a criminal use for the burgeoning technology. To combat this threat, the Time Enforcement Commission was set up to police time. Joining this fledgling department was Max Walker, a happily married cop whose idyll was about to be shattered. When he and his wife Melissa were celebrating his advancement, assassins broke into his house and tried to kill him. They then blew up his house and his wife with it. Ten years on in 2004, Walker is a lonely man, who lives for his work, stopping criminals from abusing time travel. When he stops his ex-partner from playing the stock market back in the 1920`s, he finds himself in a deeper conspiracy. Senator Aaron McComb is using time travel to gather enough finances to buy the next election. Walker must go up against a deep-rooted machination to stop the ruthless senator and ends up chasing him to 1994, when his wife still lives.

Video

Timecop is presented in a 2.35:1 anamorphic transfer. The transfer is competently done, with clear images and strong colours. There were a few specks of dirt on the print, but if you can see these, then you`re obviously not paying attention to the movie. I also felt as if some scenes were a little soft, but that could have been my perception alone. Peter Hyams directs and makes the best use of the camera. You really do feel as if you are watching something other than a routine action flick as he uses light dramatically to enhance the mood of the film. The effects are variable however, with the time travel effect being particularly impressive, but certain aspects of the future world are quite cheesy. The weapons of 2004 seem like drainpipes with triggers. The cars of the future are exceptionally pathetic, being obviously dressed saloon cars with various bits and pieces stuck on top. The technology seems quite flaky, I still laugh at the jumbo-sized mini disc player. The thrusters on the time pods look like something I`d toast a marshmallow in.

Audio

The disc is presented in DD 5.1 sound in English, French, German and Spanish. There is also a Czech Surround track if you happen to be in Prague. The surround adequately immerses you into the action, but isn`t particularly noteworthy otherwise. Workmanlike would be a fair description. The music by Mark Isham is the usual action movie fare, serving to punctuate the action on screen, but not really that memorable.

Features

The disc is light in extras, with filmographies, production notes and a theatrical trailer rounding off the disc.

Conclusion

This is arguably Jean-Claude Van Damme`s best movie. He gets to do all the high kicking action that we expect from him, but he puts in a surprisingly good performance as the bittersweet man who never got over the loss of his wife. He also has a good relationship with his commander, Matuzak played by Bruce McGill. They make the best of a witty script and McGill as the wisecracking Matuzak plays well off Van Damme`s strong silent hero type. Ron Silver as McComb dominates the movie. His ruthless Machiavellian senator is well spoken and immaculately groomed, but has a violent streak underneath that charm. Mia Sara has a frankly underwritten role, but that is understandable in a ninety-minute movie.

Timecop is an enjoyable ninety minutes of comic book froth. A witty and intelligent script, and some excellent performances by the cast, especially by Ron Silver and Bruce McGill in addition to the star himself, lift a fun but fairly predictable story. The direction is crisp and the story well paced. If I have one complaint, it is with the denouement of the story. This involves a confrontation in the dark with rain pouring down all around. The future Walker and his younger self must protect Melissa and fight the bad guys. (How many times has Van Damme had a dual role in a movie anyway?) In all that dark and stormy night, a lot of the action becomes indistinct and confused in the mayhem. I`m sure that is what the director intended to increase the suspense, but it doesn`t work and I felt unsure of what was happening at times. That grumble aside, I wouldn`t hesitate in recommending Timecop for anyone wishing to kill a couple of hours, and it`s well worth a purchase if you can find it at under a tenner somewhere. Final word of advice, avoid the TV spin-off like the plague.